Geography: Eastern Asia, bordering the East
China Sea, Korea Bay, Yellow Sea, and South China Sea, between North Korea and
Vietnam.
Climate: Extremely diverse; tropical in
south to subarctic in north.
Languages: Standard Chinese or Mandarin
(Putonghua, based on the Beijing dialect), Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghaiese),
Minbei (Fuzhou), Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects,
minority languages (see Ethnic groups entry).
Currency: Yuan (CNY); note - also referred to
as the Renminbi (RMB).
For Education placement the school terms are approximately: March - July & September - middle January.
