China Language

Mandarin (Putonghua) is the official spoken and written language, and is used throughout the country.  There are also many local dialects in provinces and regions that have been passed down from generations and have survived attempts by the government to sideline them.

The written Chinese recognised by the government is the simplified version.  Before the Communist government came into power in 1949, the classical form of Chinese writing, which is more complicated, was used.