Interesting Facts About China

• China has the highest population in the world with 1.26 billion people, which is one fifth of the world’s total.  This does not include Hong Kong, Taiwan and other special regions.
   
• Two-thirds of China is mountainous or desert.
   
• China’s capital is Beijing (11 million people).  The largest city is Shanghai (13 million people).
   
• China’s official language is Mandarin.  However, China has 56 ethnic groups.  All have their own spoken and written languages, except for the Hui, Manchu and Han people who have the same.
   
• The top eight Chinese last names are Zhao, Zhou, Qian, Wu, Sun, Zheng, Li, and Wang. Many Western countries have a short list of popular first names but countless last names. The reverse is true in China, where the last name list is short, and the number of first names seems unending.

 
Milestones  

Confucious Born	551 B.C.
Great Wall Construction Begins	403 B.C.
Tsingtao Brewery Founded	1903
Nixon Visits China	1972
Tsingtao Beer Launched in U.S.	1972
China Wins 2008 Olympic Bid	2001
Tsingtao Brewery Celebrates 100th Anniversary	2003

 
Look For More Information at the Locations:

www.tsingtao.com.cn
For more detailed information about the Tsingtao Brewery, here’s the brewery’s own website.

www.sina.com  
For the latest news in politics, business, and leisure of mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan.

www.china.com  
A good resource for mainland China news, as well as travel and cultural information.

www.chinaonline.com  
To obtain updates on China new business and culture.