China

Home to one of the world’s oldest civilizations, the People’s Republic of China is a breathtaking country that is as rich and diverse as its long history. The largest country located entirely in Asia, China has a wide assortment of landscapes and attractions to explore. From the shores of the Pacific Ocean in the east to the Himalayan mountains in the west, China has everything from grasslands to magnificent rivers to deserts for you to explore while experiencing its unique and historic culture.

Currency: Renminbi (Chinese yuan)
Language: Mandarin (spoken) Vernacular Chinese (written)
Government: Single-party State

Interesting Facts

• In China, the colour red represents happiness and is often used for celebrations and events such as weddings. White is seen as a colour that represents mourning and is often worn at funerals.
• Since 1949, the entire People’s Republic of China has been using a single standard time (UTC +08:00), despite the country spanning 5 traditional time zones (UTC +05:00 – UTC +09:00).
• With an estimated 300 million players, ping pong is China’s most popular amateur recreational sport.
• Chinese inventions include the compass, kites, gunpowder and toilet paper.
• The most popular hobby among Chinese citizens is stamp collecting.

Climate

China’s complex topography and immense size ensures that the weather and temperature varies greatly throughout the country. In the south the temperature can remain high all year long, while in central China four distinctive seasons can be observed. Through most of the country dry seasons and wet monsoons lead to distinctly hot summers and cold winters. There is no “ideal season” to visit, so when planning a trip to China it is always best to prepare for the weather conditions specific to the area you are traveling to.

• Spring – March to May
• Summer – June to August
• Autumn – September to November
• Winter – December to February

History

China is one of the oldest countries in the world and its origin extends beyond recorded history. However, archaeologists have discovered urban sites and bronze tools that were used during what is believed to be China’s first dynasty, the Xia dynasty, which ran approximately from 2070-1600 BC. After which came China’s first dynasty with a recorded history, the Shang Dynasty (1600-1029 BC).

Each dynasty is marked with its own innovations and accomplishments, and in 221 BC China had established itself as a unified state when its first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, rose to power. This period, known as the Qin dynasty, lasted only 15 years but saw a standardization of language, measurement and currency.

China’s Imperial era continued for 2000 years until 1912 AD when there was a revolution against the then ruling Qing dynasty. From 1912 the Republic of China was based in mainland China until 1949 when Chinese Communists, assisted by the Soviet Union, overtook the country in a civil war and established the People’s Republic of China in October of that year.