EAST ASIA

Although China is the most populous nation in East Asia, the region also contains Mongolia's arid steppes, both the North and South Korean peninsulas, and the verdant island of Taiwan. China is home to a vast array of unique items. In the western part of the country, huge mountain ranges tower over stony valleys and plains that are almost as barren as a desert. Tibet, a region that was formerly an autonomous nation but is now under Chinese administration, has earned the nickname "top of the world" due to its extremely high elevation above the surrounding ocean. The northern part of the country is dominated by the harsh and desolate Gobi Desert. A significant amount of farming takes place in the river valleys and flood plains of eastern China, North Korea, and South Korea. This contributes to the feeding of the millions of people who live in cities that are located on or near coasts.

THE YELLOW RIVER

One of the most dangerous rivers in the world is the Yellow River, which is also called the Huang He. It has flooded the area around it many times, killing a huge number of people. Because of this, the river is sometimes called "China's Sorrow." As it flows slowly east through central China, the Yellow River wears away large areas of fertile loess (fine soil), which turns the river yellow.

THE GREAT WALL

One of the technological wonders of the ancient world may be found winding its way through the entirety of northern China, all the way from the deserts of central Asia in the west to the Yellow Sea in the east. The majority of the Great Wall was constructed in the 1400s to defend Chinese farmers against attack by nomads from Mongolia. These nomads came from Mongolia. It is the longest construction in the world, stretching over almost 4,000 miles (6,400 km), and it is a famous tourist destination due to its length.

WORSHIP OF ANCESTORS

One of the fundamental tenets of Confucianism, the indigenous religion of China, is the need of showing respect for one's family and ancestors. Traditional funerals in East Asia adhere to a set of predetermined procedures in order to provide the departed person's spirit with the utmost respect and care after death. People will bring food gifts to the cemetery, and they will also burn paper money and paper copies of cars, bikes, and other items so that the deceased's spirit will have something to accompany them to heaven. \n

CHINA

One out of every five people on Earth live in China. This massive nation is almost as big as all of Europe put together. It is the third largest country in the world, behind Russia and Canada. Additionally, it is home to one of the world's oldest civilizations, dating back more than 7,000 years. As of 1911, China was a republic, and by 1949, it had become a communist state after having been controlled by a succession of emperors. Under communism, the state regulates every facet of citizens' lives, and China has developed into a global powerhouse in industry and the armed forces. Recent years have seen gradual changes toward an economy that is more open and competitive with an eye toward attracting foreign direct investment.

PROHIBITED IN THE CITY

At the 15th century, when Chinese Emperor Zhu Di rebuilt Beijing, he built a massive imperial palace in the city's heart. The palace earned its name, "the Forbidden City," because only the emperor's closest relatives and advisors were able to enter. It has walls around it and has around a thousand buildings in it, such as a library, stables, and temples.

COMMUNISM IN CHINA

In 1949, the Communist Party took control of China and became the ruling party. The Communist Party of China, which was led by Mao Zedong, had a utopian vision of a society in which everyone would have the same rights and the community as a whole would possess all of the property. The land was taken from wealthy landowners and given to groups of peasant farmers who worked on enormous community farms. These farms were run by the government. The government seized control of the business sector. The degree of success that these efforts to restructure China were met with can be thought of as being variable. Since Mao's death in 1976, there has been a gradual return to the practice of private ownership.

HOW TO WRITE IN CHINESE

In English and French, there are 26 letters in the alphabet, but in Chinese, there are almost 50,000 characters, or symbols. Each symbol stands for a different word or idea. One letter is used in simple words like "sky" or "rain." Complex words have more than one letter. For example, the word "telephone" uses the letters for "electric" and "speak."

RICE GROWING

The majority of China's population lives and works on the land. The southern regions are the most fertile. Rice is the primary crop, while tea, cotton, fruits, and vegetables are also cultivated. Rice is cultivated in flooded rice paddies (shown below). In a prosperous year, two rice crops and one crop of vegetables or cereal grains are gathered. In the country's north and west, which are drier and hillier, farmers cultivate a single crop of cereal grains and raise sheep and cattle.

FOOD

Chinese people place a high value on their regionally distinct cuisines. While the Sichuan region's western cuisine features spicy ingredients, the northern Beijing cuisine is known for its delicious roast duck. The seafood delicacies and excellent flavors of South Cantonese cuisine are famous all over the world. Food is prepared by steaming or stir-frying in a large pan called a wok. Food in the north consists primarily of wheat buns and noodles, whereas in the south rice is the staple. These dishes are eaten with chopsticks out of little bowls.

EXISTENCE IN THE CITY

China's urban areas are home to about 500 million people, many of whom live in overcrowded conditions. As a result of a severe lack of available accommodation, many families are forced to rent just one or two rooms from their employer. Public transit is cheap and readily available, although it is always jam-packed, and bicycles are abundant throughout the city. With over 17 million people calling it home, Shanghai is one of the world's largest cities and a major center of industry and commerce.

FAMILIES CONTAINING JUST ONE CHILD

The population of China is growing at a rate of over 9 million people each year, which is approximately the same as the whole population of Sweden. In 1979, the government initiated a program that restricted each family to a maximum of one child in order to decrease the rate at which the population was expanding. Children who have not yet found a spouse are often referred to as "Little Emperors" due to the many privileges afforded to them. In urban regions, where large families are required to supply labor in the fields, the one-child policy has been successful. However, it has not been successful in rural areas.

The Making of Food

In China, all of the arable land is put to good use. One crop is often put between rows of another and is produced beside roadways and train tracks. When it comes to agricultural output, China dominates the world. China's economic contribution to the world is shown in these percentages.

THE NEW YEAR

The Chinese start getting ready for the New Year at the end of January or the beginning of February of each year. This is a traditional time for the preparations. They clean their houses, decorate with red accents in the hope of bringing good fortune, and purchase brand new clothing and gifts for their children. The festivities surrounding the New Year last for several days. Everyone walks out into the streets to let off fireworks and watch lion and dragon dances because all of the stores and offices have been closed for the holiday.

MEET THE BUDDHISTS OF TIBET

Tibet, a once independent region, has been a part of China since 1950. The Tibetan people are devout Buddhists, but the Communist Party has banned their religion since it is seen as counter to party ideology. Nonetheless, Buddhism has survived for centuries in Tibet. Praying is an integral part of a Buddhist's daily routine. Prayers are printed on flags and posted outside of businesses in the hopes that they may bring success.

A LARGE CANAL

The Grand Canal, which runs across China, is the longest waterway in the world and stretches for 1,110 miles (1,790 kilometers). It was begun in the fifth century BC with the intention of connecting the towns in the north to the valleys in the south where rice was farmed. Near the southernmost tip of the city, the canal passes through Suzhou, a picturesque city that is frequently referred to as the "Venice of the East" because to the rivers and canals that crisscross it at various points.

Since most people in cities live in apartments without yards, parks play a crucial role in everyone's daily lives. People in China are encouraged to exercise by frequenting local parks. Morning is when many people choose to engage in physically demanding activities like tai chi or kung fu. Kite-flying is a popular activity for kids on windy days, while adults play table tennis, cards, chess, or just sit about and socialize.

RATIONALE FOR CHINESE MEDICINE

Disease, according to traditional Chinese medicine, develops when the body's yin and yang energy become unbalanced. Herbal remedies and acupuncture, in which practitioners insert thin needles into specific points on the body to induce a therapeutic response, are commonly utilized to restore health and harmony. In many places, "barefoot doctors" or other healers with only local training are relied on to treat patients.

INDUSTRY

In the last 20 years, China has gone from being one of the poorest countries in the world to having a fast-growing economy. It makes a lot of clothes, textiles, and electronics. Market reforms in the style of the West have led to a rise in wealth and the growth of cities like Shanghai, which has a new, futuristic business district called Pudong. Even so, a large number of people are still living in poverty. \n

Hong Kong, a small colony in southeast China, is home to around 6 million people crowded into its jagged islands and steep peninsula. It has one of the world's most robust economies and is one of the most important financial hubs. In 1898, China leased the New Territories of Hong Kong to Britain for 99 years. The United Kingdom ceded Hong Kong to China on July 1, 1997.

SHANGHAI BANK OF HONG KONG

The beautiful Hong Kong Shanghai Bank is in the core business district of Hong Kong. This modern engineering marvel was finished in 1985. At every stage of building, experts in feng shui, the ancient Chinese belief in the forces of wind and water, were consulted to make sure that the building would bring health, wealth, and good luck to all of its many residents.

One of Hong Kong's most recognizable landmarks, the Happy Valley racetrack stands out against the city's skyscrapers. As the only form of gambling that is sanctioned by law, betting on horse races is a popular pastime. Over $11 billion in revenue is possible throughout a single racing season.

Residences that float over water

The majority of Hong Kong's population now chooses to make their homes on water. Fishing is the main source of income for the many families who live on wooden junks and sampans. Floating institutions like schools, stores, and eateries cater to their needs, while professionals like doctors, dentists, and stylists all make house calls via watercraft. Although thousands of people still call these floating towns home, the gradual replacement of traditional boats by deep-sea trawlers is forcing fishermen to seek employment on land. \n

MACAO

Macao is made up of a mainland and two islands connected by a bridge and causeway. Its neighbor Hong Kong is richer and bigger, so Macao is often overshadowed by it. Macao was given back to China in 1999. When its Portuguese rulers gave up power after almost 450 years, it was the end of the longest-lasting European colony in Asia.

INDUSTRY

Macao makes a wide range of goods for export, from clothes and electronics to toys and fireworks. Every day, low-paid workers from mainland China come to Macao to work in the many factories in the city.

TOURISM

The hotels and casinos in Macao make up the majority of the city's skyline. Since casinos are illegal in mainland China and Hong Kong, the population of those places is drawn primarily by the desire to indulge in a popular pastime among Chinese people. Approximately one-third of Macao's GDP comes from the territory's primary industry, gaming.