|
Brief
Introduction of China
Area:
9,600,000 sq km
Population: 1.3 billion
Capital
City:
Beijing (pop 13 million)
People:
Han (93%), plus Mongolian, Zang,
Manchu and 52 other ethnic
groups
Language: Putonghua (Northern dialect
mandarin)
Religion:
Most Chinese are atheists; some believe Buddhism, Taoism,
Islam,
and Christianity
Legislature:
The National People's Congress
Government:
State Department
Geography
Situated
in the southeastern part of the Asian Continent, China has a
coastline of 18,000 kilometers, an international land borderline of
more than 20,000 kilometers, and a total land area of 9.6 million
square kilometers, third only in size to Russia and Canada. Its
territory embraces the equatorial belt, the tropics, the subtropics,
the moderate temperate zone and the cold temperate zone. From east
to west, China extends over 62 of longitude with land covered by
forests, grasslands, deserts, plains, hills and mountains.
The
Yangtze River, the nation's largest river and the third longest in
the world, after the Nile and the Amazon, originates on the Qinghai-Tibet
Plateau, has a length of 6,300 kilometers, and runs through
spectacular gorges.
The
Yellow River, about 5,460km long and the second longest river in
China, is described as the birthplace of Chinese civilization.
The
Great Wall is well-known because of its magnificent and majestic
appearance. It was built about 2,000 years ago during the Warring
States Period. The Great Wall is the embodiment of the great power
and strong mind of Chinese people.
History
China,
representing one of the earliest civilizations in the world, has a
recorded history of about 3,600 years. Like other nations, China, in
its development, passed through the stages of primitive society,
slave society, and feudal society. The founding of the People's
Republic in 1949 marked China's entry into the socialist stage.
During the long period of historical development, the industrious,
courageous, and intelligent Chinese people of all nationalities
collectively created a great civilization. They made great
contributions to all of mankind.
Festivals
1.
Spring Festival
Also
known as the Chinese New Year throughout the west.
It
is on the first day of the year in the lunar calendar. This is
usually in late January or early February.
The
Spring Festival is the most important festival in China. Before the
event, houses are thoroughly cleaned. Everyone gets a haircut and
purchases new clothes. Red lanterns are hung everywhere. Red scrolls
with complementary poetic couplets are pasted at every gate, one
line on each side of the gate. On New Year's Eve, families have a
reunion big dinner
of Jiaozi (dumplings).
When
the clock rings to announce the arrival of the New Year, many
households set off fireworks at almost the same time, creating a
thunderous roar and clouds of smoke. This ceremonial use of
fireworks is meant to send off the old and usher in the new.
Early
the next morning and on the following days, everyone wears new
clothes. People pay New Year visits to relatives and friends to
extend the New Year's greetings. Cities, rural towns, and villages
present waist drum displays, Yangge dance, lion and dragon dance, and other folk dances.
2.
Lantern Festival
It
is on the 15th of the first lunar month.
During
this festival, red lanterns can be seen everywhere. Many types of
delicate and splendidly ornamented lanterns are exhibited. Every
family eats Yuanxiao (a kind of rice ball stuffed with beans, sugar,
and other sweets), which is a symbol of family reunion, unity,
affection, and happiness.
3.
Qingming Festival
It
is on the 12th of the 3rd lunar month, usually around April 4th or
5th.
Activities
include cleaning ancestors' graves, holding memorial ceremonies,
making of offerings to pay respects to the dead, which include the
burning of ceremonial paper money, are both to honor ancestors and
to pray for a year of good luck. It also includes spring family
outing, and flying kites.
4.
Dragon Boat Festival (Duan Wu Festival)
I t
is on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month.
The
Chinese Dragon Boat Festival has the longest history in festivals
celebrated in China. Dragon boat races are held to the sounds of
thunderous drumbeats. Racing teams row vigorously, sprinting forward
to reach the finish line.
In
Chinese tradition, the dragon boats attempt to rescue the patriotic
poet, Chu Yuan. Chu Yuan drowned himself because his king would not
take his advice.
5.
Mid-Autumn Festival
Also
known as the Moon Festival，it
is on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month.
On
the day, People eat moon cakes under the moonlight with family
members. Moon cakes are pastries filled with gooey sesame, red bean,
and walnut meats.
This
festival originated in a fairy tale. A hero named Hou Yi saved his
people by shooting down the other nine suns that burned his people
to death. He was then bestowed with the elixir of immortality by the
Queen Mother of the West. He did not want to consume the elixir and
leave his beautiful but very mortal wife, Chang Er, so he gave the
elixir to his wife for safekeeping. Unfortunately, Hou Yi's disloyal
apprentice forced Chang Er to swallow the elixir. She then became a
supernatural being. She flew to the moon, and from there watched her
husband. Knowing that his wife had now been separated from him, Hou
Yi was crazed with grief. Looking up at the moon one night, he saw a
figure like his wife. He hurriedly took cakes and succade (preserves
in sugar, whether fruits, vegetables, or confections) as offerings
to his wife. Upon hearing this, people developed the custom of
watching the moon and eating moon cakes annually on this day.
6.
National Day
On
1st October 1949, Mao Zedong announced the establishment of the
People Republic of China in Beijing. Since then, the 1st October of
each year has become the National Day to commemorates the founding
of China.
7.
Teachers’ Day
Teacher
Day is the 10th September. Choose this day is to
celebrate the birth of Confucius for his great contribution to
Chinese culture.
8.
The May Youth Day
A
day in memory of the first mass student movement in 1919 touched off
by the existing Chinese government that gave in to the Japanese
attempts to colonize Shandong Province. It is also a movement
against feudalism.
9.
The Army Day
August
1. Anniversary of the first uprising in 1927 by a communist-led army
against the Nationalists. This was the beginning of the Red Army,
which later became the People's Liberation Army. Also called
National Liberation Army Festival.
10.
The CCP's Birthday
July
1. For the founding of the Chinese Communist Party in Shanghai in
1921.
|
