Capital of China: Beijing — Facts & 5-Question Quiz
The capital of China is Beijing. China sits in Asia, has a population of 1,425,887,337, and uses the CNY. Official languages include Mandarin.
Quick facts
- Capital: Beijing
- Continent: Asia
- Population: ~1,425,887,337
- Area: 9,596,961 km²
- Population density: 149 people per km²
- Official language: Mandarin
- Currency: CNY
- ISO code: CN
How big is China?
By population, China ranks 1st in the world, holding roughly 17.93% of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 4th.
Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. China has 149 people per square kilometre, which is about 2.5 times the world average of 59.4. It is more crowded than its size alone would suggest.
Within Asia, China is the most populous country of 48.
Countries of a similar size
The two countries closest to China in population are India (1,417,173,173) and United States (333,287,557).
By land area, its closest counterparts are United States (9,833,517 km²) and Canada (9,984,670 km²).
Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.
Language and currency
Mandarin is spoken officially in 3 countries in this dataset, including Singapore and Taiwan.
China uses the CNY, and it is the only country that does, which makes the currency name a reliable one-to-one clue.
How to remember China
Beijing is in the north of China, and its name means 'northern capital'. For the flag, picture one big star with four small stars each pointing towards its centre, all in the top corner.
The flag of China: red and yellow
🇨🇳 The flag is a red flag with one large yellow five-pointed star and four smaller yellow stars in an arc around it, in the top corner by the flagpole. Red represents the Communist Revolution. When the flag was designed, the large star stood for the Communist Party and the four small stars for four social classes of China.
Region and neighbours
China is a very large country in East Asia, with the Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau in the west and a long coast on seas of the Pacific Ocean in the east. It shares land borders with 14 countries: Mongolia, Russia, North Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, India, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.
- Mongolia 🇲🇳 — capital Ulaanbaatar
- Russia 🇷🇺 — capital Moscow
- North Korea 🇰🇵 — capital Pyongyang
- Vietnam 🇻🇳 — capital Hanoi
- Laos 🇱🇦 — capital Vientiane
- Myanmar 🇲🇲 — capital Naypyidaw
- India 🇮🇳 — capital New Delhi
- Bhutan 🇧🇹 — capital Thimphu
- Nepal 🇳🇵 — capital Kathmandu
- Pakistan 🇵🇰 — capital Islamabad
- Afghanistan 🇦🇫 — capital Kabul
- Tajikistan 🇹🇯 — capital Dushanbe
- Kyrgyzstan 🇰🇬 — capital Bishkek
- Kazakhstan 🇰🇿 — capital Astana
Three facts about China
- China is the world's second-most populous country after India, with more than 1.4 billion people.
- China's 60 World Heritage Sites include the Great Wall and the Grand Canal.
- Mount Everest, on China's border with Nepal, is the highest point on Earth.
Sources: Wikipedia: China, Wikipedia: Flag of China, Wikipedia: Beijing, CIA World Factbook.
Quiz yourself on China
- Asian capitals quiz — match China to Beijing
- Asian flags quiz — spot the China flag among its neighbours
China capital quiz
What is the capital of China 🇨🇳?
- Dhaka
- Astana
- Yerevan
- Beijing
Show answer
Beijing
What is the capital of India 🇮🇳?
- Malé
- Pyongyang
- New Delhi
- Jerusalem
Show answer
New Delhi
What is the capital of Indonesia 🇮🇩?
- Naypyidaw
- Beijing
- Abu Dhabi
- Jakarta
Show answer
Jakarta
What is the capital of Pakistan 🇵🇰?
- Thimphu
- Abu Dhabi
- Islamabad
- Bishkek
Show answer
Islamabad
What is the capital of Bangladesh 🇧🇩?
- Jakarta
- Dhaka
- Dili
- Baku
Show answer
Dhaka
China in Asia
The largest countries by population sharing this continent are India, Indonesia, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — Asia is the block China belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.
Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for China.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of China?
The capital of China is Beijing.
What is the population of China?
About 1,425,887,337, making it the 1st most populous country in the world.
How big is China?
9,596,961 square kilometres, ranking 4th by land area, at a density of 149 people per square kilometre.
What currency does China use?
The CNY, which no other country uses.
What are the colours of the China flag?
The flag of China is a red flag with one large yellow five-pointed star and four smaller yellow stars in an arc around it, in the top corner by the flagpole. Red represents the Communist Revolution. When the flag was designed, the large star stood for the Communist Party and the four small stars for four social classes of China.
Which countries border China?
China shares land borders with Mongolia, Russia, North Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, India, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.
How can I remember the capital of China?
Beijing is in the north of China, and its name means 'northern capital'. For the flag, picture one big star with four small stars each pointing towards its centre, all in the top corner.
More capitals to learn
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