People and Society of China

Nationality

noun: Chinese (singular and plural) adjective: Chinese

Ethnic Groups

Han Chinese 91.1%, ethnic minorities 8.9% (includes Zhang, Hui, Manchu, Uighur, Miao, Yi, Tujia, Tibetan, Mongol, Dong, Buyei, Yao, Bai, Korean, Hani, Li, Kazakh, Dai, and other nationalities)

Population

1,330,141,295

Population (Male / Female)

male: 722,201,504 female: 693,841,766

Population Distribution

overwhelming majority of the population is found in the eastern half of the country; the west, with its vast mountainous and desert areas, remains sparsely populated; though ranked first in the world in total population, overall density is less than that of many other countries in Asia and Europe; high population density is found along the Yangtze and Yellow River valleys, the Xi Jiang River delta, the Sichuan Basin (around Chengdu), in and around Beijing, and the industrial area around Shenyang

Urban Population

urban population: 64.6% of total population rate of urbanization: 1.78% annual rate of change note: data do not include Hong Kong and Macau

Population in Major Urban Areas

29.211 million Shanghai, 21.766 million BEIJING (capital), 17.341 million Chongqing, 14.284 million Guangzhou, 14.239 million Tianjin, 13.073 million Shenzhen

Age Structure

0-14 years: 16.3% (male 122,644,111/female 107,926,176) 15-64 years: 69.3% (male 505,412,555/female 476,599,793) 65 years and over: 14.4% (male 94,144,838/female 109,315,797)

Median Age

total: 40.2 years male: 39 years female: 41.5 years

Sex Ratio at Birth

at birth: 1.09 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.14 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female total population: 1.04 male(s)/female

The standards of medical care in China are not equivalent to those in the United States. If you plan to travel outside of major Chinese cities, you should consider making special preparations. Travelers have reported difficulty passing through customs inspection when arriving with large quantities of prescription medications. If you regularly take over-the-counter or prescription medication, bring your own supply in the original container, including each drug's generic name, and carry the doctor's prescription with you. Many commonly-used U.S. drugs and medications are not available in China, and some that bear names that are the same as or similar to prescription medications from the United States may not contain the same ingredients or may be counterfeit. If you try to have medications sent to you from outside China, you may have problems getting them released by Chinese Customs, and/or you may have to pay high customs duties. Reuse of medical supplies such as syringes and needles or poor sterilization practices are problems in China, contributing to the transmission of diseases such as hepatitis, which is endemic in China. To avoid contamination, travelers should always ask doctors and dentists to use sterilized equipment and be prepared to pay for new syringe needles in hospitals or clinics. In emergencies, Chinese ambulances are often slow to arrive, and most do not have sophisticated medical equipment or trained responders. In most parts of China, helicopter evacuations are not commercially available. Many travelers choose to take taxis or other vehicles to the nearest major hospital rather than wait for ambulances to arrive. Most hospitals demand cash payment or a deposit in advance for admission, procedures, or emergencies, although a few hospitals in major cities may accept credit cards. Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and a few other large cities have medical facilities with some international staff. Many hospitals in major Chinese cities have so-called VIP wards (gaogan bingfang). Most VIP wards provide medical services to foreigners and have some English-speaking staff. However, even in the VIP/foreigner wards of major hospitals, you may have difficulty due to cultural, language, and regulatory differences. In China, it is customary for patients' families to help care for them in the hospital and to supply their toiletries, paper supplies, and meals. Hospitals often refuse to perform surgery or administer treatment without the written consent of the patient's family, even if they are not in China, and doctors frequently will only tell the family members the patient's diagnosis and prognosis, but will not discuss it with the patient. Physicians and hospitals sometimes refuse to give U.S. patients copies of their Chinese hospital medical records, including laboratory test results, scans, and x-rays. Mental health facilities or medications are not widely available in China. If you are traveling to or studying abroad in China, before you go, put a plan in place for managing your mental health. In most rural areas, only rudimentary medical facilities are available, often with poorly trained personnel who have little medical equipment and medications. Rural clinics are often reluctant to accept responsibility for treating foreigners, even in emergency situations. If you elect to have surgery or other medical services performed in China, be aware that there is little legal recourse to protect you in case of medical malpractice. The U.S. Embassy and consulates general in China maintain lists of local English-speaking doctors and hospitals, which are published on their respective American Citizens Services web pages. Most roads and towns in Tibet, Qinghai, parts of Xinjiang, and western Sichuan are situated at altitudes over 10,000 feet. If you plan to travel in these areas, you should seek medical advice in advance of travel, allow time for acclimatization to the high altitude, and remain alert to signs of altitude sickness. Air pollution is also a significant problem throughout China, and you should consult your doctor prior to travel and consider the impact seasonal smog and heavy particulate pollution may have on you. You can find detailed information on vaccinations and other health precautions on the CDC website. Please note that the CDC recommends that travelers to China ensure that their polio vaccinations are up to date. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad, consult the World Health Organization (WHO) website. Tuberculosis is also an increasingly serious health concern in China. For further information, please consult the CDC's information on TB. HIV is a significant concern in China. An estimated quarter of a million people in China are living with HIV, most of whom are not aware of their status. ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGY: In vitro fertilization (IVF) is widely practiced in China and a number of government-licensed clinics perform the procedure. Surrogacy, however, is strictly forbidden under Chinese law, and surrogacy contracts will not be considered valid in China. The use of reproductive technology for medical research and profit is strictly controlled in China. In February 2013, the Chinese Ministry of Health launched a crackdown against unlicensed fertility clinics and underground fertility treatment programs.

Life Expectancy at Birth

total population: 78.7 years male: 76 years female: 81.7 years

Infant Mortality Rate

total: 6.2 deaths/1,000 live births male: 6.7 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Major Infectious Diseases

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis, severe fever thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) soil contact diseases: hantaviral hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS)

Drinking Water Source

improved: urban: 97.3% of population rural: 91.5% of population total: 95.1% of population unimproved: urban: 2.7% of population rural: 8.5% of population total: 4.9% of population

Sanitation Facility Access

improved: urban: 97.6% of population rural: 90.6% of population total: 94.9% of population unimproved: urban: 2.4% of population rural: 9.4% of population total: 5.1% of population

Tobacco Use

total: 25.6% male: 49.4% female: 1.7%

Alcohol Consumption

total: 4.48 liters of pure alcohol beer: 1.66 liters of pure alcohol wine: 0.18 liters of pure alcohol spirits: 2.63 liters of pure alcohol other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol

Literacy Definition

age 15 and over can read and write

Total School Life Expectancy

total: 14 years male: 14 years female: 14 years

Classroom

Schools in China are an interesting mix of modern and very old thinking. The government is investing heavily in education, but many of the buildings are quite old. Sometimes there is no heating system in the school, even though the temperature might get close to freezing! Still, the students carry on in their disciplined way, determined to do their very best. Schools are beginning to have modern computers installed as the government has chosen to enter the modern world. In fact, the Chinese government even bought an entire division of IBM, the large computer company, which makes Lenovo laptop computers that are sold throughout the world. Though the subjects studied and the methods used to teach those subjects are becoming more open, old ways often persist. For example, teachers used to be the rulers of the classroom and were very strict. Now, many students consider them to be more like friends who are introducing them to a world of learning. But the students still have to memorize large amounts of material and do learning exercises over and over and over because that’s how the teachers learned to teach—and once were only allowed to teach in that way! At lunchtime, students will eat a light lunch of either egg rolls or pot stickers, which are dumplings stuffed with meat or shrimp. At some schools, students will take a nap around noon time for 30 minutes or so after eating. Then they are back in class until around 4:30 or 5:00 p.m.

Education Culture

China has more people than any other country in the world, so educating that many children can be very challenging. In former years, the government spent very little money on education. Even as recent as the year 2000, perhaps as many as two million children were unable to go to school. However, China’s economy, and to some extent the politics, are changing very rapidly and becoming more open to nontraditional ways of learning. In the past, the school system was very strict. The government told the teachers what to teach, and the teachers told the students what to learn. Although students worked very hard to get good grades, there were not many opportunities for educated people to get good jobs, and often the very educated were considered menaces to the very strict government. On the other hand, education was one of the only ways to change one’s life from being one of the millions of people forced to become communal farmers and rise above being so very poor. Gradually, China is seeing clearly that education is a way to improve life—not only for individuals and their families but for the entire nation. In the first years of the reform, local businesses who wanted to improve life for their community would finance most of a school’s expenses. As the government has also joined in big business and is making much more money than before, they are doing more to improve the schools and pay the teachers better. In turn, in their efforts to change the system, teachers are no longer forcing students to learn only what the government wants them to learn; instead, they are teaching the children to be creative, to solve problems, to choose what they want to study and then become the very best at it. But one thing has not changed: Chinese students are very competitive in school, and children study very hard to become the best in their class.

Learning

Chinese students are traditionally very good at memorizing information and understanding how things work. Thus, they are often very good at mathematics, history, and the sciences. But creativity and open discussion can be challenging. The schools and the children’s parents are not used to having such freedom in how the children learn, so it is sometimes difficult to break old habits. Children in China study very hard. Class begins by 7:00 a.m., although some schools are experimenting with letting their students sleep an extra half hour or so and beginning later. It is also not unusual for schools to stay open until as late as 11:00 p.m. for some of the older grades so children can get extra help to learn their subjects better. And children begin early for school. In the 1990s, parents complained that from the age of 4 or 5 the children have no free time and suffer from sleeplessness and depression. Many were unable to tie their shoes or dress themselves, but 90% could play the piano and 70% could recite Tang Dynasty poetry. Some adjustments have been made, but they still feel the pressure to succeed in school. Another fact that students outside of China might find interesting is the strong sense of community that surrounds a school. The children not only study at the school, they also help to maintain it by helping to clean the floors and the desks in each classroom as well as other simple chores. To be a student means studying very hard, but it also means working hard to make sure there is a good place to study. Children begin school at the age of 6 or 7. Primary school lasts for six years, and the children study Chinese, geography, history, math, music, science, painting, physical fitness, and political education. Similar to schools in the United States, after elementary school, middle school will last another three years, in which they will study many of the same subjects they studied in elementary school plus biology, chemistry, physics, law, English, and perhaps another foreign language. Another three years are then spent in high school. The first nine years of school are now required for all Chinese children.

To School

Most students attending public schools do not have much money and live in large dormitories at the schools. They come home only on the weekends to work during the day and study at night. The majority of Chinese children will walk where they need to go or ride on packed commuter buses with adult workers. If they are fortunate and the family has a little money, they may be able to get a bicycle when they get a little older. Only the wealthy will get a ride to private school and back home with their parents, usually on their way to work in the morning and home in the evening.

• Daoist (Taoist), Buddhist (est.)60.0%
• Atheist (est.)34.0%
• Christian4.0%
• Muslim2.0%

Standard Chinese or Mandarin (Putonghua, based on the Beijing dialect), Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghainese), Minbei (Fuzhou), Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects, minority languages Note: Mongolian is official in Nei Mongol, Uighur is official in Xinjiang Uygur, and Tibetan is official in Xizang (Tibet)

Standard Chinese or Mandarin (official; Putonghua, based on the Beijing dialect), Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghainese), Minbei (Fuzhou), Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects, minority languages (see Ethnic groups entry); note - Zhuang is official in Guangxi Zhuang, Yue is official in Guangdong, Mongolian is official in Nei Mongol, Uyghur is official in Xinjiang Uygur, Kyrgyz is official in Xinjiang Uyghur, and Tibetan is official in Xizang (Tibet)

• Cantonese
• Mandarin

• Zhang Daoling

  Religious Leader

• ko hung

  he was a well known alchemist of china

• Genghis Khan

• Emperor Kangxi

• Li Zìchéng

• Hong Xiuquan

• Confucius

  Reformer · -551

  Early Years There was nothing auspicious about the year 551 B.C. when a male child was born to the K’ung family in the small dukedom of Lu. However, this child was to become the greatest sage of China, and would transform the whole of Chinese culture. We know him as Confucius. K’ung Ch’iu ("Confucius" is the Latinized form of K’ung-fu-tzu, meaning "Great Master") grew up during the decline of the Chou dynasty. The idealistic glories of the past appealed to the lad, who loved its feudal system of order and peace. But as the Chou monarchs’ authority weakened, tribal chieftains and lords took dominion. Chinese society soon consisted of scattered fiefs, with most of their subjects living in poverty. The "shih" class, into which Ch’iu was born, was the educated link between the few aristocrats ("mind-laborers") at the top of Chinese society and the mass of working peasants ("body-laborers") at the bottom. The much-favored son of an elderly soldier- father who died when the boy was only three years old, Ch’iu was raised by his mother, and educated in the histories, ceremonies, poetry, music and etiquette of the ancient courts. This code of rituals, known as "Li," had long governed the moral and social activities of the aristocracy. But as the peasant class grew, it merged into a vast agrarian population, and the separate fiefdoms were drawn into a life-and-death struggle for supremacy. Ancient arts were put aside; feudal etiquette and morality were lost. Strife and bloodshed, corruption and filth, became the norm, and the royal dukes became mere puppets in the hands of three powerful clans. Following his family tradition, Ch’iu became keeper of the granary and, later, supervisor of the flocks and herds, positions he fulfilled with exactness. When his mother died, Ch’iu, in keeping with ancient ritual, observed a three-year period of seclusion and bereavement. This time of contemplation and serious thought launched the young man into the role of philosopher and instilled in him a longing for his society to return to the old ways. Simple Life; Wise Teachings Throughout Chinese history the title of scholar had been a hereditary rank attached to an office of the prince’s court. Never before had a private individual engaged in public teaching. Now K’ung Ch’iu sought to enter this unexplored profession. For four years Ch’iu instructed young men of all classes in the knowledge of Li - a combination of manners, ritual, custom and respect - and its accompanying arts.The only tuition he required was a bundle of dried meat. On one occasion, a dying nobleman, enthralled with the sage’s teachings, made his final request for his sons to be taught in Li tradition: "A knowledge of Li is the stem of man, without which he cannot stand firm. I have heard that there is a rising man of great intelligence... " Soon, Ch’iu was the reputed master of Li ceremonials. When the duke of Lu was ousted from the city by his ministers, Master K’ung also followed him into exile. He could not serve under tyrannical, unprincipled officials. For over fourteen years K’ung traveled, attempting to perfect himself in the six ancient arts (charioteering, archery, history, numbers, music and ritual), inscribing poetry, studying history, and carefully instructing his small band of intimate students. The countless specific rites and maxims commended by Master K’ung were all considered elaborations of two ideals: (1) The heart of all K’ung’s teachings included the knitting of the words "chung" and "shu." Chung means "middle of the heart," faithfulness to oneself. Shu, meaning "as one’s heart," follows chung "to do to others as your heart prompts or urges you." Basically, it encompasses Christianity’s Golden Rule. (2) Supreme virtue is "jen," a composite of "two" and "man." Jen - "human-heartedness," love, charity, genuine manhood, true benevolence - is the ideal of the superior man; an ideal which Master K’ung often admitted he fell short of achieving. Nevertheless, it is a goal within the grasp of all who will reach for it. K’ung’s beliefs harkened back to practical, of-this-world wisdom. He felt that the individual is the hub of the universe, and the "flowering of the individual" is the ultimate aim in life; for as a man cultivates harmony within himself, he brings peace everywhere. His sage teachings reflected his great regard for human growth: • No ceremonies should be performed without regard for morality. "A man without virtue; what has he to do with rites? What has he to do with music?" • The art of peace includes a knowledge of archery and war. These provide private contests and recreation to test nobility. • Intellectual enlightenment consists of instruction in numbers (probably connected with divination), history, speech and government. • "... What is knowledge? When you know a thing, to hold that you know it; and when you do not know a thing, to allow that you do not know it, - this is knowledge." • Rituals, poetry, and meditation exalt and strengthen a man. • Music consummates a man’s life, giving his rituals meaning. Music has a transforming effect on its listeners and should be the first principle of government. • Nobility of character is preeminent over nobility of birth. • A man should demand much from himself, but little from others. "When you meet a man of worth, think how you may attain to his excellence. When you meet an unworthy one, then look within and examine yourself." • Man must be both proprietous and practical: one should be undeviating in the observance of feudal customs and respectfully refrain from singing or dancing on the day he attends a funeral; still, the humor and joy of everyday living must often be manifest. • Li governs a well-ordered society; but Li must be transformed from a set of rites performed by the elite, to include a sense of piety and respect honored by all. • "Behave in such a way that your father and mother will have no anxiety about you except for your health." A youth "should be earnest and sincere; he should be overflowing in love for all, while cultivating the friendship of the virtuous. If, when all that is done, he still has energy to spare, then let him study the polite arts." K’ung’s students loved and admired him: "... He is a man who forgets his food in his eager pursuit of knowledge, forgets his sorrows in its happy attainment, and does not perceive that old age is creeping up on him... " Unlike many of the dogmatic sages, K’ung maintained a sense of fellowship with his students. He was optimistic: "Who knows, but that the future generation will surpass the present?" He regarded all men the same, though they were not necessarily equal in knowledge and morality. The Master jested with his students, questioned them on ideas, complimented and scolded them, and studied their characters with a view to shaping them into a perfect pattern. He wisely treated each student differently, trying to help the overconfident one to learn humility and the diffident one to be bold. K’ung was finally goaded into public office. As chief administrator in Lu, he hoped to influence his employer, the Pi governor, to restore Li philosophy to prominence. His popularity rose dramatically as moral education replaced cruelty among the populace. Soon, the state government offered K’ung the office of Minister of Crime, the highest non-hereditary office attainable in China. With the purpose of preparing China for a feudal restoration, K’ung demolished fortresses. The state prospered; but jealous enemies within the court eventually blocked K’ung’s rise, and he departed Lu in sorrow. Master K’ung wandered from city to city, his fame preceding him everywhere he went. He chided powerful, overly demanding ministers as well as common crowds. On one occasion, the scholar’s pragmatic attitude was clearly displayed. As they traveled to Wey, he and his disciples were set upon by the rebellious people of P’u, who made him swear that, if left in peace, he would not go on to Wey. But despite this oath, the party proceeded to Wey. "Can one break one’s oath like that?" grumbled the P’u leader. The Master replied: "That was an extorted oath; such a one the deities do not hear!" After fourteen years, the teacher grew weary and returned home. Seeing the series of failures and frustrations that his life-work had come to, he now took consolation only in the hope that his faithful students would hold aloft the torch of Chou culture. In his last years, he became the foremost author in China, putting his materials together in a collection of fundamental doctrines. Of the Book of History, the Six Classics, the Book of Changes, and others, only Spring and Autumn, a chronological record of the reigning dukes of Lu, survives. Two years before Master K’ung’s death, it was reported that a one-horned antelope had been wounded outside the city. When he saw the animal, K’ung burst into tears and explained that "the unicorn comes only when there is a sage-ruler. To see it appear untimely, and then get injured... " In halting manner, he then prophesied his own death and wrote his final entry on the bamboo tablets: "In the spring of the Duke’s fourteenth year, during a hunt in the west, a unicorn was captured." And with these words, he threw away his stylus. K’ung’s disciples mourned his death for a period of three years, and his devoted student Tzu-kung stayed in the mud hut beside the burial mound for another three years. Millions of followers - from about 200 B.C., when his philosophies took hold, to the mid-nineteenth century - are a witness to his magnetic personality and elevated wisdom. Above all else, K’ung was an educator; a transmitter and lover of knowledge. "I was not born with knowledge," he would say. "I simply love the past and am earnest in its study." He worked no miracles, claimed no divine revelation. As a self-appointed "reformer," he owned a realistic interest in this present life, man’s earthly ties and ethical relations, though he believed in the hope of another existence: "If we fail in our duty to the living, how can we serve the dead? Not knowing life, how can we know death?" Confucius is still revered as the master of wise proverbs - insights that today, centuries later, still spark with brilliance. Most significant, Confucius’ fight to return to traditional values gave root to a pattern that the Chinese community observed for the succeeding 2100 years - and may be continuing to observe, in some even deeper spirit, today.

• Sun Tzu

  Military Leader · -544

• Qianlong

  Government Leader · 1711–1799

• Yongle

  Government Leader · 1711–1799

• Chiang Kai-shek

  Government Leader · 1887–1975

Crime Information

When visiting China, you should always take routine safety precautions and pay attention to your surroundings. Petty theft remains the most prevalent type of crime encountered. Pickpockets target tourists at sightseeing destinations, airports, crowded subways, markets, and stores. Make sure you guard your passport and wallet, as most incidents tend to involve items kept in back pockets, backpacks, or bags/purses swung over a shoulder or set down in a taxi, another vehicle, a restaurant, or a shop. Narcotics-related crimes and use are also on the rise in China. Chinese law enforcement authorities have little tolerance for illegal drugs, and they periodically conduct widespread sweeps of bar and nightclub districts, targeting narcotics distributors and drug users. Expatriates from various countries have been detained in such police actions. Con artists targeting visitors are also common in popular tourist sites. A common scam involves younger Chinese "English students," often women or a couple, offering a local tour and an invitation to tea at a nearby restaurant. When the bill comes, the restaurant owners force victims to pay an exorbitant bill before they can leave the premises. Taxi drivers, especially at airports, sometimes target arriving travelers, refusing to use the meter or claiming they are a limousine and can charge higher fares. Always have the name of your destination written in Chinese to show the driver, and get a receipt when you arrive at your destination. It is a good practice to keep valuables such as purses, camera bags, and computer cases next to you or in your lap rather than in a less-accessible area of the taxi. Ask the driver to remove the bags from the trunk before you get out of the taxi and before you pay, so he cannot drive away with your luggage. Do not buy counterfeit or pirated goods, even if they are widely available. Not only are the bootlegs illegal in the United States, but if you purchase them, you may also be breaking local law. Some U.S. citizens report that items purchased, even at state-owned or museum stores, believed to be antiques or genuine gems are later determined to be reproductions. Counterfeit currency is a significant concern in China. Cab drivers and businesses have given many people, not just tourists, counterfeit currency. Carrying small bills or using exact change, particularly in taxis, can help protect you. Some merchants will switch a large bill with a counterfeit bill and return it to you, claiming that you passed them the counterfeit bill. If you must pay with RMB 100 bills, it may be useful to note the last few serial numbers before paying in case they get switched. There have been cases of people receiving counterfeit bills from free-standing ATMs. Use only ATMs at financial institutions or those recommended by your hotel. Political protest is not legal or permitted in China and is rarely encountered by foreigners. Travelers who have attempted to engage in political protest activities in public places have been deported quickly, in some cases at their own expense, usually before the U.S. Embassy is aware of the situation. Participating in unauthorized political activities or protests against Chinese policy in China may result in lengthy detentions and may impact your eligibility for future visas to visit China. Foreigners engaging in pro-Falun Gong or pro-Tibetan activities have been detained or immediately deported from China, usually at their own expense, after being questioned. Several reported they were subject to interrogations and were physically abused during detention. In addition, some alleged that personal property, including clothing, cameras, and computers, was not returned. U.S. citizens have been detained and expelled for distributing religious literature. Chinese customs authorities have enforced strict regulations concerning the importation of religious literature, including Bibles. If you bring religious literature with you, it should be a "reasonable amount" for your personal use only. If you attempt to bring larger quantities, the literature will likely be confiscated and you may be fined, detained, or deported.

Criminal Penalties

While you are traveling in China, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different than our own. There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States. For example, you can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States. If you break local laws in China, your U.S. passport will not help you avoid arrest or prosecution. It is very important to know what is legal and what is not wherever you go. China gives the police the authority to detain and deport foreigners for a wide variety of reasons, including engaging in prohibited religious activities and soliciting prostitutes. If you do not have your passport with you, you may be taken in for questioning. China has strict laws against driving under the influence of alcohol that can lead to immediate detention on a criminal charge. If you are arrested in China, the U.S.-China Consular Convention requires Chinese authorities to notify the U.S. Embassy or nearest consulate general of your arrest within four days. Typically, the police will not allow anyone other than a consular officer to visit you during your initial detention period, including your family or even an attorney. Bail is rarely granted in China, and you can be subject to detention for many months before being granted a trial. Please see the section on DUAL NATIONALITY for the limits on consular notification and access in the cases of persons who hold dual nationality.