The 1989 CHNS covered 15,917 individuals in 9 provinces in China. While not nationally representative, the provinces selected were chosen to provide significant variation in geography, health indicators, economic development. The survey included a household interview, a health exam for children and adults, and a community interview. The nutrition portion of the survey was done using a daily food consumption diary. In addition to topics often covered by household surveys, the CHNS included a section on how time was allocated during the week, wedding expenses, and the one-couple-one-child program. The anthropometry portion of the survey also included a physical exam.