China,
with
a
recorded
history
of
5,000
years,
was
one
of
the
world's
earliest
civilizations.
China
was
one
of
the
countries
where
economic
activity
first
developed.
As
early
as
5,000
to
6,000
years
ago,
people
in
the
Yellow
River
valley
had
already
started
farming
and
raising
livestock.
In
the
21st
century
B.C.,
China
established
a
slave
society
with
the
founding
of
the
Xia
Dynasty,
thereby
writing
a
finale
to
long
years
of
primitive
society.
In
221
B.C.,
Qin
Shihuang
established
China's
first
centralized
autocracy,
the
Qin
Dynasty,
thereby
ushering
Chinese
history
into
feudalism,
which
endured
in a
succession
of
dynasties
until
the
Opium
War
of
1840.
The
Bourgeois
Democratic
Revolution
of
1911
led
by
Sun
Yat-sen
toppled
the
rule
of
the
Qing
Dynasty,
putting
an
end
to
more
than
2,000
years
of
feudal
monarchical
system.
The
People's
Republic
of
China
was
founded
on
October
1st,
1949.
Today,
China
is
implementing
reform
and
open
polices,
and
has
established
a
socialist
market
economy.
THE
PEOPLE'S
REPUBLIC
OF
CHINA
is
the
third
largest
country
in
the
world
in
terms
of
area.
It
is
situated
in
eastern
Asia
on
the
western
shore
of
the
Pacific
Ocean,
with
an
area
of
9.6
million
square
kilometers.
China's
continental
coastline
extends
for
about
18,000
kilometers,
and
its
vast
sea
surface
is
studded
with
more
than
5,000
islands,
of
which
Taiwan
and
Hainan
are
the
largest.
China
has
shared
borders
for
centuries
with
Korea,
the
formerly
Soviet
Union,
Afghanistan,
Pakistan,
India,
Nepal,
Sikkim,
Bhutan,
Burma,
Laos
and
Vietnam.
China
is a
multi-racial
country
with
56
ethnic
groups.
In
the
long
course
of
its
development,
all
the
nationalities
have
joined
in
the
effort
to
create
the
great
culture
that
China
represents.
Apart
from
the
Han
nationality,
the
other
55
ethnic
groups,
with
a
total
of
more
than
96.5
million
people,
constitute
roughly
8.04%
of
the
total
population.
Those
with
more
than
one
million
people
are:
Zhuang,
Hui,
Uyghur,
Yi,
Miao,
Manchu,
Tibetan,
Mongolian,
Tujia,
Bouyei,
Korean,
Dong,
Yao,
Bai
and
Hani.
The
constitution
guarantees
all
non-Han
groups
certain
national
rights
and
privileges,
such
as
the
exemption
from
the
one-child-policy,
lower
academic
requirements
for
entering
colleges
and
universities,
tax
breaks
and
government
subsidies.
China
is
divided
into
23
provinces,
5
autonomous
regions,
4
municipalities
under
the
direct
jurisdiction
of
the
Central
Government,
and
two
special
administrative
regions.
The
Capital
of
the
People's
Republic
of
China
is
Beijing.
The
23
provinces
are
Hebei,
Shanxi,
Liaoning,
Jilin,
Heilongjiang,
Shaanxi,
Gansu,
Qinghai,
Shandong,
Jiangsu,
Zhejiang,
Anhui,
Jiangxi,
Fujian,
Taiwan,
Henan,
Hubei,
Hunan,
Guangdong,
Sichuan,
Guizhou,
Yunnan
and
Hainan.
The
five
autonomous
regions
are
Inner
Mongolia,
Ningxia,
Xinjiang,
Guangxi
and
Tibet.
The
four
municipalities
are
Beijing,
Shanghai,
Tianjin
and
Chongqing.
Hong
Kong
and
Macao
are
special
administrative
regions.
UNESCO
World
Heritage
Sites
Cuisine:
A
Country
of
10,000
Cuisines
No
other
people
take
their
food
as
seriously
as
Chinese.
Authentic
Chinese
food
is
delectable
in
flavor
and
astounding
in
its
sheer
variety.
With
56
ethnic
minority
groups
contributing
recipes
cultivated
over
centuries
from
the
farthest
corners
of
the
country,
China
is
justifiably
famous
for
its
claim
as
home
to
the
most
popular
cuisine
in
the
world.
You
would
be
remiss
if
you
didn't
sample
as
many
of
China's
regional
cuisine
as
possible
during
the
trip.
For
a
real
change
of
pace,
stop
by
one
of
the
food
stalls
at
the
local
"night
market",
and
join
neighborhood
residents
in
sampling
delicious
fresh
local
foods;
it
will
be
an
evening
to
remember,
and
the
prices
are
great
too.
You
are
always
welcome
to
join
diners
at
local
restaurants
and
teahouses
in
any
city
or
town.
(Note:
hygiene
is
quite
good
in
China,
even
at
food
vendor
stalls
on
the
street.
The
possibility
of
an
upset
stomach
is
the
exception,
not
the
rule.)
Those
who
prefer
a
meal
more
familiar
to
their
tastes
may
be
surprised
to
discover
the
quality
and
variety
of
international
dishes
available
in
China
today.
American,
Italian,
Japanese,
Thai,
Indian,
Korean,
German,
and
French
restaurants
can
be
found
at
many
4 &
5-star
hotels,
and
in
shopping
areas
around
Beijing,
Shanghai,
Guangzhou,
and
Hong
Kong.
Travelers
with
special
dietary
requests
can
make
advance
arrangements
with
most
4 &
5-star
(or
international
chain
operated)
hotels
for
vegetarian
or
special
dishes.
Entertainment
and
Nightlife
The
wide
variety
of
nighttime
cultural
activities
available
throughout
China
can
be a
source
of
frustration
to
travelers,
since
there
are
so
many
exciting
performances
to
see
and
not
enough
time.
One
of
the
highlights
of
any
trip
to
China
is a
night
at
the
Chinese
Classical
Opera,
a
feast
for
the
senses
with
its
magnificent
costumes
and
intriguing
plots
(even
if
you
don't
understand
what's
happening).
Performances
by
the
astonishing
Chinese
acrobats
and
delightful
per
forming
pandas,
dogs,
and
cats
are
also
"must
see"
events.
Other
cultural
favorites
include
colorful
folk
dancing,
classical
Chinese
dance,
and
"wushu,"
the
traditional
form
of
martial
arts.
In
larger
tourist
towns,
you'll
also
find
modern
dance,
jazz,
classical
and
rock
music.
If
you
like
movies,
you're
in
luck,
so
do
the
Chinese.
Most
towns
host
dozens
of
cinemas,
and
seeing
a
Chinese
film
is
fun
even
if
you
don't
understand
the
language.
And
of
course
there's
karaoke,
and
discos,
the
most
popular
evening
entertainment
in
China.
Drop
in
for
a "pijiu"
(beer),
muster
up
your
courage,
and
try
signing
a
song
(in
English).
You're
sure
to
make
some
new
Chinese
friends.
Just
outside
of
some
tourist
cities
are
large
folklore
and
cultural
centers
where
you
have
an
opportunity
to
observe
and
participate
in
traditional
ethnic
minority
folk
dancing,
and
craft
making
activities.
There
are
usually
half
day
or
evening
activities
that
are
often
included
in
tour
itineraries.
Shopping
You
will
have
fun
shopping
in
China
today.
There
is
an
incredible
choice
of
boutique
shops,
department
stores,
and
hotel
shopping
arcades
to
browse
through.
Or
you
can
try
bargain
hunting
at
one
of
the
new
"free
markets"
that
are
springing
up
all
over
the
country.
You're
sure
to
be
dazzled
by
the
unique
array
of
aesthetic
and
practical
gifts
available
in
China.
You
will
find
everything
from
high
quality
silks
and
porcelains
to
antique
screens
and
traditional
Chinese
herbal
medicines.
Throughout
China
shops
offer
unique
ceramics,
paintings,
stone
rubbings,
embroideries,
carpets,
furniture,
jade
carvings,
custom-carved
signature
chops,
antiques,
books,
and
much
more.
Shop
personnel
will
often
pack
and
arrange
for
shipping
bulky
purchases
back
home.
Prices
are
usually
clearly
marked
in
stores
and
shops,
and
English
is
spoken
in
most
tourist
areas.
Don't
miss
browsing
through
one
of
the
state
run
Friendship
Stores;
they
are
still
some
of
the
best
places
to
find
an
excellent
selection
of
quality
merchandise,
plus
you'll
find
a
complete
supermarket
of
Chinese
delicacies
to
bring
to
friends
back
home.
Transportation
During
the
last
few
years,
China
has
modernized
its
domestic
air,
train,
and
highway
systems
to
meet
the
influx
and
demands
of
foreign
travelers.
There
has
been
a
vast
improvement
in
ease
of
travel
throughout
the
country.
Virtually
all
of
China
is
linked
by
one
of
the
new
domestic
airlines
since
the
de-regulation
of
the
national
carrier
system,
and
the
creation
of
these
new
regional
carriers
has
greatly
improved
domestic
airline
service.
Modernization
of
the
airlines
and
airport
facilities
is a
boon
for
travelers,
creating
a
more
efficient
and
competitive
airline
system.
New
Boeing,
McDonnell
Douglas,
and
Airbus
aircraft
are
used
on
almost
all
routes
within
the
country.
Passengers
flying
from
the
US
to
China
via
Air
China,
China
Eastern
Airlines,
and
China
Southern
(or
other
international
carriers)
may
book
flights
within
China
as
part
of
their
trans-Pacific
ticket.
If
you
need
to
make
domestic
flight
reservations
during
your
trip,
they
can
be
easily
arranged
through
the
hotel
travel
desk
or
at
one
of
the
many
new
travel
agency
services
that
have
opened
in
China
(a
passport
is
required
to
make
reservations).
Some
routes
are
heavily
trafficked,
so
it
is
wise
to
book
as
far
in
advance
as
possible.
All
flights
are
nonsmoking.
Travel
by
rail
is
an
enjoyable,
relaxing,
and
inexpensive
way
to
see
China's
countryside.
New
or
modernized
equipment
has
replaced
the
old
train
systems
in
most
areas.
Travelers
who
lack
the
time
to
cover
vast
distances
by
train
can
still
get
a
delightful
taste
of
rail
travel
by
journeying
on
popular
short
distance
routes
from
Shanghai
to
the
nearby
cities
of
Suzhou,
Wuxi,
Nanjing,
or
Hangzhou;
or
from
Beijing
to
Tianjin.
Amenities
have
been
added
to
first-class
train
travel
(known
as
"soft
seat"),
including
comfortable
waiting
lounges
at
some
train
stations.
Tardy
travelers
should
note
that
the
trains
are
consistently
punctual.
New
freeway
systems
have
been
built
(and
many
more
are
under
construction),
making
it
easy
to
travel
around
and
explore
the
metropolitan
areas
of
Beijing,
Shanghai,
Guangzhou,
and
Hong
Kong
quickly
and
inexpensively.
Traffic
is
quite
light
on
some
highways.
Metered
taxis
are
readily
available
at
all
hotels
and
shopping
districts,
and
are
permitted
to
stop
at
your
signal.
Travelers
may
find
it
convenient
to
hire
a
taxi
for
a
whole
or
half
day,
but
be
sure
to
agree
on a
price
first.
Some
taxi
drivers
speak
English,
but
most
don't.
Always
take
along
written
directions
and
a
map
to
point
to
the
location
of
your
destination).
Beijing
and
Shanghai
have
modern
subways
for
fast
travel
around
the
cities.
If
you're
in a
hurry,
this
is
the
way
to
go.
Signs
and
schedules
are
in
English,
and
transfers
between
lines
are
free.
If
you
prefer
a
slower
pace,
bicycles
are
available
to
rent
everywhere
in
China.
Bicycling
is
an
excellent
way
to
see
the
countryside
and
get
the
maximum
smiles
per
mile.
