China - An Introduction

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China - An Introduction

• Perth High School Confucius Classroom
• Introductory Presentation 1

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China - Asian Superpower
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China - An Introduction

• An ancient AND modern civilisation
• A rich and complex history
• Superb cultural legacy
• The most populous nation on Earth
• Many nationalities
• Socialist government
• Very diverse landscapes
• Plants and Animals

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China - History

• Origins of Chinese Kingdom lost in mythology
• First Emperor in
• Many Imperial Dynasties Xin, Han, Ming, Tang,
  Manchu
• The Great Wall(s!)
• Many religions and philosophers e.g. Confucius
• Republic founded in
• Socialist republic from 1949

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China - Culture

• Religions - Buddhism, Taoism, Islam
• Art - painting, fabrics, sculpture, furniture,
  etc.
• Architecture
• Philosophy - Confucian thought, etc.
• Music - Beijing Opera
• Kites - Wei Fang kitemaking tradition

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Who Are the Chinese?

• The most populous nation on earth
• Population 1.3 billion
• 20 of world population
• Population was only 0.5 billion in 1950
• One child per family policy since 1979
• Most Populated Province - Henan (92.56 million,
  almost twice the UK)

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China - Many Nations

• 55 different nationalities
• Predominantly Han Chinese (olive green colour)
• Only 2.5 million Tibetans (golden colour)
• Mongolians (lilac colour)
• Other minorities are small

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China - Landscape

• Western third mostly mountains, snow and desert -
  very sparsely populated
• Northern edge borders the Gobi Desert
• South-western part tropical - dense forest/jungle
• Remaining central and eastern zones are very
  diverse - river valleys, plains, mountains, loess
  plateau

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China - Government

• China is governed by the Communist Party of China
• President Hu Jintao and Prime Minister Wen Jiabao
  are the leaders of China
• The Politburo (led by the 2 named above)
  currently has 25 members
• There are 22 provincial governments, as well as 4
  major cities, 5 autonomous regions and 2 special
  administrative regions

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China - Flora and Fauna

• China is probably most famous for its Giant
  Pandas
• They are the subject of an intensive breeding
  programme to prevent extinction
• Many of the garden plants in Scottish gardens are
  native to China and were brought back by British
  19th and 20th century plant collectors
• Edinburgh Zoo has recently had red pandas and is
  currently bidding for some giant pandas
• Despite population pressure, China has a very
  rich range of animals, plants and insects (--gt)

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Including 12-inch centipedes!!