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even as massive construction efforts are ongoing. The people, especially the younger
ones, are extremely helpful and friendly, and virtually everyone (including cab drivers
and street-side vendors) is exceedingly honest. The language barrier is severe,
though, and without Keith’s assiduous efforts with the English-Mandarin dictionary, we
would have been literally unable to function. To be connected to each destination's
webpage, please click on the photos below, or use the navigation bars at the
top and bottom of this page.
China
Area: 9.59 million sq km
Population: 1.28 billion
Capital City: Beijing (pop 12.6 million)
People: Han Chinese (93%), plus 55 ethnic
minorities
Language: Cantonese, Mandarin
Religion: Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism
(no stats available); Muslim (14 million),
Christian (7 million)
Government: Communist republic
Head of State: President Hu Jintao
GDP: US$4.5 trillion
GDP per capita: US$3,600
Inflation: 2.8%
Major Industries: Iron, steel, coal,
machinery, automobiles, petrolium,
chemicals, telecommunications, textiles
Major Trading Partners: USA, Japan,
Germany, South Korea, Taiwan
