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For a topic outline on this subject, see List of basic Asia topics.
  

The Asia Portal

Asia Portal
Asia is the largest continent in the world. It has a land mass at around 49,694,700 km² and covers 8.6% of the Earth's total surface area, or 29.4% of its land area. It is traditionally defined as part of the landmass of Africa-Eurasia lying east of the Suez Canal, east of the Ural Mountains, and south of the Caucasus Mountains and the Caspian and Black Seas.

Asia is considered one of the most populous regions in the world, containing around 60% of the world's human population. Of these only 2% live in the northern and interior half (Siberia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Xinjiang, Tibet, Qinghai, western Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan).

The wealth of Asia differs widely between, and within, states. This is due to its vast size, meaning a huge range of different cultures, environments, historical ties and government systems. The largest economies in Asia in terms of nominal GDP are Japan, People's Republic of China and India, the smallest East Timor. In terms of Purchasing Power Parity however, the People's Republic of China has the largest economy in Asia and the second largest in the world, followed by Japan and India as the world's third and fourth largest economies respectively.

Asia is also known for its rich history and culture. Asian art, music, and cuisine, as well as literature, are important parts of Asian culture. Eastern philosophy and religion also plays a major role, with Sikhism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Islam, and Christianity all playing major roles. One of the most complex parts of Asian culture is the relationship between traditional cultures and the Western world.

  

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The city of Shanghai
The People's Republic of China (simplified Chinese: 中华人民共和国; traditional Chinese: 中華人民共和國; pinyin: ZhĹŤnghuá RĂ©nmĂ­n GònghĂ©guĂł listen ), commonly known as China, is the largest country in East Asia and among the largest countries in the world.1 With a population of over 1.3 billion, roughly a fifth of the earth's total population, it is the most populous country in the world. Its capital is Beijing.

The Communist Party of China (CPC) has led the PRC under a single-party system since the state's establishment in 1949. The PRC is involved in a long-running dispute over the political status of Taiwan. The CPC's rival during the Chinese Civil War, the Kuomintang (KMT), retreated to Taiwan and surrounding islands after its civil war defeat in 1949, claiming legitimacy over China and Mongolia while it was the ruling power of the Republic of China (Taiwan). The CPC regards the KMT's claims as illegitimate. The term "Mainland China" is often used to denote the areas under PRC rule, but sometimes excludes its two Special Administrative Regions: Hong Kong and Macau.

  

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Image credit: Martin Louis
Pangong Tso is a lake in the Himalayas situated at a height of about 4250 m (13,900 ft). It is 183 km (83.3 mi) long and extends from India to China.
  

Countries in Asia

Afghanistan · Armenia · Azerbaijan · Bahrain · Bangladesh · Bhutan · British Indian Ocean Territory (United Kingdom) · Brunei · Cambodia · People's Republic of China (mainland China) · Taiwan (Republic of China) · Christmas Island (Australia) · Cocos (Keeling) Islands (Australia) · Georgia · Hong Kong (PR China) · India · Indonesia · Iran · Cyprus · Iraq · Israel · Japan · Jordan · Kazakhstan · Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) · Republic of Korea (South Korea) · Kuwait · Kyrgyzstan · Laos · Lebanon · Macau (PR China) · Malaysia · Maldives · Mongolia · Myanmar (Burma) · Nepal · Oman · Pakistan · Palestine · Philippines · Qatar · Russia · Saudi Arabia · Singapore · Sri Lanka · Syria · Tajikistan · Thailand · Timor-Leste (East Timor) · Turkey · Turkmenistan · United Arab Emirates · Uzbekistan · Vietnam · Yemen

  

WikiProjects

If you know of a project involving Asia, please list it here and on Wikipedia:WikiProject.

Azerbaijan: Azeri

Bangladesh: Bangladesh • Bengal

Nepal: Nepal • Himalayan • History of Nepal

India: Indian States • Indian Cities • Indian Districts • Hinduism • Hindu mythology • Indian cinema • History of India • Politics of India • Indian military history • Indian Khana-khazana (Cuisines)


Japan: Anime and manga • Japanese Bibliography • Task forces: Districts and municipalites • Gappei • Military history • Japanese mythology • Owarai • Prefectures • Shinto • Japan update

Korea: History • North Korea • South Korean geography • Films • Arts • Cuisine • Popular culture

Taiwan: Baseball

Middle East: Iran • Hebrew • Arab-Israeli conflict • Islam

People's Republic of China: Chinese provinces •Tibet • Chinese cities • Transportation in China • Uyghurs of Western China • Chinese military history

Southeast Asia: Indonesia • Myanmar (Burma) • Philippine LGUs • Singaporean places • Thai provinces • Vietnamese provinces

  

Things you can do

Azerbaijan • People's Republic of China • Hong Kong (China) • Indonesia • India • Iran • Japan • Korea • Malaysia • Philippines • Russia • Singapore • Taiwan • Thailand

  

In the news

  

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Map of Asia

Political map of Asia.
  

Lists and categories

Lists: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V X Y Z

The following are categories relating to Asia:

Airports • Comics • Companies • Countries • Culture • Dinosaurs • Economy • Ethnic groups • Fiction • Games • Geography • Hiking trails • History • Images • Indigenous peoples • Lakes • Languages• Law enforcement agencies • Lists • Mythology • Natural gas pipelines • Natural history • Newspapers • People • Politics • Religion • Royalty • Sports • Stock exchanges • Stubs • Swords • Transportation • Women in war

  

Related portals

Africa • Australia • Europe • North America • Latin America • Oceania

  

Associated Wikimedia

Asia on  Wikinews  Asia on  Wikiquote  Asia on  Wikibooks  Asia on  Wikisource  Asia on  Wiktionary  Asia on  Wikiversity  Asia on Wikimedia Commons
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