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  • Overview
    • (see separate entries for Taiwan and Hong Kong in the Asia page)
    • Economy - overview: China's economy during the last quarter century has changed from a centrally planned system that was largely closed to international trade to a more market-oriented economy that has a rapidly growing private sector and is a major player in the global economy. Reforms started in the late 1970s with the phasing out of collectivized agriculture, and expanded to include the gradual liberalization of prices, fiscal decentralization, increased autonomy for state enterprises, the foundation of a diversified banking system, the development of stock markets, the rapid growth of the non-state sector, and the opening to foreign trade and investment. China has generally implemented reforms in a gradualist or piecemeal fashion, including the sale of equity in China's largest state banks to foreign investors and refinements in foreign exchange and bond markets in 2005. The restructuring of the economy and resulting efficiency gains have contributed to a more than tenfold increase in GDP since 1978. Measured on a purchasing power parity (PPP) basis, China in 2006 stood as the second-largest economy in the world after the US, although in per capita terms the country is still lower middle-income and 130 million Chinese fall below international poverty lines. Economic development has generally been more rapid in coastal provinces than in the interior, and there are large disparities in per capita income between regions. The government has struggled to: (a) sustain adequate job growth for tens of millions of workers laid off from state-owned enterprises, migrants, and new entrants to the work force; (b) reduce corruption and other economic crimes; and (c) contain environmental damage and social strife related to the economy's rapid transformation. From 100 to 150 million surplus rural workers are adrift between the villages and the cities, many subsisting through part-time, low-paying jobs. One demographic consequence of the "one child" policy is that China is now one of the most rapidly aging countries in the world. Another long-term threat to growth is the deterioration in the environment - notably air pollution, soil erosion, and the steady fall of the water table, especially in the north. China continues to lose arable land because of erosion and economic development. China has benefited from a huge expansion in computer Internet use, with more than 100 million users at the end of 2005. Foreign investment remains a strong element in China's remarkable expansion in world trade and has been an important factor in the growth of urban jobs. In July 2005, China revalued its currency by 2.1% against the US dollar and moved to an exchange rate system that references a basket of currencies. In 2006 China had the largest current account surplus - nearly $180 billion - in the world. More power generating capacity came on line in 2006 as large scale investments were completed. Thirteen years in construction at a cost of $24 billion, the immense Three Gorges Dam across the Yangtze River was essentially completed in 2006 and will revolutionize electrification and flood control in the area. The 11th Five-Year Program (2006-10), approved by the National People's Congress in March 2006, calls for a 20% reduction in energy consumption per unit of GDP by 2010 and an estimated 45% increase in GDP by 2010. The plan states that conserving resources and protecting the environment are basic goals, but it lacks details on the policies and reforms necessary to achieve these goals. CIA Factfile.
  • Government

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  • Business
  • Culture
    • Chinese History and Culture A pro-Chinese summary of the country's cultural history.
    • The Internet Guide for China Studies This award winning guide is part of the official Asian Studies WWW Virtual Library and offers an annotated list of Internet sites dealing with Greater China (i.e. PR China, Tibet, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore). 
    • China Provides more than five link pages on education and research, history and culture, economy and politics, nature and mankind, and tours and entertainment. From Texas University.
    • China Index Provides information and links on news, travel, business, culture, government and medicine.
    • China site China-related links, many with annotations. Categories in Chinese and English.
    • Recipe Corner You can't miss Chinese culinary arts when you study Chinese culture.
    • Selected Chinese myths and fantasies Ancient Chinese myths and fantasies.

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  • Radio/TV
    • China Central Television - CCTV eight channel national television network. Features viewing guide, and satellite information.
    • Bejing-TV Net information on the television programming trade and television in China.

    • CNN Special edition of CNN, covers stories in Asia and Australasia

  • Newspapers

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  • General
    • Yahoo! China much like Yahoo!, but tailor-made for Chinese users.
  • Books
Business Decision Making in China by Quanyu Huang, Joseph W. Leonard, Chen Tong, Huang Quanyu 
Culture Shock!: China by Kevin Sinclair (Editor), Iris Po-Yee Wong, Iris W. Po-Yee (Editor) Part of the useful series on culture shock, a good introduction and a well presented series for a first impression of another culture. 

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