1. By what name do the people call their own country of China?
Mingong
Zhongguo
Chuka
The Chinese people themselves have several names for their own country. 中国 zhōng guó is the official name. It means literally 'middle or central' 'country; kingdom or region' and was based on the traditional view that China is the center of the civilized world.
2. What is the range of mountains called that separates the Yellow and Yangzi river basins?
Qingling
Hengduan
Khingan
The Qingling mountains form an important historic and climatic boundary between northern and southern China.
Luya Mountain in Shanxi
3. Which country administered the island of Macau until 1999?
France
Germany
Portugal
Macau was governed by Portugal for nearly 450 years. Macau stands on a rocky peninsular on the mouth of the Zhu (Pearl) River estuary connected by bridges to Taipa and Coloane Islands .
4. Excluding Macau which province has the lowest population in China?
Ningxia
Anhui
Tibet (Xizang)
Although the second largest in area Tibet has a low population - and so has the lowest population density of any province.
5. How long is the reservoir created by the Sanxia Daba (Three Gorges Dam) along the Yangzi River?
400 miles [644 kms]
600 miles [966 kms]
200 miles [322 kms]
The flooding of the Yangzi valley displaced at least one million people. The dam has the largest lock and is the largest hydro-electric system in the world.
The distinction between the name of the currency ( 人民币 rén mín bì) and the units (元 yuán) is like the difference between the British term sterling for the currency and pound as the unit.
9. Sanjiangyuan Three Rivers National Park is the source of which major rivers?
Indus; Ganges and Yangzi
Salween; Yellow and Yangzi
Mekong; Yellow and Yangzi
Sanjiangyuan is a large area in south-eastern Qinghai province with the Mekong eventually heading south, the Yangzi east and the Huang he (Yellow) river north.
10. The Hunza Valley is a historic land route into China, which country does it lead to?
Pakistan
India
Afghanistan
Hunza is in the disputed area of Kashmir but is usually considered part of Pakistan. The Karakoram Highway passes through the valley at the Kunjerab Pass.
11. The Yu (or Yuyuan) gardens are a famous spot in which city?
Shanghai
Chengdu
Nanjing
Shanghai's Old Chinese City has the narrow alleys, temples and markets typical of an old Chinese town. It has the famous traditional ‘Yu Gardens’ which were originally built in 1537.
The province of Sichuan was split into two parts in 1997, which had by far the largest population. The eastern section of Chongqing is governed by the city of Chongqing and follows the Yangzi river valley.
The Star Ferry is a passenger ferry in Hong Kong that is mainly now a tourist attraction. It was established in 1888 when there were no bridges to the island of Hong Kong.
16. Xinjiang is home to many ethnic groups; which one is acknowledged in its official name?
Mongolian
Uyghur
Hui
The Uyghur (Uigur) people represent about 43% on the population of Xinjiang, closely followed by Han Chinese at 41%.
17. The Changbai mountains are on the border of China with which other country?
Russia
North Korea
Pakistan
Changbai means ‘forever white’ as the mountains have permanent snow cover. The border with North Korea runs directly through the middle of volcanic Lake Tian.
18. The city of Guangzhou stands on which major river?
Yellow river
Pearl river
Li river
Guangzhou, on the Pearl (Yu) river estuary, has been a major port for many centuries. Hong Kong and Macau stand on either side of the large outflow into the South China Sea.