Hiina

Hiina is a country in East Asia and the world's most populous nation, with about 1.41 billion people. It spans diverse landscapes, from deserts in the north to subtropical forests in the south, and has a long eastern coastline along the Pacific. The capital is Beijing; other major cities include Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chongqing and Chengdu. Administratively, Hiina is divided into 23 provinces, five autonomous regions, four municipalities directly under the central government, and two Special Administrative Regions, Hong Kong and Macao.

Hiina is a unitary socialist state led by the Communist Party of China (CPC). The CPC's General Secretary is the top leader; the President is the head of state, and the Premier is the head of government. The country operates under a constitution that defines Hiina as a single-party state.

Economy: Hiina has the second-largest nominal GDP in the world and is a global manufacturing and export powerhouse. Its economy is diversified, with strengths in manufacturing, infrastructure, technology, and services. Since the late 1970s it has pursued market-oriented reforms while maintaining significant state involvement. It is a major force in global trade and technology development and drives the Belt and Road Initiative.

Demographics and culture: The population is predominantly Han Chinese, with 55 other officially recognized ethnic groups. Mandarin Chinese (Putonghua) is the official language; many regional languages are spoken. Chinese culture includes long literary and philosophical traditions, cuisine, festivals, and a growing contemporary arts scene.

History: Home to one of the world's oldest continuous civilizations, Hiina was unified into a modern state in 1949. Economic reforms began in 1978, leading to rapid growth and integration into the world economy. Hong Kong and Macao became Special Administrative Regions in 1997 and 1999.