China follows the metric system for weights and measurements. Note conversion tables below.

Unit of Weights and Measures

Units of Length

Metric System Abrr.
Traditional Chinese System
 British System
Kilometre km
Li
 mile
Metre m
Chi
 Foot (ft) ; yard (yd)
Decimetre dm
Cun
 Inch;in
Centimetre cm
Fen
Millimetre mm
Li
Micrometre; micron um
Nanometre nm

Units of Weight

Metric System Symbol
Traditional Chinese System
 British-American System
Metric ton; tonne t
Jin
 Long ton,UK; Short ton, US
kilogramme kg
Jin
 pound
gram g grain
decigram dg Ounce;oz
centigram cg
milligram mg

Units of Area Measure

Metric System Symbol British-American System
Square kilometre km2
li2
 Sq mi;mi2
hectare;ha
acre
Square metre m2
mu
 sq ft;ft2
sq yd;yd2
Square decimetre dm2
chi2
 sq ft;ft2
sq yd;yd2
Square centimetre cm2
chi2
Square milimetre mm2
Hectare; are ha
mu
 acre

Units of Cubic Measure

Metric System Symbol Traditional Chinese System British-American System
Cubic metre m3
chi3
 cubic foot; ft3
cubic yard; yd3
Cubic decimetre dm3
chi3
 ft3; yd3
Cubic centimetre cm3
Cubic millimetre mm3

Units of Capacity Measure

Metric System Symbol
Traditional Chinese System
 British-American System
Liter L(l)
sheng
 pint
gallon, UK
Deciliter DL(dl)
ge
 pint
gallon, UK
Centiliter cL(cl)
Milliliter mL(ml)

Units of Temprature

Metric System Traditional Chinese System Conversion Conversion
Degree Fahrenheit (F) Degree Celsius(C) 1F = 33.8C 1F = -17.2C

Conversion Tables of Weights and Measures

Conversion of Length

Metric System
Chinese System
 British-American System
Metre Centimetre
Chi
 Yard Feet Inch
1 100
3
 1.094 3.2808 39.37
0.01 1
0.03
 0.01094 0.03281 0.3937
0.3333 33.33
1
 0.3646 1.094 13.123
0.9144 91.44
2.743
 1 3 36
0.3048 30.48
0.9144
 0.3334 1 12
0.0254 2.54
0.0762
 0.0278 0.833 1

Note: 1 meter = 100 centimetre = 1,000 millimetre

Conversion of Weight

Metric System British System American System
Tonne Long ton Short ton
1 0.9842 1.1023
1.016 1 1.12
0.9072 0.8929 1
0.05 0.04921 0.0551
0.0508 0.05 0.056
0.0605 0.0594 0.0667

 

Metric System
Traditional Chinese System
British-American System
Kilogram
Jin
Pound
1,000
2,000
2,204.6
1,016
2,032
2,242
907
1,814
2,000
50
100
110.23
50.8
101.6
112
60.48
120.96
133.33
1
2
2.2046
0.5
1
1.1023
0.4536
0.9072
1

 

Metric System British-American System British-American System (for gold or medicine) Traditional Chinese System
Kilogram Gram Pound Pound Liang
1 1,000 2.2046 35.2736 2.679 31.1507 20
0.001 1 0.0022 0.03527 0.00268 0.0321 0.02
0.4536 453.59 1 16 1.2135 14.5833 9.072
0.02835 28.35 0.0625 1 0.07595 0.9114 0.567
0.3732 373.24 0.82286 13.1657 1 12 7.465
0.0311 31.10 0.06857 1.0971 0.08333 2 0.622
0.05 50 0.1102 1.76368 0.13396 1.6075 1

Conversion of Area Measure

Metric System British-American System Chinese System
Square metre Square centimetre Square yard Square feet Square inch Square chi
1 10,000 1.1960 10.7639 1,550 9
0.0001 1 0.00012 0.00108 0.155 0.0009
0.8361 8,361 1 9 1,296 7.525
0.0929 929 0.1111 1 144 0.836
0.00065 6.45 0.00077 0.00694 1 0.0058
0.111 1,111 0.133 1.196 172.2 1

Conversion of Cubage

Metric System Traditional Chinese System British System American System
Liter Sheng Gallon,UK Gallon,US
1 1 0.22 0.264
4.546 4.546 1 1.201
3.785 3.785 0.833 1

 

Metric System British-American System Chinese System
Cubic meter Cubic centimetre Cubic yard Cubic feet Cubic inch Cubic chi
1 1,000,000 1.303 35.3147 61,024 27
0.000001 1 0.0000013 0.00004 0.06102 0.000027
0.7636 764,555 1 27 46,656 20.643
0.02832 28,317 0.037 1 1,728 0.7646
0.000016 16.317 0.00002 0.00058 1 0.00044
0.037 37,037 0.0484 1.308 2,260 1