Kung Fu Demonstration

• China is a vast country in Eastern Asia
• It has the world’s largest population; about 1,259 billion (1999), about 22% of total in the world. The Chinese population is unevenly distributed, with the eastern part heavily populated and the west scarcely populated.
• In total China borders 14 nations.
• Mountains and hilly land take up 65% of the total area of China. There are five main mountain ranges. Seven mountain peaks are higher than 8,000 meters above sea level.
• The Bohai Sea, East China Sea, Yellow Sea and South China Sea embrace the east and southeast coast.
• China’s administrative units are currently based on a three-level system dividing the nation into provinces, counties, and townships.
• The Chinese border stretches over 22,000 kilometres on land and its coastline extends well over 18,000 kilometres
• The Bohai Sea is China’s only inland Sea.
• The national language is Putonghua (the common speech) or Mandarin. Cantonese is one of the local dialects of southern China.
• China is a multi-religious country. Buddhism, Taoism and Islam are the three major religions. Catholicism and Protestantism have smaller but substantial followers too.

HISTORY

• By 1900, the Qing Dynasty had grown weak, having been influenced by western powers like Britain, France and Japan. It was only a matter of time before the Chinese people called revolution.
• When a rebellion against the government began in 1911, Sun Yatsen was elected president of the new republic, and the Qing Dynasty had seen its final days.
• Even though the new government was established, China continued to be suppressed by western powers. Two forces arose during this time that would change history–the Communist Party and the National Party
• War against Japan and World War II began, and despite the bloodshed, China would find itself amidst a civil war.
• The inevitable finally took place in 1945. China’s divided government could no longer bear the strain of differences running through the core of the Kuomintang and Communist ideology. With the help of the people, the Communists would win, and a new era would lie ahead.

FACTS

 



Hangzhou

 

• Ice cream was invented in China around 2000BC – When the Chinese packed a soft milk and rice mixture in the snow.
• China’s money is called Renminbi meaning the peoples currency.
• China is the fourth largest country in the world.
• The Chinese year is based on the cycles of the moon. This is called a lunar schedule. A complete cycle of the Chinese calendar takes 60 years. The Chinese calendar dates back to 2600 B.C. It is the oldest known calendar.
• Each year is represented by an animal. There are twelve animals which represent the twelve months. The Chinese believe that you have some of the characteristics of the animal representing the year in which you were born.
• When a Chinese child loses a baby tooth, it doesn’t get tucked under the pillow for the tooth fairy. If the child loses an upper tooth, the child’s parents plant the tooth in the ground, so the new tooth will grow in straight and healthy. Parents toss a lost bottom tooth up to the rooftops, so that the new tooth will grow upwards, too.
• It is considered good luck for the gate to a house to face south.
• We know that the Chinese grew rice as long as 5000 BC; Archaeologists have found rice grains in farming tools and pots from that period.
• Red is considered a lucky color in China. At one time wedding dresses were red. New Year’s banners, clothing, and lucky money envelopes are still red.
• Fourth graders are expected to know 2,000 of the over 40,000 written Chinese characters. By the time they leave college, they will know 4,000 or 5,000 characters. Each character is learned by looking at it and memorizing it.
• Unlike the 26 letters of our alphabet, words cannot be sounded out letter by letter.
• When you write your name in China you put your family name first then your first name. There are no middle names.
• The compass, paper, gun powder and printing are all Chinese inventions.
• China has cultivated tea for 2,000 years.

Great Wall

• Live comfortably in China on about 250-300 CAD per week, including your hotel
• Big Mac 14 CNY
• Dimsum 2-3 US, Dinner 10 US
• Average meal (dinner) 20 CNY
• 1 US = 8.5 CNY
• Movie Ticket 25-30 CNY
• Starbucks cappuccino 25 CNY
• Beer 30 CNY
• Terracota Army Museum, Xi’An China, Admission fee: 90rmb from Mar 1 to Nov 30, 65rmb  from Dec 1 – Feb 28
• Chinese Aviation Museum, Admission fee 50 CNY
• China Art Gallery, Admission fee 20 CNY
• Beijing Planetarium, New building exhibition hall: 10 CNY, Space theater: 45 CNY, 3D theater: 30 CNY, 4D theater: 30 CNY
• China Science and Technology Museum, Admission 30 CNY
• Geological Museum of China, Admission 30 CNY

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Lingshan Temple in Xinyang

• Many tourists will more likely feel safer in China than in their home country.
• Generally speaking, crime rates are higher in the larger cities than in the countryside.
• The larger cities in Guangdong such as Guangzhou and Shenzhen are known among the Chinese for having crime rates higher than the rest of the country
• Bicycle theft can be a problem. In a place where everyone takes their bikes inside restaurants or internet cafes, it’s a warning sign.
• On long journey buses, there have been a handful reports that a group of robbers mugged all passengers on the bus, especially on the ones leaving from Shenzhen. Now all passengers are required to take a mug shot before boarding. Since the measure has been introduced, reports have been dropped drastically.
• While it’s true that China claims more lives in car accidents than any country in the world, its mortality rate per head remains lower than most others due to its enormous population. Cars are allowed to turn right on a red light and do not to stop for pedestrians regardless of the walk signal.
• Pollution is a serious problem in China. Beijing is said to be the most polluted city in the world, and 16 out of the worst polluted cities in the world are in China.

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Terracotta Warriors

• The size of China ensures that its climate is extremely diverse
• China has a variety of temperature and rainfall zones, including continental monsoon areas.
• In winter most areas become cold and dry, in summer hot and rainy.
• Winter in the north, is from December to March, and is bitterly cold and very dry, with temperatures in Beijing dropping as low as -4ºF (-20ºC)
• In central China the Yangtze River valley experiences long, humid and hot summers between April and October, while in winter temperatures drop below freezing.
• In south China, around Guangzhou, summer brings typhoons and high temperatures between July and September. Winters are short and chilly.
• Precipitation in China is basically regular each year. The rainy seasons are mainly May to September.
• April, May, September and October are the peak tourist months at China’s most popular destinations when the weather is the most comfortable.

• Spring: 10-22°C – Western suits, jackets, sports coats, woolen jackets, long sleeve shirts and travel shoes.
• Summer: 22°C and above – T-shirts, short sleeve shirts, skirts, sandals, caps, rain wear.
• Autumn: 10-22°C – Western suits, jackets, sports coats, light woolen sweaters, rain wear and travel shoes.
• Winter: 10°C or lower – overcoat, cotton clothes, lined coats. In very cold areas a cap, gloves and cotton-padded shoes are required.

China Palace

Longjing Tea Village

• Located in Fenghuang Hills
• Longjing Tea Village is the gateway to one of China’s most revered tea plantations, Longjing (Dragon Well).
• This tea plantation is home to 18 different ‘royal teas’.
• You can see tea being picked, processed and packaged.
• Tea tasting is also available.

The Grand Canal

• The Grand Canal is the longest canal or artificial river in the world.
• The canal starts at Beijing, and passes through a handful of provinces to the city of Hangzhou.
• The oldest parts of the canal date back to the 5th century BC, although the various sections were finally combined during the Sui Dynasty (581–618 CE).
• The total length of the Grand Canal is 1,776 km (1,103 miles).
• Its greatest height is reached in the mountains of Shandong, at a summit of 42 m (138 ft)

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Great Wall of China

• The Great Wall of China is a series of stone and earthen fortifications in northern China
• Built originally to protect the northern borders of the Chinese Empire against intrusions by various nomadic groups.
• Several walls have been built since the 5th century BC that are referred to collectively as the Great Wall, which has been rebuilt and maintained from the 5th century BC through the 16th century.

Forbidden City

• The Forbidden City was the Chinese imperial palace from the Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty.
• It is located in the middle of Beijing, China, and now houses the Palace Museum.
• For almost five hundred years, it served as the home of emperors and their households, as well as the ceremonial and political center of Chinese government.
• The complex was built in 1406 to 1420, and consists of 980 buildings with 8,707 bays of rooms.
• The Forbidden City was declared a World Heritage Site in 1987, and is listed by UNESCO as the largest collection of preserved ancient wooden structures in the world.

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China’s Four Buddhist Holy Mountains

• China has four mountains that Buddhists believe are holy.
• They are wonderful places to go hiking, and see active Buddhist monasteries and temples.
• The four mountains are – Wu Tai Shan (north) Jiu Hua Shan (south) Pu Tuo Shan (east) Emei Shan (west).

Communication Etiquette:
• Greetings are formal – oldest person is greeted first
• Handshakes are common with foreigners
– Many Chinese will look at the ground when meeting someone
– Address them with their title or surname
• The Chinese has a large non-verbal communication
– Frowning while someone is speaking is disrespectful
– It is also disrespectful to stare into another persons eyes
• They have a great sense of humor

Business Etiquette:
• Appointments are necessary and should be made 1 to 2 months in advance
– Should arrive slightly early – Punctuality is a virtue
– Pay attention to the agenda
• Bring an interpreter if necessary
• Only the senior members of negotiating team will speak
• Negotiations will go slow
– Written material should be in both English and Chinese
• Decisions don’t usually happen during the meeting, decisions take time
• Presentations to be factually and focus on long-term benefits
• Business attire is conservatives
– Men, wear dark colored, conservative business suits
– Women, Conservative business suits or dressed with high neckline
– Women wear flat shoes or shoes with low heels
– Bright colors should be avoided