WORLD FOODS Geography, Climate, and Culture of China

Geography Third largest country in the world. Pacific Ocean and the South China Sea form China’s coastlines. Western China is very mountainous.  Himalayas and Tien Shan Much of southwestern and western China is barren. Eastern China is more suitable for life and food production. Most of China’s people crowd to this region.

Mountains in China Himalayas Tien Shan

Climate In northern China the ground stays frozen two-thirds of the year.  Subarctic conditions keep temperatures below zero for months at a time.  Rainfall is scarce In the South, the climate is subtropical with lots of rain. The monsoons from the Pacific Ocean bring dust storms to the North.  The y also bring undependable rain to one-third of the country; both drought and flooding are common.

Chinese Culture Highest population of any country. Credited with the inventions of paper, gunpowder, and the magnetic compass. Built the Great Wall and beautiful works of art.

Influences on Chinese Culture A series of dynasties ruled China for over 3,000 years.  A dynasty is a chain or rulers with the same ancestry. Chinese history is marked by two invasions:  Kublai Khan led Mongol invaders which ruled for the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries (Yuan Dynasty).  In the seventeenth century invaders from Manchuria established the Qing dynasty which was the last dynasty.  The Republic of China started in 1912

Modern Culture The Chinese Republic lasted until Communists took control and named the country The People’s Republic of China. Religion before the communist rule was wide spread. Sects include Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism.

Modern Culture - Agriculture Today most people are farmers.  All of the work is done by hand or with the help of a water buffalo or donkey. Chinese chief agricultural product is rice. Other important products include wheat, corn, millet, sorghum, oats, rye, barley, soybeans, tea, and sugarcane. Eggplant, celery, turnips, and radishes are the most important vegetables. Chinese don’t raise much beef, but pigs, chicken, ducks, and geese are more popular. China’s waters provide fish.

Modern Culture - Holidays Spring Festival is the most celebrated festival recognizing the new year. The Chinese zodiac follows a 12 year rotation with each year being named after a different animal. The Dragon Boat Festival falls in mid summer and people use to throw rice cakes into the river for a mythical dragon. Today they hold boat races and eat rice cakes. The Moon Festival is in midautumn and they celebrate by eating moon cakes which are pastries filled with bean paste or lotus seeds.

Which Zodiac animal are you? Look for the year you were born.

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