China is the world’s most populous country, and one of the
earliest ancient civilisations which is quickly becoming the
fastest growing economy of the 21st century. Officially known as
the People’s Republic of China, it is the third largest country
in the world after Russia and Canada. Its vast land area borders
14 countries, and with almost 700 cities, China is a country of
diverse regions and provinces, many of which are important
tourist destinations. As the birthplace of ancient Chinese
civilisation dating back 4,000 years, it is no wonder that China
is home to over 40 World Heritage sites, from the Great Wall to
the imperial palaces of the Ming dynasty and the classical
gardens of Suzhou. In Mandarin, China is referred to as zhong
guo, which means ‘Middle Kingdom’. The capital city of Beijing
is its central point of administrative and political activities,
while Shanghai, its largest city, is the country’s financial and
cultural heart. China is a country of abundant natural
resources, diverse climates an