FAQ · History 31

The archaic human species Homo erectus arrived in Eurasia between 1.3 and 1.8 million years ago, with many remains found in China. One of the oldest examples is the Yuanmou Man, who lived in a bushland-forest environment alongside animals like deer and elephants. Another well-known group is Peking Man, discovered in the Zhoukoudian cave with various stone tools. Evidence of fire use by Homo erectus has also been found at the Xihoudu site in Shanxi Province. Finally, the earliest modern humans in China have been dated to between 120,000 and 80,000 years ago based on fossilized teeth from Fuyan Cave.

The existence of rhinoceroses in ancient China is confirmed by archaeological evidence and ancient literature. Two species that lived there were the Sumatran rhinoceros and the Javan rhinoceros. Ancient Chinese art features very accurate and lifelike depictions of these animals. Historical texts use different characters, such as xī and sì, to describe them. These descriptions often compare the animals to oxen, pigs, or boars depending on the specific source.

The term Chinese Empire refers to the realm ruled by the Emperor of China during the era of Imperial China. It may refer to imperial Chinese dynasties in general or specifically to the Ming and Qing dynasties. Another term used was the Celestial Empire, which referenced the emperor's status as the Son of Heaven. China was first unified under an emperor in 221 BC, with various dynasties ruling for two millennia. These dynasties included the Qin, Han, Jin, Sui, Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing.

Hong Kong was handed over to China at midnight on 1 July 1997 after 156 years of British rule. This transition followed the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration, which promised to guarantee the territory's economic and political systems for 50 years. Before the handover, many residents emigrated due to fears regarding civil rights and the rule of law. Immediately following the transition, the region faced several crises including the Asian financial crisis and the SARS epidemic. Since then, political debates have focused on democratic development and the adherence to the one country, two systems principle.

Macau independence is a stance advocating for Macau to become independent from the People's Republic of China. This issue was raised in 2016 following controversies regarding the revision of the election law for the Legislative Assembly of Macau. Some media outlets sensationalized the topic the following year, leading to various criticisms. Some commentators suggested the narrative was fabricated by authorities to suppress opposition. While Portugal once attempted to force China to recognize Macau's independence, Chinese governments have never relinquished sovereignty over the territory.

During the 19th century, several different names for China appeared in English-language publications. The term Cathay was used, although it was increasingly used in a poetic sense before being completely replaced by China. Mass media in North America and Australia also used the term Celestial Empire to refer to the status of the Emperor. Other names included the Tartar Chinese Empire or the Manchu Tartar dynasty. Additionally, the Tsing dynasty was used based on the Postal romanisation system.

A China watcher was a person who researched or reported on the politics of the People's Republic of China for Western consumption. During the Cold War, many of these individuals were based in Hong Kong and worked for news organizations, universities, or Western intelligence agencies. Because travel was prohibited and mutual distrust existed between the United States and China, they could not access official press briefings. Instead, they adopted techniques like parsing official announcements for hidden meanings and analyzing photographs of public appearances. They also interviewed refugees from mainland China and used analysis from Taiwan or the Soviet Union to inform their work.

Discussions regarding political change in China involve various perspectives on the country's governance and social structures. Some research explores the relationship between private entrepreneurs and democratic change within the state. Other studies examine the prospects for political change involving red capitalists and the role of the Party. There are also academic inquiries into the logic and limits of political reform in the country. Additionally, scholars look at the long march toward the rule of law in the Chinese context.

The Constitution of the People's Republic of China is a communist state constitution and serves as the supreme law of the country. The current version was adopted by the 5th National People's Congress on 4 December 1982 and has since undergone five subsequent revisions. This constitution establishes the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party over the nation and highlights the concept of democratic centralism. It defines the PRC as a socialist state governed by a people's democratic dictatorship led by the working class. Additionally, the document explains the nature and basic policies of the country through 4 chapters and 143 articles.

The conflict has impacted China's energy security and its global influence. Some analysts believe the war could harm China's defense exports and its Belt and Road investments. Supply chain shocks and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have cut off access to discounted Iranian crude oil. This situation threatens China's economic growth for 2026 and makes Middle East investments unstable. However, some experts argue that the war has actually strengthened China's global position rather than degrading its national power.

The People's Republic of China has several territorial disputes that largely correspond to the territory of the Qing empire. Many of these disputes are almost identical to those that the Republic of China historically had with other countries before its retreat to Taiwan. Certain claims to disputed maritime territories even date from before the 1949 proclamation of the People's Republic of China. The 1914 constitution of the Republic of China asserted that its territory continued the same as that of the former empire. Additionally, the 1931 provisional constitution stated that the territory included all provinces, Mongolia, and Tibet.

During the Zhou dynasty, internal migration was driven by the feudal system and the search for economic opportunities or safety. Nomadic threats also forced communities to move to seek refuge from incursions. The establishment of trade routes like the Silk Road further facilitated both internal and external migration. Later, during the Qing dynasty, there was a massive movement of Han people into Manchuria. Although the government initially prohibited non-Eight Banner people from entering the region, Han migrants settled there to cultivate land. This migration eventually led to Han people becoming a majority population in urban areas by the early 19th century.

The Language Atlas of China provides maps that show the distribution of both Chinese varieties and ethnic minority languages. This atlas was a collaborative effort between the Australian Academy of the Humanities and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. It was published in two parts between 1987 and 1989 and later saw a second edition in 2012. The atlas includes a specific section dedicated to ethnic minorities and minority languages in China. It contains 36 colored maps accompanied by explanatory notes.

Zhu Dehai was a significant figure who represented the Korean ethnic minority during the establishment of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference in 1949. He attended the grand ceremony for the founding of the People's Republic of China as a representative of Koreans in China. Following the official designation of Yanbian as a Korean Autonomous Region in 1952, he was appointed as its first chairman. He continued in this leadership role when the area was renamed the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in 1955. However, during the Cultural Revolution, he was prosecuted as a capitalist roader, local nationalist, or counterrevolutionist.

Many Hong Kong residents demanded the implementation of dual universal suffrage for the Chief Executive and Legislative Council elections. This proposal was first introduced by the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong in mid-May 2005. Although the proposal received majority support from Legislative Council members, it was ultimately rejected by Beijing. The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress decided that full universal suffrage would not be implemented for the 2012 elections. Pro-democracy advocates had been calling for direct elections since the 1980s.

The social systems of the Four Great Ancient Civilizations were quite different from one another. While Egypt and Babylon adopted slavery and India utilized the caste system, China employed the feudal system and the well-field system. These Chinese systems existed before the Spring and Autumn period and the Warring States period. Each of these ancient civilizations also developed its own unique myths and legends. This diversity highlights how early human societies organized themselves differently.

The Cairo Declaration in 1943 stated that all territories occupied by Japan, including Formosa, would be returned to the Republic of China. This was reiterated in the 1945 Potsdam Declaration, leading to the formal surrender of Japanese forces in Taiwan to the Republic of China. However, the 1951 Treaty of San Francisco did not clearly indicate to whom Taiwan's sovereignty belonged due to the Chinese civil war. Subsequently, the 1952 Treaty of Taipei saw Japan reiterate its abandonment of sovereignty over Taiwan, the Pescadores, the Spratlys, and the Paracels. This historical context remains central to the complex relations involving the Republic of China and the People's Republic of China.

Following the 1992 normalization of diplomatic relations, many South Korean citizens began settling in mainland China. Large communities have formed in cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Dalian, and Qingdao. Many migrants arrived as employees of South Korean corporations or to start their own businesses. The South Korean government officially recognizes seven international schools established in various Chinese cities between 1997 and 2003. While populations fluctuated due to economic factors, South Koreans have historically represented a significant foreign group in mainland China.

Members of the Uyghur diaspora face significant challenges including surveillance and pressure from China. China has been accused of using family members still in the country to coerce those living overseas into returning. Reports indicate that China's hacking efforts against the diaspora are aggressive and extend globally to target journalists and dissidents. Additionally, many Uyghurs have been detained and deported back to China from various countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey. There are also concerns regarding the issuance of passports containing false information to create pretexts for deportation.

The China Academy of Cultural Heritage is a scientific research organization dedicated to the protection, preservation, and restoration of cultural heritage. It operates under the direct leadership of the National Cultural Heritage Administration of China. This institute is one of the leading professional forces in the country within this field. Its main responsibilities include cultural heritage research, conservation, restoration, and training. The organization consists of several operational departments, including the China World Cultural Heritage Centre.

Most traditional holidays are scheduled according to the Chinese calendar. However, some exceptions like the Qingming and winter solstice days fall on the respective solar terms in the agricultural calendar. These holidays are an essential part of harvests or prayer offerings. The four recognized festivals include the Spring Festival, the Qingming Festival, the Dragon Boat Festival, and the Mid-Autumn Festival. Traditional holidays can vary from region to region.

A well-known legend tells of a married couple living at the foot of Baozhang Mountain who could not have children. After the wife dreamed of a dragon landing on their roof, their two black dogs began standing guard on the roof for weeks. The wife soon discovered she was pregnant, but the farmer killed one dog in frustration, leading the other to eventually die of starvation. A fortune teller revealed that the wife was actually pregnant with an emperor's son and the dogs were sent to protect them. He warned that the reigning emperor would send soldiers to kill the family to secure his throne.

Mo practitioners celebrate several festivals of Chinese origin including the Spring Festival, the Ching Ming Festival, the Dragon Boat Festival, the Mid-Autumn Festival, and the Dongzhi. They also observe Sanyuesan on 3 March of the lunar calendar, which is considered as important as Qingming. Other celebrations include the Cattle Soul Festival on the 8th day of the 4th lunar month and the Frog Festival during the 1st lunar month. Additionally, the Ghost Festival is observed over several days based on the belief that the deceased can contact relatives. Regular rituals are performed on traditional celebrations prescribed in the yearly calendar.

Chinese popular music began with the shidaiqu genre, which was founded by Li Jinhui and influenced by Western jazz. Following the Chinese Communist Revolution, popular music was denounced as Yellow Music and the industry moved from Shanghai to Hong Kong and Taiwan. This shift led to the rise of cantopop in Hong Kong and mandopop in Taiwan during the 1970s. Pop music eventually returned to mainland China in the late 1970s due to economic reforms. Although the government occasionally maintained a censorious attitude, pop music popularity continued to increase significantly. By the 21st century, mainland Chinese artists began producing a wide range of Mandarin pop songs.

The 1982 constitution has undergone five subsequent amendments to adapt to changing political and economic landscapes. In 1988, changes allowed for a private sector and the separation of land use rights from land ownership. The 1993 amendment incorporated the socialist market economy and affected various articles and the preamble. In 1999, Deng Xiaoping Theory was added, private property was guaranteed, and human rights protections were included. A 2004 amendment enshrined the national anthem, while the 2018 amendment established the National Supervisory Commission and removed term limits for the President and Vice President.

The number of reported acts of racism against Africans and black foreigners of African descent increased in mainland China during the COVID-19 pandemic. Black foreigners who are not from Africa have also faced racism and discrimination in the country. In response to criticism, Chinese authorities established a hotline for foreign nationals. They also implemented measures to discourage businesses and rental houses in Guangzhou from refusing people based on race or nationality. The Foreign Ministry spokesman claimed the country has zero tolerance for such discrimination.

In 2024, China has begun approving more games as it seeks to revive the industry following a crackdown in 2021. The government has approved an average of 107 games per month throughout the year. This period also saw the release of China's first AAA game, Black Myth: Wukong. Analysts expect the success of this title to positively impact the industry by encouraging the government to issue more licenses. Such licenses could help domestic studios focus on developing more AAA games.

Made in China 2025 is a national strategic plan and industrial policy designed to develop the manufacturing sector of the People's Republic of China. The initiative aims to transition the country from a producer of cheap low-tech goods into a technology-intensive powerhouse with more value added. One major goal is to increase the domestic content of core materials to 70 percent by 2025. To achieve independence from foreign suppliers, the plan encourages increased production in high-tech products and services, with the semiconductor industry being central to the strategy. Although the phrase has been de-emphasized in official communications since 2018, the Chinese government continues to invest heavily in these technologies.

China is set to host the APEC 2026 Leaders Summit from 18 to 19 November 2026. The summit will be located in Shenzhen, China. Chinese leader Xi Jinping is expected to preside over the event with attendance by leadership from APEC member states. There are ongoing diplomatic efforts regarding potential meetings between leaders during this period. However, Chinese authorities have remained unresponsive to certain requests for high-level meetings.

Shanghai's Caohejing Export Processing Zone sits in the Pujiang Hi-Tech Park, with a first-stage area of nine-tenths of a square kilometre near the XuPu Bridge and the Outer Ring Road, and it focuses on electronics and information-technology manufacturing. The wider Caohejing Hi-Tech Park, in the southwest of the city, lies 11 kilometres from the centre and 7 kilometres from Hongqiao International Airport, with a planned area of 1,430 hectares. It specialises in computers and software, large-scale integrated circuits, microelectronics, precision instruments, bioengineering, and space and advanced electronic technology. By the end of 2001, 280 foreign-invested enterprises had settled there, and foreign investment had reached 1,800 million US dollars. In 2004 the State Council approved Caohejing Pujiang Hi-Tech Park as an expansion made up of an export-processing zone, a high-tech industrial area, and a business-support area, together covering 1,070 hectares.

During the Tang era, armor and mounts were supplied by the state through state funds. Because they were state-funded, these items were considered state property. Private ownership of military equipment such as crossbows, long lances, and horse armor was strictly prohibited. Possession of such items was viewed as an intent of rebellion or treason. The army staff maintained detailed records of all issued weapons and armor to prevent loss.