China

China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the world's second-most populous country after India, representing 17.4% of the world population. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and borders fourteen countries by land. With an area of nearly 9.6 million square kilometers (3,700,000 sq mi), it is the third-largest country by total land area. The country is divided into 33 province-level divisions: 22 provinces, five autonomous regions, four municipalities, and two semi-autonomous special administrative regions. Beijing is the country's capital, while Shanghai is its most populous city by urban area and largest financial center.

Some of the key events about China

105 CE
Paper was invented, revolutionizing communication and record-keeping
221 BCE
The Qin Dynasty unified China, establishing the first imperial dynasty
618 CE
The Tang Dynasty began, ushering in a golden age of arts and culture
1088 CE
The world's first permanent university, Yuelu Academy, was established
1271 CE
The Yuan Dynasty was founded, initiating extensive trade along the Silk Road
1368 CE
The Ming Dynasty commenced, known for its economic prosperity and cultural achievements
1750 CE
China became the world's largest economy, producing 33% of global GDP
1958
The Great Leap Forward campaign led to widespread famine and millions of deaths
1966
The Cultural Revolution began, causing social and political upheaval for a decade
1976
A devastating earthquake struck Tangshan, killing hundreds of thousands
1978 CE
Economic reforms were launched, leading to rapid modernization and growth
1989
The Tiananmen Square protests were violently suppressed by the government
1998
Severe flooding of the Yangtze River resulted in thousands of deaths and massive economic losses
2001 CE
China joined the World Trade Organization, further integrating into the global economy
2003 CE
China successfully launched its first manned space mission, Shenzhou 5
2003
The SARS epidemic originated in southern China, spreading globally and causing economic disruption
2008
A major earthquake in Sichuan province killed tens of thousands and left millions homeless
2015
A series of explosions at a chemical storage facility in Tianjin killed over 170 people
2019
The COVID-19 pandemic originated in Wuhan, leading to a global health crisis
2022
Strict "zero-COVID" policies led to widespread lockdowns and economic disruption

Disclaimer: This material is written based on information taken from open sources, including Wikipedia, news media, podcasts, and other public sources.