If you mean Phoenix dactylifera, or the date palm, here's some info:

Date Palm

thanks for info on the palm date its not the right tree i will keep looking

The 'Chinese date' is Ziziphus jujuba. 'Date' with no qualifying adjective can only be Phoenix dactylifera (at least when applied to a member of the plant kingdom!)

Tony--I didn't even think that the question might be about Ziziphus jujuba because I grew up calling the fruits Chinese apples! Do you know if these are eaten dried like dates in some areas? We always ate them fresh (green) with a bit of salt/sugar and chili powder.

I used to be able to buy packets of the dried ones imported from China and labelled Chinese dates. And I think I have seen them recently among the bulk dried fruit in my local large fruit market. Mabberley's 'The Plant Book' gives Chinese date as one of the common names of Z. jujuba.

Chinese date should be Ziziphus jujuba. The fruits can be eaten raw, or dried. When raw, it is quite crunchy, not as sweet as the dried. After it has fully ripen, it is dried. The color turns into a dull red. Here is a picture from a friend.

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Detailed information about Ziziphus jujuba

jujube at Raintree Nursery