The Yangtze River (Chang Jiang 长江)

The Yangtze River (Chang Jiang ) is the longest river in Asia and the third longest in the world. The river is about 6,300 km and originates form the Qinghai province eastwards into the East China Sea near Shanghai. It passes through the capitals Chongqing, Wuhan and Nanjing and divides China into North and South China. The Yangtze is rich in culture, history and of great economic importance to the country. It has the largest hydro-dam in the world - the Three Gorges Dam. The dam prevents flood and has great value to China’s agriculture although the impact on ecology is still not known fully.The Yangtze is important in the river valley's economic growth and has become a vital link for international shipping to the inland provinces. The river is a major transportation artery for China, connecting the interior with the coast.
The river is one of the world's busiest waterways.

The Yellow River(Huang He 黃河)

The Yellow River (Huang He黃河 ) is the second-longest river in China.. It is sixth longest in the world about 5,500 kilometers. It flows from Qinghai Province through nine provinces of China into the Bohai Sea near Tientjin It passes by capitals Jihan, Zhengzhou, Luoyang and Lang Zhou.
The Yellow River is where Chinese civilisation started. Its surrounding areas had brought prosperity in the history and sorrow of the Han people. Because of its frequent flooding it was the source of flood that caused hardships for farmers over the last few thousand years. As such it is also known as China’s Pride and China’s Sorrow
The Yellow River man caused many deaths in the history of China. The flood of 1887 killed 900,000 to 2,000,000 and the 1931 flood about 3,000,000 .
Over the recent years the area around the Yellow River has experienced water shortages. The present government has embarked on harnessing the Yellow River with water conservancy projects, including Sanmenxia, Liujiaxia, Longyangxia and Xiaolangdi dams.
However, Huang He has continued to dry up occasionally in the downstream Shandong Province.
Seven of the eight provinces and autonomous regions -- Qinghai, Gansu, Ningxia, Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, Shaanxi and Henan -- along the valley are suffering the most serious water shortages . This is expected to cause reduction in output of traditional farm produce this year.
The Chinese government has continuously adopted water control plan for the Yellow River.
The State Council has approved a plan to develop the Yellow River Delta (YRD) in East China's Shandong Province into an efficient and environmentally-friendly economic zone,
Yellow River Delta is located in metropolitan Beijing, Tianjin and Shandong Peninsula junction with Tianjin Binhai New Area is only 80 kilometers away from the recent, and Liaoning coastal economic belt across the sea, is the Bohai Sea region, an important part of the west can be connected vast central and western hinterland, may be reached from the south wing of Yangtze River Delta, north east to the sea and the neighboring countries in northeast Asia, or docking, Shandong Province, Beijing and Tianjin Binhai New Area and the metropolitan area of the front and a hub.
Over the years, development and construction of the Yellow River Delta has been given widespread attention with investments flowing in internationally.

Ethnic Groups of China

Ethnic Groups of China

There are 56 different ethnic groups in China. The biggest is the Han – about 91% of the population.
The other 55 are known as ethnic minorities. The biggest is the Zhuang (about 16 million) and the smallest the Lhoba (3,000). The Zhuang live in the Guangxi Autonomous Region . Some also live in the Yunnan, Guangdong, Guizhou and Hunan provinces. Lhoba ethnic minority have their homes mainly in Mainling, Medog, Lhunze and Nangxian counties in southeastern Tibet.
The break-down of minorities is as follows(in million):
Mongols(5.8),Hui(9.8),Tibetan(9.4),Uyghur(8.4),Miao(8.9),Yi(7.8),Zhuang(16),Bouyei(3),Korean(2),Manchu(11),Dong(3),Yao(2.6),Bai(1.8),Tujia(8),Hani(1.4),Kazak(1.2),Dai(1.1),Li(1.2),Gelao(0.6),Xibe(0.1), Achang(0.03),Primi(0.03),Tajik(0.04),Nu(0.03),Uzbek(0.01),Russian(0.02),Ewenk(0.03),Deang(0.02),Boan(0.02),Yugur(0.01),Naxi(0.3),Jingpo(0.1),Va(0.4),She(0.7),Gashan (4,000),Lahu(0.4),Sui(0.4),Jing(0.023),Tartar(5,000),Derung(7,000),Oroqen(8,000),Hexhen(5,000),Monba(9,000),Lhoba(3,000),Jino(0.02),Kirgiz(0.2),Tu(0.2),Daur(0.1),Mulam(0.2),Qiang(0.3),Blang(0.09),Salar(0.1),Maonan(0.1),Lisu(0.6),Dongxiang (0.5)
18 groups exceed 1 million (shown in bold).
The larger ethnic groups have certain degree of autonomy and self-government in some parts of China. There are five autonomous regions in China: the Tibetan People inTibet, the Zhuang in Guangxi,the Uyghur in Xinjiang, the Mongols in Inner Mongolia, and the Hui in Ningxia.
The central government renders financial and educational assistance and in recent years has focus on economic development and invests heavily in these regions.

The Classic novels of China

China is rich in literature and the arts.Through the dynasties it is said the Tang dynasty was renown for its poetry, the Song dynasty for its ci (verse) and the Yuan dynasty for its song and drama.
The Ming and Qing dynasties were well-known for long novels.

San Guo Yan Yi (Romance of the Three Kingdoms) by Luo Guanzhong was the first long novel written. This classic novel describes the military and political upheavals of the kingdoms of Wei, Shu and WU during the closing years of the Han Dynasty. It is the best novel and is widely-read including two versions translated to English. The story of the exploits of Liu Bei, Kuan Yu, Zhang Fei ,Zhu K Liang and Tsao Tsao is produced for TV and captured in CDs and DVDs by CCTV. It is shown on many Asian TV channels.

The next popular novel is Shui Hu Quan Zhuan (Water Margin) by a Ming author Shi Naian. It tells of the exploits of 108 men who became good bandits against a corrupt government. It is set during the closing years of the Song dynasty. The story is also produced for TV by CCTV. About four versions of this novel in English are available.

Hong Lou Meng (Dream of the Red Chamber) is a romantic novel by Cao Xuejin. It is about he happenings of a rich and influential family and the romance of a young master who is at odds with not able to marry the one he loves. The ending is tragic.

Jin Ping Mei (Golden Lotus) another classic novel is about a wicked,rich man who is a womanizer and has many concubines and maids. It is written by Xiao Xiaosheng. The original version is pornographic.

Perhaps the most entertaining is Xi You Ji (Journey to the West) by Wu Chengen, a Qing scholar. It is about a Tang Buddhist monk on his journey to the West(India) to bring about the Scriptures. The story is full of action by his three disciples. And this adventurous story is serialized for TV by CCTV as well. Many versions of it in cartoons for TV and video are also available.

The Chinese Economy

The Chinese Economy

China has become one of the leading economic powers. In terms of GDP and trade it is within the top three countries in the world. Its overall standard of living is rising rapidly.
China has adopted a 5-year economic development since 1953. It is now on its 11th 5-year Paln (2006-2010). Development is divided into three sectors:
Primary Industry comprises agriculture,fishery, husbandry and forestry, Secondary Industry –manufacturing,gas and fuel, electricity,water and construction, and Tertiary Industry refers to service industries.
The Chinese economy is based on a socialist market economy model. It encourages economic development by ownership and at the same time a strong public sector. It establishes a open market system across China linking domestic and international markets. It encourages some people to prosper first and has a social-security system for both urban and rural residents.
To gradually open up in 1978 China set up special economic zone s in Shenzen, Zhuhai, Shantou, Xiamen and Hainan. It also included other special economic areas in border area cities where preferential policies are adopted.
The development of the Western region of China which is rich in resources is also important. The Western region comprises Chongqing ,Guizhou, Ningxia,Qinghai, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Tibet,Yunnan, Gansu, Guangxi and Inner Mongolia. This region has 30% of the population and 70% of total area.
China also has extensive overseas investment over more than 160 countries.Some say that China is on the right path to become the world’s leading economic power .

It is said the middle kingdom is rewriting the rules of trade, technology, currency, climate etc.

It is a China's World.

Economic data

GDP US4,400b, GDP per capita US$3,300, Number of households 411million, RMB per US dollar 6.82, Highest GDP Guangdong
Lowest GDP Tibet, Largest Trading Partner USA,

National Anthem of China

National Anthem of the People's Republic of China

The national anthem of the People's Republic of China is

The March of Volunteers.

" Arise, who refuse to be slaves!

With our very flesh and blood Let us build our new Great Wall!

The Peoples of China are in the most critical time,
Everybody must roar his defiance.

Arise! Arise! Arise!

Millions of hearts with one mind,

Brave the enemy's gunfire, March on!

Brave the enemy's gunfire, March on!

March on! March on! March on, on! "

Click here for song and music

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQFEDdaG64o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3Sf4jOzJxE

From Imperial to Modern China

From Imperial to Modern China

China has been ruled by dynasties for 5000 years. Many historical events had happened under the rule of
Emperors. But the most important event is the Chinese Revolution by Dr Sun Yat-sen in 1911. It ushered Imperial China into the modern age. Dr Sun was known as the father of modern China . However he was not able to build a cohesive Republican China. After his death Chiang Kai Shek who tried to unify China under the Kuomintang got into civil war with the Communists led by Mao Zedong.On 1 Oct 1949 the People’s Republic of China was born. He said at the Gate of Heavenly Peace Beijing “ The Chinese People have stood up”
For the next 30 years China saw a transformation of Chinese society from a feudalism to a modern age.
Unfortunately two events marred the progress of modern China. The Great Leap campaign (1958 )led to industrial setbacks and together with natural disasters caused widespread famine. The other event is the Cultural Revolution (1966) which caused chaos across China. There was much loss of of historical, cultural and religious heritage.
Fortunately in the 1980s Deng Xiaoping liberalized Chinese economy and adopted market economy nation[wide. He created Special Economic Zones.
Two of his famous quotes are:
“It doesn't matter if a cat is black or white, so long as it catches mice.”
“Let some people get rich first.”
Now China is one of the world’s most vibrant economic powerhouse. The best is yet to come.

The Population of China

China has the world's largest population over 1.3 billion people (1,330,044,605 as of mid-2008) with a land size of 9.6 million sq km. It has 56 ethnic groups. The Han accounts for 92%.
As the world's population is approximately 6.7 billion, China represents a full 20% of the world's population so one in every five people on the planet is a resident of China.
By end 2010 it is expected to reach 1.4 billion. At some point it is expected to decline because of its one-child policy.
1. Anhui (66 million)
2. Beijing (18 million)
3. Chongqing (32 million)
4. Fujian (36 million)
5. Gansu (27 million)
6. Guangdong (115 million)
7. Guangxi (50 million)
8. Guizhou (40 million)
9. Hainan (9 million)
10. Hebei (69 million)
11. Heilongjiang (39 million)
12. Henan (100 million)
13. Hong Kong (8 million)
14. Hubei (62 million)
15. Hunan (68 million)
16. Inner Mongolia (25 million)
17. Jiangsu (76 million)
18. Jiangxi (44 million)
19. Jilin (28 million)
20. Liaoning (43 million)
21. Macau (0.5 million)
22. Ningxia (76 million)
23. Qinghai (6 million)
24. Shaanxi (38 million)
25. Shandong (93 million)
26. Shanghai (20 million)
27. Shanxi (33 million)
28. Sichuan (87 million)
29. Taiwan (23 million)
30. Tianjin (12 million)
31. Tibet (3 million)
32. Xinjiang (20 million)
33. Yunnan (44 million)
34. Zhejiang (47 million)

The other 9 populous countries are India (1.1b),USA(307m),Indonesia(240m),Brazil (190m),Pakistan (174m),Bangladesh(156m),Nigeria(149m),Russia(140m) andJapan(27m).

Who rules China?

Hu Jintao胡锦涛

Who rules China now?

China has only one political party – the Communist Party of China (CPC), also known the Chinese Communist Part (CCP). . It controls China through many different institutions and party organizations.
Power is exercised by 9 members of the Standing Committee of the Politburo of the Communist Party.
The head of the Party is the General Secretary presently held by Hu Jintao. The other members areWu Bangguo, Wen Jiabao, Jia Qinglin, Li Changchun, Xijinping, Li Keqiang, He Guoquiang, Zhou Yongkang

The Standing Committee members have tight control over the Government (State Council), Legislature (National People’s Congress) and Armed Forces (Military Commission)

The 25 Standing Committee members are elected by the Central Committee comprising 204 members.
The Central Committee is elected by the National Party Congress once in every five years.

There are more than 2,000 members of the CPC attending the National Party Congress. The election of all delegates is in accordance with procedure, specifically:- delegates have all been nominated by the grass-root Party organizations and Party members via recommendations and defined as delegate candidates with the agreement of most Party organizations and most CPC members.-delegates have gone through assiduous, conscientious tests by Party organizations, hearings of opinions about them by Party organizations and CPC members in the units they belong to, and hearings of views of Party discipline inspection and supervision organs to which their units are subjected.-delegates have been elected by Party congresses or CPC representatives meetings in their electoral units.

The top officials who run the State Council (Government)currently are President Hu Jintao, Vice-President Xi Jinping, Premier Wen Jiabao and Current Vice Premiers, in order of rank, are Li Kiqiang, Hui Liangyu, Zhang Dejiang and Wang Qishan .

There are about 80 million members of the Communist Party of China.

China History - Rise and Fall of Dynasties

The Chinese believe they are descendants of the Yellow Emperor who formed the first kingdom of China more than 4,000 years ago. The next 200 years were full of legends until the first recorded dynasty – the Xia Dynasty - was established in 2205 BC.

Here is a brief of the different dynasties till the present The People’s Republic of China.

1. Xia -2205BC
2. Shang – 1766BC
3. Zhou – Western Zhou (112BC)
Eastern Zhou (770BC)
The Spring-Autumn Period (770BC)
The Warring States (476BC)
4. Qin – (221BC)
5. Han – Western Han (206BC)
Eastern Han (25BC)
Three Kingdoms (220)
6. Jin – 256
7. Southern and Northern Dynasties – (420)
8. Sui – (589)
9. Tang – (618)
10. Five Dynasties – (907) (Liang, Tang, Jin, Han and Zhou)
11. Song – Northern Song (960)
Southern Song (1127)
12. Liao – (916)
13. Jin – (1115)
14. Yuan – (1279)
15. Ming – (1368)
16. Qing – (1644)
17. Republic of China – (1912)
18. People’s Republic of China – (1949)

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