China presently has 23 provinces, including Taiwan. The largest in population is Sichuan (often spelled Szechwan in the West), with well over a hundred million people; the smallest in population is Qinghai (Tsinghai), with about four million people. The total population of China has been estimated at over one billion two hundred million.

The parts of a country that have their own governments under the national government, similar to the states of the U.S. China and Canada are two countries divided into provinces.

the rural colonies of the Roman civilization; they were often allowed to keep many of their local beliefs. (p. 172)