Cultural Geography Project China Cultural Geography Project By Tahniat, Nilufar, Demarco, John

History China is one of the oldest countries in the world, with a recorded history of over 5000 years. China experienced many dynasties such as, Qin Dynasty, Tang Dynasty, Han Dynasty, and Ming Dynasty. The People’s Republic of China is located East Asia It consists of 22 provinces, 5 autonomous region, and 2 self-governing “special administrative regions”.

Facts about China HDI 0.719 Total GDP 9.24 trillion USD GDP per capita (Human development Index) 0.719 Total GDP (Gross Domestic Product) 9.24 trillion USD GDP per capita $6,807 USD NIR (Natural Increase Rate) 0.5% Total Population 1.357 billion Literacy Rate 95.1% Data obtained from: The World Bank

Music Short video of Peking opera Peking opera A popular musical drama originated in Beijing, China in the 18th century. It consists of high-pitched vocals, percussion, and instruments such as, suona and jinghu.

Traditional Instruments Guzheng A Chinese plucked zither with 18 strings. An ancient instrument from thousands of years ago and became extremely popular since the Tang Dynasty. Erhu A two-stringed bowed instrument Emerged in 10th century

Modern Music Cantopop Mandopop Popular in Southern China where Cantonese is spoken, especially in Hong Kong. Share similar style as Western Pop music. Originated in Shanghai and later Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore. Influenced by K-pop through Cultural Diffusion Joey Yung Andy Lau

Food Major cuisines include: Cantonese (e.g. Dim sum) Sichuan (focus on spiciness) Fujian (focus on seafood) Fujian cuisines are mainly seafood due to its geographic location near the sea. Jiangsu and Anhui cuisines share many similarities through cultural diffusion and their physical location.

Szechuan Cuisine Fujian Cuisine Zhejiang Cuisine Shanghai Cuisine

Language Good Morning -> 早安 (Zǎo ān) Hello -> 您好 (Nín hǎo) Mandarin The official language of China With more than 960 native speakers Originated in Northern China Based on the Beijing Dialects Good Morning -> 早安 (Zǎo ān) Hello -> 您好 (Nín hǎo) Subway -> 地鐵 (Dìtiě) Airport -> 機場 (Jīchǎng)

Other languages and dialects Cantonese Spoken in Southern China With 62,000,000 native speakers The official language of two special administrative region of China, Hong Kong and Macau. Due to time-distance decay, Cantonese is only common in Southern China and did not spread to the North. Dialects There are hundreds of dialects in China Each province has their distant dialects Ex. Wu (77 million), Min (72 million), Hakka (30 million)

Ethnicity China is a multi-ethic country with 56 ethnicity. Han Chinese is the majority of the population (91.6%) The minority groups live mostly in western and Northwestern China. Minority groups include the Zhuang (1.3%), Hui (0.8%) and Mongol (0.45%).

The conflicts and ethic tensions in China between the minorities and Han Chinese is an example of Centrifugal force. The same cultural background among Han Chinese is a Centripetal force that unite the population.

Religion China has been a multi-religious country since the ancient times. Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism are the main religions that shaped the Chinese culture. Many people in China are “non- believer”, though most of them practice some form of ancestor worship or folk religions.

Environment The air pollution in Beijing forces people to wear mask. Wearing mask has become a culture in Beijing to avoid the harmful and toxic air.

Popular vs. Folk Culture Popular Culture Folk Culture Cantopop & Mandopop music Chinese New Year Hollywood Movie Dragon Boat Festival Japanese Anime Mid-Autumn Festival American Fast Food Ancestor worship Learning English Strong Family Value European Fashion Martial Art New Technology (e.g. iPhone) Confucianism

Popular cultures are heavily influenced by the West. The Custom of eating with a round table has influenced Chinese people for thousands of years. Chinese people also practice cultural appropriation by adopting custom such as, using knife and folk to eat and producing their own pop music.

Placelessness can be used to describe metropolitan cities in China such as, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong, becoming more westernized and globalized. The folk culture of China create Cultural Landscape in which temples are built everywhere in China.

Popular tourist destinations Forbidden City (Beijing) Great Wall of China (Beijing)

Terracotta Army Mount Huang (Xi'an) Mount Huang (Anhui)

Bibliography ChinaHighlights. (2013, January 1). China History. Retrieved December 3, 2014, from http://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/culture/china-history.htm Dewey, C., & Fisher, M. (2013, May 23). A surprising map of where the world’s atheists live. Retrieved December 3, 2014, from http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/05/23/a-surprising-map-of-where-the-worlds-atheists- live/ Kahn, J., & Yardley, J. (2007, August 25). As China Roars, Pollution Reaches Deadly Extremes. Retrieved December 3, 2014, from http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/26/world/asia/26china.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 Lilly, A. (2009, July 8). A Guide to China's Ethnic Groups. Retrieved December 3, 2014, from http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/08/AR2009070802718.html LAPETINA, A. (2014, January 13). 10 little-known historical facts about American Chinese food. Retrieved December 3, 2014, from http://www.thrillist.com/eat/nation/chinese-food-history-how-american-chinese-cuisine-is-different-thrillist-nation Touropia. (2014, July 15). 10 Top Tourist Attractions in China. Retrieved December 3, 2014, from http://www.touropia.com/tourist-attractions-in-china/ Travel China Guide. (2013, January 1). Chinese Language, Mandarin Learning, Chinese Characters, Dialects. Retrieved December 3, 2014, from http://www.travelchinaguide.com/essential/language.htm Uloocn. (2006, July 12). Peking opera. Retrieved December 3, 2014, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHPegoquV5I World Bank Group. (2014, January 1). Retrieved December 3, 2014, from http://www.worldbank.org/ WENZHOU. (2014, November 1). Cracks in the atheist edifice. Retrieved December 3, 2014, from http://www.economist.com/news/briefing/21629218-rapid-spread-christianity-forcing-official-rethink-religion-cracks

Tahniat Nilufar Demarco John