China

China (Chinese: 中国; pinyin: Zhōngguó), officially the People's Republic of China (PRC; Chinese: 中华人民共和国; pinyin: Zhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country with a population exceeding 1.4 billion people. China spans five geographical time zones and borders fourteen countries by land, the most of any country in the world, tied with Russia. China also has a narrow maritime boundary with disputed Taiwan. It is the world's third or fourth largest country, covering an area of approximately 9.6 million square kilometers (3,700,000 sq mi). The country consists of 22 provinces, five autonomous regions, four municipalities, and two Special Administrative Regions (Hong Kong and Macau). The national capital is Beijing, and Shanghai's most populous city and financial center.

Modern Chinese trace their origins to a cradle of civilization in the fertile basin of the Yellow River in the North China Plain. The semi-legendary Xia dynasty in the 21st century BCE and the well-attested Shang and Zhou dynasties developed a bureaucratic political system to serve hereditary monarchies or dynasties. Chinese writing, classic literature, and the Hundred Schools of Thought emerged during this period and influenced China and its neighbors for centuries. In the third century BCE, Qin's wars of unification created the first Chinese empire, the short-lived Qin dynasty. The Qin was followed by the more stable Han dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE), which established a model for nearly two millennia in which the Chinese empire was one of the world's foremost economic powers. The empire expanded, fractured, and re-unified was conquered and reestablished, absorbed foreign religions and ideas, and made world-leading scientific advances, such as the Four Great Inventions: gunpowder, paper, the compass, and printing. After centuries of disunion following the fall of the Han, the Sui (581–618) and Tang (618–907) dynasties reunified the empire. The multi-ethnic Tang welcomed foreign trade and culture that came over the Silk Road and adapted Buddhism to Chinese needs. The early modern Song dynasty (960–1279) became increasingly urban and commercial. The civilian scholar-official or literati used the examination system and the doctrines of Neo-Confucianism to replace the military aristocrats of earlier dynasties. The Mongol invasion established the Yuan dynasty in 1279, but the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) re-established Han Chinese control. The Manchu-led Qing dynasty nearly doubled the empire's territory and established a multi-ethnic state that was the basis of the modern Chinese nation but suffered heavy losses to foreign imperialism in the 19th century.

The Chinese monarchy collapsed in 1912 with the Xinhai Revolution, when the Republic of China (ROC) replaced the Qing dynasty. In its early years of the Republic, the country became unstable known as the Warlord Era before reunifying the nation in 1928 under the nationalist government while the alliance between the Kuomintang (KMT) and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) had fallen apart that led to a civil war that lasted two decades. Japan invaded China in 1937, starting the Second Sino-Japanese War and temporarily halting the civil war. The surrender and expulsion of Japanese forces from China in 1945 left a power vacuum in the country, which led to renewed fighting between the CCP and the Kuomintang. The civil war ended in 1949with the division of Chinese territory; the CCP established the People's Republic of China on the mainland while the Kuomintang-led ROC government retreated to the island of Taiwan. Both claimed to be the sole legitimate government of China, although the United Nations has recognized the PRC as the sole representation since 1971. From 1959 to 1961, the PRC implemented an economic and social campaign called the Great Leap Forward that resulted in an estimated 15 to 55 million deaths, mostly through starvation. China conducted a series of economic reforms in 1978 and entered into the World Trade Organization in 2001.

China is currently governed as a unitary one-party socialist republic by the CCP. China is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and a founding member of several multilateral and regional cooperation organizations such as the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the Silk Road Fund, the New Development Bank, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, and the RCEP, and is a member of the BRICS, the G8+5, the G20, the APEC, and the East Asia Summit. It ranks among the lowest in international measurements of civil liberties, government transparency, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, and ethnic minorities. The Chinese authorities have been criticized by political dissidents and human rights activists for widespread human rights abuses, including political repression, mass censorship, mass surveillance of their citizens, and violent suppression of protests.

Economy

China is the world's largest economy by GDP by purchasing power parity, the second-largest economy by nominal GDP, and the second-wealthiest country. The country is one of the fastest growing major economies and is the world's largest manufacturer and exporter. China is a recognized nuclear-weapon state with the world's largest standing army by military personnel and second-largest defense budget. China is considered to be a potential superpower due to its large markets, growing military strength, economic potential, and influence in international affairs.

As of 2020, China was second in the world, after the US, in of the total number of billionaires and total number of millionaires, with 698 Chinese billionaires and 4.4 million millionaires. In 2019, China overtook the US as the home to the highest number of people who have a net personal wealth of at least $110,000, according to the global wealth report by Credit Suisse. According to the Hurun Global Rich List 2020, China is home to five of the world's top ten cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou in the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 10th spots, respectively) by the highest number of billionaires, which is more than any other country. China had 85 female billionaires as of January 2021, two-thirds of the global total, and minted 24 new female billionaires in 2020.

However, it ranks behind over 60 countries (out of around 180) in per capita economic output, making it an upper-middle income country. According to the IMF, on a per capita income basis among countries with a large population of over 100 million as of 2021, China ranked 3rd by GDP per capita (nominal) and 5th by GDP per capita (PPP). Additionally, its development is highly uneven. Its major cities and coastal areas are far more prosperous compared to rural and interior regions. China brought more people out of extreme poverty than any other country in history—between 1978 and 2018, China reduced extreme poverty by 800 million. China reduced the extreme poverty rate—per international standard, it refers to an income of less than $1.90/day—from 88% in 1981 to 1.85% by 2013. According to the World Bank, the number of Chinese in extreme poverty fell from 756 million to 25 million between 1990 and 2013. The portion of people in China living below the international poverty line of $1.90 per day (2011 PPP) fell to 0.3% in 2018 from 66.3% in 1990. Using the lower-middle income poverty line of $3.20 per day, the portion fell to 2.9% in 2018 from 90.0% in 1990. Using the upper-middle income poverty line of $5.50 per day, the portion fell to 17.0% from 98.3% in 1990.

China’s Top 10 Exports

The following export product groups categorize the highest dollar value in Chinese global shipments during 2021. Also shown is the percentage share each export category represents in terms of overall exports from China.

• Electrical machinery, and equipment: US$804.5 billion (26.6% of total exports)
• Machinery including computers: $492.3 billion (16.3%)
• Furniture, bedding, lighting, signs, prefabricated buildings: $126.3 billion (4.2%)
• Plastics, plastic articles: $118.1 billion (3.9%)
• Vehicles: $108.9 billion (3.6%)
• Toys, games: $94 billion (3.1%)
• Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $88.8 billion (2.9%)
• Articles of iron or steel: $85.4 billion (2.8%)
• Knit or crochet clothing, and accessories: $78.2 billion (2.6%)
• Organic chemicals: $73 billion (2.4%)

China’s top 10 exports accounted for over two-thirds (68.4%) of the overall value of its global shipments.

China’s Top 10 Imports

The following product groups represent the highest dollar value in China’s import purchases during 2021. Also shown is the percentage share each product category represents in terms of overall imports into China.

• Electrical machinery, and equipment: US$604.5 billion (24.8% of total imports)
• Mineral fuels including oil: $357.7 billion (14.7%)
• Ores, slag, ash: $254.6 billion (10.4%)
• Machinery including computers: $210.9 billion (8.6%)
• Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $99.7 billion (4.1%)
• Vehicles: $80.1 billion (3.3%)
• Plastics, plastic articles: $75.7 billion (3.1%)
• Gems, precious metals: $71 billion (2.9%)
• Copper: $58.9 billion (2.4%)
• Organic chemicals: $54.9 billion (2.3%)

China’s top 10 imports account for over three-quarters (76.6%) of the overall value of its product purchases from other countries.

Major ports in China

Port of Shanghai

Shanghai Province

UN/LOCODE: CN-SGH

Container traffic in 2019: 43.3 million TEU

Cargo tonnage in 2019: 514 million tons

Operational since 1842 as a treaty port, Shanghai port is the largest port in China and the world. It had consistently topped the rankings since 2010 when it overtook the Port of Singapore.

Owing to the sheer volume of trade through this port and its effect on the local population, Shanghai has been designated as one of the four large port megacities across the globe. It is a deep-sea and riverine port.

 Port of Shenzhen

Guangdong Province

UN/LOCODE: CN-SNZ

Container traffic in 2018: 27.7 million TEU

Cargo tonnage in 2018: 194.9 million tons

Shenzhen is ranked 2nd nationally and 3rd globally in cargo thoroughfare, a naturally protected harbor in the Pear River area.

Formed by several smaller ports, it is one of the most evolving ports in the region.

Port of Ningbo-Zhoushan

Zhejiang Province

UN/LOCODE: CN-NBO and CN_ZOS

Container traffic in 2018: 26.4 million TEU

Cargo tonnage in 2018: 1.12 billion tons

Shipping over 1 billion tons of cargo annually is the busiest port globally for cargo. Comprised of the ports of Ningbo and Zhoushan, this port lies on the East coast across Shanghai on Hangzhou Bay. It is well connected via waterways, rail, and roads to interior China. The port is owned and managed by the Ningbo Zhoushan Port Group Co. The merger between the two neighboring ports was in 2006, and it overtook the leading port of Shanghai in 2012 (in terms of cargo). The port is connected to 90 countries and 560 ports. It serves as a multi-purpose port with nearly 200 berths, of which about 40 can process ships over 10,000 DWT.

Port of Guangzhou

Guangdong Province

UN/LOCODE: CN-GGZ

Container traffic in 2018: 21.9 million TEU

Cargo tonnage in 2018: 600 million tons

One of the busiest ports in mainland China, Guangzhou, is a seaport on the Pearl River Delta. It is managed by the Guangzhou Port Group Company, the largest Southern port in China. It trades with over 80 nations and 300 ports. It merged with the regional Huangpu seaport, making it one of the largest comprehensive ports.

The port is well connected with rail, road, air, and inland waterway connections. It lies on the rivers of Dongjiang, Beijiang, and Xijiang and is connected to the industrial hubs surrounding it.

The port is endowed with over 4,500 berths and 2400 anchorage points. The port is close to the base for Nansha Wetland Park. Large storage spaces, bonded warehouses, customs checkpoints, and logistics centers exist. The commonly shipped goods include agricultural produce, foodstuff, industrial goods, machinery, oil, fertilizers, steel ore, minerals, automobile parts, etc.

Port of Hong Kong

Hong Kong – Special Administrative Region

UN/LOCODE: HK-HKG

Container traffic in 2018: 19.6 million

Cargo tonnage in 2018: 258.5 million tons

Hong Kong is a major deep-water seaport located in the Victoria Harbor of South China. It is one of the world’s largest and busiest ports. Although part of China, its administration treats Hong Kong as a special region. the region is famous for being a financial and commercial hub. For this reason, Hong Kong has expanded from a small fishing village to one of the top ports in the world. It is under the management of the Port Operations Committee of Hong Kong. It receives nearly 0.5 million vessels annually, over 250 million tons of cargo, and over 25 million passengers. It has one of the lowest turn-around times in the region, with an average of 10 hours for container vessels and 47 hours for tankers anchored off-site. The main container terminals are Kwai Chung, Tuen Mun, Stonecutters Island, and Tsing Yi.

Port of Qingdao

Shandong Province

UN/LOCODE: CN-QIN

Container traffic in 2018: 18.26 million TEU

Cargo tonnage in 2018: 600 million tons

Located on the Yellow Sea, Qingdao is ranked 8th globally in traffic and is a major seaport in Eastern China. It is only topped by two other Asian ports- Busan and Singapore. Qingdao serves a large portion of vessels from Eastern China and is mainly directed at nations in the Pacific region, such as Japan, South Korea, the Americas, and Russia. It carries out trade across 130 countries and over 450 ports. It also owns stakes in the Italian Vado Gateway Terminal. Qingdao harbor is divided into four zones which function as autonomous ports. Dagang and Qianwan handle cargo and container traffic. The Guangdong Port is primarily for oil and petroleum tankers. The last zone of Dongjiakou is located away from the city and other ports. The port deals in containers, cargo, and iron ore. The container terminals are mainly the Qingdao Qianwan and Gosport Terminals. While Qianwan primarily deals in domestic containers, the Qingdao Gosport is an international terminal. The Qingdao port also has a large facility for handling iron ore shipments.

Port of Tianjin

Tianjin Municipality

UN/LOCODE: CN-TXG or CN-TSN or CN-TNJ

Container traffic in 2018: 15.97 million TEU

Cargo tonnage in 2018: 428.7 million tons

As the largest port in the Northern region, Tianjin harbor is a major deep-sea and riverine port in China. Known as the Port of Tanggu, Tianjin is the largest artificial harbor in China and is the primary maritime route to the capital- Beijing.

Like many regional ports, Tianjin lies near Bohai Bay along the Haihe River. It is one of the largest ports in the world, covering over 120 sq kilometers. The port is owned by the Tianjin State-Owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (Tianjin SASAC) and operated by the Tianjin Port Group (TPG).

Port of Dalian

Liaodong Province

UN/LOCODE: CN-DAL

Container traffic in 2018: 9.77 million TEU

Cargo tonnage in 2017: 455 million tons

The Northern port of Dalian is a major seaport that serves much of the Pacific coastline. It handles a large portion of container and cargo traffic from the Pacific Rim nations to North and Eastern Asia. Situated on the Bohai Sea and the Yellow Sea, it is a deep-water port that is the 2nd largest transshipment hub on the Chinese mainland. It services vessels from over 160 different nations across 300 ports. Dalian port has been operational since 1899. The Dalian Port Corporation manages it.

Container trade began in 1972 and was the first port to handle international container shipments from China. The main port has smaller zones of Daliangang, Dalianwan, Ganjinzi, Dayaowan, etc. The major routes operational through Dalian are 68 international container routes. However, Dalian primarily receives a majority of revenue through its domestic loads of cargo and minerals. The Yingkou and Dalian ports have signed an agreement to integrate port management.

Port of Xiamen

Fujiang Province

UN/LOCODE: CN-XAM

Container traffic in 2018: 10.7 million TEU

Cargo tonnage in 2018: 218 million tons

Located on Xiamen island along the Jiulongjiang river, Xiamen is a deep-sea port ranked 17th in the world in terms of cargo thoroughfare. It is one of the few ports that can process 6th-generation ships and mega vessels. Xiamen is managed by the Xiamen Port Authority and is majority-owned by the Xiamen Municipal Government. It was merged with the Port of Zhangzhou in 2010, making it one of the largest ports in the world. It is currently the largest port in South-East China. The port operates across 12 different zones with a combined 74 berths. Of these, nine are dedicated container handling terminals, while the rest are for cargo. The average cargo handling tonnage of these berths is 10,000, although there are also berths that can process 100,000 tons. The average anchorage depth is 17 meters, and the port spans over 30 kilometers of the harbor. Some operational zones include Heping, Haitian, Liwudian, and Dongdu.

Port of Yingkou

Liaoning Province

UN/LOCODE: CN-YIK

Container traffic in 2018: 6.5 million TEU

Cargo tonnage in 2018: 21 million tons

Despite being one of the smallest ports in China, Yingkou Harbor is larger than the top ports of other nations. Managed by the Yingkou Port Group Corporation for the Republic, this port operates 27 berths and numerous smaller piers and docks. The main imports here are coal, steel, automobiles, and grain. The primary exports are containerized goods, machinery parts, mass-produced goods, electronics, and foodstuff.

The port is divided into two working zones- the Old Yingkou Port on the Daliao river and the Bayuquan Port on the Bohai Sea. The seaport offers services to incoming ships, including loading, pipeline transportation, pilotage, communication vessels, and transportation through road and rail. The main Bayuquan container terminal was jointly built by the port authorities and the Chinese Shipping Corporation (COSCO).