Overview

Geographical Conditions:

China is the world`s third largest country, after Russia and Canada. It is located in Southeast Asia along the coastline of the Pacific Ocean. China is bordered by 15 countries - Korea in the east; the People`s Republic of Mongolia in the north; Russia in the north-east; Kazakhstan, Kirghizstan and Tajikistan in the north-west; Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Sikkim and Bhutan in the west and south-west; and Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar in the south.

The Chinese climate varies from region to region, since the country is so huge. In the north-east, the summers are hot and dry and the winters are freezing cold. The north and central regions, including Chengdu, have frequent bouts of rain coupled with hot summers and cold winters. In the southeast there is plenty of rainfall, semi-tropical summers and cool winters.  Flooding occurs in the central, southern and western regions and the country in generally experience earthquakes.

Political & Legal System:

There are twenty-three provinces, four municipalities, five autonomous regions and two special administrative regions in the People`s Republic of China. Beijing serves as the capital of the China. The island of Taiwan is claimed as a province by the People`s Republic of China (PRC), but it is not under their control. Taiwan is an island known as Republic of China.

The politics of the People`s Republic of China takes place in a framework of a socialist republic run by a single party, the Communist Party of China, headed by the General Secretary. State power within the People`s Republic of China (PRC) is exercised through the Communist Party, the Central People`s Government (State Council) and their provincial and local representation. The President of China is the head of state, serving as the ceremonial figure head under National People`s Congress. The Premier of China is the head of government, presiding over the State Council composed of four vice premiers and the heads of ministries and commissions. As a one-party state, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China holds ultimate power and authority over state and government. The offices of President, General Secretary, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission have been held simultaneously by one individual since 1993, granting the individual de jure and de facto power over the country. The president is elected by the National People`s Assembly and represents China in international institutions. 

The Chinese executive is supervised by the State Council, a collegial body equipped with important powers, under which Government commissions, ministries and other organizations with the rank of a ministry works. According to the Constitution, the Council is `the Supreme Administrative Body` of the Chinese Government. The Council plays an important role in the economic domain.

The legal system of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) officially referred to as the Socialist legal system with Chinese characteristics, is the legal regime of China, with the separate legal traditions and systems of Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau. China’s legal system is based primarily on the model of Civil Law, reflecting the influence of Continental European legal systems, especially the German civil law system.  Hong Kong still retains the common law system inherited as a former British colony, and Macau employs a legal system based on that of Portuguese civil law. This is part of the One Country, Two Systems theory. They have their own courts of final appeal and extradition policies. The Constitution of the People’s Republic of China is the highest law within China. The Chinese legal code is a complex amalgam of custom and statute, largely focused on criminal law, though a rudimentary civil code has been in effect. While personal freedom and right to private property is nominally guaranteed by law, officials maintain the right to trespass citizens before proving or suspecting them breaking the law through the use of Droit administration. The concept of Habeas corpus does not apply in China.

Economic Status:

The economy of China has transitioned from a centrally-planned system to a more market-oriented economy, which currently ranks as the second largest in the world. China is the world`s largest manufacturing economy and exporter of goods. It is also the world`s fastest-growing consumer market and second-largest importer of goods. It has the world`s largest foreign-exchange reserves. It is the largest trading nation in the world and plays a prominent role in international trade and has increasingly engaged in trade organizations and treaties in recent years. China is the world`s largest producer and consumer of agricultural products. China was the largest producer of steel in the world, accounting for more than 50% of the world`s steel. It is also the world`s largest automobile producer and No. 1 manufacturer of electric cars.

One of the hallmarks of China`s socialist economy was its promise of employment to all able and willing to work and job-security with virtually lifelong tenure. This socialist policy is known as the iron rice bowl. China still has one of the fastest growing GDPs in the world.  China`s private sector accounted for 60% of the GDP. New sectors like e-commerce and online financial services are gaining momentum in an economy dominated by export-oriented sectors. Fortune`s Global 500 list of the world`s largest corporations included 119 Chinese companies, some of which include Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, China Construction Bank, Agricultural Bank of China, Ping An Insurance, China Mobile, Huawei, China Communications Construction, Pacific Construction Group, PetroChina, etc.

Soceity and Culture

Language:

While several hundred languages and Chinese dialects are spoken across China, Mandarin is the official language of China and as such is widely spoken across the country. But there are hundreds of related Chinese languages, collectively known as Hanyu that are spoken by 92% of the population. The Chinese languages are typically divided into seven major language groups, and their study is a distinct academic discipline. Other language families include Sino-Tibetan, Altaic, Indo-European, Austro-Asiatic, and Austronesian. Language laws of China do not apply to either Hong Kong or Macau, which have different official languages (Cantonese, English and Portuguese) than the mainland. English has been the most widely-taught foreign language in China, as it is a required subject for students attending university. Other languages that have gained some degree of prevalence or interest are Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Portuguese, and Russian.

Cuisine:

Chinese cuisine is an important part of Chinese culture, which includes cuisine originating from the diverse regions of China, as well as from Chinese people in other parts of the world. Because of the Chinese diaspora and historical power of the country, Chinese cuisine has influenced many other cuisines in Asia. Chinese food staples such as rice, soy sauce, noodles, tea, and tofu, and utensils such as chopsticks and the wok, can now be found worldwide. The preference for seasoning and cooking techniques of Chinese provinces depend on differences in historical background and ethnic groups. The most praised "Four Major Cuisines" are Chuan, Lu, Yue and Huaiyang, representing West, North, South and East China cuisine correspondingly. The modern "Eight Cuisines" of China are Anhui, Cantonese, Fujian, Hunan, Jiangsu, Shandong, Sichuan and Zhejiang cuisines.

Color, smell and taste are the three traditional aspects used to describe Chinese food, as well as the meaning, appearance and nutrition of the food. Cooking should be appraised with respect to the ingredients used, knifework, cooking time and seasoning. Tea plays an important role in Chinese dining culture. The different types of Chinese tea include black, white, green, yellow, oolong, and dark tea. The importance of baijiu ("white liquor") in China makes it the most-consumed alcoholic spirit in the world.

Chinese food is famous all over the world. Chinese food has countless delicious and fantastic dishes. People from different areas have different cuisine types, which can be bland, sweet, salty, spicy, or sour. Chinese food has a distinctive culinary style all its own. The emphasis is on fresh, seasonal ingredients, prepared with a minimum of fuss and beautifully balanced for color, texture, and presentation.

Tourist Attractions:

Tourism in China has boomed because of its abundant tourist attractions and enhanced tourist environment. Great Wall of China, listed as one of the eight wonders of the world, is situated in the country. Other notable tourist spots include Silk Road, Changbai Mountains Grand Canal of China Three Gorges, Terracotta Army, The Hanging Temple, etc. Most visited cities include: Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong. The cities of Beijing, Hong Kong and Shanghai are worldwide recognized as the sophisticated fusion of east and west. They are a vibrant mix of history and modernity. The Forbidden City, Beijing holds stories of 24 emperors who stayed there during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Guilin is reputed as being one of the world`s most beautiful places with its karst landscapes, clean rivers, idyllic countryside, and majestic rice terraces. Zhangjiajie is famous for its precarious peaks, limpid streams, dense forests, and large karst caves. Strangely shaped rocks make the Yellow Mountains a natural exhibition hall of rocks.

Chinese cultural history has enormous diversity and variety. The sophisticated Chinese civilization was rich in the Arts and Sciences, elaborate Painting and Printing techniques and delicate pottery and sculpture. Chinese architectural traditions were much respected all over the world. Chinese language and literature, philosophy and politics are still reckoned as a strong influence. Chinese art is greatly influenced by the country`s rich spiritual and mystical history. Many sculptures and paintings depict spiritual figures of Buddhism. Overall, China is very safe for travelers. People are friendly and more than willing to help foreign travelers, even if they speak little to no English. Violent crimes are rare, and it is safe to walk alone on the streets any time of the day or night. Female travelers can also rest assured that they can walk the streets safely, use public transportation without any concern, and take cabs without incident.

Lifestyle:

Chinese culture is one of the world`s oldest cultures, tracing back to thousands of years ago. Present day Chinese culture is an amalgamation of old world traditions and a westernized lifestyle. The two co-exist like the traditional Yin Yang formula of balance. It is known to be a balance between the rapid pace of modernization and the maintenance of traditions and heritage. China follows a system of long work hours to keep up with the pace of its growing economy. Chinese clothing is ancient and modern as it has varied by region and time, and is recorded by the artifacts and arts of Chinese culture.

Lifestyles and customs in China vary greatly. Ancient traditions, festivals and beliefs are still very much a part of everyday life. Chinese families have always lived very closely together. It is not uncommon to find several generations of the same family sharing a home. Eating and drinking in China can be a mind-broadening and enjoyable cultural experience. As an ancient civilization, China pays great attention to established etiquette.  With thousands of years’ development, China has its own unique dinning culture and etiquette, which foreign visitors may find quite different from their own. The Chinese are industrious, hardworking, peace-loving and a strenuous nation, while the numerous people are hospitable, conservative, modest and in general easy to approach.

Health Care:

Healthcare in China consists of both public and private medical institutions and insurance programs. About 95% of the population has at least basic health insurance coverage. The Chinese government is working on providing affordable basic healthcare to all residents by 2020. China has also become a major market for health-related multinational companies. The above applies to Mainland China. Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau maintain their own separate universal healthcare systems. All major cities have hospitals specializing in different fields, and are equipped with some modern facilities. Residents of urban areas are not provided with free healthcare; instead they must either pay for treatment or purchase health insurance. As per the regulations prevalent in China, every international student must be covered by a private medical insurance plan. Their sponsored organization or school may also offer a group insurance plan that they can purchase for a reasonable cost as per the terms and conditions.

Education in China

The Chinese education system enjoys great reputation. It is divided into three years of kindergarten, six years of primary school, and three to six years of secondary education, and several years of higher education. Kindergartens and primary schools are usually run by local education authorities or even private enterprises. China has a consistent teacher development system. Teaching has historically been and remains today a highly respected profession in China. Teachers have strong preparation in their subject matter and prospective teachers spend a great deal of time observing the classrooms of experienced teachers, often in schools attached to their universities. 

The Ministry of Education is headquartered in Beijing and is responsible for the education system in China. China has a long history of providing education to international students studying in high schools and universities in China. More than 200 universities nation-wide are authorized with the right to enroll international students as well. International students have enrolled in over 1004 higher education institutions in China. Over the past few years, the number of international students who study abroad in China has significantly increased every year. Education in China is characterized as the “true religion of the people” and has always played an important role in Chinese tradition with learning always being highly valued and respected. The Chinese Government has improved and simplified of the visa application process for skilled foreign nationals and young talent who wish to work or study in China.

Reasons to Study in China

• Beijing ranks 25th and Shanghai ranks 39th in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Best Student Cities in the world.
• All Universities in China offers strong employment prospects, and comparatively low costs of education.
• With 33 universities ranked among the world’s best institutions in the QS World University Rankings and just under 100 universities in the QS University Rankings: Asia, China’s leading institutions have a growing presence in the international league tables.
• The world’s most widely spoken language according to UNESCO is Mandarin Chinese. It is used to learn for future careers in international business or banking. 
• Scholarships are made available by the Government, universities, foundations and corporations to support international students from different academic disciplines.
• The Chinese government has doubled efforts to increase the number of scholarships it offers to international recruits. 
• Both living costs and school fees are comparatively inexpensive, especially by comparison with United States and other western countries.
• International students can receive education with English as a medium of instruction.
• After the government has adjusted the visa policy for foreign nationals, international students are now allowed to work part-time or take on internships while they are studying in China.
• China is a safe country as most people are friendly, honest, and trustworthy.