CHINA IN BREIF

CHINAIN BREIF

Science & Technoglogy: Development

In 1900, China had no modern science and technology at all - fewer than 10 people in all of China understood calculus. Now, in the early 21st century, the gap in high-technology research and development between China and the world's advanced countries has visibly shrunk; 60 percent of technologies, including atomic energy, space, high-energy physics, biology, computer and information technology, have reached or are close to the world advanced level.

On October 15, 2003, the successful launch of the "Shenzhou V" manned spacecraft made China the third country to master manned spaceflight technology. According to the Moon Probe Project started in February 2004, China will launch unmanned probes to the moon before 2010, and gather moon soil samples before 2020.

Social Customs

China's different peoples have developed individual customs regarding food, clothing and etiquette, Generally, the Han people take rice and flour as their staple diet, love to eat vegetables, beans, meat, fish and eggs, and pay particular attention to the art of cooking. Mongolians often eat beef, mutton and dairy products, and drink tea with milk. Koreans like sticky rice cakes, cold noodles and kimchi (hot pickled vegetables). Tibetans take tsampa (roasted highland barley flour) as their staple food, and drink buttered tea.

Mongolians wear traditional robes and riding boots. Tibetans love to wear waist-banded robes, and boots. Koreans are known as the "white clothing ethnic group" because they favor white clothing.

Festivals

China's major traditional festivals include the Spring Festival, the Lantern Festival, Pure Brightness Day, the Dragon Boat Festival, and the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Sports & Traditional Sports

China has long been associated with the martial arts, large variety of competitive sports such as Table Tennis, Badminton, Diving and Gymnastics. Football, with table tennis, is the most popular sports in China.

Traditional sports are also very popular, including martial arts, shadow boxing, & Chinese chess.

Lifestyle

Income

Tremendous changes have taken place in the lifestyle of the Chinese people in the past 50 years, particularly in the past two decades as average income has increased steadily.

People in China today have money to buy or invest in houses and apartments, cars, computers, stock and foreign travel. China's GDP per capita exceeded US$1,000 in 2003, and the social consumption structure made further improvement

Consumption

Deficiencies of food and daily necessities are a thing of the past in today's China and consumption patterns have also undergone radical change; as expenses for food, clothing and basics fall, China's consumers today are spending their money on housing, transportation, telecommunications, medical and health care, culture, education and entertainment, leisure and tourism.