Why choose to study abroad in China

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Discover China

China ABC

As a country in East Asia, China is located on the west coast of the Pacific Ocean. Its land space is 9.6 million square kilometers and maritime area is 4.7 million square kilometers. The length of China’s eastern and southern continental coastlines surpasses 18,000 kilometers. There are more than 7,600 islands on the sea, of which Taiwan Island is the largest, with an area of 35,798 square kilometers. China shares a border with 14 countries in land and eight countries by sea. There are 4 municipalities, 23 provinces, 5 autonomous regions, 2 special administrative regions. Its capital is Beijing.

National Flag, National Anthem, National Emblem and National Day

The five-star red flag is the national flag of the People's Republic of China. Red symbolizes revolution. The five five-pointed stars on the flag and their interrelation symbolize the unity of the people under the leadership of the Communist Party of China. The color of yellow on the five-pointed stars is to show brightness on the red ground, which is brighter than white. Each of the four small five-pointed stars points at the center of the big star, which is to show unity around a center. In the form, it also appears compact and beautiful.

The contents of the national emblem of the People's Republic of China are the national flag, Tiananmen Rostrum, gear and rice spike, which symbolize the new democratic revolutionary struggle since the May 4th Movement and the birth of a new China of the people's democratic dictatorship based on the alliance of workers and farmers led by the working class.

October 1 marks the birthday, or the National Day, of the People's Republic of China. The national anthem of the People's Republic of China is the March of the Volunteers.

Spoken and Written Language

There are 56 ethnic groups in China, making it a multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, multi-dialect and multi-text country. The national lingua franca is Putonghua and the standard Chinese characters. Putonghua is the standard spoken language of Chinese people, with Beijing speech sound as the standard tone, the northern dialect as the basis, and the exemplary modern vernacular writings as the grammatical norms.

Modern Chinese is divided into standard languages (Mandarin) and dialects. Chinese dialects are usually divided into 10 dialects: official dialect, Jin dialect, Wu dialect, Hui dialect, Min dialect, Cantonese dialect, Hakka dialect, Gan dialect, Xiang dialect and Ping dialect.

Capital

The capital city of China is Beijing. It is one of the four municipalities administered directly under the Central Government. The city is the center of national politics, economy, science and culture, and one of the centers of domestic and international exchanges. It is one of the historic and cultural cities and ancient capitals in China.

Population and Ethnic Groups

In history, China has always been one of the world's most populous countries, accounting for about 20% of the world's population for a long time. The changes of China’s population have a significant influence on the world population. China currently has a population of about 1.37 billion.

The Chinese nation has a long history. Since ancient times, the ancestors of Chinese people have worked, lived and bred in this land, contributing their talents to the development of Chinese civilization and the establishment of a unified multi-ethnic country. There are 56 ethnic groups in China. Among them, the Han people account for about 92% of the total population.

Climate

China boasts of a vast territory and wide latitude. The distance from the sea is different, coupled with various terrains, forming a variety of climates in China. Speaking of temperature zones, there are tropical, subtropical, warm temperate, medium temperate and cold temperate zone and Qinghai-Xizang Plateau region.

In winter, the temperature difference is huge from the warm south to the cold north. The temperature of Mohe in Heilongjiang is below -30 C, while the temperature southern of the isotherm line is above 0 C. The temperature in Sanya, Hainan Province is above 20 C. In hot summer, the north-south temperature difference is not so obvious. Except for the high-altitude Qinghai-Xizang Plateau and Tianshan Mountains, most of the regions in China are 20 C or above. Many parts of the south are above 28 C. The average temperature in Turpan, Xinjiang is as high as 32 C in July, making it the hot center in China.

Public Holidays

Holidays for all citizens include: New Year' Day, 1 day off (January 1); Spring Festival, 3 days off (first, second and third day of the first lunar month); Qingming Festival, 1 day off (the day of Qingming); Labor Day, 1 day off (May 1); Dragon Boat Festival, 1 day off (the day of the Dragon Boat); Mid-Autumn Festival, 1 day off (the Day of the Mid-Autumn Festival); National Day, 3 days off (October 1, 2, 3). Holidays and anniversaries for some citizens are: Women's Day (March 8), women's half-day holiday; Youth Day (4 May), half-day holiday for young people above 14; Children's Day (June 1), one day for children and adolescents under the age of 14; Chinese People's Liberation Army Day (August 1), military personnel take half a day off.

The local people's governments of the regions inhabited by ethnic minorities shall, in accordance with the customs of each ethnic group, set holiday dates. The day of Great Strike of February 7, the May 30 Movement Day, the July 7 Incident Day, the September 3 Victory Day of Chinese People’s War against Japanese Invasion, the September 18 Incident Day, the Teacher's Day, the Nurses' Day, the Journalist's Day, the Tree Planting Day and other festivals and anniversaries are not on holiday. For public holidays, if they fall on Saturdays and Sundays, they should make up for the holidays on weekdays. Some citizens' holidays do not make up for them if they coincide with Saturdays and Sundays.

Chinese History

Ancient Times and Slave Society (1.7 million years ago - 476 BC)

China is one of the earliest countries in the world with advanced civilization, which has a history of nearly 4,000 years of written records.

Fossils of apeman found in Yuanmou, Yunnan Province indicate that the Yuanmou Man, which lived about 1.7 million years ago, was the earliest known primitive human in China. The Peking Man, who lived nearly 600,000 years ago in the area of Zhoukoudian in Beijing, can walk upright, make and use simple tools and know how to use fire as well. Numerous sites of the Neolithic Age around 10,000 years ago have been throughout China. Artificially cultivated rice and millet and farming tools were found at the sites of Yuyao Hemudu (67,000 years ago) in Zhejiang Province and Banpo, Xi'an in Shaanxi Province.

The Xia Dynasty began in 2070 BC. The central area of Xia located in the western part of today’s Henan Province and the southern part of Shanxi Province. Xia’s power and influence have reached the north and south of the Yellow River and began to enter the slave society. Following the fall of Xia, Shang and Western Zhou dynasties further developed the slavery system. This was followed by the decline of the royal power, and the Spring and Autumn and Warring States, which was considered to be a transition period from slave society to feudal society.

About 5,000 years ago, Chinese people had mastered the technology of copper smelting. About 3,000 years ago, people of the Shang Dynasty began to use ironware. They began to make white pottery and color pottery. Silk production was also developed, including the world's first jacquard weave technique. In the Spring and Autumn period, steel-making technology has been utilized. During the period, the ideological academic became more active than ever before. Famous philosophers such as Laozi, Confucius, Mencius and militarist Sun Wu have emerged, who have had a profound influence on future generations.

First Emperor of Qin (259 BC-210 BC) and His Empire

In 221 BC, Yingzheng, the First Emperor of Qin, ended more than 250 years of conflicts between kingdoms of the Warring States period by establishing the first unified, centralized multi-ethnic feudal state in Chinese history – Qin Dynasty. Emperor Qin Shihuang unified languages, measures and the currency. He established the system of prefecture and counties. The framework of the feudal system laid by him lasted for more than 2,000 years. For more than a decade, he organized more than 300,000 people to build a 5,000-kilometer-long Great Wall in northern China. He also organized to build large-scale graves when he was alive. The Terracotta Warriors, discovered in 1974, which were used to guard the Emperor Qinshihuang Mausoleum, shocked the world. There are 8,000 life-size pottery, terracotta warriors and chariots, which is known as the 8th Wonder of the World.

Han Dynasty (206 BC–AD 220) and the Silk Road

In 206 BC, Liu Bang established the powerful Han Dynasty. The agriculture, handicrafts and commerce of the Han Dynasty had developed greatly, with a population of 50 million. The reign of Emperor Wu of Han Liu Che (140 BC - 87 BC) was the most powerful period of the Han Dynasty. He expanded the regions of actual control from the central plains to the Western Region (today’s Xinjiang and Central Asia areas). He twice dispatched his courtier Zhang Qian to the Western Regions, opening the so-called Silk Road that connects Chang'an (present-day Shaanxi’s Xi'an) with the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea by way of Xinjiang and Central Asia. Since then, China's brilliant silk fabric products had been transported to the West. With the exchange of East and West, Buddhism was introduced into China in the 1st century. In the year of 105, Han official Cai Lun summed up the experiences of folk papermaking, invented papermaking, which marks a fundamental progress in human writing materials.

Flourishing Age of Tang Dynasty (618-907)

After Han Dynasty, China witnessed through the Three Kingdoms period, Jin Dynasty, the North and South Dynasties, the Sui Dynasty before Li Yuan established the Tang Dynasty in 618 AD. Li Yuan's son, Emperor Taizong of Tang Li Shimin (626-649 in power), implemented a series of enlightened policies that pushed the prosperity of China's feudal period to its peak. Industries such as agriculture, handicrafts and commerce, textile, dyeing, ceramics, smelting, shipbuilding and other technologies have been further developed. Land and water transportation crisscrossed through the nation. By 660s, China's national influence not only took root in the Tarim Basin, the Quangal Basin and the Ili River Basin, but also extended to many city-states in Central Asia. China has established extensive economic and cultural ties with Japan, Korea, India, Persia, Arabia and many other countries.

Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties (960-1911)

It has experienced a period of frequent wars in the Five Dynasties (907-960) and Ten Kingdoms (902-979) after the fall of Tang Dynasty. In 960, Zhao Kuangyin, a general of Later Zhou Dynasty, established the Song Dynasty (960-1279). There were Northern Song Dynasty and Southern Song Dynasty in history. During the Southern Song Dynasty period, the advanced economy and culture of the north were brought to the south with the move of the regime, which greatly promoted the economic development of the southern region. Song Dynasty’s astronomy, science and technology and printing technologies took the lead in the world. Bi Sheng invented the movable type printing, which triggered a revolution in the history of printing.

In 1206, Genghis Khan founded the Mongolian Khanate. His grandson, Kublai, occupied the Central Plains in 1271 and established the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), making Dadu (present-day Beijing) the capital. Kublai terminated centuries of coexistence of multi-regimes and achieved national reunification, which include Xinjiang, Tibet and Yunnan. Paper-making, printing, compass, gunpowder were the Four Great Inventions of ancient Chinese science and technology. These inventions were introduced to all parts of the world in the Song and Yuan dynasties, making great contributions to the development of world civilizations.

In 1368, Emperor Taizu of Ming Zhu Yuanzhang established the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) with the capital in Nanjing. His son Zhu Di (1360-1424) began large-scale construction of Beijing, including palaces, city walls and other defense facilities. He moved the capital to Beijing in 1421. From 1405 to 1433, he sent Eunuch Zheng He to lead a large-scale fleet to sail through Southeast Asian countries, the Indian Ocean, the Persian Gulf, the Maldives Islands, as far as the east coast of Africa such as Somalia and Kenya. The seven voyages led by Zheng He were the largest and longest sea expeditions in the world before the Columbus era.

In late Ming Dynasty, the Jurchen people of the Northeast China rose rapidly to establish the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) in 1644 with the capital in Beijing. In the reign of Emperor Kangxi (ruled in 1661-1722), who is the most famous emperor of the Qing Dynasty, he unified Taiwan and prevented the invasion of Russia. He also strengthened his administration over Tibet and formulated rules and regulations that enable the central government to decide the nomination of local leaders in Tibet. Under his rule, China's territory covered an area of more than 11 million square kilometers.

China’s Dynasties

Dynasties

Time

Xia

2070 BC — 1600 BC

Shang

1600 BC — 1046 BC

Western Zhou

1046 BC — 771BC

Eastern Zhou

Spring and Autumn Period

770 BC — 476 BC

Eastern Zhou

Warring States Period

475 BC — 221BC

Qin

221 BC — 207 BC

Western Han

206BC — AD 24

Eastern Han

AD 25 － 220

Three Kingdoms Period（Wei, Shu, Wu）

220 — 265

Western Jin

265 — 316

Eastern Jin

317 — 420

Southern and Northern Dynasties

420 — 589

Sui

581 — 618

Tang

618 — 907

Five Dynasties Period

907 — 960

Northern Song

960 — 1127

Southern Song

1127 — 1279

Yuan

1271 — 1368

Ming

1368 — 1644

Qing

1644 — 1911

Modern Times (1840-1919)

At the beginning of the 19th century, the Qing Dynasty declined rapidly. During this period, Britain imported large quantities of opium into China and the Qing government tried to ban opium. In order to protect its opium trade, the British Government launched a war of aggression against China in 1840, forcing the Qing Government to sign the Nanjing Treaty, a treaty of national betrayal and humiliation. After the Opium War, Britain, the United States, France, Russia, Japan and other countries continued to force the Qing Government to sign various unequal treaties. Since then, China has gradually become a semi-colonial and semi-feudal society.

The Revolution of 1911, under the leadership of Dr Sun Yat-sen, overthrew the more than 200 years of rule by the Qing Dynasty and ended the feudal monarchy that had lasted more than 2,000 years by establishing the Republic of China, which is one of the greatest events in China's modern history.

New-Democratic Revolution (1919-49)

The May 4 Movement is considered to be the source of thoughts for many important events in China’s Modern History. The immediate cause of the movement was the unequal provisions imposed on China after the World War I. Strong patriotism led to a protest that was initiated by students and spread to all levels of the country. It also triggered a variety of new ideas to enter into China, the most striking of which is the spread of Marxism and Leninism in China. In 1921, Mao Zedong and 12 other communist groups from around the nation held the first national congress in Shanghai, which marks the birth of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

In the course of the Chinese people’s New-Democratic Revolution, the CPC experienced four historical stages: the Northern Expedition War (1924-27), the Agrarian Revolutionary War (1927-37), the Chinese People’s War against Japanese Invasion (1937-45) and the National Liberation War (1945-49). The CPC and the Kuomintang cooperated in the fighting against the Japanese invaders and won the victory of the war. In 1945, the Kuomintang launched a civil war, during which the CPC toppled the Kuomintang government in 1949 after a three-year liberation war.

The People’s Republic of China (1949 - )

On October 1, 1949, 300,000 people gathered in Tiananmen Square in Beijing to hold the founding ceremony of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Mao Zedong, chairman of the PRC Central People's Government, solemnly declared: The People's Republic of China was formally established.

At the beginning of the founding of the PRC, the Chinese government successfully completed land reform in areas where more than 90 percent of the country's total rural population dwelled, and 300 million farmers shared about 47 million hectares of land. The first Five-Year Plan, implemented from 1953 to 1957, was a great achievement. The republic realized an average annual growth rate of more than 8.9 percent in national income and established a number of basic industries for future industrialization, including aircraft and automobile manufacturing, heavy and precision machinery, power generation equipment, metallurgical and mining equipment, as well as advanced alloy steel and non-ferrous metal smelting facilities.

From 1957 to 1966, China carried out large-scale socialist construction. From May 1966 to October 1976, China and Chinese people suffered from worst setbacks and losses since the founding of the PRC during the decade-long Cultural Revolution.

In October 1976, the Cultural Revolution ended. China entered a new historical period. Deng Xiaoping, the former general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, began to pursue the reform and opening-up policy since 1979 with the focus on modernization. Through the reform of the economic system and political system, a socialist modernization road with Chinese characteristics has been gradually established. Since the reform and opening-up, China has undergone profound changes with its economy making rapid progress and the people's living standards improving significantly. This is the best period after the founding of the PRC.

The 14th National Congress of the CPC proposed that the goal of China's economic reform is to establish a socialist market economic system. The Chinese government resumed the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong on July 1, 1997, and over Macao on December 20, 1999. At the beginning of the 21st century, China basically established a socialist market economy system, and the per capita gross national product has been continuously improving.

In 2011, China overtook Japan to become the world's second-largest economy, only after the United States.

Since 2013, China has made remarkable achievements in economic construction, comprehensive reform and people's lives. The nation also provided China's wisdom and proposals in solving global problems. China is moving forward towards the goal of building a well-off society in an all-round way and achieving the Two Centenary Goals.

Traditional Culture and Arts

Traditional Festivals

Traditional Chinese festivals are diverse in form and rich in content, and are an integral part of the nation's long history and culture.

The origin and development of the festivals is a process of gradual formation, subtle perfection and slowly influencing social life. It is the same as the development of society, which is the product of human society to a certain stage. Most of these festivals in ancient China are related to astronomy, calendar, mathematics and the 24 solar terms, which came out later. One could find the records of festivals in books such as Xia Xiaozheng and Shangshu. By the Warring States period, there appeared 24 solar terms, which were closely related to these festivals.

Solar terms provide the preconditions for festivals, most of which began to surface in the pre-Qin period. But it took a long process of development for the festivals to become rich and popular among the people. The earliest customs and activities are related to primitive worship, superstitious taboos. Mythical legends add some romantic color to the festivals. Besides, religions also had impact and influence towards festivals. Some historical figures have been given eternal memorials to be engraved into the festivals. All of these are integrated into the content of the festivals, adding to a deep sense of history.

By the Han Dynasty, all of China’ major festivals had taken shape. That is the reason that people said all these festivals were originated from Han Dynasty. The Han Dynasty is China’s first major development period after the reunification of the nation. The stable political and economic situation and rapid scientific and cultural development has provided a good social condition for the final formation of the festivals.

In Tang Dynasty, festivals have changed from original worship, taboos into entertainment and etiquette. Since then, festivals have become cheerful and festive, rich and colorful in style, full of sports, hedonistic activities, and soon became a popular fashion, which kept developing and lasting.

It is worth mentioning that in the long history, men of letters and poets, have written tons of poems and articles for festivals. These works are so popular and widely recited that greatly enrich China's traditional festivals with the profound cultural heritage and wonderful romance, which are admired by scholars and laymen alike. Chinese festivals have a strong cohesion and broad inclusiveness. The whole country celebrates lots of same festivals, which indicate that the Chinese nation has inherited a valuable spiritual and cultural heritage from ancient times.

The following are some of the major festivals in China. As a multi-ethnic country, China has dozens of ethnic groups who have their own cultural customs. Many ethnic groups celebrate their own festivals, which are a cultural treasure to be shared.

Spring Festival

Spring Festival, or the Lunar New Year, is the first day of the first lunar month (Year's Day). Commonly known as the New Year with different names, the Spring Festival has a long history and evolved from the annual sacrifices and rituals in ancient times. All things on earth belong to the god and the people are the later generations of ancestors. It is time to pray for a harvest and respect the heaven and ancestors at the beginning of the new year. The origin of the Spring Festival is of profound cultural connotations and carries rich historical and cultural heritage. During the Spring Festival period, all the country hold a variety of celebration activities with various regional characteristics amid lively and festive atmosphere. These activities welcome to the new, worship the gods of the ancestors and pray for a bumper harvest.

In ancient times, people began to prepare for the Spring Festival from 23rd or 24th of the 12th lunar month by offering sacrifice of the kitchen god. The New Year festival lasted to the 19th day of the first lunar month. In modern times, the Spring Festival is scheduled for the first day of the first lunar month, but it ends on the 15th of the first lunar month. Spring Festival is a happy and peaceful time, friends and family members gathered in the festival to promote bonding. Greetings are conveyed during the festival period, which is the reason to maintain the Spring Festival an important occasion.

The Spring Festival is China's most important traditional festival, which not only embodies the Chinese people's ideological beliefs, ideal aspirations, life entertainment and cultural psychology, but also illustrates blessing, cuisine and entertainment activities in a carnival way. Influenced by Chinese culture, some countries and regions in the world also have the custom of celebrating the Spring Festival. According to incomplete statistics, nearly 20 countries and regions have designated the Chinese New Year as an official holiday for the whole or part of the regions under its jurisdiction. Spring Festival, Qingming Festival, Dragon Boat Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival are regarded as China's top four traditional festivals. Besides, Spring Festival folklore was approved by the State Council to be included in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage list.

Mid-Autumn Festival

The 15th of the eighth lunar month is the traditional Mid-Autumn Festival in China. It marks the middle of the autumn, so it is called mid-autumn. With a history of more than 1,000 years, Mid-Autumn became an official festival in the Tang Dynasty. It is China's second largest traditional festival only after the Spring Festival. In 2008, the Mid-Autumn Festival, together with Qingming Festival and Dragon Boat Festival, became a national holiday. The mid-Autumn Festival is named from the Chinese lunar calendar, which is divided into four seasons. Each season is divided into Meng, Zhong and Ji three parts, that is the reason the middle autumn is known as mid-autumn.

The Mid-Autumn Festival has many other nicknames: Because it falls on 15th day of the eighth lunar month, it is called August Day and Half August Day. Because the moon on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month is more round and brighter than other months, the main activities of the Mid-Autumn Festival are admiring the moon, so it is also called Moon Night, Autumn Festival, August Festival, “Chasing the Moon”, Playing the Moon Festival and so on. Because the moon is particularly bright and round, it is regarded as a symbol of family reunion; therefore, the Mid-Autumn Festival is also called reunion festival

Eating Moon Cake

People eat moon cakes during the Mid-Autumn Festival in China, which is a traditional Chinese folk food custom. Moon cakes are also known as palace cakes, harvest cakes, round cakes and reunion cakes. Moon cakes first appeared in Tang Dynasty, according to the record. The Dictionary of Chinese Customs tells a legend: LiYuan, the Emperor Gaozu of Tang, once told the chefs to make colorful round cakes to celebrate the victory of his general Li Jing during a northern expedition. Li held the round cake at hands to worship the moon, saying, The hu cake is dedicated to the moon first. Since then, it has become a custom to eat moon cakes on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month. Later, Yang Yuhuan, who is the favorite concubine of Tang Emperor Li Longji, changed the name of hu cake to mooncake. To the Song Dynasty, there appeared golden flowers, hibiscus, lotus leaves and other flower-colored moon cakes. To the Ming Dynasty, moon cakes became the official food for Mid-Autumn Festival, and gradually accepted by the masses of the people. After the Qing Dynasty, the production of moon cakes becomes more exquisite, either in their quality, colors or their varieties thanks to continuous innovations. With the development of the times, moon cakes have become a kind of food and gift to each other during the Mid-Autumn Festival period.

Delicious mooncakes also serve as a mascot to symbolize family reunion, happy gathering and many other auspicious cultural connotations. People pray for a son and a happy marriage during the Mid-Autumn Festival. In the old days, a saying goes that men do not worship the moon, women do not worship the kitchen god. There are two purposes of women's moon worship: Married people pray for a son, unmarried pray for a happy marriage in the future. In addition, the moon cake also the symbolizes a bumper harvest. Mid-Autumn Festival is in the season of autumn and eating moon cakes represents a blessing for good weather for crops in the coming year to obtain a larger harvest.

Today, the banquet on the Mid-Autumn Festival is still very popular. People drink wine and enjoy the moon to celebrate a better life or wish the distant relatives health and happiness by sharing the beautiful moon though miles apart.

Qingming Festival

Qingming Festival, also known as Taqing Festival, Xingqing Festival, March Festival and Festival of Sacrifice, which falls between middle and late spring. Qingming Festival originates from the ancestral beliefs in ancient times and the spring ritual. It is of both natural and humanistic connotations, and is not only a solar term but also a traditional festival. Qingming Festival is a major traditional day of spring ritual and tomb-sweeping. To commemorating ancestors is a fine tradition of the Chinese nation since ancient times, which is not only conducive to the promotion of filial piety and arouse common memory of the family, but also good for uniting family members and even the national cohesion and identity. Qingming Festival combines natural festival and human customs as one, representing the unity of the heavens and the earth and fully embodying the Chinese ancestors to pursue the harmony and unity between heaven, earth and people. It conforms to the demand and law of the nature. Qingming Festival is rich in customs. Tomb-sweeping and treading green outings are its two major ritual themes, which are two traditional ritual themes in China since ancient times.

As one of the ancient festivals of the Chinese nation, Qingming Festival is not only a festival of tomb-sweeping sacrifice, but also a happy festival for people to be close to nature, to play in the field and to enjoy the pleasures of spring. The sun yellow longitude is up to 15 degrees, and the festival in the Gregorian calendar falls around April 5. At this time, all things “exhale the old and inhale the new,” the earth shows the image of spring and sunlight.

Dragon Boat Festival

Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duanyang Festival, Duanwu Festival, Double Five Festival, Dragon Festival, Zhengyang Festival and Tianzhong Festival, which falls on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar. It is one of traditional Chinese folk festivals. Dragon Boat Festival originated from the worship of the heavens and the dragon. Mid-summer afternoon, the dragon flies high to the south of the sky. The Book of Changes, or I Ching, said the flying dragon in the sky. Dragon Star on the Dragon Day is both getting in and getting right, in the position of highly auspicious. The origin of Dragon Boat Festival roots in ancient star culture, philosophy and other content, contains profound cultural connotations. It combines various folk customs and festival activities. To hold dragon boat race and to eat zongzi, a kind of glutinous rice dumpling, are the Dragon Boat Festival's two major rituals.

Dragon Boat Festival was a festival for ancestors who lived in the southern coastal areas to worship dragons. Qu Yuan, a famous poet from Chu Kingdom during the Starring States period, is said to jump into Miluo River to suicide on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. People after him began to commemorate Qu by celebrating this day. Others connect the festival with Wu Zixu, Cao E and Jie Zitui. In general, Dragon Boat Festival started from the worshipping of dragons in ancient times, with the addition of Qu Yuan and other historical figures. Meanwhile, there are different activities to be held in southern and northern regions when celebrating the festival.

Dragon Boat Festival, together with Spring Festival, Qingming Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival, is regarded as the major four traditional festivals in China. The culture of Dragon Boat Festival has a wide-spread influence around the world. Many countries and regions also celebrate Dragon Boat Festival. In May, 2006, the State Council adopted the Dragon Boat Festival into its first list of national cultural heritage. In 2008, it was ruled as an official holiday by the nation. In September 2009, the festival was approved by the UNESCO to be an intangible cultural heritage, becoming the first Chinese festival in the world cultural heritage list.

Spoken and Written Languages

There are 56 ethnic groups in China, making it a multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, multi-dialect and multi-text country. The national lingua franca is Putonghua and the standard Chinese characters.

Putonghua is the standard spoken language of Chinese people, with Beijing speech sound as the standard tone, the northern dialect as the basis and the exemplary modern vernacular writings as the grammatical norms. The Constitution of the People's Republic of China stipulates: The State promotes Putonghua, which is commonly spoken throughout the country. The National Common Language and Text Law, which was promulgated on October 31, 2000, defines Putonghua as the national lingua franca. Mandarin is also one of the world's leading languages and one of the six official working languages of the United Nations.

Chinese is the most widely used language in China and the most widely used language in the world. In addition to the Han people using Chinese language, Hui, Manchu and She people also switched to Chinese, other ethnic groups have their own languages and many of them have used Chinese to some degree.

Modern Chinese is divided into standard languages (Putonghua) and dialects. There are 10 major dialects in China: official dialect, Jin dialect, Wu dialect, Hui dialect, Min dialect, Cantonese dialect, Hakka dialect, Gan dialect, Xiang dialect and Pinghua dialect. There are several sub-dialects and many kinds of local dialects in each aera. Among them, the largest number of official dialects can be divided into the Northeast official language, Beijing official language, Lu official language, Jiaoliao official language, Central Plains official language, Lanyin official language, Jianghuai official language, Southwest official language.

History of Chinese Characters

Chinese characters are one of the oldest written languages in history and the oldest one still being used in the world to date. Several thousand years have passed from jiaguwen, inscriptions on bones or tortoise shells of the Shang Dynasty (16th-11th Century BC), to today's Chinese characters. The development of Chinese written language has evolved through jiaguwen, jinwen (inscriptions on bronze), dazhuan (big seal character), xiaozhuan (lesser seal character), li calligraphy, caoshu (cursive script), kaishu (regular script), xingshu (running hand). In chronological order, China’s written language can be divided into pre-Qin, Qin, Han and Tang, Song and Yuan, Ming and Qing and modern times and contemporary age.

The legend goes that Cang Jie created the Chinese characters. According to Shuowen Jiezi, or Origin of Chinese Characters, which is the first Chinese dictionary, Cang Jie was inspired by the footprints of birds and beasts when creating characters. He was revered as the “Greatest Creator of Characters.” During the Shang Dynasty, the earliest known mature Chinese characters jiaguwen appeared. During the Zhou Dynasty, due to its vast territory and long-term division of the nation, Chinese characters became more and more variant in the late Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. After the unification of Qin, Emperor Qin Shihuang ordered his prime minister Li Si, together with Zhao Gao and Hu Wujing, to compile characters with the aim to consolidate the rule. Based on Qin’s dazhuan as the standard font, they hammered out the xiaozhuan as standard characters of the nation. Later, there appeared lishu, which was popular and simpler among the people. At the end of the East Han Dynasty, with the formation of kaishu, the evolution of Chinese characters has been completed.

Since their birth, Chinese characters have witnessed the evolution of jiaguwen, jinwen, zhuanshu, lishu, caoshu, kaishu and xingshu. The development trend of characters is stepwise simplication from complication.

Since its establishment, the New China continued Chinese character simplification work, which was not completed during the New Culture Movement and the Republic of China period. The People's Daily published the Resolution on the Simplification Program for Chinese Characters and the Chinese Character Simplification Program, which were drafted by the State Council, on January 31, 1956. The publication of List of Simplified Words, which gave legal status to simplified characters.

（信息来源：http://www.gov.cn/guoqing/2017-11/22/content_5241528.htm）

Traditional Arts

Chinese traditional arts, represented by calligraphy, music, paper-cutting, painting and operas, originated in the Neolithic Age. The heritage of traditional Chinese arts is very rich and brilliant. Traditional food and clothing are the fruits of thousands of years of development, which represent the profound cultural heritage of China’s 5,000 years of civilization.

This is the precious wealth not only of the Chinese nation, but also of all mankind. Chinese traditional arts, with their rich local flavor, profound artistic connotation and vivid historical traces, are becoming more and more loved and appreciated by the people of the world.

Chinese Painting

The origin of ancient Chinese painting started very early. About 5,000-6,000 thousand years ago the ancestors painted simple animals and plants and human-shaped patterns on the rocks with mineral colors, depicting various beautiful patterns on the pottery and then carved mysterious patterns and other graphics on the bronzes. Because of the long time, few of these works have been preserved, but they have given us a glimpse into the art of early paintings. The earliest paintings we can see today on paper are the items unearthed in tombs, which have a history of more than 2,000 years.

Early Chinese paintings were divided into several categories, such as figure, landscape, flowers and birds. Around the 17th century, European painting was introduced into China, which was named Western Painting to be different from traditional Chinese painting. Therefore, the original title of Chinese painting is relative to Western painting (generally referred to as European painting).

Meticulous Painting and Freehand Ink Painting

In most people's impression, the traditional Chinese painting seems to be only ink painting. In fact, this is a misunderstanding. According to its technique and style, Chinese painting can be divided into two types, meticulous painting and freehand ink painting. Meticulous painting is also known as a fine painting, whose style is meticulous, with well-defined and expressive lines to outline the image, and pays attention to the details and then apply with thick and bright colors. Most of the pigments used in the painting are made of minerals, which can still maintain the original colors many years later. Because of the magnificent appearance of this kind painting, most of the royal painters in Chinese history used this method of painting to express the grand royal style.

Traditional Chinese Music

According to the carbon 14 analysis of the bone flute unearthed at the Neolithic site in Wuyang County, Henan Province, the history of Chinese music can be traced back to 7,0O0-8,OOO years ago. The distribution of these bone flutes’ sound holes proves that the Chinese music standard had reached a considerable height at that time. In addition, Neolithic instruments also include xun (an egg-shaped, holed wind instrument), pottery bells, chime stones and drums.

Like many ethnic groups in the world, music and dance have been inseparable in the early period of Chinese culture. At that time, there was no clear social division between music and dance. By the time of Xia Dynasty, music and dance finally became two independent art forms.

Since then, China’s music has entered 1,300 years of bell and drum music period from Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties. In the period from Qin and Han dynasties to Tang Dynasty for more than 1,200 years, song and dance was the main form of Chinese music. There were two stages in this period: At the early stage, Han music was the main component; At the later stage, there appeared unprecedent exchanges between Chinese and foreign music, which was regarded as a peak of China’s music development.

Before Sui and Tang dynasties, music was only enjoyed by emperors and aristocrats. After Sui and Tang dynasties, the situation began to change. Temple fairs at Buddhist temples became the places that ordinary people listen to music. Customers can also enjoy the singing of songs and recitation of poems at restaurants. Especially in Song Dynasty, brothels, marketplaces, theatres and tea houses have become the place of music and dance performance. There also appeared drum words, dramas, Southern operas and many other forms of music performance.

After Song Dynasty, the piano music-based literati music got development along with the rapid progress of folk music. After the Song Dynasty, the musical instruments such as pipa, zheng, flute，sheng and Xiao were further developed. In the Ming and Qing dynasties, the artistic varieties of comic dialogue and operas became more mature and diversified, such as tanci (storytelling to the accompaniment of stringed instruments), dagu (drum ballad),paiziqu and kunqu operas, which were the two major forms of music art in this period. And the development of instruments in the Qing Dynasty began to be mature, the Huqin-based bow-string instruments in the opera accompaniment and string and wind music showed an increasingly important function.

Since ancient times, the hard-working and intelligent Chinese ancestors have created lots of folk songs during their work and everyday life, which are the essence of Chinese music. The first Chinese poetry collection, The Book of Poems, reflects the broad grandeur and typical profound characteristics of social life and historical development, which can be regarded as the history of the Zhou Dynasty's civil society in the form of poems. Later, the Han Dynasty's Yuefu played an important role in recording and promoting folk songs. The Tang Dynasty maintained the vigorous vitality of Chinese fold songs in the context of cultural exchanges with foreign countries and wide absorption of the music from surrounding areas.

From the Song Dynasty to Ming and Qing dynasties, a number of new folk songs were created on the basis of continued dissemination of old ones with the prosperity of the commercial economy of the townships. Work songs, field songs, Shaanxi local melody and hua’er (folk songs popular in Qinghai, Gansu and Ningxia) and other folk genres are also widely circulated. The Chinese folk songs have a long history and rich reserves, rich themes, diverse styles, concise techniques and refined language.

Chinese folk musical instruments are an indispensable component of Chinese music. After thousands of years of development, China has seen various sorts of instruments and numerous works, which can be roughly divided into two categories: ensemble and solo. Ensemble instruments are mostly gongs and drums, suona horn, erhu, pipa, yangqin, sanxian (three-stringed plucked instrument), flutes, sheng and xiao. Solo instruments mainly include guqin, pipa, erhu, banhu, flute and zheng.

During the Eastern Han Dynasty, Buddhism was introduced into China. Because of the demand of Buddhist rituals, Buddhist music began to be combined with local Chinese music. Buddhist music is generally divided into two parts, the recitation of Buddhism sutras and the song singing. Emperor Wudi of Liang Xiao Yan was an important figure in promoting the integration of Buddhist classics with Chinese music, while the Tang Dynasty was the period when Buddhist music finally merged with Chinese music. Taoism, a religion that originated in China, also resorted music as a tool for the holy gods in its rituals.

After entering the 20th century, Chinese music and art have opened a new page thanks to the intersection of East and West cultures. A group of new musicians, such as Xiao Youmei, Li Shutong and Shen Xingong, who learned from China and the West, became the pioneers of the new music movement. In the midst of the movement against Japanese invaders, thousands of music works stood out, reflecting the spirit of the times. In addition to song writing, historical achievements were also made in the creation of symphony, chorus, opera, piano, violin and many other fields. A large number of musicians, such as Xian Xinghai, He Luting, Ma Sicong and Lv Ji, have made outstanding contributions in their respective fields.

After the establishment of the People’s Republic of China, the Chinese government has adopted an open-minded approach in the fields of music education and music creation, encouraging the creation of a number of works of the times, such as the large-scale dance epic “Dongfanghong,” or “Oriental Red, musical Liu Sanjie, opera The Red Guards on Honghu Lake, piano concerto Yellow River and so on. Especially since the reform and opening-up two decades ago, there has been another great integration and exchange between the East and the West in the development of Chinese music. The impact of this exchange on Chinese music culture in the new era is profound, ranging from music creation, performance, education, theory to music publication and marketing, almost into all the aspects of music art. It is forming a new era of music culture construction.

The strong rise of new music and the surge of popular music are the two most important phenomena in the development of Chinese professional music in this period. Over the past 20 years, Chinese musicians and performing arts groups have participated in a wide range of international music exchanges and competitions, many of whom have achieved outstanding results, their footprints all over the world, in the excellent traditional Chinese music culture to the people of the world, but also foreign outstanding music art, music trends Music theory was introduced into China. In order to enrich the people's musical life and improve their musical literacy, there are also major music festivals held throughout China: such as Shanghai Spring, Beijing Choral Festival, Sheep City Music Flower Festival and so on. In addition, the mass amateur music performance activities are also very active: Beijing's May Flowers, Shanghai's October Song Festival, Fujian's School Concert and so on, are regularly held every year amateur mass music activities.

Chinese Opera

The Chinese opera, together with Greek drama and Indian Sanskrit drama, is called the world's three ancient theatrical culture.

Chinese operas include Song and Yuan Southern Opera, Yuan and Ming Zaju, Ming and Qing Legends as well as Peking Opera and various local operas in modern times, which are collectively known as traditional Chinese drama culture. Chinese operas took shape and became mature in the 12th century. After more than 800 years of development, more than 300 operas and tens of thousands of plays are still staged in China, showing a strong vitality and unfailing artistic appeal.

Singing and dancing are the two major means of Chinese opera performance. The Song Dynasty's Southern Opera and the Yuan Dynasty's Zaju formed a comprehensive performance that combines singing, speaking, acting and acrobatic fighting after continuous absorption of poetry, music, dance, painting, talking and singing, acrobatics, martial arts and other arts. Its musical dialogue - singing and speaking – and dance-styled action – acting and acrobatic fighting – and the virtual reality of stage and the stylization of performance are the characteristics of Chinese opera art.

In order to meet the needs of drama and performance, the various characters of Chinese operas are divided from types of facial makeup, clothing, singing voice and many other aspects according to the characters' age, gender, identity and characteristics, which are highly summarized as four categories: sheng (male roles), dan (female roles), jing (painted roles) and chou (clowns).

Sheng, or male roles, refer to the main male characters in Chinese opera, including the old, the young and the actor playing a martial role.

Dan, or female roles, are mainly female characters. There are five types, such as Zhengdan, Huadan, Wudan, Old Dan and Caidan.

Jing, or painted roles, are commonly known as painted faces. There are big painted faces, second painted faces and martial painted faces. Faces of jing are highlighted by the use of various colors and patterns of facial make-up, to symbolize boldness, uprightness, wickedness, recklessness and honesty.

Chou, or clowns, refer to comedy roles, whose makeup is to paint white powder between the nose and eye sockets, which is called small painted face. Chou can play various types of role. According to the identity and characteristics of roles, chou are divided into two types: wenchou and wuchou.

After entering the 20th century, China has experienced intense fluctuations thanks to the inevitable impact and fusion between traditional culture and modern ideas from the West. Chinese operas encountered unprecedented embarrassment, which also provides the chances and possibilities for its prosperity. The democratic concept advocated by the Revolution of 1911 and the establishment of modern newspapers and magazines have nurtured the emergence of new theatres and troupes, all of which brought the art of opera to a new height. Peking Opera, which is known as the National Opera, has produced more talents than ever. Peking Opera had a history of more than 200 years and different drama characters have different faces. Performers sing, read, act and fight acrobatically with the use of exaggerated and symbolic virtual action. Though there are no doors, stairs, boats and horses on stage, actors perform with their movements to create a very realistic impression.

In the 1950s, some of the small folk dramas developed rapidly with the support of the government's cultural institutions and the participation of intellectual artists. A number of dramas, such as Ping Opera, Yue Opera, Kun Opera, Cantonese Opera, Shanghai Opera, Huangmei Opera and Yu Drama are increasingly flourishing and developing. There appeared a great number of excellent dramas, such as Third Sister Goes to Court, The White Snake, Fifteen Strings of Cash and Guan Hanqing. The historical dramas of ethnic minorities were also on the rise on the basis of maintaining tradition. The creation of the new historical drama became a trend of Chinese opera in the 198Os, represented by Cao “Cao and Yang Xiu,” which was creation by the Shanghai Peking Opera Theatre. Chinese artists also tried to resort traditional Chinese opera to reflect the contemporary life. Both Luohan Money of Shanghai Opera and White Hair Girl of the Peking Opera are successful works in this respect. Sichuan Opera Uncle Shangang and Jiangxi Tea-picking Drama Legend of Oil-mill and other plays, with rich rural land style together with the tradition of Chinese poetry by absorbing the essence of contemporary folk oral literature, depicted the real life in a romantic way.

Chinese opera keeps developing and upgrading with the warm vision of the future and the nostalgia for tradition, interwoven between traditional culture and modern consciousness.

With the gradual maturity of Chinese opera art, the construction of theaters in China is becoming better and better. Venues of Chinese operas are showing their distinctive national characteristics and unique artistic styles. The stage art of Chinese operas is the unity of character and scenery, with the focus on figure creation, so as to have the artistic features of dance, decoration and stereotype.

Four Famous Embroideries in China

Among the traditional Chinese embroideries, the Xiang Embroidery in Central China’s Hunan Province, the Shu Embroidery in Sichuan Province in western China, the Yue Embroidery in Guangdong Province in southern China and the Su Embroidery in Jiangsu Province in eastern China are jointly known as China's Four Famous Embroideries.

Xiang Embroidery

As one of China's Four Famous Embroidery, Xiang Embroidery is famous at home and abroad due to its long history, exquisite craftsmanship, unique style and a wide variety of themes. The earliest Xiang embroidery product found so far is a silk fabric unearthed in the tomb of the Han Dynasty (206 BC to AD 220). The techniques used are similar to today’s methods, indicating that as early as more than 2,000 years ago the art of Xiang Embroidery had become mature. After centuries of development, Xiang embroidery gradually introduced the traditional characteristics of Chinese painting into it, thus forming its own unique style. By the end of the Qing Dynasty (early 20th century), the development of Xiang embroidery reached its heyday, and even surpassed Su embroidery, which was the leading place in China's embroidery industry. After the founding of New China, Xiang embroidery workers in the inheritance of tradition on the basis of innovation, so that Xiang embroidery technology to a new level.

Xiang Embroidery is made of pure silk, hard satin, soft satin, transparent yarn, nylon and other materials with different colors of silk yarn. It takes Chinese paintings as models, gives full play to stiches to create vivid, colorful and rigorous images. There are not only artistic embroidery works but also beautiful articles for everyday use.

Shu Embroidery

Shu Embroidery, also known as Chuan Embroidery, refers to embroidery products produced in Sichuan’s Chengdu area with a long history. As early as the Han Dynasty (206 BC to 220 AD), the name of Shu Embroidery has been well-known all over the country. The Han Dynasty set up a special Jinguan in charge of brocade products in Chengdu. From the Han Dynasty to the Five Dynasties (907-960) and Ten Kingdoms (902-979) period, the relative stability of Sichuan has created favorable conditions for the rapid development of embroidery industry to meet an increasing demand. By Song Dynasty (960-1279), the Shu Embroidery took the lead in its manufacturing, sales and art level. After the mid-Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), the scale of Shu Embroidery industry got enlarged further. Governments at county level set up Quangong Bureau to encourage the embroidery production. After the founding of New China, the Chengdu Embroidery Factory was set up in Sichuan, and the development of embroidery entered a new stage, leading to technological innovations and the creation of more varieties.

Shu Embroidery originated from folk art in western Sichuan, which features a rigorous and delicate, bright, neat and graceful style with vibrant colors after long-term development process due to the special geographical environment, customs, culture and art.

Shu Embroidery works are rich in themes, ranging from flowers and trees, birds and beasts to mountains and rivers, fish, insects and portraits. There are 12 categories of stiches with a total of 122 kinds, such as halo stich, rolling stich, mixed stich and cover stich, etc. It stresses neat stiches with bright, tight and soft techniques. Shu Embroidery products, including quilt covers, pillowcases, clothing, shoes and picture screens, are all exquisite works which are both ornamental and practical, regardless of size.

Yue Embroidery

Yue Embroidery, also known as Cantonese Embroidery, is popular in Guangzhou, Chaozhou, Shantou, Zhongshan, Panyu and Shunde in Guangdong Province. According to historical record, a young girl named Lu Meiniang in Nanhai County, Guangdong Province, once embroidered seven volumes of Lotus Sutra on a piece of silken cloth, which is a foot square, in the year of 805. Cantonese embroidery has since become famous. During the Song and Yuan period (10-14 century), the prosperity of Guangzhou Port promoted the rapid development of Cantonese Embroidery, which was exported abroad. In Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), Yue Embroidery artists were able to skillfully use a variety of silk threads in embroidery. They also used bird tail feathers as materials to make embroidery products more natural and vivid. To the Qianlong period (1736-1796) in Qing Dynasty, the first Yue Embroidery industry organization - the Yue Embroidery Guild was established in Guangzhou. At that time, there were a large number of Cantonese Embroidery employees, who continuously developed and perfected the art. After 1915, Yue Embroidery works were given numerous awards in Panama International Expo and other international competitions.

During its development, the Yue Embroidery has been influenced by folk arts of all ethnic groups. It formed its unique art style on the basis of eclectic and integrated integration. Yue Embroidery products mainly depict dragons, phoenix, flowers and birds, which are neat, symmetrical, colorful and magnificent. In the stich method, it shows the characteristics of being evenly distributed and texture clear. It can be divided into three categories, namely velvet embroidery, silk embroidery, gold and silver thread embroidery. Products include costumes, hall decorations, bed curtains, hanging screens and a variety of daily embroidery.

Su Embroidery

Su Embroidery refers to the embroideries produced in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province. Suzhou embroidery has a history of more than 2,000 years, which could be traced back to the Three Kingdoms period (220-280). By the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), Su Embroidery had become a popular business among the local people after continuous development and perfection. Nearly every family raised silkworms and engaged in embroidery in Suzhou. In the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), Su Embroidery was famous for its fine and elegant style, earning Suzhou the reputation of a “city of embroidery.” In the middle- and late-Qing Dynasty, Su Embroidery technology has further developed with the emergence of exquisite double-sided embroidery. There are 65 firms in Suzhou alone specialized in embroidery business. During the Republic of China (1912-1949), the Su Embroidery industry suffered a decline due to the perennial war. After the founding of New China, Su Embroidery was resumed and developed. The nation set up a Su Embroidery institute in 1950 and organized embroidery training courses. Stich techniques of Su Embroidery expanded from the original 18 kinds to today's more than 40 kinds.

Su Embroidery works are beautiful in patterns, crafty in design, exquisite and lively in embroidery, elegant in color and rich in local characteristics. The technology of Su Embroidery is flat, neat, fine, dense, light, smooth and even.Flat means the surface of embroidered works is even; “Neat” means the edge of the embroidery is trim; “Fine” refers exquisite stiches;Dense refers to a compact arrangement of lines that do not reveal stiches; Light means dazzling, bright colors; “Smooth” refers to the silk circles; Even refers to fine and uniform lines. In its category, Su Embroidery works can be divided into zero scissors, costumes, hanging screens. Among them, double-sided embroidery works are the most beautiful ones.

Tri-Colored Glazed Pottery of the Tang Dynasty

Tri-colored pottery is popular in the Tang Dynasty, with yellow, brown and green as the basic glaze colors.

Tri-colored pottery is a kind of low-temperature glazed pottery, which shows different colors due to the adding of different metal oxides. After being fired in kilns, it will form light yellow, yellow, light green, dark green, sky blue, brown, aubergine and other colors, but mostly yellow, brown and green. The colors of tri-color pottery are diversified, mutually infiltrating and mottled, showing the artistic charm of the grand and magnificent. Tri-colored pottery is usually used in tombs because its unfired pottery is loose and fragile and performs poor in waterproofing. As a result, tri-colored pottery is greatly dwarfed both by blue porcelain and white porcelain which has appeared at that time.

Tri-colored potteries are plump, vigorous and well-structured with an excellent balance in shape, which are consistent in the art style of Tang Dynasty.There are variety of pottery works, such as figurines, animals and articles for daily use. The proportion of tri-colored figurines and animals is accurate, the shape is natural and the figures are smooth and lively. The samurais are muscular and wide-eyed, confronting each other with daggers. Meanwhile, the maids are in upswept hairstyle with broad sleeves, standing tall and straight, elegant and very plump. Animals are dominated by horses and camels.

Unearthed in the tomb of General Youwei of the Tang Dynasty is a glazed camel carrying musicians. The camel stands straight and its color is brownish-yellow, with long hairs hanging down from the head to the neck, from the lower jaw to the abdomen and the upper part of both front limbs. There is a carpeted platform on the camel-back, which carries two foreign musicians sitting back-to-back on both sides. The musicians are playing instruments with another man standing in the center, dancing. Three of the musicians are deep-eye socket with a high nose, bearded, wearing a green lapel long coat and white felt boots. The fourth person in front wears a yellow shoulder-length coat. This figurine is exquisite and amazing.

Places of production of tri-colored pottery include Xi’an, Luoyang and Yangzhou, which are all the connection points along the ancient Silk Road on the land and sea. Camels were major transportation tools on the Silk Road in the Tang Dynasty. You can imagine that an intimacy has taken shape between camels and people when they trekked through the desert together. The tall body and determined look of the camel indicates that it has travelled thousands of miles along the Silk Road.

Tri-colored pottery is the essence of the pottery in the Tang Dynasty, reaching its peak in the early and prime Tang Dynasty. After the rebellion of An Lushan and Shi Siming, the tri-colored pottery declined gradually with the falling of the Tang Dynasty and due to the rapid development of porcelain. Later, there appeared Tri-Colored Pottery of Liao Dynasty and Tri-Colored Pottery of Jin Dynasty, both of which were inferior to the Tri-Colored Glazed Pottery of the Tang Dynasty in terms of quantity, quality and artistry.

Starting from early Tang Dynasty, the Tri-Colored Glazed Pottery of Tang were exported abroad, which were widely liked by foreigners. This multi-colored glazed pottery became a pearl of ancient Chinese pottery thanks of its beautiful glazes, bright lusters and exquisite designing.

Five Famous Kilns in Song Dynasty

The Song Dynasty (960-1279) was a glorious period for the development of ceramic manufacturing in China. In this period, the ceramic industry has made unprecedented achievements in its types, patterns and manufacturing process. In China, there appeared Guanyao, Geyao, Ruyao, Dingyao and Junyao, which were later called the Five Famous Kilns in the Song Dynasty.

Guanyao of Song Dynasty

Guanyao of the Song Dynasty included the official kilns of the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127) and the official kilns of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279). The site of Northern Song Dynasty official kiln, which is also known as Bianjing Guanyao, has not been found so far. The official kilns of the Southern Song Dynasty were built in today’s Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province after the royal family moved south. There are two official kilns, Xiuneisi Guanyao and Jiaotan Guanoyao.

Products of the Guanyao of the Song Dynasty mainly include bowls, plates, bottles, writing-brush washers and those that imitated ancient bronze and iron ware. Porcelains are beautifully shaped in their designing, whose glazed colors including has light greenish blue, bluish white, grey and beige. The surface of light greenish blue porcelains is covered with fine cracks, which were originally regarded as a kind of defect on porcelain, but later became a unique decoration, commonly referred to as Kaipian in Chinese.

Geyao of Song Dynasty

According to historical records, each of the two brothers surnamed Zhang of the Southern Song Dynasty operated one kiln in Longquan, East China’s Zhejiang Province. The senior brother was in charge of the kiln called Geyao, which produced a lot of handed-down porcelains. The site of the kiln has been found so far. The younger brother is in charge of the Longquan Kiln.

Products produced from Geyao belonged to the category of green porcelains, which mainly include bottles, stoves, washers, bowls, cans and so on. The surface of the porcelains was coated with glazed layer, which is smooth, crystal clear and moisturizing, not only porcelain sound bright, but also the shape is very generous, the contour soft and smooth. The co-kiln porcelain is famous for opening pieces, the opening piece is flat and tight, the piece sliver is cracked into a wide shape, the pattern is mostly black, commonly known as golden wire wire

Junyao of Song Dynasty

The kiln site of Junyao is located in Yuzhou, central Henan Province. It was established in Northern Song Dynasty and become popular in late Northern Song Dynasty.

The products of Junyao porcelains mainly include Zun, stoves, washers, vases and basin stands. The porcelains of Junyao are blue porcelains, whose bodies are delicate and solid and patterns are elegant and simple. The color of glaze is quite unique, blue with red after firing. One color into the kiln, diversified colors out. The Junyao porcelains have always been called the Treasure of the Country, which are truly exceptional among all the five famous kilns of the Song Dynasty. The ancient people described the colors of Junyao porcelains with sunset purple and green to show its flexible and subtle beauty.

Ruyao of Song Dynasty

The kiln site of Ruyao is located in Baofeng County, Central China’s Henan Province. The county was called Ruzhou in the Song Dynasty, which is the reason the kiln was called Ruyao. The products produced by the kiln mainly served for the royal court during the reign of Emperor Huizong (1086-1119). That explains why fewer Ruyao porcelains have been kept than from other kilns.

The products of Ruyao were bowls, plates, bottles and washers for everyday use. The quality of Ruyao porcelains are exquisite with few decorative patterns. The color of glaze is crystal blue with tiny cracks. On the bottom of the porcelains, there are marks of small nails when firing.

Dingyao of Song Dynasty

Located in Quyang County, Hebei Province, Dingyao started its production in Tang Dynasty (618-907) and stopped its firing in Yuan Dynasty (127101368), which is famous for its white porcelains after Xingyao.

Besides white porcelains, there were porcelains glazed in green, black and brown produced in Dingyao kiln. It created the method of upside down firing, which was popular in latter dynasties. The quality of porcelains is white and exquisite. Its pattern is neat and cute with various of decorations. The simple but elegant flowered porcelains of Dingyao kiln were always regarded as treasure products in ancient China.

Paper Cutting

Papercutting, as the name implies, is to use scissors or knives to cut papersfor decorations or designs. Popular in China's vast rural areas, paper cuttings are usually created by rural women.

Papercutting are divided into window and door decorations, wallflowers, ceiling flowers, lantern flowers, spring flowers, wedding and funeral flowers and so on. As a kind of folk art, papercuttings are related with the solar terms and rural customs in their emergence and circulation. For example, window flowers, door decorations and lantern flowers are hung during the Spring Festival or Lantern Festival periods. In the northern countryside, people used to paste a sheet of snow-white paper over a lattice window with red and green paper-cut window flowers on it. They also used paper cuttings at the door arcs and on lanterns during the Lantern Festival night. Paper-cut wedding decorations are usually pasted on furniture and indoor objects. Similarly, birthday and bereavement flowers are posted on birthdays and funerals. Wallflowers and ceiling flowers are laid on the wall and roof to brighten the rooms. In short, paper cuttings are mostly used as a setting environment and enhance festive atmosphere.

The themes of Chinese paper cuttings are diversified. Auspicious patterns mean good luck and happiness. Dolls, gourds and lotus flowers symbolize fertility and fortune. The images of poultry and livestock, melons,fruits, fish and insects are familiar to farmers, which are also the main content of paper cuttings. As a kind of folk art, paper cutting has a strong geographic style. Shaanxi window flower are rough and bold, simple and concise. Paper cuttings in Hebei Yuxian county and Shanxi Guangling are dyed and very beautiful. Their opera figures of paper cuttings are particularly impressive. Paper cuttings from Nanjing, Jiangsu Province are simple and chunky, sometimes with a subtle style.Paper cuttings in Yixing, Jiangxi Province are gorgeous and neatly done.Papercuttings in Jiangsu Province are beautiful and exquisite. Paper cuttings in Foshan, Guangdong Province are colorful,variable and decorative in style. Paper cuttings in Gaomi, Shandong Province are delicate and meticulous.

Tourism Destinations

With a history of 5,000 years, China is rich in tourism resources. Each province and each city in the nation has its unique tourism destinations and historical sites.

All these tourism resources can be divided into eight types according to their landscape features.

1. Lakes, such as Baiyangdian, West Lake in Hangzhou, East Lake in Wuhan, Heavenly Lake in Xinjiang, Qinghai Lake, Danjiangkou Reservoir

2. Mountains, such as Yanshan Mountains, Mount Taishan, Yellow Mountain, Hengshan Mountains, Huashan Mountains, Ali Mountains;

3. Forests, such as Xishuangbanna, Zhangjiajie in Hunan Province, Baoianman in Henan Province, Wolong in Sichuang Province, Shennongjia in Hubei Province;

4. Hills and water, such as Lijiang in Guilin, Three Gorges of the Yangtze River, Jiuqu Creek in Anhui Province;

5. Coastal areas, such as Tianya-Haijiao in Hainan Province, Xiamen in Fujian Province, Dalian in Liaoning Province;

6. Leisure and health care, such as Beidaihe in Hebei Province and Lushan Mountains in Jiangxi Province;

7. Historical sites and temples, such as the Great Wall, the Palace Museum, Jiuhua Mountains, Mogao Grottoes, Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang and Wudang Mountains;

8. Revolutionary memorial sites， such as Yan’an in Shaanxi Province, Zunyi in Guizhou Province and Xibaipo in Hebei Province.

By the end of 2018, there are more than 30,000 tourism sites in China, including 10,300 a-class sites (259 Class-5A sites and 3,034 Class-4A sites), 300 revolutionary memorial sites, 26 national tourism areas, 10 tourism model cities and 110 national tourism model zones. More than 900 park sites for recreation vehicles and self-drive are under construction. There are a total of 16 model bases for general aviation tourism.

Major tourist sites in Chinese provinces

Beijing: Badaling, the Ming Tombs, Temple of Heaven, Palace Museum (Forbidden City), Old Summer Palace, Summer Palace, Beihai Park, Jingshan Park, Fragrant Mountain Park, Gongwang Palace, National Stadium (Bird's Nest), Water Cube, CCTV Tower, Xishan Badachu Park

Tianjin: Panshan Mountain, Ningyuan Garden of Empress Dowager Cixi, Dule Temple, Luzu Hall altar site of the Boxer Movement, Dagukou Fort, Huangyaguan Great Wall;

Shanghai: The Bund, Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai World Financial Center, Yuyuan and Nanjing Road Commercial Street, the site of the Communist Party of China National Congress, Chongming Dongtan Wetlands, World Expo Park;

Chongqing: Dazu Stone Carvings, Chaotianmen, Liberation Monument, Wuxia Gorge, Jiangbei Guanyin Bridge, Shaping Dam, Ciqikou, Martyr's Tomb, Geleshan Forest Park;

Shaanxi: Emperor Qin’s Terra Cotta Warriors, Huashan Mountains, Zhongnan Mountains, Taibai Mountains, Qujiang, Hukou Fall, Famen Temple, Banpo， Huangdi Mausoleum, Yandi Mausoleum, Qianling Tomb, Zhaoling Tomb, Maoling Tomb, Lantian Ape Man Ruins, Xi'an Bell and Drum Towers, City Wall of Ming Dynasty, Wild Goose Pagoda, Forest of Steles, Huaqing Pool, Shaanxi History Museum, Datang Furong Garden, Hometown of Zhong Kui, Yan'an Revolutionary Site;

Hebei: Chengde Mountain Resort, Beidaihe, East Royal Tombs of Qing Dynasty, West Royal Tombs of Qing Dynasty, Baiyangdian Lake, Cangyan Mountain, Xibaipo, Wuling Mountain, Shanhai Pass, Mulan Enclosure and Yesanpo;

Henan: Longmen Grottoes, Shaolin Temple, Baima Temple, Guanlin, Longting, Qingming Festival Park, Yin Ruins, Red Flag Canal, Songshan Mountain, Yuntai Mountains, Funiu Mountain, Yunmeng Mountains,Baiyun Mountains, Muzha Mountains, Chongdu Ravine, Chicken Crown Cave, Liulong Mountains, Stone Duck Mountains, Daimei Mountain World Geopark;

Shanxi: Datong Yungang Grottoes, Pingyao Ancient City, Wutai Mountains, Jiexiu Mianshan Mountains, Hengshan Mountains, Jin Memorial Temple in Taiyuan, Wood Pangoda in Yingxian County, Royal Prime Minister’s Palace;

Liaoning: Imperial Palace in Shenyang, East Royal Tombs of Qing Dynasty, North Royal Tombs in Qing Dynasty, Horticultural Exposition Park, Kingdom of Discovery in Dalian, Marshal Zhang Mansion Museum, Qianshan Mountains and Yalu River;

Jilin: Songhua Lake, Changbai Mountains;

Heilongjiang: Jingbo Lake, Wudalianchi World Geopark, Yichun, Longta, Mohe River;

Jiangsu: City Wall of Ming Dynasty, Xiaoling Tomb of Ming Dynasty, Presidential Palace of the Republic of China, Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, Qinhuai River, Temple of Confucius, Xuanwu Lake, Jinniu Lake, Terrace of the Raining Flowers, Taihu Lake, Classical Gardens of Suzhou, Slender West Lake;

Zhejiang: Hangzhou West Lake, Hangzhou Thousand Island Lake, Putuo Mountains, Yandang Mountains, Tiantai Mountains, Sanqu Mountains, Jianglang Mountains, Longyou Grottoes, Qiantang River, Hengdian Film City, Imperial City of Southern Song Dynasty, attractions around the West Lake;

Anhui: Yellow Mountains, Jiuhua Mountains, ancient village clusters, Chaohu Lake, Ziwei Cave, Tianzhu Mountains, West Anhui Rift Valley, Dahua Mountains, Zuiweng Pavilion, Woniu Lake, Xidihong Village, Ma’an Mountains, Royal Tombs of Ming Dynasty, Longxing Temple and Zhongdu City of the Ming Dynasty;

Fujian: Yongding Classic Earth Building, Wuyi Mountains, Gulang Isle– Wanshi Hill, Laojun Cliff, Liancheng Guanzhi Mountain;

Jiangxi: Lushan Mountains, Sanqing Mountains, Longhu Mountains, Guifeng Mountains, Wuyuan and Tengwang Pavilion;

Shandong: Taishan Mountains, Qufu, Mengshan Mountains, Laoshan Mountains, Penglai, Baotu Spring, Daming Lake;

Hubei: Shennpngjia Forest, Three Gorges, Wudang Mountains, East Lake in Wuhan, Yellow Crane Tower, Jingzhou Ancient City, Ancient Longzhong, Xian Tombs of Ming Dynasty, Gezhouba, Mulan Mountains, Honghu Lake;

Hunan: Hengshan Mountains, Yueyang Tower, Mawangdui Han Tombs, Yuelu Academy, Zhangjiajie, Peach Garden and Shaoshan Mountains;

Guizhou: Huangguoshu Falls, Zhijin Cave, Wuyang River, Hongfeng Lake, Dragon Palace, Libozhang River, Chishui River, Malinghe Valley, Liping Dong People’s Hometown, Doupeng Mountains, Jianjiang River, Site of Zunyi Meeting, Tongren, Fanjing Mountains;

Guangxi: West Mountains in Guiping, Lijiang River in Guilin, Huashan Moutains in Ningming;

Guangdong: Danxia Mountains, Seven-Star Hill, Wanlu Lake in Heyuan, Xinfengjiang Reservoir,Laidongxiang Village in Dongyuan and Huangchong Rock;

Hainan: Saya Tropical Coast, Tianya Haijiao;

Sichuan: Emei Mountains, Giant Stone Buddha at Leshan Mountains, Huanglong Valley and Jiuzhai Valley, Qingcheng Mountains and Dujiang Dam;

Yunnan: Three parallel rivers, Lijiang Old Town, Xishuangbanna, Shangri La, Dali Old Town, Cangshan Erhai, Meili Snow Mountain, Yulong Snow Mountain, Lugu Lake, Dianchi Lake, Longmen

Gansu: Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, Maiji Mountain in Tianshui, Jiayuguan;

Xinjiang: Tianshan Tianchi, Bogda peak;

Qinghai: Qinghai Lake;

Ningxia: the Royal Mausoleum of Xixia;

Tibet: pota La palace, Jokhang Temple;

Inner Mongolia: Hulunbuir grassland, Zhaojun tomb, ancient Great Wall site, Xilingol Grassland;

Taiwan: the Grand Hotel, Taipei Palace Museum, Taipei 101 building, Sun Moon Lake, Kaohsiung Aihe, Alishan, Zhongzheng memorial hall;

Hong Kong: Ocean Park, Taiping mountain, Victoria Harbour, Disneyland.

Macao: the archway and the fort

Chinese cuisine

Chinese food culture has a long history, including eight major cuisines, namely Shandong Cuisine, Sichuan Cuisine, Cantonese Cuisine, Jiangsu Cuisine, Fujian Cuisine, Zhejiang Cuisine, Hunan Cuisine and Anhui Cuisine.

There are many genres of local dishes in China, which have taken shape after centuries of development due to the differences in climate, geography, history, resources and dietary customs. Different cuisines feature respective cooking techniques and flavors formed by the long historical evolution in a certain region. In the Qing Dynasty, Chinese cuisines were classified into three categories, Beijing, Jiangsu and Guangzhou. Since the start of the Republic of China, huge progress has been made in the culture of Chinese food, which was classified into four schools: North China, Jiangsu and Zhejiang, South China and Southwest China. Later, Shandong Cuisine stemmed from the North China school and becomes the champion of the eight cuisines. Jiangsu and Zhejiang cuisine evolved into Jiangsu cuisine, Zhejiang cuisine and Anhui cuisine. South China school developed into Cantonese cuisine and Funjian cuisine. Southwest schools split into Sichuan cuisine and Hunan cuisine. Shandong, Sichuan, Jiangsu and Guangdong cuisines formed at an early date, and later, Zhejiang, Fujian, Hunan, Anhui and other local dishes gradually became popular, forming China's eight major cuisines. After years of competition, the ranking of cuisines kept changing. Sichuan food rose to the second and Jiangsu cuisine took third place. Later the most influential and widely recognized cuisines by the whole society are: Shandong, Sichuan, Jiangsu, Guangdong, Fujian, Zhejiang, Hunan, Anhui cuisines.

Region Profile

China's administrative divisions are divided into provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government; provinces and autonomous regions are divided into autonomous prefectures, counties, autonomous counties and cities; Counties and autonomous counties are divided into townships, ethnic townships and towns.

At present, there are 34 provincial administrative regions in China, including 23 provinces, 5 autonomous regions, 4 municipalities directly under the Central Government and 2 special administrative regions (SARs). Historically and in the habit of being used, all the provincial administrative regions have shorthands. The provincial people's government is located in the provincial capital, and the central government is located in the capital, which is the city of Beijing. Hong Kong and Macao are parts of China's territory. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region was established on July 1, 1997 after the Chinese Government resume the exercise of sovereignty over the city. The Macao Special Administrative Region was established on December 20, 1999 after the resumption of the exercise of sovereignty over the city.

China has four municipalities, Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai and Chongqing.

The 5 autonomous regions are Inner Mongolia, Guangxi, Tibet, Ningxia and Xinjiang.

The two SARs are Hong Kong and Macao.

There are 23 provinces in China: Hebei, Shanxi, Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Fujian, Jiangxi, Shandong, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong, Hainan, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, Shaanxi, Gansu, Qinghai and Taiwan.

Education in China

Brief introduction

As an ancient civilization with a history of 5,000 years, China has a tradition to attach great importance to its education since ancient times. Both the thought of Confucianism and the Imperial Examination System had produced a great influence on Chinese education. In modern times, China has given top priority to the development of science and education when implementing the strategy of boosting the nation through science and education. The contemporary international exchange and cooperation have accelerated China's education development. Chinese education has not only played an important role in the inheritance and development of Chinese culture, but also made great contributions to the world civilization.

Status quo

At present, China's educational structure mainly includes pre-school education, compulsory education, special education, senior high school education, higher education, adult training and literacy education, private education.

Pre-school education refers to the process for children between aged 3 and 5 years old in kindergartens.

Compulsory education is also known as free education. In China, primary schools and junior high schools are compulsory, which usually last nine years (six years of primary school and three years of junior high school). Besides of compulsory education, there exist some other school systems.

There are special education schools, which are the backbone of China’s special education system. Ordinary classes, together with ad hoc classes, family tutoring and community education are important supplementary parts of China's special education system.

Senior high school education, which includes ordinary high schools, general secondary schools, adult secondary schools, vocational high schools and technical schools, is an important link in the national education system.

Higher education includes academic and non-academic education, which is generally in the form of full-time and part-time schooling. Besides, China’s higher education is divided into specialized education, undergraduate education and postgraduate education.

Unlike full-time general education, adult training aims to provide further education to employees at work through professional training and general education. Anti-literacy education refers to literacy education for illiterate and under-literate persons, with initial reading, writing and numeracy

Private education is a form of education relative to public education, which refers to social organizations or individuals other than state institutions, using non-state financial funds to organize activities in schools and other educational institutions.

Brief introduction of Chinese education

In 2018, there are 518,800 schools at all levels, 276 million students and 16.7 million full-time teachers in China. Among them, there are 2,940 institutions of higher education with a total of 38.33 million students, 24,300 senior high school schools with 39.35 million students, 52,000 junior high schools with 46.53 million students, and 161, 800 primary schools with 103.39 million students, and 266,700 kindergartens with 46.56 million children.

In terms of investment, the total investment in China’s education is 4,614.3 billion yuan, and the state's financial education expenditure is 3,699.6 billion yuan, accounting for 4.11 percent of the nation’s GDP.

1. Scale of private schools

There are a total of 183,500 private schools at all levels in China, including 750 private colleges and universities, 1,993 private secondary vocational schools, 3,216 private high schools, 5,462 private junior high schools, 6,179 private primary schools and 165,800 private kindergartens.

2. Scale of higher education

China has 2,940 higher education schools, including 2,663 general colleges and 277 adult institutions of higher learning. There are 389,500 doctoral students, 2.3417 million master's students, 16.9733 million general undergraduates, 11.337 million students of professional education and 5.9099 million students of adult education.

There are 2.4875 million faculty and staff in general colleges and universities, and 1.6728 million full-time teachers. The ratio of students in general colleges and universities is 17.56:1, of which 17.42:1 is in undergraduate colleges and 17.89:1 in higher vocational (specialty) colleges.

International education cooperation and exchange

Since 2000, China has established high-level people-to-people exchange mechanisms with Russia (November 2000), the United States (May 2010), the United Kingdom (April 2012), the Europe Union (April 2012), France (September 2014), Indonesia (May 2015), South Africa (April 2017) and Germany (May 2017). Contents of collaborations range from education, science and technology, culture, health, sports, radio and television, media, film, tourism, women, youths and archives.

1. Study abroad from both Sides

From 1978 to 2018, 5.86 million Chinese students studied abroad and 3.65 million returned to China. According to statistics, 662,100 Chinese students studied abroad in 2018, 519,400 of them returned home. In the same year, 492,200 foreign students studied in China and among them 258,100 foreigners received academic education in China.

2. Chinese-foreign cooperation in running schools

As of June 2019, a total of 2,431 Chinese-foreign cooperative institutions and programs had been established with the approval of Chinese authorities, of which about 90% are in the higher education sector.About 550,000 students are studying in these colleges and universities. More than 2 million students have so far graduated.

3. Confucius institutes

By September 30, 2019, a total of 535 Confucius institutes and 1,134 Confucius classrooms have been established in 158 countries (regions) around the world. There are 127 Confucius institutes and 113 Confucius classrooms in 36 countries in Asia, 61 Confucius institutes and 44 Confucius classrooms in Arica’s 46 countries, 184 Confucius institutes and 323 Confucius classrooms in 43 countries in Europe, 143 Confucius institutes and 558 Confucius classrooms in 26 countries in the Americas,and 20 Confucius institutes and 96 Confucius classrooms in seven countries in Oceania.

Prospects of Chinese education

The quality of education in China is improving in an all-round way, which is crucial to realize modernization in the future. Among the main tasks are: to enhance students' sense of social responsibility, innovation entrepreneurship and practical ability, to encourage the development of inclusive kindergartens, to promote the balanced development of compulsory education, to popularize senior high school education, to accelerate the development of modern vocational education, to promote the transformation of undergraduate colleges and universities to applied higher education, and to promote the construction of world-class universities and first-class disciplines in an integrated manner,to improve the teaching level and innovation ability of colleges and universities, to speed up the construction of learning-oriented society and to promote educational equity.

There are parallel initiatives to achieve the above objective: strengthening the construction of teachers' ranks, deepening the reform of the examination and admission system, improving the mechanism of investment in education, promoting and regulating the development of private education, promoting educational informationization, strengthening international cooperation and deepening the reform of innovation and entrepreneurship education.

Note: The above-mentioned statistics do not include the data of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Macao Special Administrative Region and Taiwan Province. Some of the data are not equal to the total of the sub-items due to rounding reasons.

Note: The data was excerpted from China Profile, China Education Profile of the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, 2018 National Statistical Bulletin on the Development of Education, etc.

Directory of Universities

As of June 2020, there were 3,005 institutions of higher learning in China, of which 2,740 are general institutions and 265 adult institutions. This list does not include institutions of higher learning in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Macao Special Administrative Region and Taiwan Province.

For more information of China’s colleges and universities, please log on:

Education for International Students

As one of the most important part of China’s education, offering education for international students is one of the components of China’s international cultural and educational cooperation and exchange in China. Ever since the opening-up and reform policy started, China has already established the unique administrative model of international education in China. The development of international education has devoted a lot to the promotion of Chinese education, the mutual understanding between Chinese people and others. At the same time, it enhanced the friendship between China and other countries as well as providing trained talents to the social and economic development for the developing countries. Recent years, study in China provides strong support for the construction of “Belt and Road Initiative”. It plays more and more important role for the soft power of China and promotes the international competition and influence of China in the world.

In 1950, a total of 33 international students from east European countries arrived China and started their studies in China. Up till now, China has received more than 5.14 million international students in total. For the past 40 years after the opening-up policy, with the rapid development of China and its education attraction, China has more close ties with all the other countries in education cooperation and exchange. International education in China also achieved great accomplishment as well. In 2018, 492,185 international students from 196 different countries and regions were taking courses at 1004 higher education institutions in China, covering 31 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions. Compared with that of 2017, the total number increased 3013 and it makes 0.62% of the increase. (Excluding international students in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau) China has already become the biggest destination countries in Asia and one of the most important destination countries for international students in the world.

Among all the international students in China, Asian students take the biggest proportion. In 2018, 295,043 students, or 59.95% are from Asian countries. 81,562, or 16.57%, are African students. For those from Europe, Americas and Oceania countries, the student numbers are 73,618, 35,773 and 6,229 people which take 14.96%, 7.26% and 1.27% respectively.

From the country distribution perspective, the top 10 countries for students study in China are: South Korea, 50,600, Thailand, 28,608, Pakistan, 28,023, India, 23,198, the United States, 20996, Russia, 19,239, Indonesia, 15050, the Laos, 14645, Japan, 14230, Kazakhstan,11,784.

In 2018, 258,122 are taking academic degree courses which take 52.44% of all the international students in China. It is a 6.86% increase compared with that of the 2017, or 16,579 in number of students. Among all of the international students, 85,032 people are taking master or above courses, which increased by 12.28% than that of 2017, among which 25,618 are taking Ph. D courses and 59,444 are taking master courses.

In 2010, in order to implement the Outline of the National Medium- and Long-Term Education Reform and Development Plan (2010-2020), strengthen educational exchanges and cooperation between China and foreign countries and promote the sustained and healthy development of the cause of studying in China, the Ministry of Education has issued the Plan for Studying in China. Since the implementation of the plan, the work of studying in China has adhered to the principle of expanding scale, optimizing structure, regulating management and ensuring quality, and the scale and quality of studying in China have been rapidly improved.

After China entered the new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics, the cause of studying abroad in China has entered the stage of development of quality and efficiency. The Chinese government has made it clear that the development of studying abroad in China should focus on quality, strictly regulate and manage and follow the path of intension-style development. The main initiatives taken by the Ministry of Education in recent years are as follows.

Firstly, improve the policy system and manage according to the law. In 2017, the Ministry of Education, together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Public Security, promulgated the Measures for the Administration of the Admission and Training of International Students, which requires all colleges and universities to strictly tighten the entry threshold, conduct qualification examinations for learners who apply to study in China, and ensure that the students enrolled meet the admission standards and strengthen management in accordance with the law.

Secondly, draft national standards to make clear basic norms. In 2018, the Code of Higher Education Quality for International Students Studying in China (Trial) was issued to provide guidance and basis for government management, school running and evaluation, which specifically strengthened the requirements for the recruitment and admission of international students to China, the quality of training, the level of Chinese language and the management of convergence.

Thirdly, adjust government functions and establish quality assurance mechanisms. Encourage third-party industry organizations to carry out quality certification work to study in China, and establish and improve the quality assurance mechanism of incentives, certification and evaluation. At the same time, strengthen management and supervision, carry out supervision and inspection, strict accountability procedures, decrease management loopholes, fight against violations of laws and regulations to ensure the healthy and orderly development of studying in China.

Fourthly, strengthen scholarship management to ensure the quality of training. The implementation of strict selections, unified management, preparatory education, completion examination, annual evaluation and other systems, ensure the quality of training of Chinese government-supported scholarship students

Next, the Ministry of Education will continue to adhere to the quality development of study in China, improve the modern system of governance and management of study in China, innovate working methods, improve management measures, build the study in China brand, and effectively improve the quality and management of the quality of study in China.

Note: Excerpt from the General Introduction of the Department of International Cooperation and Exchange of the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of Chinaand Quality First to Achieve the Intension of the Development of Study in China - Ministry of Education on the Questions Related to Study in China.

Study in China Exhibitions

Since 1999, the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE) has held Study in China Exhibitions in dozens of countries, such as Japan, Korea,

Scholarships

Chinese government scholarships

In order to promote the mutual understanding, cooperation and exchanges in various fields between China and other countries, the Chinese government has set up a series of scholarship programs to sponsor international students, teachers and scholars to study and conduct research in Chinese universities.

China Scholarship Council is responsible for the enrollment and the administration of Chinese Government Scholarship programs. Now, 289 designated Chinese universities offer a wide variety of academic programs in science, engineering, agriculture, medicine, economics, legal studies, management, education, history, literature, philosophy, and fine arts for scholarship recipients at all levels.

CHINESE GOVERNMENT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS include Bilateral Programs, Chinese University Programs, Great Wall Program, EU Program, AUN Program, PIF Program, WMO Program , etc. For more information, please visit China Scholarship Council website http://www.campuschina.org .

Source: China Scholarship Council

Confucius Institute scholarship

For the purpose of cultivating qualified International Chinese language teachers and facilitating Chinese language education in other countries, the Confucius Institute Headquarters (CIH) will continue with the International Chinese Language Teachers (Confucius Institute) Scholarship. Confucius Institutes, independently operated Confucius Classrooms, certain HSK test centers, Chinese language (education) departments of foreign universities, professional associations for Chinese language instruction of other countries, Chinese embassies (consulates) abroad (collectively “recommending institutions”) may recommend outstanding students and currently-employed Chinese language teachers to study International Chinese Language Education or related majors in Chinese universities and colleges (“host institutions”).

ELIGIBILITY

All applicants shall be:

a) non-Chinese citizens;

b) in good physical and mental conditions, and with good academic performance and conduct;

c) committed to the Chinese language education and related work;

d) between the ages of 16 and 35. Applicants currently working as Chinese language teachers shall not be over 45, while undergraduate student applicants shall not be over 25.

SCHOLARSHIP TYPES AND QUALIFICATIONS

A.Scholarship for Doctor’s Degree in Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages (DTCSOL)

The program commences in September each year and provides scholarship for a maximum four academic years. Applicants shall hold a Master’s degree in Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language, Linguistics, Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages or education-related majors. Applicants shall have a minimum score of 200 on the HSK Test (Level 6), 60 on the HSKK test (Advanced Level) and more than 2 years’ work experience in Chinese language teaching and related fields. Priority will be given to applicants who may provide a work contract with a teaching institution upon completing their studies in China or a proof to the same effect.

B.Scholarship for Master’s Degree in Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages (MTCSOL)

The program commences in September each year and provides scholarship for a maximum of two academic years. Applicants shall hold a Bachelor’s degree, and have a minimum score of 210 on the HSK Test (Level 5) as well as 60 on the HSKK test (Intermediate Level). Priority will be given to applicants who may provide a work contract with a teaching institution upon completing their studies in China or a proof to the same effect.

C.Scholarship for Bachelor’s Degree in Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages (BTCSOL)

The program commences in September each year and provides scholarship for a maximum of four academic years. Applicants shall hold a senior high school diploma and a minimum score of 210 on the HSK Test (Level 4) as well as 60 on the HSKK test (Intermediate Level).

D.Scholarship for One-Academic-Year Study

The program commences in September, and provides scholarship for a maximum of eleven months. International students currently studying in China are not eligible.

i. TCSOL

Applicants shall have a minimum score of 270 on the HSK test (Level 3), and an HSKK test score is required.

ii. Chinese Language and Literature, Chinese History, Chinese Philosophy, etc.

Applicants shall have a minimum score of 180 on the HSK test (Level 4) and 60 on the HSKK test (Intermediate Level).

iii. Chinese Language Study

Applicants shall have a minimum score of 210 on the HSK test (Level 3). Priority will be given to applicants who provide an HSKK test score.

E. Scholarship for One-Semester Study

The program commences either in September or March, and provides scholarship of a maximum of five months. Applicants holding the X1 or X2 visa are not eligible.

i. TCSOL, Chinese Language and Literature, Chinese History, Chinese Philosophy, etc.

Applicants shall have a minimum score of 180 on the HSK test (Level 3), and an HSKK test score is required.

ii. Traditional Chinese Medicine and Taiji Culture

An HSK test score is required. Priority will be given to applicants who provide an HSKK test score.

F. Scholarship for Four-Week Study

The program commences either in July or December, and provides a four-week scholarship. Applicants holding the X1 or X2 visa are not eligible.

i. Traditional Chinese Medicine and Taiji Culture, Chinese Language plus Home-Stay Experience in a Chinese Family, Special Four-week Program for Confucius Institutes

An HSK test score is required. The program may be organized and applied for by a Confucius Institute with 10-15 participants per group. Prior to the trip, a detailed study plan shall be made in consultation with host institutions and such plan shall be submitted to CIH for approval.

G. Cooperative Scholarships

i. Cooperative Scholarship between CIH and Host Institutions. CIH has established a scholarship in cooperation with some host institutions. Scholarship for One-Academic-Year Study, Scholarship for MTCSOL and Scholarship for BTCSOL shall be enrolled by the relevant institutions according to the standards stipulated in this Guide. Scholarship for “Chinese + Vocational Training” shall be enrolled according to the standards announced by the relevant institutions in the International Chinese Language Teachers (Confucius Institute) Scholarship Application System (the categories and enrollment quota of relevant institutions are listed in Appendix 3).

ii. Cooperative Scholarship between CIH and Educational Departments and Universities of Other Countries. The enrollment methods, quota and forms of support under this scholarship will be updated on the International Chinese Language Teachers (Confucius Institute) Scholarship application website.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

Online registration will be available from March each year on the International Chinese Language Teachers (Confucius Institute) Scholarship application website (cis.chinese.cn). Please log on to search for recommending institutions and host institutions; upload application materials online; and track the application progress, comments and result. Scholarship holders need to confirm with the host institutions to go through the procedures of studying in China, print out the scholarship certificate online, and register at host institutions on the designated date as per the letter of admission.

The application deadlines (Beijing Time) are:

a) For programs commencing in July, student application must complete before April 10th; recommending institutions and host institutions must complete review before April 20th;

b) For programs commencing in September, student application must complete before May 10th; recommending institutions and host institutions must complete review before May 20th;

c) For programs commencing in December, student application must complete before September 10th; recommending institutions and host institutions must complete review before September 20th;

d) For programs commencing in March next year, student application must complete before November 10th; recommending institutions and host institutions must complete review before November 20th.

CIH will entrust an expert panel to review the applications. Decisions will be made based on HSK and HSKK scores and levels, and in consideration of country distribution as well as other factors. The results will be published about three months before school starts.

CHINESE BRIDGE AWARD RECIPIENT POLICIES

Chinese Bridge winners who have been awarded the Confucius Institute Scholarship Certificate of this year shall log onto the International Chinese Language Teachers (Confucius Institute) Scholarship website and submit documents to relevant host institutions upon presentation of their scholarship certificates. For inquiry, please contact chinesebridge@hanban.org.

RECOMMENDING INSTITUTIONS AND HOST INSTITUTIONS

Recommending institutions and host institutions shall, pursuant to the Guide, fulfill relevant responsibility, provide consulting, recommendation and enrollment services.

OTHERS

a) Please contact host institutions for curriculum and course listings.

b) Applicants shall be familiar with the specific criteria and deadlines for registration, and submit necessary documents according to specific requirements.

c) Degree students are subject to the annual assessment according to the Annual Appraisal Procedures of Confucius Institute Scholarship.

d) Those who fail to register on time, fail to pass the health assessment, drop out midway and/or suspended from school will be deprived of their scholarship.

CIH CONTACT

Division of Test and Scholarships

Email: scholarships@hanban.org

Tel: +86-10-58595727

Source: Confucius Institute

Local government scholarships

Some local governments in China, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Henan, Fujian, Yunnan, Guizhou, Chongqing, Ningxia, Heilongjiang and other provinces and cities, have set up scholarships for foreign students applying to study in China. If you would like to know specific scholarship information please log in: http://www.campuschina.org/zh/scholarships/index.html

Laws & Regulations

An education power with high-quality and rapidly improving higher education

More than 1,000 institutions with more than 10,000 courses to select

5,000 years of history and diversified culture

Various scholarships and grants

Broad career future and numerous internship opportunities

Reasonable cost

Vibrant social environment and amicable atmosphere

Modern and convenient way of life empowered by the ever-changing technological innovations

One of the safest countries in the world

Spectacular natural scenery and delicious Chinese cuisine

Daily management

1. Administrative Measures for the Admission and Training of International Students in China (Decree No. 42, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Public Security), Chinese

Issued by: Ministry of Education

http://www.moe.gov.cn/srcsite/A02/s5911/moe_621/201705/t20170516_304735.html

2. Notice on Regulating the Acceptance of International Students in Higher Education Institutions (Decree No. 12 [2020], Ministry of Education), Chinese

Issued by: Ministry of Education

http://www.moe.gov.cn/srcsite/A20/moe_850/202006/t20200609_464159.html

3. Quality Specification of Higher Education for International Students Studying in China (Trial)

Issued by: Ministry of Education

http://www.moe.gov.cn/srcsite/A20/moe_850/201810/t20181012_351302.html

Management of scholarships

1. Chinese Government Scholarship Annual Evaluation Measures (Notice on the Implementation of the Chinese Government's Annual Scholarship Evaluation (Ministry of Education, No. 29)

Issued by: Ministry of Education

http://old.moe.gov.cn/publicfiles/business/htmlfiles/moe/moe_279/200408/2661.html

Visa management

1. Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People’s Republic of China (Decree of the President of the People's Republic of China No. 57), Chinese and English

Issued by: Central Government of PRC

Website of the Chinese consular services

http://cs.mfa.gov.cn/zlbg/flfg/crjxg/t1054650.shtml

2. Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners (Decree of the State Council 637)

Issued by: Central Government of PRC

Website of the Chinese consular services

http://cs.mfa.gov.cn/wgrlh/lhqz/sblhqz_660598/t1060665.shtml

Social governance

1. Regulations on the Administration of Religious Activities of Foreigners in the People's Republic of China (Decree No. 1 of the State Administration of Religious Affairs issued on August 11, 2000, amended by the State Administration of Religious Affairs on November 29, 2010), Chinese

Issued by: Central Government of PRC

http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2000/content_60501.htm

2. Administration of Foreigners' Participation in Performing Activities in China (Decree No. 15 of the Ministry of Culture), Chinese and English

Issued by: Central Government of PRC

http://www.gov.cn/banshi/2005-08/21/content_25130.htm

About Zhengxianling - China's First Pan - International Talent Recruitment Platform

Zhengxianling is developed and operated by Shanghai Yuntong Information Technology Co., Ltd. The company mainly provides international services such as talent job - hunting and recruitment, recruitment and introduction of high - level talents/scientific and technological innovation talents [including Nobel laureates, academician workstations, Overseas Excellent Young Scientists, QM/HJ programs, online and offline job fairs, campus recruitment, social recruitment, online recruitment, headhunting, etc.], academic exchanges, and software development. In due course, we will launch AI - enabled language platforms and APPs in English, Korean, Japanese, French, German, etc. to meet the needs of global users. Up to now, the company has established communication channels with national ministries and commissions such as the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and the Ministry of Science and Technology, talent offices of the Organization Departments of some provincial and municipal Party committees, departments of human resources and social security, industry and information technology, science and technology, trade unions, chambers of commerce, academic societies, associations, 985 and 211 universities in major regions across the country, some corporate HR departments, the International Academy of Sciences Consortium, the World Digital Trade Alliance (WDTA) under the United Nations Science and Technology Commission, and some international institutions and QS World University Top 100 universities (MIT, University of Oxford, University of Melbourne...) in countries such as Russia, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, New Zealand, Australia, the Netherlands, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, the United States, and Canada.

The service items are as follows:
A. Recruitment and introduction of international high - level/scientific and technological innovation talents (doctors, post - doctors, academicians) (through online and offline job fairs, campus recruitment, social recruitment, online recruitment, headhunting, etc.), overseas enterprise study tours, academic exchanges, and software development.
B. Operation of Zhengxianling® (the talent types on the platform and official WeChat account are not limited).

Service - supported Regions

China, South Korea, Japan, Russia, Singapore, New Zealand, Australia, the Netherlands, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Hungary, Italy, the United States, Canada, etc. (covering more than 100 countries and regions).

Main Service Content

Online and offline special high - level talent recruitment fairs for cities, parks, and employers; scientific and technological innovation talent - introduction activities [project solicitation, screening, roadshows... implementation, etc.]; investment promotion; academic exchange conferences; online job - hunting and recruitment; and offline services are available in the above - mentioned designated countries.

In 2024, we joined the Hubei Chushang Federation in China and the World Federation of Inventors' Associations (IFIA). We have established the grand goal of building Zhengxianling into China's first pan - international talent recruitment platform (AI - enabled language platforms and APPs in English, Korean, Japanese, French, German, etc. will be launched in due course. The International HRD (HR) Alliance is being launched simultaneously), and serving billions of users in more than 200 countries around the world in the future. As of December 31, 2024, we have received a reply from the President of the WDTA of the United Nations Science and Technology Commission, welcoming Yuntong Technology and Zhengxianling to join the WDTA of the United Nations Science and Technology Commission in 2025. From 2025, we will cooperate with the International Academy of Sciences Consortium and may participate in activities such as the FCPAE European Forum to promote international talent exchanges and cooperation, thus promoting scientific and technological innovation, driving employment, and contributing to global economic construction and promoting friendly cross - border cooperation to create a better future. This will enable us to better serve users from all over the world.

The Chinese full - name of IFIA is the World Federation of Inventors' Associations. Its headquarters are located in Geneva, Switzerland, and San Francisco, the United States. In February 2024, after being reviewed and approved by the 47th Global Executive Committee of IFIA, Shanghai Yuntong Information Technology Co., Ltd. [Zhengxianling] joined the organization. For details, please refer to the official IFIA website announcement:
https://www.ifia.com/ifia-47th-executive-committee-meeting-held-on-feb-2024/

The recruitment platform under our company will officially launch paid services on February 1, 2025. For details, please refer to:
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/YmOxE1snwAAvskZgwm5RxA

Currently, we are organizing online and offline special high - level talent recruitment fairs for international organizations. For details of the activities, please refer to the official WeChat account of Zhengxianling®'s International High - level Talent Recruitment Activity Schedule:
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/UGfNhxHRoIs1KZF7Thsfxg

Zhengxianling® is constantly recruiting a large number of overseas high - level and innovative talents globally. For details, please refer to the official WeChat account introduction:
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/8YaCD8xaXiDeC93a1foUKQ

For the invitation letter to establish and launch the International HRD (HR) Alliance, please refer to the official WeChat account introduction:

https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/fdg6QB82KAJCeTi0VZVZKQ

We welcome HRs of employers from all over the world, leaders of universities and scientific research institutions, academic leaders, and talents such as young doctors, post - doctors, and academicians to contact us or register to join our platform. The talents we recruit will be preferentially recommended to work in domestic or global universities, scientific research institutions, and other units.

At the same time, we are constantly soliciting scientific and technological innovation projects from various industries globally, as well as high - level talents who meet the requirements such as Overseas Excellent Young Scientists and QM/HJ programs, and directly recommending them to various provinces and cities in China. Those who are interested are welcome to apply. Please scan the QR code below to contact us or send your resume and other materials to hr@zhengxianling.com!

Search and follow the official WeChat account: Zhengxianling to get more information.