Everything you need to know about China: news, reviews, in-depth analysis, opinion and more
China: From Great Wall of China to Economic Powerhouse
China or the People’s Republic of China has an enviable past that saw the construction of the 6,400 km Great Wall of China, one of the wonders of the world, during the reign of the Qin and Ming dynasties. Chinese people witnessed the 1949 Communist Revolution under Mao Zedong. China, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, was a poor country until the 1980’s when it embraced drastic market reforms under Deng Xiaoping to emerge as an economic superpower and manufacturing hub of the world. China also has many ongoing disputes, most notably with Taiwan and Tibet apart from its border row with India.
China Facts and Stats:
The eastern region is barren and consists of the Taklamakan Desert and the Gobi Desert, along with snow covered peaks of the Himalayas. One of the major environmental problems faced by the Chinese include the expanding deserts that threaten the livelihood of millions. Other issues are increasing pollution in its cities including water pollution caused as a result of the construction of the Three Gorges Dam over the Yangtze River.
Culture and Economy of China:
Chinese people have imbibed different versions of Confucianism and Buddhism that came to the country from India. Chinese people lay great emphasis on familial values and joint family system is still prevalent here. Religious tolerance is limited and the Chinese state is officially atheist and the 1980’s saw the crack down on the religious sect Falun Gong that is still officially proscribed. Islam has also got a foothold in China with the highest concentration in the Xinjiang, Gansu, and Ningxia provinces.
China has recently made great strides in the sports arena and it recently hosted the 2008 Beijing Olympics where China won the maximum number of gold medals, even exceeding those of USA.
China followed Soviet-style Socialism under Mao Zedong till the 1980’s that was majorly responsible for the its under development. However after Mao’s death, Den Xiaoping undertook several reforms including the Special Economic Zones (Sez’s), the first of which came up at Shenzen.
Today with annual average GDP growth rate of 9% plus China has become a manufacturing hub with world-class cities like Beijing, Shanghai, HongKong, Guangzhou, Tianjin among others. However other countries have protested the lack of labour rights and fake products produced in China that have swamped the world markets.
Tourism in China:
China has many historic and modern sites to travel to for the adventurous tourist. Starting with the Great Wall of China, other Chinese splendours include the Tinanmen Square in Beijing, Museum of Qin Terracota Warriors in Xian, the Forbidden City and many others. China also offers modern wonders in the form of tall skyscrapers and lavish hotels in modern towns like Hong Kong and Shanghai.
The Top Tourist Attractions in China include:
Shimla, May 18 (IANS) Ending over five months of speculation after the recovery of a wireless transmitter close to India-China border in Himachal Pradesh, the state police Saturday said it was used by trekkers for communication and posed no security threat.
New Delhi, May 18 (IANS) Ahead of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's visit to India, about 50 people Saturday held a protest here demanding suspension of talks with China.
New Delhi, May 18 (IANS) The recent incursion by Chinese troops cast a "pretty dark shadow" on India-China relations, but the issue was handled "maturely" by both and probably Chinese Premier Li Keqiang will "get a chance to explain why, what happened" during his talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, sources said Saturday.
New Delhi, May 18 (ANI): Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Yashwant Sinha on Saturday said that the UPA-II government should hold talks with the Chinese Premier Li Keqiang "from a position of strength".
New Delhi, May 18 (ANI): Arunachal Pradesh Member of Parliament Takam Sanjoy on Saturday urged the Indian Government to be assertive in asking China to stay away from his state.
New Delhi, May 18 (IANS) All issues, including the boundary question, would be on the table when Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh meet here Sunday evening for talks.
Beijing, May 18 (IANS) The choice of India as the first leg of Li Keqiang's maiden overseas trip as Chinese premier has sent out a clear signal that Beijing's new leadership prioritizes enhancing ties with New Delhi but that "the two nations cannot fully restore mutual trust without resolving the border dispute", Xinhua news agency said in a commentary on Saturday.
Shanghai, May 18 (IANS) American hurdler Aries Merritt, who won his first Olympic gold in London and set a world record in the men's 110m hurdles last year, has geared up for the 2013 International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Diamond League Shanghai leg.
Bumla/New Delhi, May 18 (ANI): Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's maiden visit to India symbolises the rising significance of New Delhi as the two Asian giants seek to overcome a chequered past and border tensions to broaden strategic ties and boost bilateral trade.
New Delhi, May 18 (IANS) All issues would be on the table, including the India-China boundary question, when Chinese Premier Li Keqiang meets Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here Sunday evening.
Beijing, May 18 (IANS/EFE) A 28-year-old Chinese man who was kidnapped 23 years ago and sold to a family 1,500 km from his home, has met up with his biological parents again thanks to Google Maps, Hunan TV said Friday.
Washington, May 18 (ANI): Archaeologists in southern subtropical China have uncovered evidence for the first time that people living in Xincun 5,000 years ago may have practised agriculture -before the arrival of domesticated rice in the region.
Beijing, May 18 (Xinhua-ANI): China's Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai on Friday urged Washington to remain "truly neutral" on the Sino-Japanese territorial dispute in East China Sea by honoring its promise to "take no side."
No matter what cosmetic gloss (or acne ointment) is put on the recent stand-off between the Indian border police and the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA), India is perceived as having come off second best in test of wiils, as the Chinese intruded across the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh, and camped in 'Indian territory' for 20 days. As a regional power of substance, with robust armed forces and a nuclear arsenal, India has available the full spectrum of policy options, ranging from war to capitulation.
Beijing, May 18 (IANS) A total of 50 people have died while 14 reported missing due to latest rain and hailstorms that have hit south China, the government statistics said Friday.
Beijing, May 18 (IANS) China has opposed the European Union's (EU) unilateral decision to incorporate international flights originating from countries outside of the EU into its carbon trading scheme, reported Xinhua.
Washington, May 17 (ANI): A team of scientists in China has produced the lightest material ever made.
Paris, May 17 (IANS) Former Olympic champion and four-time World Cup winner Ma Lin became the biggest name to fall at the World Table Tennis Championships when he was upset by Japan's Kenta Matsudaira in the men's singles second round.
Dharamsala, May 17 (IANS) "No expectations from (new Chinese Premier) Li Keqiang on resolving the vexed issue of Tibet" was the first reaction of activist and poet Tenzin Tsundue who twice "breached the wall" by unfurling protest banners during the visits of Chinese premiers.
New Delhi, May 17 (IANS) As Chinese Premier Li Keqiang arrives in India days after the two countries resolved a 20-day border stand-off, experts said India-China ties go back a long way and one should not judge the relations on the basis of one event.
Singapore, May 17 (IANS) Singapore's non-oil domestic exports, a key gauge of the trade hub's export performance, fell by 1 percent year-on-year in April, trade promotion agency International Enterprise Singapore said Friday.
Washington, May 17 (ANI): A Chinese blogger aged nearly 20 has attracted the regime attention for appealing to President Barack Obama to help save China's environment.
Asia will one day be filled with 'millions of men desperate for women', researchers warned last week.
Rome, May 16 (IANS) Third seed Andy Murray pulled out of the Rome Masters due to an injury as Rafael Nadal advanced to the third round.
Beijing, May 16 (IANS) China attracted $8.44 billion of foreign direct investment (FDI) in April, up just 0.4 percent year on year, the commerce ministry said Thursday.
Itanagar, May 16 (ANI): China releasing a Blue book reflecting its softening stand on Arunachal Pradesh as well as reversing its anti-India posture, at an official function coinciding with the visit of India's External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid to Beijing on May 10 last, is only justification of my prediction.
Beijing, May 16 (IANS) A 39-year-old businesswoman has been sentenced to death by a court in China for "illegal fund-raising".
Kolkata, May 15 (IANS) A gallery on Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore and China was opened Wednesday at Tagore's ancestral residence in North Kolkata's Jorasanko, that now houses the Rabindra Bharati Museum.
New Delhi/Kiruna, May 15 (IANS) The Arctic Council agreed Wednesday to include six new nations, including India and China, as observers to their eight-state diplomatic council.
Beijing, May 15 (IANS) Police in China destroyed over nine million fake and shoddy products in 125 cities Wednesday, a publicity day for combating and preventing economic crimes.
Paris, May 15 (IANS) Top seed and defending champion Ding Ning of China breezed past Dederko Zhenhua of Australia 4-0 to reach the second round of the World Table Tennis Championships here Wednesday.
Brussels, May 15 (IANS) The European Commission (EC) has decided to launch an anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigation into mobile telecommunication networks and equipments imported from China, an official statement said Wednesday.
Beijing, May 15 (IANS) An earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale jolted Tibet in southwest China Wednesday, the China Earthquake Networks Centre said.
Beijing, May 15 (IANS) An alliance of groups representing labourers who were forced to work for Mitsubishi Materials in Japan during World War II have sought about $60 million as compensation.
Suva, May 15 (IANS) India will take part in a five-day meet in Fiji where local and international sugar researchers will share information on "erianthus", a sugar hybrid, the government said Wednesday.
Kiruna (Sweden), May 15 (IANS) India and China Wednesday got observer status in the Arctic Council along with four other countries.
Mark Twain once said that a gold miner is a liar standing next to a hole dug up in the ground. The time has come for financial market participants to stop looking at the world through the prism of a goldbug.
The May 14-17 visit "signifies the strong diplomatic, cultural and military ties between Sri Lanka and Pakistan", reported Associated Press of Pakistan (APP).
Beijing, May 15 (IANS) China has the world's largest new media market, highlighted by the country's growing Internet penetration and a vibrant range of new media applications.
Accra, May 15 (IANS) Unlike India, China is not assisting in the fight against counterfeit medicines even though the influx has been mainly from that country, Nigeria's National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says.
New Delhi, May 14 (ANI): Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, Li Keqiang, will pay a three-day state visit to India beginning on May 19 at the invitation of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.
Paris, May 14 (IANS) Eighteen-year-old debutante Hu Limei of China took only 11 minutes to beat Haliti Ilirjana of Kosovo in the first round of qualifying at the World Table Tennis Championships here.
Beijing, May 14 (IANS) The Chinese government Tuesday released a white paper detailing the progress made in human rights in 2012, stressing its achievements in improving living standards and increasing room for citizens to express their opinions.
Beijing, May 14 (IANS) Although attitudes toward sex are slowly changing in China, they still remain ambiguous and the ongoing sexual revolution differs from that of the West in the 1960s, according to Richard Burger, author of "Behind the Red Door: Sex in China".
New Delhi, May 13 (IANS) Terming the recent border stand-off with India an "isolated" incident, China Monday said both countries needed to "speed up" negotiations on a boundary settlement.
New Delhi, May 13 (IANS) As global mobile-cellular penetration approaches 100 percent, by 2014, there will be more mobile phones than people on earth, says the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).
Beijing, May 13 (IANS) China Monday lauded Pakistan saying its parliamentary election had been "smoothly held" and pledged continued firm support to the country.
New Delhi, May 13 (IANS) Launching an attack against the Congress-led government at the centre, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi Monday said erosion of trust in governance was the biggest problem the nation faced.
Washington, May 13 (ANI): Noncoding DNA, which has puzzled scientists for so many years, and is abundant in many living things, may not actually be needed for creation of complex life, according to researchers.
Beijing, May 13 (IANS) China's urban fixed asset investment growth slightly accelerated to 20.6 percent year on year to 9.13 trillion yuan ($147.29 billion) in the first four months, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said Monday.
Paris, May 13 (IANS) Ten years after she shocked the table tennis world by reaching the last eight at the 2003 World Championships here at the age of 14, Japan's Ai Fukuhara finds that she will face the same situation again at the Bercy Arena.
Beijing, May 13 (IANS) China's industrial value-added output rose 9.3 percent year on year in April, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said Monday.
Paris, May 13 (IANS) The 52nd edition of the world's premier table tennis event will be held in Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy May 13-20 with a record 463 men and 360 women participating.
Beijing, May 13 (IANS) China's industrial value-added output rose 9.3 percent year on year in April, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said Monday, reported Xinhua.
Beijing, May 13 (IANS) China is witnessing a big demand for male nurses who presently represent less than one percent of the total nursing population.
Beijing, May 13 (IANS) China conducted a tsunami drill Sunday as part of the transnational and pan-Pacific drill, the country's State Oceanic Administration (SOA) announced.
Beijing, May 12 (IANS) Between seven and nine typhoons will land along China's coastal areas this year, the National Marine Environmental Forecasting Centre said Sunday.
Beijing, May 12 (IANS) Eighteen crew members of a ship were rescued shortly before their vessel sank in the Yangtze river in China, maritime authorities said Sunday.
Zhuhai (China), May 12 (IANS) India's Raj Bharath rounded off his maiden Formula Masters weekend with a fourth place finish in the third race here Sunday.
Beijing, May 12 (IANS) Five students of a middle school in south China's Guangdong province drowned when one of them accidentally fell into a river and the others tried to rescue him, officials said Sunday.
Paris, May 12 (IANS) Defending champion Zhang Jike of China said here he is confident of retaining the title at the World Table Tennis Championships to be held here May 13-20.
Paris, May 12 (IANS) China's all-conquering table tennis team has been expected to make another clean sweep of titles at the upcoming World Championships, but their head coach said that his top priority is to bring "joy" to French fans.
Beijing, May 12 (IANS) The toll in a colliery accident in southwest China's Sichuan province Saturday rose to 28 after an injured miner died, authorities said Sunday.
Beijing, May 12 (IANS) China will simplify regulations on foreign exchange management to create a more convenient environment for foreign investors, authorities said.
Beijing, May 11 (IANS) The toll due to the H7N9 avian influenza in China has risen to 33, with the death of an 83-year-old woman in Shanghai, officials said Saturday.
Zhuhai (China), May 11 (IANS) After clinching a stunning pole position on his debut in the Formula Masters series, India's 18-year old Raj Bharath secured his first podium finish of the season here Saturday as he came in third in the first race and followed it up with a sixth in the next outing.
New Delhi, May 11 (IANS) Stating that 2013, or the Chinese Year of the Snake, would be significant in India-China relations, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said Saturday that during his talks in Beijing, both sides reaffirmed that incidents like the recent border incursion should not be allowed to come in the way of their larger relationship.
Beijing, May 11 (IANS) At least 22 people were killed Saturday following a gas explosion in a colliery in southwest China's Sichuan province, officials said.
New Delhi, May 11 (ANI): External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid on Saturday said that the meeting over the India-China border dispute with the Chinese leadership was 'fruitful'.
Beijing, May 11 (IANS) At least one person was killed and 37 others were trapped Saturday following a gas accident in a colliery in southwest China's Sichuan province, officials said.
New Delhi, May 11 (IANS) India spends only 0.9 percent of its GDP on research and development, which is much below China, Britain and Israel, and needs to step up expenditure on this front, President Pranab Mukherjee said Saturday.
New Delhi, May 11 (IANS) India and China believe that border issues should not be allowed to obstruct their relationship, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said Saturday.
New Delhi, May 11 (IANS) India needs to step up expenditure on innovation in a big way for the growth of the economy and lift the people out of the morass of poverty, President Pranab Mukherjee said Saturday and asked the private sector to increase their share of spending on research and development (R&D) to the levels prevalent in countries such as the US, Japan and South Korea.
Beijing, May 11 (IANS) Chinese badminton team head coach Li Yongbo said their aim is to win the Sudirman Cup for the fifth consecutive time.
New York, May 11 (ANI): France is the world's most popular tourist destination, according to a new survey.
Zhuhai (China), May 10 (IANS) Raj Bharath, the 18-year old from Bangalore, clinched a stunning pole position on his debut weekend with Meco Motorsport in the Formula Masters China Series at the Zhuhai International Circuit here Friday.
Beijing, May 10 (IANS) China-India relations have "strategic significance" and "global impact" as both are large developing countries and emerging markets, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang told India's visiting External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid here Friday.
Beijing, May 10 (IANS) China-India relations have "strategic significance" and "global impact" as both are large developing countries and emerging markets, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang told India's visiting External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid here Friday.
Dhaka, May 10 (IANS) Sixteen days into one of Bangladesh's worst tragedies that has so far left over 1,000 people dead, rescuers Friday found a young woman clinging to life beneath the sandwiched floors of the collapsed eight-storey building in Dhaka.
London, May 10 (ANI): Japan has protested to China over a newspaper article that has questioned Japanese sovereignty over Okinawa island.
Beijing, May 10 (IANS) German automaker Daimler AG has begun a trial production at its first overseas engine plant in China ahead of its full operation scheduled later this year.
Beijing, May 10 (IANS) China saw fast increase in foreign trade with emerging economies and developing countries last year, the country's ministry of commerce (MOC) said.
Beijing, May 10 (IANS) Indian Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid's ongoing visit to China reaffirmed the consensus of the two giant neighbours to achieve "win-win results" and properly handle disputes toward building a new relationship between major countries of the world, said Xinhua Friday.
Beijing, May 10 (IANS/EFE) Chinese film director Zhang Yimou, famous for films such as "The Red Lantern", has become the target for much criticism after several media outlets accused him of flouting Beijing's one-child policy by fathering seven kids.
Today, we're going to answer the much-asked question: How can adults communicate with young people? The answer is: They can't. So we'll move right along to another question of global importance, received from a reader named Suchin: "My dad said he once ate a curry so hot it burned through his body and set his chair on fire. Could this really happen?"
Beijing, May 9 (IANS) One more person died Thursday in central China's Henan province due to the H7N9 avian influenza, bringing the nationwide death toll to 32, officials said.
Beijing, May 9 (IANS) China will hike petrol and diesel retail prices by 95 yuan (around $15) per tonne starting Friday, the country's top economic planner said Thursday.
Beijing, May 9 (IANS) China hopes to use existing mechanisms to carry out discussions with India over border issues, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said Thursday.
New Delhi, May 9 (IANS) The situation on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) between India and China is now back to normal after the Chinese withdrew their military encroachments in a disputed plateau in arid eastern Ladakh, but there is no telling when the situation might erupt again through "more unexploded bombs", particularly preceding important visits on either side.
New Delhi, May 9 (IANS) At 51, she looks good enough to overcome players half her age. Certainly, New Zealand coach Chunli Li could have easily played for her team if only she wanted to in the ongoing Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships here.
Kuala Lumpur, May 9 (IANS) Four-time champion Lin Dan of China will defend his World Championship title in August, courtesy a wildcard given by the the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Thursday.
Tokyo, May 9 (ANI): Two scholars from a Chinese research center have suggested re-examining the ownership of the Japanese island chain that includes Okinawa.
Beijing, May 9 (IANS) China's consumer price index (CPI), a main gauge of inflation, grew 2.4 percent year on year in April, up from 2.1 percent in March, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said Thursday.
Beijing, May 9 (IANS) China's producer price index (PPI), a barometer of future consumer inflation, fell 2.6 percent year on year in April, the National Bureau of Statistics said Thursday.
Beijing, May 9 (IANS) Indian Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid's visit to China will help put "a political end" to the recent border row, a hardline Chinese daily said Thursday.
Beijing, May 9 (IANS) China's producer price index (PPI), which measures wholesale inflation, fell 2.6 percent year on year in April, the National Bureau of Statistics said Thursday.
Beijing, May 9 (IANS) China's consumer price index (CPI), a main gauge of inflation, grew 2.4 percent year on year in April, up from 2.1 percent in March, the National Bureau of Statistics said Thursday, reported Xinhua.
New Delhi, May 9 (IANS) Jamia Millia Islamia, one of the country's oldest universities, has embarked upon a series of country-specific programmes to prepare a cadre of experts to fulfil the research needs of the government and think tanks, something which foreign service officials are perhaps not adept at doing, the university says.
Washington, May 9 (IANS) Only three Indian dealmakers figure among 100 top tech investors on Forbes Midas List, far outdistanced by China with 17 top dealmakers in the Asian venture market.
New Delhi, May 9 (ANI): External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid will today begin a two-day official visit to China at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.
