China

Major Cities: Based on 2000 census data, the largest cities are the four centrally administered

municipalities, which include dense urban areas, suburbs, and large rural areas: Chongqing (30.5

million), Shanghai (16.4 million), Beijing (13.5 million), and Tianjin (9.8 million). Other major

cities are Wuhan (5.1 million), Shenyang (4.8 million), Guangzhou (3.8 million), Chengdu (3.2

million), Xi'an (3.1 million), and Changchun (3 million). China has 12 other cities with

populations of between 2 million and 2.9 million and 20 or more other cities with populations of

more than 1 million persons.

Public Holidays: The official national holidays are New Year's Day (January 1); Spring Festival

or Lunar New Year (movable dates-three days-in January and February), Labor Day (May 1),

and National Day (two-day observance on October 1-2). Also commemorated are International

Women's Day (March 8), Youth Day (May 4), Children's Day (June 1), Chinese Communist

Party Founding Day (July 1), Army Day (August 1)