China factsheet for adoption travel

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Related Resources
•China Adoption Resources
•Cross-Cultural Parenting
•International Updates

What You Need to Know

Check Adoption Travel Resources for more information.

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Country name:

long form: People's Republic of China
short form: China
abbreviation: PRC
local short form: Zhong Guo
local long form: Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo

What the people are called:

noun, singular: Chinese
noun, plural: Chinese
adjective: Chinese

Ethnic groups:

Han Chinese (92%), Zhuang, Uygur, Hui, Yi, Tibetan, Miao, Manchu, Mongol, Buyi, Korean, and other nationalities (8%).

U.S. Embassy

Embassy of the United States of America
American Citizen Services
3 Xiu Shui Dong Jie
Beijing 100600
People's Republic of China

Tel: (86) 10-6532 3831
Fax: (86) 10-6532 6929

Web site: http://www.usembassy-china.org.cn/

Canadian Embassy

Canadian Embassy
19 Dongzhimenwai Dajie
Chao Yang District
Beijing 100600
People's Republic of China

Tel: (86) 10-6532-3536
Fax: (86) 10-6532-4311 (general)
Fax: (86) 10 - 6532-1684 (visas, immigration)

Web site: http://www.beijing.gc.ca/splash/bj-splash.htm

Money:

1 Renminbi Yuan (RMBY) = 10 chiao/jiao or 100 fen
(currency conversion)

Time Zone:

GMT +8 (Beijing time is standard for all of China) (What's GMT?)

Phone/Internet info:

Country Area Code: 86

There are Internet cafes in main towns.

Mobile phone coverage varies, but is available (GSM 900 and 1800 networks). International calling cards also provide a way to contact (calling to or from the U.S.). You may want to consider renting a compatible phone and service plan.

Major languages spoken:

Standard Chinese or Mandarin, Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghaiese), Minbei (Fuzhou), Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects, and other minority languages.

Note that although Mandarin is the official language, it is certainly not spoken everywhere and it is recommended that adopting parents wait until they have their referral and child's province before purchasing bilingual children's books, phrase books, and so forth.

Alphabet:

The written language is significantly different than English letters: See it here.

Major holidays:

Public holidays 2004

Common names:

~Nancy Ashe

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