China Fast Facts

Chinese civilization of 5000 years is one of the oldest and richest in the world.
Chinese is the language spoken by the largest population in the world.
Chinese is one of the few languages which remain pictographic. Chinese calligraphy is a form of art.
Chinese is named one of the four "crucial languages" for Americans.

⊕Largest population in the world at 1.3 billion
⊕Land mass of 3,705,822 sq. miles (3rd largest country in the world)
⊕More than 200 million people in China are studying English
⊕More copies of The Quotations of Chairman Mao have been sold than any book except the Bible
⊕One of the fastest growing economies in the world
⊕Manufactures 33% of the world's goods with its chief products being cement, chemicals, cloths and clothing, iron and steel, machinery, and foods
⊕2nd in oil consumption behind the United States
⊕Largest consumer of grain, meat, coal and steel
⊕Represents over 12% of the world economy
⊕Contributes 1/4 of total global GDP growth
⊕China's three most popular surnames-Li, Wang and Zhang-are shared by 270 million Chinese, equal to the entire population of the United States
⊕China manufactures more than 70% of the world's toys