Geography of the World for CSS and

other Competitive Exams

China In 1949, when major combat ended in the Chinese Civil War,
two political entities emerged having the term "China" in their names:
Democracy Rekindles
Saturday, May 01, 2010

The People's Republic of China (PRC), established in 1949, commonly known as China, has control over
mainland China and the largely self-governing territories of Hong Kong (since 1997) and Macau (since
1999).
The Republic of China (ROC) established in 1912 on mainland China, now commonly known as Taiwan, has
control over the islands of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu.
The Three Gorges Dams
The Three Gorges Dams are hydroelectric dams that span the Yangtze River in the town of Sandouping,
located in the Hubei province. It is the worlds largest electricity-generating plant. The dam was completed
in 2006. The total electric generating capacity of the dam will reach 22,500 MW. The project management
and the Chinese state regard the project as an historic engineering, social and economic success.
The Great Wall of China
Several walls have been built that were referred to as the Great Wall. One of the most famous is the wall
built between 220-206 BC by the first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang Ming Dynasty. The Great Wall
stretches from Shanhaiguan in the east to Lop Nur in the west, along an arc that roughly delineates the
southern edge of Inner Mongolia.
Tibet

Tibet is a plateau region in Asia and a disputed territory, north of the Himalayas. It is home to the
indigenous Tibetan people and to some other ethnic groups such as Monpas and Lhobas and is inhabited
by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people. Tibet is the highest region on earth, with an average
elevation of 4900 meters (16,000 ft). It is sometimes referred to as the Roof of the World. During Tibets
history, it has existed as a region of separate sovereign areas, a single independent entity and as a
vassal under Chinese sovereignty. Tibet was first unified under King Songtsan Gampo in the 7th century.
The Qingzang Railway
Qinghai-Xizang railway or Qinghai-Tibet railway is a high latitude railway that connects Xining, Qinghai
province to Lhasa, Tibet an autonomous region, in Peoples Republic of China. The total length of Qingzang
railway is 1956 km.
Events
1949, I October Mao Zedong, having led the Communists to victory against the Nationalists after more
than 20 years of civil war, proclaimed the founding of the Peoples Republic of China. The Nationalists
retreated to the island of Taiwan and set up a government there.
1950 China intervened in the Korean War on the side of North Korea.
1958 Mao launches the Great Leap Forward, a five year economic plan.
1959 Chinese forces suppressed large-scale revolt in Tibet.
1962 Brief conflict with India over disputed Himalayan border.
1966-76 Cultural Revolution, Maos 10-year political and ideological campaign aimed at reviving
revolutionary spirit.
1972 US President Richard Nixon visited China as it was first American visit. Both countries declared
desire to normalize relations.
1976 Mao dieD. Deng Xiaopiang emerged as the dominant figure among pragmatists in the leadership
under him. China undertook far-reaching economic reforms.
1979 Diplomatic relations were established with the US.
1986-90 Chinas Open Door Policy opened the country to foreign investment and encouraged
development of a market economy and private sector.
1989 Troops opened fire on demonstrators who have camped for weeks in Tiananmn Square.
2002 November Vice President Hu Jintao was named head of the ruling Communist Party, replacing Jiang
Zemin, the outgoing president.
2003 June Sluice gates on three Gorges Dams, the worlds largest hydropower scheme, were closed to
allow the reservoir to fill up.
2003, 15th October Launch of Chinas first manned spacecraft; Astronaut Col. Yang Liwei is sent into
space by a long march 2F Rocket.
2005 April relations with Japan deteriorated amid sometimes violent anti-Japanese protests in Chinese
cities, sparked by Japanese textbook which China said glosses over Japans World War II record.
2005 October China conducted its second manned space flight, with two astronauts circling earth in the
Shenzhou VI Capsule.
2006 May work on the structure of the Three Gorges Dam, the worlds largest hydropower project, was
completed.
2006 July New China Tibet railway, line the worlds highest train route being operated between Lasha
and Beijing.
2007 January Reports say China has carried out a missile test in space, shooting down an old weathers
satellite. The US, Japan and other expressed concerns at Chinas military build up.
2007 February president Hu Jintao toured eight African countries to boost trade and investment.
2007 October China launched its first moon orbit.
2008 March Anti China protests escalated into the worst violence Tibet has seen in 20 years, five
months before Beijing hosted the Olympic Games.

2008 July China and Russia signed a treaty ending 40 years old border dispute which led to armed
clashes during the Cold War.
2008 August Beijing hosted Olympic Games.
2008 September Astronaut Zhai Zhigang completed Chinas first spacewalk during the countrys third
manned space mission, ShenzhouVII
The International Monetary Fund ranked Chinas economy as third largest in the world after the US and
Japan worked on Three Gorges Dams.
16 January 2010 March for democracy in Hong Kong Universal Suffrage in 2012.
China worlds top gold producer since 2007. South Africa which held top position for 100 years.
Vital Information
Dalai Lama from Tibet got Nobel Peace Prize in 1989.
China is the 3rd country of the world that approached to space on 15 Oct 2003. Col. Young Leiwi went
to space from Gobei desert.
Chichuan Province where F-17 Thunder are being made with the coordination of Pakistani and Chinese
engineers.
Official Language of China is Mandarin that is most spoken language in the world.
Sino- the study of China
1st Oct 1949, 60th freedom Day was on 1st Oct 2009.
Hong Kong got back from the UK on 31 Dec 1999.
Highest Railway Line Qinghai to Tibet. Its height is 5072 m and length 1340 km.
Chineses Parliament is the largest parliament in world. Its name is National Peoples Congress having
2900 members.
Population is 1,25,000,000. And its area is 95,96,960 Sq Km.
Spartley Islands are disputed among Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan.
Economy - overview:
China's economy during the past 30 years has changed from a centrally planned system that was largely
closed to international trade to a more market-oriented economy that has a rapidly growing private sector
and is a major player in the global economy. Reforms started in the late 1970s with the phasing out of
collectivized agriculture, and expanded to include the gradual liberalization of prices, fiscal decentralization,
increased autonomy for state enterprises, the foundation of a diversified banking system, the development
of stock markets, the rapid growth of the non-state sector, and the opening to foreign trade and
investment.
GDP - real growth rate
8.4% (2009 est.)
9% (2008 est.)
13% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita
$6,500 (2009 est.)
$6,100 (2008 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 10.9%
industry: 48.6%
services: 40.5% (2009 est.)

Labor force
812.7 million (2009 est.)
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture: 39.5%
industry: 27.2%
services: 33.2% (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate
4.3% (September 2009 est.)
4.2% (2008 est.)
Budget
revenues: $972.3 billion
expenditures: $1.137 trillion (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
-0.8% (2009 est.)
5.9% (2008 est.)
Central bank discount rate
2.79% (31 December 2008)
3.33% (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares
$2.794 trillion (31 December 2008)
Agriculture - products
rice, wheat, potatoes, corn, peanuts, tea, millet, barley, apples, cotton, oilseed; pork; fish
Industries
mining and ore processing, iron, steel, aluminum, and other metals, coal; machine building; armaments;
textiles and apparel; petroleum; cement; chemicals; fertilizers; consumer products, including footwear,
toys, and electronics; food processing; transportation equipment, including automobiles, rail cars and
locomotives, ships, and aircraft; telecommunications equipment, commercial space launch vehicles,
satellites
Industrial production growth rate
8.1% (2009 est.)
Electricity - production
3.451 trillion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports
3.842 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - consumption
7.999 million bbl/day (2008 est.)
Oil - exports

388,000 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - proved reserves
15.55 billion bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves
2.46 trillion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
Current account balance
$296.2 billion (2009 est.)
$426.1 billion (2008 est.)
Exports
$1.194 trillion (2009 est.)
$1.429 trillion (2008 est.)
Exports - commodities
Electrical and other machinery, including data processing equipment, apparel, textiles, iron and steel,
optical and medical equipment.
Exports - partners
US 17.7%, Hong Kong 13.3%, Japan 8.1%, South Korea 5.2%, Germany 4.1% (2008)
Imports
$921.5 billion (2009 est.)
$1.131 trillion (2008 est.)
Imports - commodities
Electrical and other machinery, oil and mineral fuels, optical and medical equipment, metal ores, plastics,
organic chemicals etc.
Imports - partners
Japan 13.3%, South Korea 9.9%, US 7.2%, Germany 4.9% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$2.206 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)
$1.955 trillion (31 December 2008 est.)
Debt - external
$347.1 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
$400.6 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home
$576.1 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
$758.9 billion (2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad
$227.3 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
$184 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

Abdul Rasheed