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,