Mainland China
Mainland China 中国大陆 / 中國大陸 | |
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| Largest cities | |
| Official language | Standard Chinese (de facto) |
| Ethnic groups | See Ethnic groups in China |
| Demonym | |
| Area | |
• Total | 9,596,961 km2 (3,705,407 sq mi) |
| Population | |
• 2019 census | 1,400,050,000 |
• Density | 147/km2 (380.7/sq mi) |
| Currency |
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| Time zone | UTC+8 (China Standard Time) |
| Calling code | +86 |
| Internet TLD | |
| Today part of | People's Republic of China |
| Mainland China | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Simplified Chinese | 中国大陆 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 中國大陸 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literal meaning | Continental China | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Alternative Chinese name | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 中国内地 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 中國內地 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literal meaning | Inland China | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Mainland Area of the Republic of China | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 中华民国大陆地区 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 中華民國大陸地區 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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"Mainland China", is a geopolitical term defined as the territory under direct administration of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in the aftermath of the Chinese Civil War. In addition to the geographical mainland, the geopolitical sense of the term includes islands such as Hainan, Chongming, and Zhoushan.
By convention, the following territories are excluded from the term:
- Special administrative regions of China, which are regarded as subdivisions of the country, but retain distinct administrative, judicial and economic systems from those on the mainland:
- Hong Kong, formerly a British colony
- Macau, formerly a Portuguese colony
- Taiwan, along with Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor islands, are collectively known as the Taiwan Area, where has been the major territorial base of the government of Taiwan (ROC) since 1950. The ROC still claims the "Mainland Area" as its constitutionally defined territory.
In Taiwan, the term is often used to refer to all territories administered by the PRC. The term is widely used in Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan as well as internationally, including by many Overseas Chinese communities and diasporas.