China is an economic powerhouse with the second largest economy in the world. Located in Eastern Asia, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) sprawls over nearly 3.7 million square miles, making the country the fourth largest in the world by land area. It is also the most populous country in the world with over 1.3 billion people, but a population density of only 143 people per square kilometer.

China has become more urbanized, educated and older, which has helped slow population growth to 0.5 percent, about half the rate of growth in the previous decade.

The Communist Party of China governs the country from its capital, Beijing. China is divided into 23 provinces, five autonomous regions, four municipalities and two Special Administrative Regions (SARs), Hong Kong and Macau. Both have their own currency, legal system and parliamentary system.

China may be a global economic powerhouse with gleaming new megacities, but its culture is still rooted primarily in family, although traditional family structures are beginning to change.

Many parents still live with their children and provide free childcare for their grandchildren so their children can work and support the household. But that extended family way of life is beginning to change for a number of reasons.

The increasing wage gap between the rich and poor is forcing many to wait longer to get married. Women also are now entering the workforce at higher rates than ever to help support their families. Even more importantly, economic pressures have had an impact on many young Chinese who are putting off marriage or having children until they have acquired enough money to ensure their financial security.

Economic progress during the last twenty years has increased the living standard for many Chinese who now have a wide range of consumer products to choose from. China’s increasingly open society and exposure to the world outside its borders are creating a more cosmopolitan lifestyle in the cities with emphasis on arts and culture, although censorship is still common.