China - An Introduction

Perth High School Confucius Classroom

Introductory Presentation 1

China - Asian Superpower

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

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

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

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)

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

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

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

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 (-->)

Including 12-inch centipedes!!