04-November-2024

  Table of Contents



The Chinese call their country "Zhongguo", which can be translated as "Middle Kingdom". The name refers to an ancient belief that China was at the centre of the known world, surrounded by lesser inferior states. The English word "China" is originated from the ancient Qin Dynasty (221-207 B.C.) that first unified the country. Since then, the word "China" had passed through many languages along the Silk Road before it finally reached the Western world. China was one of the earliest centers of human civilization, and the Chinese language was also one of the few languages to invent writing independently.

Geography and Climate

China is mainly composed by mountains and plateaus in the west and lower lands in the east. As a result, the two major rivers, Huang He (Yellow River) and Chang Jiang (Yangtze), flow from west to east. Most of the country's fertile lands lie along these two rivers, which naturally gave birth to China's ancient civilizations in the past. The southern part of China is mostly dominated by hill country and lower mountain ranges. In the northwest, the country is generally composed by high plateaus and desert landscapes such as the Gobi desert. China's land area is the third largest in the world and measures approximately 9,32 million square kilometres (6,5 percent of earth's land mass). China's sea area has a total size of 4,78 million square kilometres, and is composed by four great seas: the Bohai Sea, the Yellow Sea, the East China Sea, and the South China Sea The climate of China is divided into three different zones: The Northern zone has a cold climate, the Central zone has a temperate climate, and the Southern zone has a subtropical climate.

Political Divisions of China

China is divided into three basic levels of administration: Provinces, counties, and townships. However, two more levels have been inserted in the actual implementation: prefectures that placed under provinces, and villages that placed under townships. The People's Republic of China administers 33 province-level divisions (shengji), including 22 provinces (sheng), 5 autonomous regions (zizhiqu), 4 municipalities (zhixiashi), and two special administrative regions (tebiexingzhengqu). Most of the provinces in China, with the exception of the provinces in the northeast, have boundaries which were established during the Yuan (1271-1368), Ming (1368-1644), and Qing dynasties (1644-1912). Since it's founding in 1949, the People's Republic of China has also considered Taiwan to be it's 23rd province. Autonomous regions are provincial-level divisions with a designated ethnic minority, and are guaranteed more rights under the constitution. For example, they have a chairman (regular provinces have governors), who must be of the ethnic group as specified by the autonomous region. A province or an autonomous region includes prefectures, autonomous prefectures, leagues, cities, counties, autonomous counties, banners, and autonomous banners. Municipalities are large cities that have the same administrative level as provinces. Municipalities directly control county-level divisions (districts and counties), without an intervening prefecture-level. Special administrative regions (SARs) are local administrative regions that are controlled by the Central People's Government under the "One country, two systems" arrangement. Unlike provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities, SARs reserve a much higher level of autonomy, with their own legal systems, currencies, customs control, immigration policies, etc., except diplomatic relations and national defense. Prefecture-level (diji) is the second level of administrative structure and it exists only in mainland China. This level consists of 333 divisions, comprised of 283 prefecture-level cities (dijishi), 17 prefectures (diqu), 30 autonomous prefectures (zizhizhou), and 3 leagues (meng). The autonomous prefectures are divided into counties, autonomous counties, and cities. There are 2862 county-level divisions (xianji) in mainland China, including 852 districts (shixiaqu), 374 cities (xianjishi), 1464 counties (xian), 117 autonomous counties (zizhixian), 49 banners (qi), 3 autonomous banners (zizhiqi), 2 special regions (tequ - Liuzhi and Wanshan in Guizhou province), and 1 forestry area (linqu - Shennongjia in Hubei province). A county or an autonomous county includes townships, nationality townships, and towns. There are 43275 township-level divisions (xiangji) in mainland China, including 19892 towns (zhen), 16130 townships (xiang), 1126 ethnic townships (minzuxiang), 277 sumu, 1 ethnic sumu (minzusumu), 5829 subdistricts (jiedaobanshichu), and 20 district public offices (qugongsuo). The village-level (cun) serves as organizational (census) and not so much importance in political representative power.

China Map

Provinces:
Anhui
 Population: 60 million
Area: 139 000 square kilometres
Administrative Divisions: 16 cities and 65 counties
Major Cities: Hefei (Capital), Huainan, Bengbu, Tongling, Huaibei, Tunxi, Wuhu
Anhui Cuisine: Stewed Soft Shell Turtle with Ham, Steamed Stone Frog, Wenzheng Hill Bamboo Shots, Wuwei Smoked Duck, Stuffed Bean Curd, Milky Fat Fish King, Bagong Mountain Bean Curd, Li Hongzhang Hotchpotch
Production: Rice, wheat, millet, sorghum, corn, potatoes, soyabeans, sesame, peanuts, peas, silk cocoons, cotton, Chinese tallow tree, tobacco, apples, pears, yangtao, iron, coal
National Treasures: Huangshan (Majestic mountain area that is famous for its beautiful pine trees, bubbling hot springs, and rapidly changing clouds. Huangshan is located in the southern part of Anhui), Mount Jiuhua (A sacred place for Buddhist pilgrims, and also known as one of the four most important Buddhist mountains in China. Jiuhuashan is located southwest of Qingyang county), Mount Tianzhu in the Dabie Mountains
Fujian
 Population: 32,6 million
Area: 120 000 square kilometres
Administrative Divisions: 11 cities and 59 counties
Major Cities: Fuzhou (Capital), Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Nanping, Sanming, Quanzhou
Fujian Cuisine: Buddha Jumps over Wall, Sea Clams in Chicken Soup, Thousand Layer Cake, Oyester Cake, Taiji Smashed Tao, Lichi Pulp, Aromatic Sliced Snails
Production: Rice, wheat, sweet potatoes, soyabeans, sugar canes, pineapples, lichi, longyan, oranges, sesame, tea, pomelos, bananas, lotus seeds, dried bamboo shots, mushrooms, silver fungus, tobacco, raisins, medicinal herbs, Chinese tallow tree, timber, iron, coal, salt, graphite
National Treasures: Gulangyu Island in Xiamen (Gu means "drum" and lang means "waves". The island is surrounded by a huge reef - when the tides come in, the waves pound on the reef with a sound that resembles the beating of a drum. The island is also known for it's two scenic spots: Sunlight Rock and the Shuzhuang Garden), Wuyishan in Chong An county (mountain area that houses the remains of an ancient city of the Min Yue people who lived more than 2000 years ago)
Gansu
 Population: 24,7 million
Area: 450 000 square kilometres
Administrative Divisions: 2 autonomous prefectures, 13 cities, 60 counties, and 7 autonomous counties
Major Cities: Lanzhou (Capital), Tianshui, Dunhuang, Jinchang, Jiayuguan
Gansu Cuisine: Dunhuang Banquet, White Pagoda of the Golden City, Eight-treasure Melon Carving of the Golden City, Camel Hoof on the Silk Road, Fried Camel Hump
Production: Wheat, millet, highland barley, broomcorn millet, sorghum, rice, soyabeans, cotton, muskmelons, wool, leather, coal, petroleum, copper, sulphur, zinc
National Treasures: Dunhuang (Once an ancient way station on the main trade route between China and central Asia), Mogao Caves (A shrine of Buddhist art treasures, that is located on the eastern slope of Mount Mingsha outside Dunhuang City), Jiayuguan Pass (It was built during the Ming Dynasty, and is considered the first pass at the western end of the Great Wall. The pass is located southwest of Jiayuguan City)
Guangdong
 Population: 69,6 million
Area: 186 000 square kilometres
Administrative Divisions: 15 cities, 73 counties, and 3 autonomous counties
Major Cities: Guangzhou (Captial), Shantou, Chaozhou, Shenzhen, Zhanjiang, Zhuhai, Shaoguan, Foshan (Shenzhen, Zhuhai, and Shantou are three of China's four special economic zones establised in the early eighties)
Guangdong Cuisine: Eight Treasures in White Gourd Cup, Soya Sauce Shark's Fin, Roast Piglet with Crisp Skin, Dongjiang Salted Chicken, Baiyun's Pig's Trotters, Crystal Chicken, Hakka Three Treasures with Filling, Mandarin Fish in Soup, Aromatic Pot, Fried Jelly Fish
Production: Rice, potatoes, sorghum, millet, wheat, sugar cane, soyabeans, sesame, tea, silk cocoons, lemongrass, pepper, oyster, abalone, timber, wolfram, tin, copper, lead, zinc, salt, sulphur
National Treasures: Qixing Yan in Zhaoqing (Limestone crags that are naturally arranged in the same formation as the seven stars of the Big Dipper constellation), Moxing Ling (A scenic spot, also known as The Star Touching Hill, located in the Baiyun mountain), Bright Filial Piety Temple (One of the grandest and most influential Buddhist temples in China - it is also believed that it existed before the foundation of Guangzhou city)
Guizhou
 Population: 36,6 million
Area: 176 000 square kilometres
Administrative Divisions: 3 autonomous prefectures, 8 cities, 61 counties, 11 autonomous counties, and 3 special districts
Major Cities: Guiyang (Capital), Duyun, Zunyi, Lupanshui, Anshun, Bijie, Kaili
Guizhou Cuisine: Huajiang Dog Meat Hot Pot, Kaili Fish Pot with Sour Sopu, Guiyang Green Pepper Young Chicken Hot Pot
Production: Rice, wheat, millet, corn, sugar cane, peanuts, sesame, tea, cotton, ambary hemp, tussah, timber, sisal hemp, lemongrass, raw lacquer, Chinese tallow tree, cork, coffee, bark of eucommial gallnuts, silver fungus, pineapples, apples, walnuts, chestnuts, coal, phosphorus, bauxite, natural gas
National Treasures: Huangguoshu Falls (It measures 74 metres high and 81 metres wide, and is considered the largest waterfall in Asia. The Huangguoshu area is located southwest of Anshun City, and it houses three scenic spots: Waterfall Cluster, Water-Curtain Cave and Rhinoceros Pool (Xi Niu Tan)), Jiaxiu Tower (A landmark of Guiyang, also known as the First Scholar's Tower. It was built in 1598 during the Ming Dynasty to encourage the intellectuals to study hard for making their best in the imperial examinations)
Hainan
 Population: 7,34 million
Area: 34 000 square kilometres (Hainan Island is also known as Qiong'ai, which is the second largest island in China. This province was formally established by the 7th National People's Congress in 1988, and is considered China's smallest province)
Administrative Divisions: 3 cities, 9 counties, and 7 autonomous counties
Major Cities: Haikou (Capital), Sanya
Hainan Cuisine: Fried Dried Bean Curd, Steamed Fish with Shredded Ginger, Sweet and Sour Fish, Soya Sauce Pork
Production: Iron, salt, petroleum, tropical plants
National Treasures: Tomb of Hai Rui (The resting place of an upright and uncorrupted offical named Hai Rui, who lived during the Ming Dynasty). Hainan is also known for it's magnificent beaches, such as Dadonghai Beach and Yalong Bay.
Hebei
 Population: 64,9 million
Area: 190 000 square kilometres (The coastline stretches 500 kilometres)
Administrative Divisions: 18 cities, 127 counties, and 4 autonomous counties
Major Cities: Shijiazhuang (Capital), Tangshan, Handan, Chengde, Qinhuangdao, Baoding, Zhangjiakou, Cangzhou
Hebei Cuisine: Braised Chicken (Paiji), Motley Noodles (Xiaoyang Zamian), Honey Twist (Tangshan Fengmi Mahua), Songhua Duck Eggs
Production: Corn, sorghum, millet, wheat, rice, potatoes, peanuts, sesame, mushrooms, cotton, tobacco, silk cocoons, chestnuts, apricots, grapes, dates, iron, coal, petroleum, salt
National Treasures: Shanhaiguan (Small town and port of the northern section of the Bohai gulf, holding the access between Northeast China and North China. The Shanhaiguan Pass is considered the number one pass of the Great Wall, and the key to the defense of two ancient capitals, Beijing and Xi'an), The Mountain Resort of Chengde (The largest imperial garden in modern China. It took 89 years to build it during the Qing Dynasty, and it's twice as large as the Summer Palace in Beijing), Beidaihe (Scenic summer resort at the southwest of Qinhuangdao)
Heilongjiang
 Population: 38,1 million
Area: 469 000 square kilometres
Administrative Divisions: 19 cities, 59 counties, and 1 autonomous county
Major Cities: (Capital), Mudanjiang, Jiamusi, Jixi, Shuangyashan, Daqing, Heihe, Qiqihar, Mohe
Heilongjiang Cuisine: Crystal Sugar, Snow Clams, Stewed Spareribs and Potatoes, Imperial White Meat and Snow Sausage, Nurhaci Golden Meat, Green Onions and Liaoning Sea Cucumbers
Production: Corn, sorghum, millet, wheat, rice, potatoes, soyabeans, sesame, sunflower seeds, timber, animal furs, ginseng, tigerbone, musk, fungus, mushrooms, pine nuts, chum salmon, sturgeon
National Treasures: Jingpo Lake in the upper reaches of Mudanjiang (Famous for it's eight scenic spots, where one of them is the Diaoshuilou Waterfalls)
Henan
 Population: 92,6 million
Area: 167 000 square kilometres
Administrative Divisions: 18 cities and 111 counties
Major Cities: Zhengzhou (Capital), Luoyang, Kaifeng, Pingdingshan, Xinxiang, Nanyang, Anyang, Sanmenxia
Henan Cuisine: Peony and Swallow Vegetable, Fried Purple Crisp Pork, Lightly Fried Bean Curd, Jadeite Shredded Fish, Sea Cucumber in the Shape of Lotus Flowers, Sweet and Pleasant Buns, Egg Cakes, Steamed Dumplings, Hand-stretched Noodles, Fried Steamed Buns
Production: Wheat, millet, sorghum, corn, rice, sweet potatoes, peanuts, sesame, soyabeans, sugar cane, fungus, ambary hemp, tussah, oriental oak, apples, peaches, walnuts, coal, bauxite, mica, nickel
National Treasures: Shaolin Monastery at Songshan (Founded in 496 A.D. during the Northern Wei Dynasty. The monastery was built in honor of an Indian monk called Bodhidharma (Da Mo), who founded the Mahayana sect (Chinese Buddhism). This temple is therefore regarded as the birthplace of Chinese Buddhism), Baima Temple (Located outside Luoyang City. It was established in 68 A.D. during the Han Dynasty, and is believed to be the first Buddhist temple built by the Chinese government), Xiangguo Temple (Located in Kaifeng City, and is considered one of the more famous Buddhist temples in China), Iron Pagoda (Located in the northeastern part of Kaifeng City. It's a thirteen-story pagoda with an entire timber frame interior), Longmen Grottoes (The Longmen grottoes were first sculptured and chiseled around 493 A.D. during the Northern Wei Dynasty. It spans a length of over 1000 metres on the hillsides along the Yi river, and contains 2345 caves, 100 000 Buddhist images of different sizes, more than 2800 inscribed tablets, and 43 Buddhist pagodas)
Hubei
 Population: 58,3 million
Area: 187 000 square kilometres
Administrative Divisions: 1 autonomous prefecture, 25 cities, 51 counties, 2 autonomous counties, and 1 forest district
Major Cities: Wuhan (Capital), Jiangling, Huangshi, Shashi, Yichang, Shiyan, Xiangfan, Enshi
Hubei Cuisine: Steamed Wuchang Fish, Mianyang Three Steamed Dishes, Huangpo Three Combinations, Xiaotaoyuan Soup Cooked over Low Fire, Wangji Chicken Soup, Hongshan Vegetable Bolts, Huangzhou Dongpo Pork
Production: Rice, wheat, sorghum, millet, potatoes, sesame, tea, soyabeans, sugar cane, cotton, silk cocoons, lotus seeds, water chestnuts, lotus roots, waterfowl, peachers, yangtao, silver fungus, Chinese tallow tree, iron, copper, rock salt
National Treasures: East Lake (Located on the south bank of Chang Jiang and east of Wuchang. It is considered the biggest lake within a city in China), Guiyuan Temple (It was built in the early Qing Dynasty, and is one of the four largest Buddhist meditation temples in Hubei), Yellow Crane Tower (Located on Snake Hill in Wuchang. It was built in 223 A.D. during the Three Kingdoms Period, and is considered one of the three famous towers south of Chang Jiang), Gezhouba Dam Project (Located at the lower end of the Three Gorges in the suburb of Yichang City)
Hunan
 Population: 64,3 million
Area: 210 000 square kilometres
Administrative Divisions: 1 autonomous prefecture, 24 cities, 74 counties, and 6 autonomous counties
Major Cities: Changsha (Capital), Xiangtan, Shaoyang, Lengshuijiang, Hengyang, Zhuzhou, Dayong, Changde
Hunan Cuisine: Sweet and Sour Chicken, Orange Beef, Crispy Duck, Dongan Chicken, Lotus Seeds in Sugar Candy, Hot and Spicy Chicken
Production: Rice, wheat, potatoes, sorghum, millet, soyabeans, peanuts, sugar cane, sesame, tea, cotton, silk cocoons, lotus seeds, yangtao, timber, pork, goose, lead, zinc
National Treasures: Hengshan (One of the Five Sacred Mountains in Eastern China), Dongting Lake (Located in the northeastern part of Hunan, and is considered the second-largest freshwater lake in China), Wulingyuan Scenic Area (Located in the northwestern part of Hunan. The area includes four parts: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (China's first forest park), Yangjiajie Scenic Spot, Suoxiyu , and Tianzishan Natural Resource Reserves), Yueyang Pavillion (Major landmark of Yueyang City)

Population:
Area:
Administrative Divisions:
Major Cities:
Fujian Cuisine:
Production:
National Treasures:

Demographics

The government of the People's Republic of China officially recongnizes a total of 56 ethnic groups (Zhonghua Minzu), of which the largest is the Han Chinese. China's overall population counts 1,3 billion and is the largest in world. Among Southern Chinese, the term "Tang Ren" (The People of Tank) is often used instead of the term "Han Ren" (The people of Han) within languages such as Cantonese, Hakka, and Minnan. During the ancient times, the Tang Dynasty (618-907) ruled over broader territories southwards than the Han Dynasty (202 B.C.-220 A.D.), so it's influence was felt far more greatly by Southern Han Chinese, thus creating the term "Tang Ren". Han Chinese regard themselves as descendants of the Yellow Emperor (Huang Di) and Yan Emperor (Shennong), who reigned thousands of years ago. Han Chinese speak many varieties of Chinese spoken language, but they all share a common written standard, known as "baihua". Baihua has been used since the early 20th Century and is based on Standard Mandarin (Putonghua).

Chinese Language

There is a strong difference between Chinese written language (Zhongwen) and Chinese spoken language (Hanyu). The linguistic distance between different Chinese dialects is often much greater than forms of speech in other parts of the world. Linguists often divide the variations in spoken Chinese language into seven to ten groups. However, it does not neccessarily mean that people who speak dialects within the same category will completely understand each other. On the contrary, people who speak dialects within different categories can sometimes understand each other. Though a person can understand perfectly people speaking the local dialect, the intelligibility tends to decrease as the speaker comes from more and more distant regions. This results in the common situation where person A can understand person B, person B can understand person C, but person A cannot understand person C. The categories that speakers use to self-classify the variety they are speaking may not always correspond at all to a classification based strictly on linguistic features.

Traditionally, the Chinese language is subdivided into seven dialect groups: Mandarin, Wu, Hakka, Min, Yue, Xiang, and Gan. There are also three additional dialect groups (Jin, Hui, and Pinghua), but these are not always classified separately.

Mandarin
This dialect is spoken in the northern and southwestern parts of China. The dialects of Mandarin can be subdivided into eight categories:
Category Variants
Standard Mandarin (Putonghua) Beijing dialect
Chengde dialect
Chifeng dialect
Hailar dialect
Karamay dialect
Northeastern China Mandarin Changchun dialect
Harbin dialect
Qiqihar dialect
Shenyang dialect
Jiao Liao Mandarin Dalian dialect
Qingdao dialect
Weihai dialect
Yantai dialect
Ji Lu Mandarin Baoding dialect
Jinan dialect
Shijiazhuang dialect
Tianjin dialect
Zhongyuan Mandarin Hanzhong dialect
Kaifeng dialect
Kashgar dialect
Luoyang dialect
Nanyang dialect
Qufu dialect
Tianshui dialect
Xi'an dialect
Xuzhou dialect
Yan'an dialect
Zhengzhou dialect
Lan Yin Mandarin Dungan dialect
Lanzhou dialect
Urumqi dialect
Xining dialect
Yinchuan dialect
Southwestern China Mandarin Changde dialect
Chengdu dialect
Chongqing dialect
Dali dialect
Guiyang dialect
Hainan Junjiahua
Kunming dialect
Liuzhou dialect
Wuhan dialect
Xichang dialect
Yichang dialect
Jianghuai Mandarin Hefei dialect
Nanjing dialect
Nantong dialect
Xiaogan dialect
Yangzhou dialect

Wu
This dialect is spoken in the provinces of Jiangsu and Zhejiang. The dialects of Wu can be subdivided into six categories:
Category Variants
Taihu Changzhou dialect
Hangzhou dialect
Jiaxing dialect
Ningbo dialect
Shanghai dialect
Suzhou dialect
Wuxi dialect
Oujiang Wenzhou dialect
Wuzhou Jinhua dialect
Yiwu dialect
Yongkang dialect
Chu Qu Lishui dialect
Quzhou dialect
Shangrao dialect
Xuanzhou Xuancheng dialect
Taizhou

Hakka (Ke Jia)
This dialect is spoken by the Hakka people in several provinces across Southern China. The Hakka people are descended from immigrants from North China in ancient times. The dialects of Hakka can be subdivided into six categories:
Category
Dabu
Huizhou
Jiaoling
Longyan
Meizhou
Wuhua

Min
This dialect is spoken in Fujian, Taiwan, the Philippines, and Southeast Asia by Overseas Chinese. The dialects of Min can be subdivided into seven categories:
Category Sub-category Variants
Min Nan Chaoshan Shantou dialect
Chaozhou dialect
Mintai Quanzhou dialect
Penang dialect
Taiwanese
Xiamen dialect
Zhangzhou dialect
Min Dong Fuqing dialect
Fuzhou dialect
Min Zhong Sanming dialect
Min Bei Jian'ou dialect
Pu Xian Putian dialect
Xianyou dialect
Qiong Wen Hainan dialect
Zhanjiang dialect
Shao Jiang

Yue
This dialect is spoken in Guangdong province, Guangxi, Hong Kong, Macau, and all over Southeast Asia by Overseas Chinese. The dialects of Yue can be subdivided into seven categories:
Category Variants
Standard Cantonese Dongguan dialect
Qingyuan dialect
Zhaoqing dialect
Zhongshan dialect
Zhuhai dialect
Siyi Enping dialect
Jiangmen dialect
Kaiping dialect
Taishan dialect
Xinhui dialect
Gaoyang Maoming dialect
Yangjiang dialect
Guinan Beihai dialect
Nanning dialect
Wuzhou dialect
Yulin dialect
Luoguang
Wuchuan
Danjia

Xiang
This dialect is spoken in Hunan province. Xiang is usually divided into the old and new types, whereas the new type is significantly closer to Mandarin. The dialects of Xiang can be subdivided into three categories:
Category Variants
Chang Yi Changsha dialect
Hengyang dialect
Yiyang dialect
Zhuzhou dialect
Lou Shao Loudi dialect
Shaoyang dialect
Shuangfeng dialect
Chen Xu Chenxi dialect
Xupu dialect

Gan
This dialect is spoken in Jiangxi province. The dialects of Gan can be subdivided into eight categories:
Category
Dongkou
Funing
Fuzhou
Ji'an
Nanchang
Xianning
Yichun
Yingtan

Official Chinese Holidays

New Year's Day
(Yuandan Jie)		 January 1st This day is not as much celebrated as the upcoming Chinese New Year. However, employees are granted a paid day-off on this day.
International Women's Day
(Funü Jie)		 March 8th Women employees are granted a whole or an half paid day-off on this day.
International Labor Day
(Laodong Jie)		 May 1st Employees are granted a paid day-off on this day.
Youth Day
(Qingnian Jie)		 May 4th Commemorated to the first mass student movement in 1919 (May Fourth Movement - Wu Si Yun Dong) against the "Twenty-One Demands" of the Japanese as well as the Versailles Treaty.
Children's Day June 1st This days is set aside to honor and please Chinese children all over the country. Entertainment places, such as cinemas and amusement parks are open free to them.
The CCP's Birthday July 1st The anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party in 1921 in Shanghai.
Army's Day August 1st Commemorated to the first communist-led nationalist armed uprising (Nanchang Uprising) against the Nationalists on August 1st, 1927. It is also the anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army (Jie Fang Jun), also known as the Red Army.
Teacher's Day September 1st It was started in the early eighties as an attempt to reverse the anti-intellectual sentiment that was nurtured by the Cultural Revolution. This day is set aside to honor those who are in the teaching profession.
National Day
(Guoqing Jie)		 October 1st The anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949.

Chinese Ethnic Groups (Zhonghua Minzu)

There are 56 ethnic groups in China. The Han Chinese compose 93 percent of the population. China's minorities account only for 7 percent of the entire population. China has always been a multi-culture and multi-disciplined society. All minorities in China today have equal right as the Han Chinese. Since the minorities are settled in remote areas and usually poor, the Chinese government has policy to provide training for the minorities to progress and govern.

Mongolian

Population: 5 million
Location: Inner Mongolia and Northern China
Religion: Tibetian Buddhism and Islam 		Mongol was originally the name of a tribe that roamed along the Erguna river. In the seventh century, these people moved to the grasslands of Western Mongolia and settled in the upper reaches of Tula, Onon, and Kerulen rivers. Later, they grew into into many different tribal groups, such as Qiyan, Zadalan, and Taichiwu. Early in the 13th century, a man called Tie Mu Zhen unified all these tribes and formed a new national community. In 1206, he was elected the Great Khan of all Mongols and bestowed with the title of Chen Ji Shi Han (Genghis Khan). With the Mongol tribe unified, Tie Mu Zhen launched a series of attacks against the state of Jin and extended his jurisdiction as far as to Central Asia. In 1279, his successor, Kublai Khan managed to subdue the Chinese empire. The Mongolians have their own oral and written language. They use three different dialects: Inner Mongolian, Barag-Buryat, and Uirad. The Mongolians have made denotable contributions to China in culture and science, but but most of their achievements in medical science, astronomy, and calendar are owed to the influence of the Tibetans and the Han Chinese. The Mongolians are widely known for their remarkable horsemanship and archery as well as wrestling. They are also known for their poetic songs and lively dances, such as Haolibao and the Saber dance. The Mongolian meals usually include beef, mutton, and grain. The Mongolians used to live in felt yurts, but now most of them have ended their nomadic life and settled down in houses.

Tibetan

Population: 4,6 million
Location: Tibet
Religion: Tibetan Buddhism 		 

Hui

Population: 8,1 million
Location: Northwestern China
Religion: Islam 		The name Hui (abbreviation for "Huihui") first appeared in the literature of the Northern Song Dynasty (920-1127), and it referred to the Huihe people who lived in Anxi during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). When the Mongolian troops made their expeditions into Central Asia in the early 13th century, many groups of islamic-oriented people, such as Persians and Arabs, were forced to migrate into China. These people were also called Huis because they shared the same religious beliefs as the Huihe people in Anxi. The Huis of today are therefore believed to be descendants from both the Huihe tribe and the Islamic people from Middle Asia, who are often referred to as fanke (guests from outer regions). Even though the Huis were oppressed by the Mongolians during the Yuan Dynasty, they were still granted a higher social rank than the Han Chinese. It wasn't until the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), that the Huihuis began to emerge as an ethnic group. In the beginning the Huis spoke their own native language, but as they stayed with the Chinese over time, they gradually adopted the Han language and the culture as well. The Huis are an industrious people, and they are famous for their craftmanship in incense, medicine, leatherworking, and mining. Hui scholars and scientists have made oustanding contributions to China in astronomy, calendar, and medicine. During the Yuan Dynasty, the Hui architect Yehdardin led the construction of the capital of the Mongolian empire, which laid foundation for the development of the city of Beijing. During the Ming Dynasty, the Hui navigator Zheng He led massive fleets in sailing as far as to the African continent on a voyage of exploration. Today, the Hui's identity as members of an established ethnic group in China is highly respected. Today, The Huis are also politically active and can be found in many government organs at both central and local levels. The majority of Huis believe in Islamism. Their religious freedom, customs, and habits are respected by all Chinese.

Miao

Population: 7,4 million
Location: Sichuan, Guizhou, and Yunnan 		 

Weiwuer

Population: 0,7 million
Location: Xinjiang
Religion: Islam

Zhuang

Population: 15 million
Location: Guangxi, Guangdong, Guizhou, Yunnan, and Hunan
 

Yi

Population: 6,6 million
Location: Yunnan, Sichuan, Guizhou, and Guangxi

Chaoxian

Population: 2 million
Location: Jilin, Heilongjiang, Liaoning, and Inner Mongolia
 

Buyi

Population: 2,5 million
Location: Guizhou, Yunnan, Sichuan, and Guangxi

Dong

Population: 2,5 million
Location: Guizhou, Guangxi, and Hunan
 

Manchu

Population: 9,8 million
Location: Northern China

Bai

Population: 1,6 million
Location: Yunnnan, Guizhou, Hunan, and Sichuan
 

Yao

Population: 2,1 million
Location: Guangxi, Hunan, Yunnan, Guangdong, and Guizhou

Hani

Population: 1,25 million
Location: Yunnan
 

Tujia

Population: 5,7 million
Location: Hunan, Hubei, and Sichuan

Dai

Population: 1 million
Location: Yunnan
 

Hasake

Population: 1,1 million
Location: Xinjiang

Lisu

Population: 575 000
Location: Yunnan
 

Li

Population: 1,1 million
Location: Hainan

She

Population: 630 000
Location: Fujian and Zhejiang
 

Wa

Population: 352 000
Location: Yunnan

Lahu

Population: 415 000
Location: Yunnan
 

Gaoshan

Population: 0,4 million
Location: Fujian and Taiwan

Dongxiang

Population: 374 000
Location: Gangsu, Qinghai, and Ningxia
 

Shui

Population: 346 000
Location: Guizhou

Jingpo

Population: 119 000
Location: Yunnan
 

Naxi

Population: 278 000
Location: Yunnan

Tu

Population: 192 000
Location: Qinghai
 

Haergehe

Population: 140 000
Location: Xinjiang

Mulao

Population: 159 000
Location: Guangxi
 

Tahur

Population: 80 000
Location: Inner Mongolia

Bulang

Population: 82 000
Location: Yunnan
 

Qiang

Population: 198 000
Location: Sichuan

Maonan

Population: 72 000
Location: Guangxi
 

Sala

Population: 88 000
Location: Qinghai, Gansu, and Xianjian

Xibo

Population: 84 000
Location: Xinjiang, Liaoning, and Jilin
 

Gelao

Population: 438 000
Location: Guizhou, Guangxi, and Yunnan

Pumi

Population: 30 000
Location: Yunnan
 

Achang

Population: 28 000
Location: Yunnan

Nu

Population: 27 000
Location: Yunnan and Tibet
 

Tajige

Population: 33 500
Location: Xinjiang

Eluosi

Population: 13 500
Location: Xinjiang
 

Wuzibieke

Population: 12 000
Location: Xinjiang

Deang

Population: 15 400
Location: Yunnan
 

Owenke

Population: 26 300
Location: Inner Mongolia

Yugu

Population: 10 500
Location: Gansu
 

Baoan

Population: 12 000
Location: Gansu

Tataer

Population: 4000
Location: Xinjiang
 

Jing

Population: 18 900
Location: Guangxi

Olunchun

Population: 6900
Location: Inner Mongolia
 

Dulong

Population: 5800
Location: Yunnan

Menba

Population: 7475
Location: Tibet
 

Hezhe

Population: 4245
Location: Heilongjiang

Jinuo

Population: 18 000
Location: Yunnan
 

Luboa

Population: 2300
Location: Tibet 		 
 


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