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China Tours |
    
An Introduction to China
Staggeringly vast and a land of great
diversity, China, the world's most populous and third largest nation
is more like a continent in itself than a country. Stretching from
its southern borders in the Himalayas to the deserts of Mongolia in
the north, and from the East China Sea through the Yangzi River
Valley plains, to the Tibetan Plateau in the western mainland, China
covers an area of 9,596,960 square kilometres. The main tourism
cities in China are:
Beijing,
Shanghai,
Xi'an,
Guangzhou,
Yunnan (Kunming, Dali, Lijiang),
Guilin,
Hong Kong and
Chengdu
although there are many more cities and areas offering a
wealth of opportunities to visit and explore.
A Vast Country
China also encompasses over 5, 000 islands and comprises five
autonomous regions and twenty-two provinces, as well as Hong Kong,
which is now titled as a 'Special Administrative Region'. The seat
of government, Beijing, is a large city of 11 million people. Due to its size, China's
climate is very diverse, ranging from 48ºC in the northwest during
Summer to -40ºC in the far north in winter.
2008 Olympics
China's hosting of the 2008 Olympics showed off to the world a
nation on the rise, where ancient riches are complemented by modern
marvels of architecture and engineering. The energy of the place is
palpable as the world's largest population emerges from the shadows
of recent history and rushes headlong into a future as a major
global player - and a must-see travel destination.
Chinese history
China's multi-millennial history has been a tumultuous one. One of
the world's earliest civilisations, it was ruled for thousands of
years by imperial dynasties until the overthrowing of the Qing
dynasty in 1911. The civil war in 1945 defined the China of today,
ending with the defeated Nationalists fleeing to Taiwan, while Mao's
victorious Communists founded the People's Republic of China. The
Cultural Revolution in the 1960s effectively closed the country.
However, China has made up for lost time since the 1990s: it now
boasts the world's fastest growing major economy and its main cities
are emerging as cosmopolitan global centres.
Culture and cuisine
China is a land of natural and cultural superlatives too,
encompassing 37 UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the Great
Wall and Forbidden City in Beijing, Xi'an's Terracotta Army,
traditional Suzhou gardens and the misty peaks of Huangshan. Chinese
food ranks among the world's great cuisines, while its distinctive
art forms, including acrobatics, martial arts and Chinese opera, add
more flavour to the mix.
Changing China
From Beijing's medley of ancient and futuristic monuments to
cosmopolitan Shanghai's skyscrapers and art-deco heritage; and from
the heights of the spectacular Tibet (Xizang) Autonomous Region to
the peaks and rivers of Guizhou, China's experiences are many
and varied. Investment spurred on by hosting world events like the
Beijing Olympics in 2008, the 2010 Shanghai World Expo and 2010
Asian Games in Guangzhou means urban and tourist infrastructure is
constantly evolving. And while flexibility and patience are still
required to travel around China, in return, the Middle Kingdom
rewards visitors with memories to treasure for a lifetime.
Factfile
Area: 9,596,960 square kilometres
Population: 1.2 billion
Capital City: Beijing
People: Han Chinese 93%, other immigrants (including Mongol,
Zhuang, Manchu and Uighur) 7%
Main Language: Mandarin
Religion: Officially atheist; Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism.
Also Islamic and Christian communities
Major Industries: Iron, steel, coal, machinery, textiles
Currency: Renminbi (RMB)
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