How much do you know about China?

CHINA is a fascinating country.

It is the most populated country in the world, has a rich culture dating back to thousands of years, was responsible for important inventions and is a leading international economic power.

GeographyChina is the third largest country in the world. It shares borders with 14 other countries, including Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Nepal and Bhutan.It has many contrasting landscapes.

True or false?True or false?

China is the largest China is the largest country in the worldcountry in the world

China’s history dates back to more than5,000 years.Between 2697 BC and the start of the 20th

century, it was ruled by emperors.In 1949, Mao Tse Tung proclaimed thePeople’s Republic of China (the Communistparty took power).

How old is the history of How old is the history of China?China?

PopulationWith 1.3 billion inhabitants, China is themost populated country in the world. In order to limit the growth of the Chinesepopulation, the People’s Republic of Chinaintroduced a “one child policy” in 1979. Thislaw prevents families living in cities fromhaving more than one child.

What’s the population?What’s the population?

Whats does “one child Whats does “one child policy”prohibit?policy”prohibit?

Chinese cuisine is very diverse and each province has its own specialities.In the south of the country, rice is an important part of the diet. In the north, noodles are more common.

For Chinese culture each food has a particular health related function. For example, they believe that dog meat keeps

People warm in winter and that noodles make you live longer.

Some Chinese manners are different from us: Meals are eaten quickly, without any particular formalities or codes Eating noisily (chewing loudly or sucking up noodles) is not impolite in China. On the contrary, it is a sign of enjoyment

Food

The typical Chinese food The typical Chinese food is ..........is ..........

They eat dog meat They eat dog meat because........because........

Eating noisily is.......................Eating noisily is.......................

SportsChinese people are very conscious of the benefits of sport forhealth . In schools, the day begins with a series of exercises. Inparks, you can usually see groups of older people practisingtaijiquan a discipline similar to yoga which uses breathingtechniques and concentration.Kung fu is also very popular.It includes all Chinesemartial arts and means ‘champion of experience andtechnique’. China at the Olympics At the Athens Games in 2004, China won 63 medals, including32 gold (gymnastics,swimming, diving, badminton,tabletennis). China won every single event in every category at theWorld Table TennisChampionships in 1999, 2001 and 2005.

True or false?True or false? Breathing and concentration are Breathing and concentration are

important for Chinese important for Chinese disciplines.disciplines.

China won 63 gold medals China won 63 gold medals at the at the Athens Games in 2004.Athens Games in 2004.

Myth and symbols.For Chinese people, everyday life is full of

symbols: animals (sphinx, monkey,dragon),

plants (jasmine,lotus) and minerals (jade,

rocks).

Objects, points of the Compass and natural

elements, of which there are five in China

(water,fire, air, earth and mineral), are

also important for Chinese culture.

The DragonThe Dragon

In Chinese art, the dragon is asymbol of strength and power.It symbolizes the emperor.

Can you name 3 Chinese Can you name 3 Chinese symbols?symbols?

LanguageApproximately 200 languages are spoken in

China. The official language is Mandarin

These languages use an ideophonographic

system: each character is a sign

representing an object and/or a concept.

They combine different sign to represent

different concepts.

What’s China’s official What’s China’s official language?language?

Speak up:Speak up: Would you like to visit China some Would you like to visit China some

day?day? Which aspect of Chinese culture do Which aspect of Chinese culture do

yo find most interesting? Do you yo find most interesting? Do you think it’s important to learn about think it’s important to learn about other cultures? Why?other cultures? Why?

What do you think is the impact of What do you think is the impact of the Olympic games for China’s the Olympic games for China’s economy and society? How do the economy and society? How do the Olympic games affect China?Olympic games affect China?