Chapter 1 The Geographic,Climatic and Political Conditions of China（中国概况） 1
Geographic Position（地理位置） 2
Terrain and Topography（地形地势） 5
Climate of China（气候） 8
Natural Resources（自然资源） 11
The World's Most Populous Country（人口） 15
The Socialist System（社会制度） 18
A Unitary Multinational State（民族） 22
Freedom of Religious Beliefs（宗教信仰） 26
Chapter 2 An Ancient Civilization with a History of 5,000 Years（人文历史） 31
Ancient Chinese Mythology（古代神话） 32
Classical Chinese Poetry（古诗词） 37
The Four Great Inventions of Ancient China（四大发明） 40
Confucius and Confucianism（孔子和儒家） 44
Ancient Chinese Characters（汉字） 48
Ancient Chinese Philosophy（中国古代哲学） 52
A Survey of Ancient Chinese Science（中国古代科学） 56
Classic Chinese Novel（中国古典小说） 59
Chapter 3 Magic Cities with Their Distinct Characteristics and Rich Local Colors（魅力城市） 63
Beijing,the Most Popular Place of Cultural Heritage in China（北京） 64
Shanghai,the Shopping Paradise and Oriental Paris（上海） 67
Luoyang,the Town of Peony（洛阳） 71
Hangzhou,the Beautiful West Lake and City Sceneries（杭州） 75
Guangzhou,a Prosperous Industrial City（广州） 79
Shenzhen,the First Special Economic Zone（深圳） 82
Hong Kong,the Pearl of the East（香港） 85
Lhasa,Mysterious and Romantic Sunshine State（拉萨） 88
Tianjin,a Living Modem History Book（天津） 92
Xi'an,Han Qin Brick Watts and Modern Civilization（西安） 95
Chapter 4 Beautiful Scenic Sites（风景名胜） 99
The Summer Palace,a Famous Classical Imperial Garden（颐和园） 100
The Great Wall,an Amazing Place（长城） 103
Emperor Kangxi's Summer Mountain Resort in Chengde（承德避暑山庄） 106
The Figurines of Soldiers and Horses from the Qin Mausoleum（秦陵兵马俑） 110
The Mural Art in Dunhuang's Mogao Caves（敦煌莫高窟） 114
The Longmen Grottoes（龙门石窟） 118
Mount Wutai,One of the Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains（五台山） 121
Huangshan,a Fairyland on the Earth（黄山） 124
Jiuzhaigou,a Place of Breath-Taking Beauty（九寨沟） 128
The Lijiang Old Town,Orderly System of Waterways and Bridges（丽江古城） 132
The Spectacular Stone Forest in Kunming（昆明石林） 135
Xishuangbanna,Rich in Ethnic and Regional Culture（西双版纳） 139
The Serene and Charming West Lake in Hangzhou（杭州西湖） 142
The Most Unique Style of Suzhou Gardens（苏州园林） 145
Hulunbeier Grassland,Blue Sky,White Clouds,and the Prairie（呼伦贝尔草原） 148
Namtso Lake,the Graceful and Holy Lake in Tibet（纳木错湖） 152
Namjagbarwa,the Magnificent Snowy Peaks（南迦巴瓦峰） 155
Chapter 5 Universities and Museums（文化掠影） 159
Peking University,the First National Comprehensive University in China（北京大学） 160
Tsinghua University,Free and Independent Spirit（清华大学） 164
The Glorious History of the University of Hong Kong（香港大学） 167
The National Palace Museum,Magnificent Palace with Precious Works of Art（故宫博物院） 170
The National Museum of China,a Treasure-House of Rich Cultural and Artistic Treasures（中国国家博物馆） 174
Henan Provincial Museum,Essence of the Central Plains Culture（河南博物院） 177
Shaanxi History Museum,a place with Most Cultural and Historical Relics（陕西历史博物馆） 180
Chapter 6 Chinese Traditions and Customs（风土人情） 183
Chinese Names（姓名） 184
The Dragon Culture（龙文化） 188
Secretive Twelve Chinese Zodiac Signs（十二生肖） 192
Traditions and Customs with Weddings and Funerals（传统婚葬习俗） 196
Strong Family Relationships of Chinese（家庭观念） 200
The Taboos about Numbers and Colors（忌讳的数字和颜色） 203
The Etiquette of Receiving and Giving out Gifts（礼尚往来） 207
Chinese Etiquette,a Nation of Etiquette（礼仪） 210
Chapter 7 The ColorfuI Quintessence of Chinese Culture（缤纷国粹） 215
China,the Hometown of China（瓷器） 216
Peking Opera,the National Opera of China（京剧） 220
The Luxurious and Mysterious Silk（丝绸） 225
Chinese Kungfu,Another National Essence（中国功夫） 228
Traditional Chinese Medicine,a Broad and Deep System（中医） 231
Calligraphy,Manifestation of the Basic Characteristics of all Chinese Arts（书法） 234
The Refinement and Elegance of Chinese Traditional Painting（国画） 238
Chinese Paper Cuttings which Bring Good Luck（剪纸） 241
Crosstalk,a Typical Art in China（相声） 244
Chinese Classical Music,with Delicate Fluctuation and Artistic Conception（古典民乐） 247
Chapter 8 Exquisite Works of Art and Valuable National Treasures（瑰丽国宝） 251
The Simuwu Rectangle Tripod,the Biggest Piece of Bronze Ware（司母戊大方鼎） 252
Lotus and Crane Rectangular Hu,a Distinctive and Elaborate Bronze Ware（莲鹤方壶） 256
A Zun Wine Vessel with the Heads of Four Goats Carved on It（四羊方尊） 259
Zenghouyi Chime Bells,a Splendid Testimony of Music 2,000 Years Ago（曾侯乙编钟） 262
Jade Clothes Sewn with Golden Threads,Consummate Skills of Ancient Chinese（金缕玉衣） 266
Giant Panda,the Animal Representative of China（大熊猫） 269
Endangered Golden Monkeys（金丝猴） 273
Crested Ibis,the Oriental Gem（朱鹮） 276
Metasequoia,the World's most Ancient Tree Species（水杉） 279
The Dove Tree,the Living Fossil Plant（珙桐） 282
Chapter 9 The Country's Fascinating National Cuisine（美食天下） 285
No Food is Better than Jiaozi（饺子） 286
Rice Glue Balls,Light Fragrance of Sweet,Unique Flavor（汤圆） 290
Spring Roll,Extremely Tasty and Healthy（春卷） 294
Niangao（New Year Cake Made of Glutinous Rice Flour）（年糕） 298
Chinese Noodles,Different from Spaghetti（中国面条） 301
Sugarcoated Haws on a Stick,Attractive and Delicious（糖葫芦） 304
Beijing Roast duck,a Special Snack（北京烤鸭） 308
The Wonderful Tofu,Good for Our Health（豆腐） 312
Hot Pot,the Best Enjoyment in Winter（火锅） 315
Chapter 10 Traditional Chinese Festivals（民俗节日） 319
The Spring Festival,the most Important Traditional Festival in China（春节） 320
The Lantern Festival,a Part of the Spring Festival（元宵节） 324
Qingming Festival,a Tomb-Sweeping Day（清明节） 328
The Dragon Boat Festival,in Memory of a Chinese Poet（端午节） 332
The Double-Seventh Day,the Chinese Valentine's Day（七夕节） 335
Zhong Yuan Festival,Offering Sacrifices to Ghosts（中元节） 338
The Mid-Autumn Festival,a Time of Family Reunions and Eating Mooncakes（中秋节） 341
The Double Ninth Festival,the Festival of the Elderly（重阳节） 345
The Laba Rice Porridge Festival,the Starting of New Year（腊八节） 349