CHINA, DAY 3

On the bus and headed to a Pearl Factory, our tour guide provided some information and answered some questions about China.

China's population is over 1.3 billion. There are 22 provinces, 5 autonomous regions, 4 directly administered municipalities, and 2 highly autonomous regions. China's capital is Beijing. Hu Jintao is president, the premier is Wen Jiabao. There are about 200 dialects, the official language is mandarin. There are 56 recognized ethnic groups, the largest of which is Han.

China is bounded on the southeast by the South China Sea and on the east by the East China Sea.

INTERESTING TIDBITS

Owners pay a fee to have dogs, about $200. Most owners have small dogs and not more than one.

One child policy was instituted in 1978. Exceptions for farmers, who can have second child if first is a girl. Minority groups are also excepted. If both parents are only children, the couple can have 2 children. Couples pay a large fine if one child policy is violated, about $20,000.

TO BE CONTINUED