China Travel Fact Sheet

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Source: flickr.com.

Basic Info

Country Name

Long form: People's Republic of China
Short form: China
Abbreviation: PRC
Local short form: Zhong Guo
Local long form: Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo

What the People are Called

noun, singular: Chinese
noun, plural: Chinese
adjective: Chinese

Ethnic Groups

• Han Chinese (92%),
• Zhuang, Uygur, Hui, Yi, Tibetan, Miao, Manchu, Mongol, Buyi, Korean, and other nationalities (8%).

U.S. Embassy

Embassy of the United States of America
American Citizen Services
3 Xiu Shui Dong Jie
Beijing 100600
People's Republic of China

Tel: (86) 10-6532 3831
Fax: (86) 10-6532 6929

Web site: U.S. Embassy China

Canadian Embassy

Canadian Embassy
19 Dongzhimenwai Dajie
Chao Yang District
Beijing 100600
People's Republic of China

Tel: (86) 10-6532-3536
Fax: (86) 10-6532-4311 (general)
Fax: (86) 10 - 6532-1684 (visas, immigration)

Web site: Canadian Embassy China

Currency

1 Renminbi Yuan (RMBY) = 10 chiao/jiao or 100 fen (currency conversion)

Time Zone

GMT +8 (Beijing time is standard for all of China) (What's GMT?)

Phone/Internet Information

Country Area Code: 86

There are Internet cafes in main towns.

Mobile phone coverage varies, but is available (GSM 900 and 1800 networks). International calling cards also provide a way to contact (calling to or from the U.S.). You may want to consider renting a compatible phone and service plan.

Major Languages Spoken

Standard Chinese or Mandarin, Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghaiese), Minbei (Fuzhou), Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects, and other minority languages.

Note that although Mandarin is the official language, it is certainly not spoken everywhere and it is recommended that adopting parents wait until they have their referral and child's province before purchasing bilingual children's books, phrase books, and so forth.

Alphabet

The written language is significantly different than English letters. Learn more here.

Major holidays

Jan 01-02 - New Year's Day holiday

Jan 22-24 - Chinese New Year (Spring Festival)

Apr - last two weeks (usually): Spring Trade Fair in Guangzhou (makes it difficult to find hotel rooms, etc.)

May 01-03 - International Labor Day

Oct 01-03 - National Day

Oct - last two weeks (usually): Fall Trade Fair in Guangzhou (makes it difficult to find hotel rooms, etc.)

Source: Chinese alphabet Source: Wikipedia China

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