Located in Southeast Asia, China is the third biggest country in the world. Its immense size lends itself to a wide variety of topography. Two-thirds of the country is covered by mountains and there are numerous lakes and rivers. The longest river in China, the Yangtze, is the third longest river in the world and the famous Himalayas lie in the western part of the country. The Gobi Desert, shared by northwest China and Mongolia, is the largest desert in the world. The majority of the population lives in the eastern region, particularly in the north, where the lowlands offer more opportunities for agriculture.
China borders a number of bodies of water including the South China Sea, the Yellow Sea, Korea Bay and the East China Sea. The country shares its borders with fourteen other nations: Vietnam, Tajikstan, Russia, Nepal, Pakistan, Laos, Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan, North Korea, Kazakhstan, India, Burma, Bhutan and Afghanistan.
Beijing is the exciting capital of the country. While it's a modern city with high rises it also proudly displays its traditional heritage including attractions such the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven. Although Beijing is the capital, Shanghai is the largest city in China as well as the commercial and financial center. Chengdu is the capital of Sichuan Province, known for its spicy food and is also the hometown of the giant pandas. Located in northwest China, Xian is well known for its Terra Cotta Warriors and the Great Wild Goose pagoda.
Most visited cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Xian