China Fact Sheet:
China is the world's most populous country, with a continuous culture stretching back nearly 4,000 years.
Many of the elements that make up the foundation of the modern world originated in China, including
paper, gunpowder, credit banking, the compass and paper money.
The People's Republic of China is the world's fourth largest country (by total area), and one of only five
remaining Communist states in the world.
As with the ancient Roman and Egyptian empires prior, China led most of the world in the arts and
sciences for hundreds of years.
Imperial China surfaced with the Qin Dynasty in 221 BC, and the construction of the Great Wall of China
began - which was later enhanced by the Ming Dynasty. With the Qins, the concept of a more
centralized government and a currency system were developed.
After the Qins, smaller dynasties quickly rose to power and collapsed only decades later for the next
several centuries. At the emergence of the Song, Liao and Jin dynasties 960 through 1234 AD China saw
an age of economic prosperity.
However, following a particularly bloody war, in which roughly half of the Chinese inhabitants lost their
lives, mongol leader Kublai Khan (grandson of Genghis Khan) established the Yuan Dynasty in 1271.
China's last dynasty was the Qing Dynasty, founded by Manchus, who allied with the Ming's after Beijing
was seized by the short-lived Shun Dynasty during the 17th century.
At its peak, the Qing Dynasty controlled over one-third of the world's population, and had the largest
economy in the world; arguably it was one of the largest empires that ever existed in history.
Unfortunately, throughout the 19th century, China experienced debilitating civil unrest, significant food
shortages, military defeats, and foreign occupation that spilled over into the 20th century.
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Akron International Friendship
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The Republic of China was established on January 1, 1912, subsequently terminating the Qing Dynasty,
and a few years later, with help from Soviet Russia, the republic entered into an alliance with the newly
formed Communist Party of China.
With the end of World War II, the upstart Communists under the leadership of MAO Zedong established
a dictatorship that, while ensuring China's sovereignty, imposed strict controls over everyday life, and
cost the lives of tens of millions of people.
After 1978, his successor DENG Xiaoping gradually introduced market-oriented reforms and
decentralized economic decision-making.
Those efforts were successful as GDP output quadrupled by the year 2000. Today, political controls still
remain tight, but more and more economic controls continue to be relaxed. China's economy is
booming and its influence is growing worldwide.
As of 2012, China is the second largest economy in the world, after the United States, and is the largest
exporter (2nd largest importer) of goods worldwide.
Tourism, always popular in China, is a growth industry, as the country presents (quite possibly) the most
fascinating destination on the planet.
From the Forbidden City (China's imperial palace during the Ming Dynasty) in Beijing, to the Great Wall
spanning east to west along the country's historical northern borders, and moving on towards the
southwestern corner of the country where the highest mountain ranges in the world are located, China
is loaded with a generous amount of tourist hotspots to explore.
A Project of Know Your Community – Know Your World
Akron International Friendship
Ste 233 Quaker Square The University of Akron
Akron, Ohio 44325-9003 330-972-8296 www.akroninternational.org