China Smart: What You Don't Know, What You Need to Know-- a Past and Present Guide to History, Culture, Society, Language

Essential essays on all things Chinese that inform and entertain travelers, students, and anyone working or living in China.;Cover Page; Title Page; Copyright; Contents; Note to the Reader; China's Past; 1. Origin of the Word "China"; 2. The Great Wall; 3. The Imperial Examination System; 4. Two Bloody Civil Wars; 5. Empress Wu: China's Queen Elizabeth I?; 6. Hua Mulan; 7. Foot-binding; 8. Zheng He the Sailor; 9. All the Tea in China; 10. Silk Production; 11. Porcelain; Classic Chinese Texts; 12. Great Chinese Inventions; 13. Martial Arts; 14. The Real Origins of Bonsai, Tofu, and Koi; 15. The U.S. Opium Trade with China; 16. The First Educational Mission; 17. Chinese Immigration to the U.S.; 18. Chiang Kai-shek Cover Page Title Page Copyright Contents Note to the Reader China's Past 1. Origin of the Word "China" 2. The Great Wall 3. The Imperial Examination System 4. Two Bloody Civil Wars 5. Empress Wu: China's Queen Elizabeth I? 6. Hua Mulan 7. Foot-binding 8. Zheng He the Sailor 9. All the Tea in China 10. Silk Production 11. Porcelain Classic Chinese Texts 12. Great Chinese Inventions 13. Martial Arts 14. The Real Origins of Bonsai, Tofu, and Koi 15. The U.S. Opium Trade with China 16. The First Educational Mission 17. Chinese Immigration to the U.S. 18. Chiang Kai-shek 19. The Legacy of Mao ZedongChina's Society, Culture, and Language 20. Terms for Family Members 21. Holidays 22. The Chinese Written Language 23. The Chinese Spoken Language 24. Chinese Dialects 25. Chinese Surnames 26. Chinese Names in Western Media 27. Sayings You Thought Were Chinese ... But Aren't 28. Lucky and Unlucky Numbers 29. Dragons in Chinese Folklore 30. Ethnic Groups in China China: Provinces with Major Cities and Capitals 31. Differences Between Chinese and Japanese Cultures China Today 32. The Communist Party 33. The Chinese Military 34. China's Population 35. China's Biggest Cities36. Economic Growth and the Rise in Personal Income 37. Gender Equality 38. Marriage and Divorce Famous Figures in Chinese History 39. The LGBTQ Community 40. China's Youth 41. Gaokao: The College Entrance Exam 42. Favorite Music for Young People 43. Popular Films 44. Sports 45. Automobiles 46. Pollution 47. Religion Major Political Leaders of the 20th and 21st Centuries 48. Chinese Students in the U.S. 49. Are Chinese-American Restaurants Chinese? 50. American Fast Food in China 51. Most Chinese Don't Eat Dog Meat! 52. High-speed Railways 53. China's Cashless Society54. The Internet and Social Media 55. Social Change and New Laws 56. The Arts and Western Classical Music 57. Wildlife in China 58. China's Top Spots for Scenic Beauty 59. China's Emerging Role in the World Bibliography Index Back Cover How is China organized politically? What are the issues that young people face in today's China? What is China doing about its problem with pollution? Is the Chinese internet like our internet? What's China's role in the world today? And how much do you know about China's great woman emperor or the Chinese explorer whose voyages may have inspired the legend of Sinbad the Sailor? What are the major Chinese holidays, their superstitions regarding numbers, and the true nature of the Chinese written language? In nearly 60 brief essays, long-time China expert Larry Herzberg tackles important facts and myths about China, its history, people, and culture, as well as its contemporary society. Anyone dipping into this book will emerge that much smarter about China, whether visiting, conducting business, studying the language, or simply being fascinated by one of the world's greatest and most influential civilizations.