25. China
China is an old nation
China is the largest nation in the world in terms of its population. In terms of its surface area, it is the fourth-largest nation on the planet.
China is also among the oldest nations in the world. It has existed for thousands of years, although its rulers and structure have changed many times.
The Great Wall of China was begun to be built over 2 000 years ago. It is over 20 000 kilometers long, and its purpose was to prevent neighbouring peoples from attacking China. Nowadays, it is a popular tourist attraction.
Many inventions, such as paper, gunpowder, the compass, kites and paper money, originally come from China. China was an advanced civilization long before ancient Greece and Rome.
China is also among the oldest nations in the world. It has existed for thousands of years, although its rulers and structure have changed many times.
The Great Wall of China was begun to be built over 2 000 years ago. It is over 20 000 kilometers long, and its purpose was to prevent neighbouring peoples from attacking China. Nowadays, it is a popular tourist attraction.
Many inventions, such as paper, gunpowder, the compass, kites and paper money, originally come from China. China was an advanced civilization long before ancient Greece and Rome.
China is the most populous nation on the planet
China is inhabited by over one billion people. Although there are many large cities in China, a large part of the nation's population still lives in rural areas. The largest Chinese city, Chongqing, is inhabited by over 30 million people, making it the largest city in the world.The Chinese birth rate has declined significantly in recent decades because of the Chinese government's one child policy. The policy was discontinued in 2016.
The official language of China is Mandarin Chinese. Because all teaching in school is given in Mandarin, all Chinese people know how to speak CHinese.
For people from other countries, writing and reading Chinese can be hard, because the language is written with thousands of different symbols.
Beijing is the capital of China
The capital city of China is Beijing. It is inhabited by over 8 million people.
Beijing is the center of Chinese education and culture. The name of the city means "the northern capital". However, the Chinese economy is centered in the southern cities of Shanghai and Hong Kong.
The Forbidden City, a former palace of the Chinese emperor, is located inside Beijing. It is a famous tourist attraction.
Beijing is the center of Chinese education and culture. The name of the city means "the northern capital". However, the Chinese economy is centered in the southern cities of Shanghai and Hong Kong.
The Forbidden City, a former palace of the Chinese emperor, is located inside Beijing. It is a famous tourist attraction.
West China and East China
West China is a mountainous region. It consists of highland areas, and it's environment is unsuitable for agriculture. The inhabitants of the Tibetan highland get their livelihood by raising yaks and sheep.The southern regions of West China are dominated by the Himalayan mountain range. Because the conditions of West China are harsh, the region is not densely populated.
East China, on the other hand, consists mostly of lowland areas. Two great rivers, the Yellow River and the Yangtze, run through the region. The photograph on the right is from the city of Wuhan, which is located on the banks of the Yellow River.
The soil and climate of East China is suitable for agriculture. The region is known for its rice farming.
The largest Chinese cities are also found in East China. The largest city, Shanghai, is located on the shores of the Yellow Sea. The city of Hong Kong in the southern part of the nation is one of the most important economic centers in all of Asia.
Chinese livelihoods
Agriculture is an important livelihood in the East Chinese lowland regions.
Pigs are common domestic animals in rural areas. It has been estimated that China procudes over 50 billion kilograms worth of pork every single year.
China is also one of the world's most prominent producers of chicken and mutton.
Rice and wheat are the two most important cultivated plants. Rice is farmed in flooded fields.
Pigs are common domestic animals in rural areas. It has been estimated that China procudes over 50 billion kilograms worth of pork every single year.
China is also one of the world's most prominent producers of chicken and mutton.
Rice and wheat are the two most important cultivated plants. Rice is farmed in flooded fields.
Chinese industry
China is rich in natural resources. Energy is produced with coal, oil and natural gas. The use of these fossil fuels has created significant environmental harm. This is why the Chinese government has begun to increase the amount of renewable energy production, such as wind power and solar power.
The raw materials of Chinese industry, such as iron, is mined from the Chinese bedrock. China is one of the leading industrial nations in the world. The rise of Chinese industry and living standards can be seen by looking at the tall skyscrapers in many Chinese cities, such as Shanghai (pictured on the right).
In China, education and science are held in great esteem.
The raw materials of Chinese industry, such as iron, is mined from the Chinese bedrock. China is one of the leading industrial nations in the world. The rise of Chinese industry and living standards can be seen by looking at the tall skyscrapers in many Chinese cities, such as Shanghai (pictured on the right).
In China, education and science are held in great esteem.
Photographs from China
Terminology
| Term | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Mandarin Chinese | The official language of China. |
| fossil fuel | An energy source that comes from the remains of ancient organisms. |
| raw material | A material that is used to produce industrial goods. |