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Contributor: Suzanne Riordan. Lesson ID: 13820
Do you want to learn about one of the oldest civilizations and cultures in history? Would you like to see giant pandas, amazing ice sculptures, and a palace with 8000 rooms? Come take a tour of China!
China has one of the largest man-made structures on the earth.
It was built by thousands of people, taking over 1,000 years.
China is known for its long history that stretches back to the earliest days of civilization.
It's a diverse land of huge, colorful cities and vast, untamed wildernesses. The climate of China is very diverse as well, with almost arctic temperatures in the north but a tropical climate in the south.
Chinese people are known for their friendliness, good manners, and family love.
Location
If you have one nearby, look for it.
China is a large East Asian country (about the same size as the U.S.). It lies west of the Pacific Ocean.
On the map below, China is highlighted in red.
People and Culture
Though it's not the largest country in land area, China is the most populated country globally, with 1.4 billion people.
Some important aspects of Chinese culture are respect for elders, friendliness, politeness, and good manners.
Watch a portion of the video below to learn more about Chinese etiquette.
Geography
Most of China is made of mountains and hills, especially in the West.
The Gobi Desert lies in the north.
Most of the population lives on the country's eastern side, where large cities have developed.
As you watch this next video, note the features of the different regions and the two major rivers.
History
China is one of the oldest civilizations in the world, with its history dating back to 2000 B.C.
Early in Chinese history, powerful families ruled for a long time. These ruling families were called dynasties.
In 221 B.C., a man named Qin united the different regions of China and became its first emperor. China takes its name from him.
Qin is also known for his huge underground tomb complex and the soldiers he wanted to take into the afterlife. (You'll get a look at these later!)
Also, around that time, China began trading with Middle Eastern and, later, European countries. They established a network of trade routes called the Silk Road that stretched across China toward the West.
They traded silk, precious stones, tea, spices, and porcelain with the rest of the world. This also allowed ideas, culture, and political philosophies to be shared among the people.
In the following years, Chinese emperors allowed more citizens to participate in the government. If a Chinese man could pass a civil service test, he could become an official in the government.
Dynasties ruled China until 1912 when the Republic of China was created.
In 1927, a civil war broke out in China between the Nationalists and the Communists. The war was interrupted by World War II but was continued afterward.
The Communists won, and China has been ruled by the Communist Party ever since. The people's private property and right to rule themselves was taken away. A few attempts to restore democracy to China have been made, but they've not succeeded so far.
Famous Places
Take a look at some special places to visit in China.
Now that you've explored China, move on to the Got It? section to review what you've learned!
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