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DESTINATION CHINA
THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA is the third largest country in the world in terms of
area and the largest in terms of population. Its total area is 9.6 million square
kilometers and its population is 1.2 billion. China has shared borders for centuries with
Korea, the formerly Soviet Union, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan,
Burma, Laos and Vietnam.
The Chinese border stretches over 22,000 kilometers on land and its coastline extends
well over 18,000 kilometers, washed by the waters of the Bohai Sea, the Huanghai, the East
China and the South China Seas. The Bohai Sea is China's only inland sea.
There are 6,536 islands larger than 500 square meters, the largest being Taiwan, with a
total area of about 36,000 square kilometers, and the second, Hainan. The South China Sea
Islands are the southernmost island group of China.
Traditional Chinese opera has a history of more than 800 years. It is an art form which
integrates singing, music, dialogue, acting and acrobatics. There are more than 300
different operatic forms in China. As early as the first century B.C., more than 80
different kinds of musical instruments were already in use. Among the historical finds of
these instruments in Hubei in 1978 was a musical stand of 64 bronze bells. The bells have
considerable variation in pitch, and they were made more than 2,400 years ago
Major Tourist Attractions
- Chengde Mountain Resort
- Confucius and Confucius Mansion
- Dazu Stone Carvings
- Forbidden City
- The Great Wall
- Heavenly Lake
- Mogao GrottoesOld Town of Lijiang
- Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring
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- Potala Palace
- Shaolin Temple
- Shanghai Museum
- Shangri-la
- Shaolin Temple
- Summer Palace
- Temple of Heaven
- Terra-cotta Warriors
- Wuyi Mountain
- Yellow Mountain
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The Great Wall - It is one of China's most important cultural and
historical symbols. It is also one of the best known ancient constructions in the world.
The massive project stretches from Shanghaiguan in the east to Jiayuguan in the west, a
distance of over 6,300 kilometers, covering eight provinces, municipalities and autonomous
regions.
Shanghai
The largest city in China, Shanghai contains the most striking blend of oriental and
western cultures and of the past and present. In this city, European-style buildings can
be seen standing alongside Chinese structures and ancient temples. Modern ocean-going
vessels sail past junks.
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