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'''China''' is the world's largest country by population, and the fastest growing. It has strong traditions dating back thousands of years, yet had dramatically transformed itself from a poor backward country 40 years ago to the world's economic dynamo.  The official name is the '''People's Republic of China''' (PRC). It is a [[Chinese Communist Party]]-controlled nation encompassing mainland China. The PRC claims [[Taiwan]] (i.e., the island of [[Formosa]]) as a PRC province, although the [[Republic of China]] maintains its sovereignty.  

'''China''' is the world's largest country by population and formerly the fastest growing. It has strong traditions dating back thousands of years, yet had dramatically transformed itself from a poor backward country 40 years ago to the world's economic dynamo.  The official name is the '''People's Republic of China''' (PRC). It is a [[Chinese Communist Party]]-controlled nation encompassing mainland China. The PRC claims [[Taiwan]] (i.e., the island of [[Formosa]]) as a PRC province, although the [[Republic of China]] maintains its sovereignty.  

[[Hong Kong]] was transferred back to Chinese control by the [[United Kingdom]] in 1997, and [[Macau]] was handed over by [[Portugal]] in 1999. Both territories are now [[Special Administrative Region]]s and have autonomy over local affairs. Since the 1950s China has increasing asserted brutal control over [[Tibet]].

[[Hong Kong]] was transferred back to Chinese control by the [[United Kingdom]] in 1997, and [[Macau]] was handed over by [[Portugal]] in 1999. Both territories are now [[Special Administrative Region]]s and have autonomy over local affairs. Since the 1950s China has increasing asserted brutal control over [[Tibet]].

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The largest ethnic group is the Han Chinese, who constitute about 91.9% of the total population. The remaining 8.1% are Zhuang (16 million), Manchu (10 million), Hui (9 million), Miao (8 million), Uygur (7 million), Yi (7 million), Mongolian (5 million), Tibetan (5 million), Buyi (3 million), Korean (2 million), and other ethnic minorities.  

The largest ethnic group is the Han Chinese, who constitute about 71.9% of the total population. The remaining 28.1% are Cantonese (80 million), Zhuang (16 million), Manchu (10 million), Hui (9 million), Miao (8 million), Uygur (7 million), Yi (7 million), Mongolian (5 million), Tibetan (5 million), Buyi (3 million), Korean (2 million), and other ethnic minorities.  

===Language===

===Language===

There are seven major Chinese dialects and many subdialects. Mandarin (or Putonghua), the predominant dialect, is spoken by over 70% of the population. It is taught in all schools and is the medium of government. About two-thirds of the Han ethnic group are native speakers of Mandarin; the rest, concentrated in south and southeast China, speak one of the six other major Chinese dialects. Non-Chinese languages spoken widely by ethnic minorities include Mongolian, Tibetan, Uygur and other Turkic languages (in Xinjiang), and Korean (in the northeast).  

There are two major Chinese languages and many subdialects. Mandarin (or Putonghua), the predominant language, is spoken by over 70% of the population. It is taught in all schools and is the language of government. About three-quarters of the Han ethnic group are native speakers of Mandarin; the rest, concentrated in central Eastern China, speak a Wu language. Non-Chinese languages spoken widely by ethnic minorities include Cantonese, Hakka, Hokkien, Mongolian, Tibetan, Uygur and other Turkic languages (in Xinjiang), and Korean (in the northeast).  

====The Pinyin System of Romanization====

====The Pinyin System of Romanization====