Page 63 - Mongolia & the Gobi Desert

• Religions: Buddhist 18.2%, Christian 5.1%, Muslim 1.8%, folk religion 21.9%, Hindu <
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When it is 6am in Washington D.C., it is 6pm in China (add an hour for daylight saving
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National Holidays: China

In addition to the holidays listed below, holidays, please visit www.timeanddate.
China celebrates a number of national com/holidays.
holidays that follow a lunar calendar, such
01/01 New Year’s Day
as the Chinese New Year, Spring Festival,
8TO ,`_`XY 1P^_TaLW LYO XZ]P ?Z ʭYO 05/01 Labor Day
out if you will be traveling during these
10/01 National Day

Historical Overview
Early History

Archaeological records of a highly developed civilization in the area now known as China date
back to around 4000 B.C., suggesting that the Chinese people have shared a common culture
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been established around 1800 B.C. At that time, the country remained split into many feudal
states. Although the King was recognized for his ritual role, power was dispersed among feudal
lords, and warring between feudal states was common.

The Shang kings called themselves the “Sons of Heaven” and presided over a cult of animal
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by nomads from the north, often referred to as “barbarians” (meaning anyone not of Chinese
descent). However, the nomads always moved on after their conquests, and the dynastic rulers
remained in power.

By 1500 B.C., the Chinese had already made great advancements in the areas of science and
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bronze castings. However, the majority of the Chinese people still made their living from a
combination of hunting and agriculture. The peasants owned the land on which they farmed,
but owed military service to the nobles. As in all agricultural societies, the family was the
dominant social unit. Often, large extended families lived together under one roof, and groups
of families living in the same geographical area sometimes adopted common surnames and
formed clans.

The Classical Age

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