Fast Facts about China
- Title: People's Republic of China (PRC).
- Location: East Asia, lying south of Mongolia, east of India, north of Thailand and Vietnam, and west of the Pacific Ocean.
- Population: With 1.35 billion people, China is the world’s most populous country.
- Capital: Beijing.
- National Animal: Giant Panda, Crane, Chinese Dragon.
- Dominant Language: Mandarin.
- Currency: Renminbi (Yuan).
- Major Exports: Machinery and transport equipments account for nearly 50% of all exports.
- Dominant Religion: Buddhism.
- Political System: President Hu Jintao was elected on March 15, 2003, and the Communist Party of China (CPC) is the country's sole political party in power.
- Military: The People's Liberation Army (PLA) encompasses the Army, Navy, Air Force, and the Second Artillery Force.
Music from China
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Modern Music
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Modern Music
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Traditional Music
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Video Links about China
"Introduction to China in 10 Minutes"
Introduction to China in 10 Minutes (2011).
Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com /watch?v=2IqdV5EfByg As an animated video, this introduction to China compiles many “fast facts” about the country into a viewer-friendly format. Hitting on population, flag design, major cities, dominant religions, social values and manners, the video relays a tremendous amount of background information in a short time frame. Although it moves at a swift pace, the video classifies its data and statistics to chunk the information, a psychological tool to aid memory recall: youth, core concepts, differences, etc. Overall, the animated video provides background information on China that could be useful as an initial tool to expose students to the country. |
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Web Pages about China
"Soundscape of China"
China from the Inside: Soundscape of China (2007).
Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/kqed/chinainside/soundmap/ This interactive webpage allows users to explore China through pictures taken by Jonathan Lewis and audio-recordings captured by sound recordist, Peter Eason. Students can listen to more than twenty scenes that range from bustling urban streets and musical performances to sounds of nature and religious ceremonies. By clicking on labels – like “The Silk Road” and “Buddhist Monks” and “Kashgar Market” – a corresponding picture and audio clip pops up, bringing China to life and appealing to visual and audio learners. The map of China on which the labels are located can be switched to show the topography of the country or the political borders between countries in East Asia. |
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"Great Wall of China Interactive Map"
Following the Great Wall of China: Interactive Map (2010).
Retrieved from http://edsitement.neh.gov/sites/edsitement.neh.gov/files/GreatWall_Newest.swf Created by EDSITEment, this webpage is a project of the national Endowment for the Humanities, and provides students with an interactive map of China. When a user answers a question correctly about the history and events leading up to, and causing, the erection of the Great Wall of China, a blue “segment” of the Great Wall is added to the interactive map. Through a series of multiple choice questions, students can test their knowledge of Chinese history and showcase that comprehension through a successfully completed Great Wall. This interactive map engages students while giving them a sense of being in control of their own learning. As a useful resource to integrate history with digital and visual literacy, teachers can take students to the computer lab to “build” the Great Wall at the end of a unit on Chinese history as an informal assessment. |