China: flag, capital, currency and history
China, officially the People's Republic of China, is a country in Eastern Asia, Asia. Its capital is Beijing. The currency is the Chinese yuan. Languages spoken include Chinese.
Quick facts about China
- Official name
- People's Republic of China
- Capital
- Beijing
- Region
- Asia, Eastern Asia
- Currency
- Chinese yuan (CNY, ¥)
- Languages
- Chinese
- Calling code
- +86
- Internet domain
- .cn
- Area
- 9,706,961 km² (3,747,877 sq mi)
- Land borders
- Afghanistan, Bhutan, Myanmar, Hong Kong, India, Kazakhstan, Nepal, North Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Macau, Mongolia, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Vietnam
- Demonym
- Chinese
- National day
- National Day, October 1
Flag of China
Download the flag of China as a scalable SVG or as a PNG in three sizes. The flag emoji is 🇨🇳.
History of China
Chinese civilisation developed along the Yellow and Yangtze river valleys, with the Shang and Zhou dynasties among the earliest recorded states. In 221 BC the Qin dynasty unified much of the region, and later dynasties such as the Han, Tang, Song, Ming and Qing ruled over the following two millennia. The Qing dynasty fell in 1912 and the Republic of China was established. After years of war and civil conflict, the People's Republic of China was proclaimed in 1949. Economic reforms began in the late 1970s. China is a single-party state governed by the Communist Party.
Key dates
- 221 BCThe Qin dynasty unifies China under the first emperor.
- 618The Tang dynasty is founded.
- 1644The Qing dynasty takes control of Beijing.
- 1839The First Opium War begins between Britain and the Qing empire.
- 1912The Qing dynasty ends and the Republic of China is established.
- 1949The People's Republic of China is proclaimed in Beijing.
- 1978Economic reforms and opening up begin.
A short overview, not a full history. Dates are given for well-documented events only.
Currency of China
China uses the Chinese yuan (CNY, ¥). Use our free currency converter to check exchange rates.
Festivals and greetings in China
Celebrations observed in China, with free greeting images and wishes you can personalise.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of China?
The capital of China is Beijing.
What currency does China use?
China uses the Chinese yuan (CNY, symbol ¥).
What languages are spoken in China?
Languages used in China include Chinese.
What is the calling code of China?
The international calling code of China is +86. Its internet domain is .cn.
Which countries border China?
China shares land borders with Afghanistan, Bhutan, Myanmar, Hong Kong, India, Kazakhstan, Nepal, North Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Macau, Mongolia, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Vietnam.
On which continent is China?
China is in Asia, in the region of Eastern Asia.
What is the national day of China?
China marks National Day on October 1.
Neighbours of China
More countries in Eastern Asia
Country data from the open mledoze/countries dataset (ODbL), with corrections. Flags from flag-icons (MIT).