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Les Sources de Caudalie
If you’ve declared war on cellulite, this fall why not try the grape cure: grapes, and nothing but grapes, for 3 to 6 days in the Burgundy Region to give you healthier skin and a clearer complexion while detoxifying your body.
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Geography
Area: 9.6 million square kilometers
China is almost as large as all of Europe, with almost one-quarter of the world's total population. It's the world's largest country in terms of area after Russia and Canada. It extends from Siberia in the north to the tropical oceans of the south, contains the world's largest desert (the Gobi) and the highest mountain range with the highest point (Mount Everest in the Himalayas). A relief map of China can be compared to a staircase from west to east.
In the west are the Tibet and Qinghai plateaus. Melting snow and glaciers feed the sources of the largest rivers, the Blue (Yangzi jiang), the Mekong, and the Yellow (Huang he). In the north the Tarim Basin is the largest inland basin in the world; there you'll find the great Taklamaran desert and Lob Nor, the country's largest shifting saltwater lake, site of nuclear tests The Turfan depression, the hottest spot in China, called the oasis of fire, makes up the second level of the staircase.
Finally, the third step, descending to under 1000 m, contains the plains, highly-populated agricultural regions. Though agricultural land accounts for only 15 to 20% of the territory, it feeds more than 1 billion people!
Climate
The Climate varies greatly according to latitude: continental in the north, where the winters are cold and dry and the summers very hot, and tropical in the south with high summer humidity, but sunshine all year long, as in Hong Kong, where the average temperature is 23° C between October and March. In the central and back country regions, summers are very hot and often humid. The best seasons overall for visiting China are certainly spring and fall.
Capital
Beijing (Peking)
Political System
People's Socialist Republic
Language
The Chinese population is approximately 1.2 billion, of whom 95% are Han. Mandchous, Mongols, Ouigours and Hui (Muslims) make up the biggest ethnic minorities in the north and northwest. Beijing alone has 12 million inhabitants. Mandarin is the official language. English is spoken in large establishments in major cities and practiced by most students.
Pottery, which dates back 8000 years, reached its peak during the Song dynasty, when true porcelain made from kaolin, thin, white and almost transparent, was being produced. The blue and white porcelain probably appeared under the Yuan, while the Qing dynasty was the era of authentic painted porcelain decorated with delicate landscapes, birds and flowers.
In China, bronze work dates back more than 5000 years. Jade, attributed with magical powers, is found in all shades and nuances: it's when it is white that it is most valuable. Funerary objects made from clay date back to the 10th century BC. Some attest to important economic links with the west and the cosmopolitan life of the era.
China has a rich literary tradition, but the essentials of this heritage, particularly poetry, are untranslatable. As for cinema, China's films were for a long time virtually unknown but are now becoming better known thanks to international prizes.
Contemporary theater, most famously the Peking Opera, bears witness to 900 years of history. It offers a spectacle that includes acrobatics, martial arts, poetry and stylized dance. The four principal roles are the woman, the man, the painted face (gods and warriors) and the clown. Calligraphy was traditionally considered to be the supreme form of the fine arts: a bad calligrapher could never expect to pass the civil service examinations. Finally traditional architecture, represented by the imperial structures in Beijing, follows certain uniform rules: green or yellow roof, decorated with gods and symbols of luck (carp or dragons), stone lions at the entrance, a small interior courtyard with a large vase to hold incense and paper offerings, and predominant colors of red, gold, yellow and green…
Religion
The primary Religion is Buddhism (100 million adherents) followed by Taoism (30 million), Islam (20 million) and Christianity (4 million). Virtually all Chinese respect the cult of ancestors laid down by Confucius.
Habits & Customs
China is a country of traditions. Among them are family festivities, morning tai-chi gymnastics on the Shanghai Bund or in Beijing parks. Elders cultivate a love of birds, pampered in cages. Singing contests are organized throughout the day. A love of games is presented everywhere, from Chinese checkers, mah-jong and cards to billiards. When it comes to music, the Peking Opera interests practically no one but tourists, but on the other hand young people are passionate about karaoke (even the smallest town has a karaoke room) and the less young enjoy western-style dancing. Take note that a smile can often indicate embarrassment or worry.
Beijing
Have you ever imagined yourself walking along the Great Wall like a modern sentinel, exploring the mystery of the Forbidden City, and freely crisscrossing the haunted expanses of Tiananmen Square?
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