China's History

In addition to the 22 provinces, 5 autonomous regions, 4 municipalities (Chongqing, Beijing, Shanghai, and Tianjin), and 2 special administrative areas (Hong Kong and Macau), China has a total of 33 administrative units directly under the central government. Taiwan provides information about the province of Taiwan, an island that has been independently governed since 1949. Beijing (Peking) is the capital and cultural, economic, and communications hub of the People's Republic of China. Shanghai is the economic centre, whereas Hong Kong is the port and commercial hub. There is a vast and varied landmass contained inside China's borders. Including both the highest and one of the lowest points on Earth, its landscape features a wide range of relief, from nearly impenetrable alpine terrain to huge coastal lowlands. China has the largest temperature disparity between its northern and southern borders of any country in the world, with a desert-like climate in the north-west and a tropical monsoon in the south-east.