China

A Nation of Old Wonders, Rich Culture and Prosperous Economy

The most populous nation in the world, China is the country where traditions are combined with modernity. China has an outstanding travel experience as seen in the Great Wall to the Forbidden City, Terracotta Army in Xi’an, and the vibrant towers of the skyline in Shanghai. Being among the oldest civilizations on the globe, the contribution of China in terms of philosophy, art and technology is significant and extends far beyond the borders of the world.

So let me give you a live detailed account of China, its geography, its history, its culture, its economy and the places that you must visit in this mammoth country in this detailed and comprehensive guide to why we are still fascinated by China.

In case you want to find more information regarding this country, such as its flag, language, area, currency, and population, you can produce and download free  this information by visit in our Random Country Generator tool. 

Note: The tool provides rapid research access on relevant country facts that can be used both in school and personal application

Geographical Location

China is found in East Asia and has 14 countries along its borders which include India and Nepal on the southwestern side, Pakistan on the western side, Russia on the Northern part and Mongolia on the northeast side and Vietnam, Laos, and Myanmar on the southern side. It borders the East China Sea, the South China Sea and the Yellow Sea and this provides an opening into the international trade routes.

Covering an area of more than 9.6 million square kilometers, China is the 4th largest landmass in the world and also the home of 1.4 billion citizens. It also has some of the most beautiful landscapes including the Gobi Desert on the north, the Yangtze River basin on the east and the majestic Himalayas to the south west.

For an in-depth travel guide, visit the Official tourism guide for China

The landforms and natural features

The geography of China is very varied. Basically, Tibet Plateau, commonly referred to as the Roof of the world, is located in the western region of the country and it has contributed by offering extensive rough mountainous regions like the Himalayas and the Kunlun Mountains. They are mountains whereby some of the highest mountains in the world are found including Mount Everest (which is the highest point in the world) which is found in the border between China and Nepal.

Yangtze River and Yellow River are the two longest rivers in China that have been considered as important waterways and have defined the agricultural and cultural life of the country thousands of years ago. The country is surrounded by beaches and islands in the southeast and a geographical feature called the Loess Plateau can be found in the north with yellow soil as its peculiarity.

China also has various climates with the northeast being the temperate zone and south semi-tropical which makes various ecosystems possible in the country such as forests, wetlands, grasslands and even deserts.

Dynasties and Ancient Civilizations

China boasts of one of the oldest and most persistent civilizations in the world with a history dating back to more than 5,000 years. The early Shang (1600-1046 BCE) and Zhou (1046-256 BCE) Dynasties set several of the orientations of the Chinese civilization in terms of political, social and cultural setup, which entailed the invention of writing, casting in bronze together with early Confucianism.

Qing Dynasty (1644–1912 CE) united China under its Emperor Qin Shi Huang, who is known to construct the Great Wall of China and in case he commissioned the TerraCotta Army. The Han Dynasty (206 BCE 220 CE) also increased the influence of China with the presence of the Silk Road trade and establishment of a centralized bureaucracy.

Imperial Dynasties

A long history of China is characterized by the existence of several imperial dynasties who ruled this huge land. Among the most remarkable dynasties one may note:

Tang Dynasty (618-907 ce): The cultural and economic boom made the Tang Dynasty a golden age of Chinese civilization, along with new art forms, poems, and governmental innovations.

Song Dynasty (960-1279 CE): Developments of technology were in full swing during this time with the invention of words such as printing, gunpowder and the compass and the economy expanded due to trade.

Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 CE) The Ming Dynasty is renowned for its magnificent architecture such as the Forbidden City and the Great Wall; it was a period of exploration because it was during this time that it was explored by Zheng He in foreign lands.

Qing Dynasty (1644-1912 CE): This is the final imperial dynasty of China and this is when the Qing attained the extensive size of the country but it also faced internal conflicts, foreign invasions and a decrease in imperial dominion.

Communist Rule and the Republic of China

Following the collapse of the Qing Dynasty in 1912, the Republic of China came into existence, although the nation was in turmoil with warlordism and foreign invasion by the Japanese during World War II. The People’s Republic of China came to life on October 1, 1949 after years of civil war between the Nationalist ( headed by Chiang Kai-shek ) and the Communist ( headed by Mao Zedong ).

Mao Zedong changed China greatly including the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution through which serious social and economic disturbances were brought. Following the death of Mao in 1976, China started economic reforms that were under Deng Xiaoping and the country rapidly modernized expanding foreign investment and moving to market-oriented economy.

Modern China

China is a world economic power today and in the world political and technology arena, it is among the most influential giants. It is under the guidance of the Communist Party that China has managed to modernize its infrastructure, technology, and military yet it has retained much of its cultures.

China is a key global trade actor too and the Belt and Road Initiative is the most ambitious infrastructure project that has been made in modern history in terms of encouraging trade and investment between China and the rest of the world.

Having Ethnic and Religious Diversity

China has 56 ethnic groups with the Han Chinese making the largest part. Plurality is also evident in this country because there are many languages, customs and traditions in the country. Its official language is Mandarin, although in other regions other languages such as Cantonese, Tibetan and Uighur are spoken.

The country is largely non-religious or atheist with the statistics of Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism and Christian presence by different communities in China. The Uighur people of Xinjiang also belong to Islam religion.

Practices and traditions Cultural

Chinese culture is a tradition-based culture and things like calligraphy, painting, martial arts, and tea ceremony are some of the practices that have been carried over the centuries. Chinese people are regarded as a family loving people, having high regards to the older one and having close bonds with the community.

Festivals in China are an important part of Chinese culture and Chinese New Year (or Spring Festival) is the most popular among them. Other notable festivals are Mid-Autumn Festival, Qingming Festival and Dragon Boat Festival.

Cuisine

Chinese cuisine is famous everywhere due to its diversity and tastes. Various strengths have different culinary customs, although the most unfamiliar are the Sichuan, the Cantonese, the Shandong, and Hunan meals. Typical ingredients are rice, noodles, tofu, vegetables and pork.

The common foods are:

Peking Duck: A popular dish of Beijing is Duck served on a pancake with hoisin and vegetables.

Dim Sum: literally means Dim Sum which is small bites of food in small baskets usually steamed and so typical of the Cantonese cuisine.

Hot Pot: A communal dish with ingredients being cooked in boiling broth on the table.

Kung Pao Chicken: It is a spicy stir-fry food that contains chicken, peanuts and vegetables.

Chinese Economy: Manufacturing, Technological and International Trade

Manufacturing Powerhouse

China is a global big player and largest producer in the world supply chain. It has been the major manufacturer of electronics, textile, steel and car manufacturing. On the high technological and commercial end, Huawei, Alibaba and Tencent are notable major Korean companies.

Technology and Innovation

China has taken important positions in terms of technology, especially in artificial intelligence, 5 G, and e-commerce. World-leading technological firms exist in this country, and the demand for innovation is observed in such government-initiated programs as Made in China 2025 which is intended to ensure that China will become a leading global producer of high-technology products.

Agriculture, and Services

Agriculture remains a fundamental sector in the economy of China even though the country has grown to develop an industry that is quite strong. The nation is the biggest rice, tea, and vegetables producer worldwide. Also, China has an emerging service sector especially in finance, telecommunication, and education.

Historical And Cultural Sites

The Great Wall of China- this is a UNESCO World Heritage site that is stretched to over 13000 miles and considered as one of the most renowned landmarks in the world.

Forbidden City – This is an imperial palace in Beijing where Chinese emperors lived for more than 500 years.

Terracotta Army-Terracotta Army-An assembly of life-size figures in Xi’an, illustrating an army of the first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang.

Summer Palace- An enormous imperial botanical garden in Beijing, providing a scenic combination of nature and man-made architectural structures.

Natural Attractions

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park – This national park is famous for its tall sandstone pillars which were the inspiration of the floating mountains in the movie Avatar.

Jiuzhaigou Valley- the UNESCO World heritage site, is a colorful valley located in the area of Sichuan province, known to adorn colorful lakes, waterfalls, and snowy mountains.

Li River- There are some beautiful sceneries in the Guangxi Province; it is a river dotted by scenic limestone mountains and traditional fishing village.

Healthcare System

China also has a universal health system which has been on the rise over the past years, especially in the big cities. The basic medical services are accessible through the government, and in addition to this, in urbanized places, there is also the availability of private health care.

Education System

Education is highly priced in China which has an elaborate education system consisting of primary, secondary and tertiary education. Research and academic excellence Most well known universities like the Tsinghua University and Peking University are renowned throughout the world.

Ideal Seasons

Spring (April-May) and autumn (September to October) months are usually considered as the best time to visit China, and weather in such months is mild and perfect to go sightseeing. Summers (June to August) are hot, most of all the south except winters (December to February) may be harsh in the north especially in Beijing and Harbin.

Places, Fairs and Carnivals

However, visit during Chinese New Year (this normally falls in January or February), and you will be exposed to grand parades, dragons dancing and grand fireworks throughout the nation. Another cultural event is the Mid-Autumn Festival (September or October).

Conclusion: 

China is a nation that has perfectly incorporated old values and current developments. China has something to offer each and every one looking to visit its worldly vast cultural life, hiking through its majestic mountains or witnessing the absolute state of art technology in its cities. Diverse culture, rich history and tremendous modernization make it one of the most interesting countries to visit or explore.

Questions and answers

When should one visit China?

To visit China, spring (April to May) or autumn (September to October) is the best season because weather is favorable to do sightseeing.

Which are the best attractions in China?

The Great Wall of China, Terracotta Army, Forbidden City and Li River are among the leading sites of China.

Which language is spoken in china?

Mandarin is the official language of the Chinese, but quite a lot of regional variations are used in the country such as Cantonese and the Shanghainese.

Is China a tourist friendly country?

Well, China is not a major unsafe tourism country but it is advisable to conform to the laws and norms of that particular country.

Which cultural festivals must I attend in China?

Missing these events include the Chinese New Year and the Mid-Autumn Festival to have a feel of the real culture.