About China
Officially named the People’s Republic of China, the country can boast
the oldest continuous civilization and has the most inhabitants of any
country while being the 4th largest in land area size.
History is around every corner and the museums, architecture, and
monuments are testament to its rich past. The country is divided into 23
provinces and is run by a communist form of government. Buddhism,
Taoism, Islam and Christianity are the main religions while Mandarin,
Cantonese, and various other dialects are spoken. China’s weather is
very diverse by region; due to its expanse and geography, many
temperature extremes can be witnessed throughout the country. You can
find some of the most cutting-edge, bustling cities near the coast yet
some very isolated, quiet mountain-top villages of the Ming-Dynasty era.
Rice is the staple food item and vegetables also play a central role in
Chinese cooking. Regional cuisine differences are very noticeable after
various invaders in the 1200’s brought their traditions to China: in the
Canton province rice and lightly seasoned stir-fry is most common, and
in the Mandarin province noodles, dumplings, and the famous Peking duck
are typical dishes. Seafood is most popular along the east coast while
spicy, garlic dishes are traditional in the Szechuan province in central
China.
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Chinese
Educational System
China’s Compulsory Education Law requires all children to complete at
least 9 years of formal education. About 90% of the population is
literate and there are three different categories of schooling. Basic
Education involves preschool, primary, and secondary education. Higher
Education includes colleges and universities where undergraduate,
graduate, masters, and Ph.D. degrees are earned. Adult education is the
last category and includes all of the above schools but for the older
student.
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