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The Glossary

shan - "means mountain. If you see a shan at the end of the name of a place, it means that it is a mountain in which you may hike, camp, or make a temple visit if it is a sacred mountain."

From China Glossary

Photograph by:
Robin - China

Five thousand years of checkered past has bestowed China with social wealth. It shares borders with as many as 14 countries and has a huge sea surface constellated with more than 5000 islands. It contains hundreds of different ethnic groups, making it the most populous country in the world, and its population presents as much cultural diversity as its land offers geographical diversity.

Historical hotspot

Historically, China is a cradle of civilization wherein one of the earliest humans, the Peking Man, was excavated. The country advanced the fields of art, science, astronomy and medicine and contributed major inventions such paper, gunpowder and printing to humankind.

The world's longest wall, the Great Wall of China, is among the world's most popular landmarks. Other keys to understanding China's past are the 8,000-throng Terracotta Army and the 15th-century Forbidden City, which has the world's biggest collection of preserved ancient wooden structures. Apart from these, China has over 30 other World Heritage Sites from where some of the world's greatest philosophers like Lao Tse, religions like Confucianism, leaders like Mao Zedong, and martial arts like kung fu, were born.

Emerging superpower

In 1945, Communism pervaded over China. Despite having an anti-capitalist regime, the country is now among the planet's emerging economic superpowers. A proof to this is the billion-dollar Mega Dam, the largest dam and public works project in history.

Such wealth was brought about by China's booming manufacturing industry centered on its capital, Beijing, and business capital, Shanghai. X'ian, another famous city in China, is a melting pot of culinary and cultural marvels like silk and dimsum, some of the country's native goods popular since the nation's Silk Road heydays.

Best landscapes under heaven

Guilin, frequently described as the best landscape under heaven, bears a history of attracting many poets and painters. Apart from Guilin's caves and karst systems, China's terrain is a mosaic of rivers (Yangtze), snowcapped mountains, plateaus, rainforests (Kunming), beaches (Haikou), and deserts (Turpan).

China photography

no title by Communitriper

no title by Barak

no title by Barak

Beijing Theater by Communitriper

no title by Communitriper

no title by Communitriper

no title by Communitriper

no title by Communitriper

User blogs:

A trip to Siargao

Seeing people that are “living their dream” is always inspirational, it looks so rewarding and peaceful, breaking from the chains of conformism, doing what you always dreamt to do since you were a kid, it doesn’t have to make you huge loads of money or bring you world fame just a feeling of self fulfillment, last time I checked, you can’t put a price tag on that one. In Siargao ... Read full Blog post

Bohol and Cebu.. sweeter the second time

As soon as I found out that my twin brother Dennis is coming for a vacation, I was very excited and so happy that after 15 years of being away from him, I’d be spending time with one of the most important person of my life. The one I grew up with… and not only that, I get to meet the love of his life, Steph. Eventhough Cebu and Bohol will bring me back memories of the good times and bad ... Read full Blog post