The Capital
September 27th, 1949, the First Plenary Session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference unanimously adopted the document, which settles down that the capital of People's Republic of China is scheduled to Peking, and renamed Beijing with immediate effect. Beijing is not only China’s political centre, but also its cultural, scientific and educational heart and a key transportation hub. There are many scenic spots and historical monuments in Beijing, such as the Great Wall; the Forbidden City, the largest and best-preserved ancient architectural complex in the world; the Summer Palace, the beautiful garden in the world; the Temple of Heaven, where the emperor pray for good harvest and peace and you can also watch people practice Tai Chi; and the Ming Tombs, mausoleums of 13 Ming Dynasty emperors, and so on.
Land and Resources
China is located in the eastern part of the Asian continent, West Bank of the Pacific, with the land area of about 9.6 million square kilometers. Chinese territory extended from the center of Heilongjiang River in the north of Mohe (latitude 53 ° 30 ') to the James Shoal in the southern tip of the Nansha Islands (latitude 4 °), cross over 49 degrees in the latitude; and extended from the converge of Heilongjiang and the Ussuri River (longitude 135 ° 05 '), to the Pamirs (longitude 73 ° 40') in the west, cross more than 60 degrees in the longitude. From the south to north, the east to the west, the distance is over 5,000 km. China's land borders
up to 22.8 thousand kilometers, the coastline of mainland is about 1.8 million km with the sea area of 4.73 million square kilometers.
China has rich natural resources, and it boasts more wildlife than other countries in the world. The native natural resources in China are so much, such as the Panda, the Snub-Nosed Golden Monkey, Chinese Alligator; China's Dawn Redwood and Cathaya argyrophylla are known as the living fossils of ancient plants. Nowadays, China is implementing reform and opening-up policies, and has established socialist market economy, thereby charting the course for socialist modernization with Chinese characteristics.
Population in China
China is most populous developing countries the world. According to the State Statistics Bureau, China's total population is about 1.32802 billion till the end of 2008, which makes up more than 22 percent of the world in total. China is also one of the countries of high population density per square kilometer in the world, the average population density is 134 persons; but the distribution is quite unbalanced. To make the population growth under control, China has followed a family planning policy since the 1970s.And now family planning is one of China's basic national policies.
Ethnic Minorities in China
China is a united and multiracial country, and the minorities that have been identified and confirmed by the central government are 56 till now, including Achang, Bai, Bonan, Blang, Bouyei, Daur, Dai, De'ang, Dongxiang, Derung, Ewenki, Gaoshan, Gelao, Gin, Hani, Han, Hezhen, Hui, Ingpo, Jino, Kazak, Kirgiz, Korean, Lahu, Li, Lisu, Lhoba, Manchu, Maonan, Mongolian, Monba, Miao, Mulam, Naxi, Nu, Oroqen, Primi, Qiang, Russian, Salar, She, Sui, Tajik, Tatar, Tibetan, Tu, Tujia, Uygur, Uzbek, Va, Xibe, Yi, Yuigur, Yao, and Zhuang. The discrepancy of the population of different minorities is great, because Han have the most in population, which makes up about 92 percent of the total population in China. Other 55 ethnic groups have been customarily referred to as "minority" for the less people. According to the fifth national census in 2000, population of 55 ethnic minorities is about 104.49 million, accounting for 8.41% of the total population. No matter more or less the population is, all nations share equal rights.
Religion in China
China is a multi-religious country. The main Chinese religious believers believe in Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Catholicism and Christianity. Freedom of belief is one policy made by Chinese government, and normal religious activities are protected by the constitution. Citizens of China may freely choose and express their beliefs and clear their religious identities.
Festival in China
★ Official Holidays in China:
New Year, Spring Festival, International Women's Day, Arbor Day, International Labor Day, the Chinese Youth Day, International Nurses Day, Children’s Day, the Anniversary of the Birth of the Chinese Communist Party, Chinese People's Liberation Army Day of, the Teacher's Day, the National Day and Journalist’s Day
★ Major Traditional Festivals in China:
Spring Festival, Lantern Festival, Qing Ming Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, and Mid-Autumn Festival
In addition, minorities have also retained their own traditional festivals.