China is one of the largest countries on earth in terms of area and has an incredible 1,300 million inhabitants. It borders 14 other countries in Asia and therefore plays a central role alongside Russia on the continent, but also worldwide. The communist-ruled country is varied, exciting and has a long history rich in culture. See ANDYEDUCATION for education in China.
Capital City | Beijing |
Size | 9,571,302 km² |
Resident | 1,373,541,000 |
Official Language | Chinese |
Currency | Renminbi |
Time Zone | UTC+8 |
Telephone Area Code | +86 |
Fast facts to know
- Most populous country on earth.
- China is the second largest economy in the world.
- “Zhongguo” as the Chinese call their country means “Middle Kingdom”.
- There are 18 different climate zones in China.
- Authoritative, socialist one-party system.
- More than 30 Chinese buildings are part of the world cultural heritage.
- Internet is censored and monitored.
- 66% of Chinese smoke.
- Air pollution is a regular problem.
- Almost all major Chinese public companies are state-controlled.
- China has the highest mountain on earth, Mount Everest.
- The Yangtze is the third longest river on earth.
- Depending on the calculation, the Great Wall of China is up to 21,000 kilometers long.
- Ice was invented in China around 4000 years ago.
- 35 million Chinese live in well developed caves.
- China is famous for its panda bears, snub-nosed monkeys and the South China tiger.
- According to the hierarchy, greetings are based on age.
- More people speak English in China than in the US.
- Tipping is not very common.
- Never give flowers as a gift (they are considered an expression of mourning).
Exciting cities in China
- Beijing
- Shanghai
- Xiamen
- Canton
- Shenzhen
- Hong Kong
- Hangzhou
- Luoyang
- Guilin
history of China
- China is one of the oldest civilizations and advanced cultures of mankind.
- Written records of Chinese culture date back over 3,500 years.
- Early Dynasties:
- Xia Dynasty (2200–1600 BC)
- Shang Dynasty (1600–1046 BC)
- Zhou Dynasty (1046–256 BC)
- imperial time:
- Qin Dynasty (221–207 BC)
- Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD)
- Period of the Three Kingdoms (220–280)
- Jin dynasty (265–420)
- The Southern and Northern Dynasties (420–581)
- Sui Dynasty (581–618)
- Tang Dynasty (618–907)
- The Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms (907–960)
- Liao dynasty (916-1125), Song dynasty (960-1279), Jin dynasty (1125-1234)
- Yuan Dynasty (1279–1368)
- Ming Dynasty (1368–1644)
- Qing Dynasty (1644–1911)
- January 1, 1912: Proclamation of the Republic of China marks the beginning of the end of the monarchy.
- Ends in the Chinese Civil War (1927-49) with more than a million casualties.
- After the end of World War II, the Chinese Civil War between the Chinese Communist Party and the Kuomintang ends.
- Kuomintang withdraws to Taiwan as “Republic of China”.
- On October 1, 1949, Mao Zedong proclaimed the People’s Republic of China in Beijing and established a communist state.
- Both states do not recognize each other.
- The People’s Republic of China still sees Taiwan as a “breakaway province”.
- China has thus been divided for 60 years.
- Korean War 1950 to 1953.
- 1997 Hong Kong becomes a Chinese special administrative region.
- 1999 Portuguese Macau becomes a special administrative region.
Climate & travel weather in China
- 18 climate zones.
- Continental climate in the Northeast.
- Dry desert climate from the Takla Makan in the west to Beijing.
- In the high mountains of China’s interior cool mountain climate.
- Temperate monsoon climate in the east between Beijing and the Yangtze.
- Subtropical in the east south of the Yangtze, even tropical in the extreme south.
- Recommended travel time:
- May and June as well as September and October are ideal for round trips in China.
- Spring and autumn are most favorable for the northern and central regions of China.
Ideas for trips in China
- The Terracotta Warriors.
- The Great Wall.
- The Forbidden City.
- Potala Palace, Lhasa.
- The Yellow Mountain (Huangshan).
- Yangtze River Cruise.
- Mogao Caves from Dunhuang.
- Chess Pavilion on Hua Shan Mountain.
- Reed Flute Cave, Guangxi.
Food & Drink in China
- One of the best national cuisines in the world.
- Dairy products such as milk, cream, butter and cheese are virtually unknown in Chinese cuisine.
- The most important foods in the preparation of Chinese dishes are rice and vegetables.
- Meat is a former luxury and is therefore only used in small quantities. However, increasing prosperity in recent years has also led to increased meat consumption.
- Deep aversion to anything raw.
- The 5 most famous cuisines in China are:
- Guangdong.
- Shanghai.
- Mongolian.
- Sichuan-Hunan.
- Beijing’s cuisine with its respective regional characteristics.
- In China people eat with chopsticks.
- Chinese national drink is tea.
- Beer is also popular and widespread (very light and low in alcohol).
- China’s finest and best-known liquor is Mao Tai, a liquor from Guizhou province made from a type of millet.
- Smacking, slurping and burping are allowed at the table, while blowing your nose is frowned upon.
- Typical dishes:
- Peking duck.
- Sweet and sour pork.
- Kung-pao chicken.
- Mapo Doufu (Mapo Bean Cheese).
- huntun.
- Jiaozi (dumpling).
- Spring rolls.
- Fried noodles.
- Fried dumplings with mutton.
- Filled pies.
Tangyuan (glutinous rice dumplings with sweet or salty filling). - Yuanxiao.
- shaomai
- Noodle soup.
- Steamed buns with green onions.
- Cold Mung Bean Soup.
- Matcha Buttermilk Snails.
- Sweet Potato Mochi Cake.
Particularly scenic
- Zhangjiajie & Hallelujah Mountains.
- Guilin’s breathtaking mountain scenery.
- Rainbow Mountains of Zhangye.
- Lijiang river.
- Jiuzhaigou National Park.
- Yunnan province with its rice fields.
- Yadan Landform Park.
- Mountainous province of Fujian.
- Red Beach in Dawa.
- Danxia landforms, Zhangye.