China is the third largest country in the world with a surface area of 9,6 million square kilometers. It has a population of approx. 1,3 million inhabitants. 92% of the Chinese belong to the Han-clan, and the remaining 8% to smaller groups that live in the north, west and southwest of the country.
The official language in China is Mandarin, however, there are many dialekts spoken. Every fifth citizen on the earth is Chinese, and Chinese is the most common language spoken in the world. Due to the rapidly developing economy and its marketing potential, this language will become more and more important in the future.

China is a country full of opposites and contradictions with many cultural values. As a visitor to China you can expect a country that has opened up to the Western World, but remained faithful to its old traditions. Stagnation seems to be an unknown factor. New cities with ultra modern transport systems, and facilities to accomodate tourists are shooting up in an explosive rate.

A trip to China, is not just a trip to another country, but one to another world.

Weather
The best time to travel to China is between April and the beginning of June, and between September and the middle of November. Summer in China can be very warm and often humid. The Monsoon season is in Summer, which means that you may be confronted with longer periods of rain, and cooler temperatures .... take alone some warm clothes, even if you plan to visit China in the summer.

Festivals
China has many colorful and cheerful festivals. The most important festivals would have to be the Spring festival, (New Years festival), the Lantern festival, the Qingming-festival, the Dragon boat festival and the Moon festival.

In September 2008 China took advantage of the Olympic Games in Peking to provide a great celebration for the whole world putting themselves in the international lime light.