Fast Facts About China 243Everest, weather patterns vary with region. In general, the
south of China is semi-tropical with hot, humid summers.
Eastern China has hot and humid summers, with winters
near freezing. Northern China is dry, hot in the summer
and extremely cold in the winter. Inner Mongolia winter
temperatures can reach lows of –40°C (–40°F). Much of
North-west China is desert and mountains.
Population
1,330,141,295 (July 2010 est.)
Language and Dialects
The official language is Mandarin, however there are a variety
of regional dialects spoken across China. Major dialects
spoken include Cantonese, Shanghainese, Fuzhou, Hokkien-
Taiwanese, Xiang, Gan and Hakka dialects. English is not
commonly spoken in China, although it is a newly required
subject for schoolchildren.
Religion
China’s main religions are Buddhism and Taoism. Secondary
religions are Islam, Christianity and Judaism. Must Muslims
are found in Xinjiang. China’s largest Jewish population is
in Kaifeng, Henan Province. Christians form 1 per cent of
the Chinese.
Government Type
Communist State
Currency
The Renminbi (Rmb), also referred to as the yuan (Cny), is
the official currency in China.
Industries
China’s main industries are 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