The "Middle Kingdom" of China sits as the anchor of Eastern Asia between Burma, Laos, and Vietnam in the south, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan, and India in the southwest, Mongolia and Russian Siberia in the north, and Korea in the northeast.

The third largest country and the most populous nation on earth, China froms a vast basin cut off from the rest of Asia by a rim of mountains, deserts and plateaus. Once regarded by the Chinese as the center of the world, China has given mankind a wondrous variety of innovations ranging from porcelain and gunpowder to the philosophies of Lao Ze and Confucius.

PHYSICAL SIZE

Mainland China, the two large islands of Taiwan and Hainan, and the nearly 5,000 small islands that comprise Chinese territory occupy over 9,632,940 sq km (3,719,278 sq mi) of the earth's surface, an area slightly larger than the United States (9,363,175 sq km / 3,615,122 sq mi).

This vast Asian nation extends roughly 5,200 km (3,230 mi) from the Pamir Mountains in the west to the confluence of the Amur and Ussuri Rivers in the east and about 5,500 km (3,417 mi) from its border along the Amur River north of the town of Moha to Zengmu Reef off the north coast of Malaysia at the southernmost tip of the South China Sea Islands .

Taiwan, the largest of China's islands, is the main island in a group of 78 islands that comprise its provincial domain, a region that includes the archipelago of 63 islands known as the Pescadores (Fisherman's Isles), Matsu (Nankan), Quemoy (Kinmen), and some 13 other small islands.

Taiwan is located between the East China Sea and the South China Sea just 160 km (100 mi) from China's southeast coast across the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan covers 32,260 sq km (12,456 sq mi), an area slightly smaller than Maryland and Delaware combined 32,722 sq km (12,634 sq mi).

Hainan, also known as Qiong'ai, is China's second largest island and occupies an area of 32,000 sq km (12,355 sq mi). Sitting just 20 km (12 mi) off China's south coast, the island is separated from the mainland by the Qiongzhou Strait which connects the Gulf of Tonkin to the South China Sea.
 

LAND BOUNDARIES

Though smaller in total area than Russia, China shares an astounding 22,113.34 km (13,740.54 mi) land border with 16 neighboring countries, 2,200.34 km (1,367.22 mi) longer than that of Russia.

Starting at the mouth of the Yalu River in the northeast, a walk around China would begin with a 1,416 km (880 mi) hike along China's border with North Korea. Turning northward, you would travel 3,605 km (2,240 mi) along the Russian border before reaching Mongolia.

After hiking westward along the Mongolian border for 4,673 km (2,904 mi), you would again pass the Russian border for a brief 40 km (25 mi). Turning southwest, you would travel 1,533 km (953 mi) past Kazakstan, 858 km (533 mi) along the border with Kyrgyzstan, and 414 km (257 mi) along the border with Tajikistan.

After a brief 76 km (47 mi) walk along the Afghanistan border, your trip would take you 523 km (325 mi) along China's border with Pakistan. Traveling southeast across the Himalayan Mountains, you would follow China's border with India for 3,380 km (2,100 mi), then Nepal for another 1,236 km (768 mi).

After hiking eastward 470 km (292 mi) along the border with Bhutan, you would turn briefly north then south along the eastern extent of India. Your journey would continue southeastward another 2,185 km (1,358 mi) past Burma, then 423 km (263 mi) along China's border with Laos. Another 1,281 km (796 mi) along China's border with Vietnam and you're almost done.

All that remains is a brief jaunt of 0.34 km (0.21 mi) around the Portugeuse enclave at Macau.

SEA BOUNDARIES

The People's Republic of China has a 14,500 km (9,009 mi) coastline, washed by the waters of the Korea Bay, the Gulf of Chi-hli, the Yellow Sea, the East China Sea, the South China Sea, and the Gulf of Tonkin. The PRC claims a territorial limit of 22 km (12 nm) as well as the shallow area of the East China Sea and the Yellow Sea.

Taiwan, separated from the southeast coast of mainland China by the Formosa Strait, has a 1,448 km (900 mi) coastline. It lays claim to a 22 km (12 nm) territorial limit and an exclusive economic zone that extends for 367 km (200 nm).

Hainan, separated from the south coast of mainland China by the Qiongzhou Strait, has a 1,585 km (985 mi) coastline.