China
China is a country on the continent of Asia
Brief History
For much of China’s history, the area was ruled by various dynasties. A dynasty is a succession of rulers from the same family. The Xia dynasty, which was formed somewhere around 2250 BC, is believed to be the first. Following the Xia dynasty was the Shang dynasty, which lasted for about 600 years. In 1046 BC, the Shang were overthrown by the Zhou, which became China’s longest-lasting dynasty. During this period of almost eight centuries, culture and civilization spread, and interest in philosophy also grew. The Zhou dynasty ended during the Warring States period when various city-states battled each other. The next period of history was the Qin dynasty, which marked the beginning of the Chinese Empire. Following this was the Han dynasty, which lasted from 206 BCE-220 AD. This was considered a Golden Age in Chinese history, and was a period of stability and prosperity. China’s territory was expanded, and the Silk Road was opened up to connect with the west. Seven dynasties followed the Han Dynasty. The Qing Dynasty was the last and ended in 1912. This brought an end to the imperial rule of China, marking the beginning of republic and socialist rule.
National Flag
The National flag of China was adopted on October 1, 1949. The red flag represents power and the Communist revolution, while the yellow represents wealth. The five stars represent unification of the country’s people under the communist party.
Geography
World Land Mass Ranking: 3rd
Highest Mountain: Mt. Everest, 8,829 m (29,032 ft)
Longest River: Yangtze, 6,300 km (3,900 mi)
Main Languages
Standard Mandarin, Cantonese, Portugeuse, English, and Mongolian.
China Population: 1.4 billion (as of 2019)
Capital City: Beijing
Capital City Population: 21.5 million (as of 2018)
Climate
Since China is such a large country, the climate varies depending on the area. In northern China, summers are temperate, and winters are cool, with almost continual rainfall. The northeast experiences hot and dry summers and bitterly cold and harsh winters. The southeast region has substantial rainfall and a semi-tropical summer.
Key People
Cuisine
The cuisine of China has influenced many other countries, and staple Chinese foods such as rice, tofu, soy sauce, noodles, and tea can be found worldwide. Although there are many cooking styles in China, there are eight culinary traditions that are considered the best: Cantonese, Fujian, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Sichuan, Shandong, Hunan, and Anhui cuisines. Some of the most popular Chinese dishes are Wontons, Century Eggs, Chow Mein, Peking Duck, Spring Rolls, and Mapo Tofu.
The picture is a picture of of Lajigi, a stir fry dish of Sichuan cuisine.
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Sports
Sports including archery, swordplay, and a form of soccer date back to the earliest dynasties in China. Sport in China has also been long associated with martial arts. Cuju, the prototype of football, was most likely invented in China during the 2nd and 3rd centuries BC. The most popular sports in China are currently basketball, table tennis, badminton, and football.
The picture is a picture of a group playing Xiangqi (Chinese chess).
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Culture
Tracing back for thousands of years, Chinese culture is one of the oldest cultures in the world. There are 56 official ethnic groups in China, with Han Chinese making up the largest group. Although the Chinese communist party is officially atheist, they recognize five religions: Buddhism, Catholicism, Daoism, Islam, and Protestantism. Important aspects of Chinese culture include philosophy, ceramics, architecture, visual art, and dance.
The picture is a picture of the Fengxian Cave (c. 675 AD).
China is a beautiful country with wonderful people.
Download questions about the China here: China(answers are on this page)
Teachers. For more in depth work sheets on China. Click on KidskonnectWorksheets
For further reading and more info on the China visithttps://kids.kiddle.co/China
10 facts about China
1. The national animal of China is the Panda.
2. The Chinese were the first people to use paper money.
3. Both paper and porcelain were invented in China.
4. China is the most populated country in the world.
5. Chinese New Year is the biggest holiday in China.
6. Ice cream was invented in China some 4,000 years ago
7. The Great Wall of China is the largest man-made structure.
8. China has the largest army in the world.
9. Red is considered a lucky color in China.
10. Chinese invented silk, crossbows, compasses, and gunpowder.
Q&A Corner
1. How many stars are on the Chinese flag? +
2. What is the population of China as of 2019? +
3. What is the tallest mountain in China? +
4. What is the capital city of China? +
5. Name a key/famous person from China? +
6. Name a popular Chinese dish? +
7. What was the first Chinese dynasty? +
8. Name one religion recognized by the Chinese government? +
9. Name a sport that is popular in China? +
10. What is the longest river in China? +
