China isn't so much a country as a different world. From highly modernized urban centres to the rolling grasslands of Inner Mongolia - with sweeping deserts, sacred peaks, astounding caves, and imperial ruins, it's a land of cultural and geographic schisms. It's not that China has completely done away with its Maoist past - it's more that the yin of revolutionary zeal is being balanced by the yang of economic pragmatism, and the old guard communists are giving way to the new wave entrepreneurs.

It's a land of towering mountains and breath-taking landscapes - background scenery to the fall of dynasties, the rise of emperors and the turning of the revolutionary wheel. Use this section for information on...

People's Republic of China
Shandong Province
Qingdao

The People's Republic of China is the 3rd largest country in the World in terms of area and the largest in terms of population. Its total area is 9.6 million square kilometres and its population is 1.2 billion. China has shared borders for centuries with Korea, the former Soviet Union, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan, Burma, Laos and Vietnam.

• Capital city Beijing
  
  
• National anthem March of the Volunteers (lines: Arise, those who do not want to be slaves! We will use our flesh and blood to build another Great Wall. China has reached the brink of national collapse. All the people have been making their last outcry. Arise! Arise! Arise! All our hearts become one. Let us face the angry guns. March on! Let us face the angry guns. March on! March on! March on! On!)
  
  
• National Day October 1, the country was founded in 1949.
  
  
• Location in East Asia, by the west Pacific Ocean.
  
  
• Territory area 9.6 million square km, second to Russia and Canada.
  
  
• Largest city Shanghai.
  
  
• Currency Renminbi (RMB) yuan.

Shandong Province (Lu for short) is situated in the lower reaches of the Yellow River, covering an area of 150,000 square kilometers and with a population of 85.8 million.

Lying in the eastern part of the North China Plain, 65% of Shandong's total area are plains and low-lying land, while 35% hills and mountains. Its rivers are part of the Yellow River, Hai River or Huai River. The Yellow River and the Grand Canal are its main waterways. It has a warm temperate semi-humid climate. Major mineral deposits includes coal, petroleum, iron, aluminium, and gold. The coastal area is abundant in fish and salt.

Shandong's industry covers oil extraction, and processing, machinery, electric power, chemicals, foodstuff, textile, arts & crafts, papermaking etc. In recent years, it has seen a rapid development in computer industry and consumer electronic industry, holding an important place in China in output value.

Shandong is a key production area for grain, cotton and oil crops. It usually ranks first or second in production output. Shandong is also well known for its tobacco, fruit, peanuts, tussah silks, meat, and marine products.

While railway is its mainstay of transport, Shandong is one of the Chinese provinces with the most dense highway network. It has seaports like Qingdao, Yantai, Weihai, Longkou, Shijiu and Lanshantou etc.

Shandong is rich in historical and cultural resources, and gifted with beautiful landscapes. Among its famous scenic spots and historical sides are Taishan, Laoshan, seaside of Jiaodong Peninsular, Confucius family Mansion, Confucius Woods and Temple in Qufu etc. Renowned traditional specialties include clocks and watches of Yantai, porcelain of Zibo, Kites of Weifang, shell-carving and beer of Qingdao.

Qingdao is a beautiful seaside city on the southern coast of the Shandong Peninsula bordering on the Yellow Sea and the Jiaozhou Bay. The city lies on undulating hills with luxuriantly green trees and buildings noted for their attractive architectural styles.

The red colour of the tiled rooves, green colour of the trees hills and blue of the sea contrast beautifully. All this along with its beautiful climate, make the city well-known as a summer and health resort.

• Laoshan - Laoshan, one of China's famous mountains, has many scenic spots. It has been known as the "Home of immortals".
  
  
• Ba Da Guan - With beautiful natural landscape, Ba Da Guan (The Eight Passes Area) is a well-known sanitorium quarter. The luxuriant flowers and trees make it a place of picturesque scenery.
  
  
• Marine Products Museum and Aquarium - Different specimens of sea plants and creatures are on show in the Marine Products Museum. In the Aquarium visitors may see more than 60 glass tanks filled with a variety of tropical fish.

Qingdao lies in the southeast of Shandong province. It is one of the largest industrial centers, and port cities in China. It has an area of 10,654 square km, and a population of 6.73 million. The city is open to tourism and trade. Qingdao is bounded on the southeast by the Yellow Sea.

About half of the area are mountains and hills, the rest is fertile plains. It has a temperate maritime climate with an annual average temperature of 12.2° degrees, and about 209 frost-free days. Annual rainfall averages 222 millimeters.

The main mineral deposits of Qingdao are graphite, gold, granite, turquoise, and crystal. It is also rich in sea resources, including fish and salt. The chief farm products are wheat, peanuts, and fruit.

Qingdao is one of the most important textile industry centers in China, and also a large industrial producer, concentrating on diesel locomotives, chemical products, rubber, electric appliances, machinery, and handcraft. The Qingdao Economic and Technical Development Zone has already been established. Qingdao has some first-class harbors with international transportation links. Ocean-going ships of up to 10,000 tons can load and unload at these harbors. The Huangdao wharf is a large oil wharf that can be used by oil tankers of 200,000 tons. The rail, road and air transportation facilities are also perfect.

Qingdao is a seaside city with beautiful beaches and mountains. Laoshan, a mountain area covering some 400 square km, is a well-known scenic area. The hot spring in Jimoui, the Mausoleum of 500 Martyrs in Tianheng, the Nanlan Relic in Laixi, and the Gucheng Relic are the region's premier tourist attractions. The special local-made products include beer, wine, embroidery, and shell pictures.