With more than 4,000 years of a long and brilliant history, China is one of the few existing countries that flourished economically and culturally in the earliest period of world civilization. Over the past 50 centuries, it has created an extensive and profound civilization, as well as a diverse and colorful cultural heritage. Its history has never been interrupted or diminished and it is certainly not a civilization suddenly discovered after many decades or dynasties. Though ancient China was destroyed by internal revolution and foreign humiliation, the glory of the great Empire has influenced the course of Chinese history and also the development of modern China. The Chinese have always looked back to history, not because they are backward looking or are simply conservative, they do so for concrete evidence and past experience as precedent to make some decisions. The world has been observing the revival miracle of China for many years, while at the same time paying more and more attention to China’s unique history and culture, which possesses infinite charm and splendor.

Man has lived for a very long time in what is now China, according to archaeological finds. In many parts of the country, for instance, fossil remains of primitive ape men have been unearthed. Among them are the fossil remains of the Yuanmou Ape Man who lived in Yunnan Province some 1.7 million years ago. People in China take pride in calling themselves the offspring of Huang Di or Yellow Emperor, a tribal chief who dwelled in the Yellow River Valley more than four millennium ago. Like all other people on earth, the Chinese have passed through the primitive, matriarchal and patriarchal communes, and the slave and feudal systems. The region was then reduced to a semi-colonized and semi-feudal condition after the Opium War in 1840, which was initiated by imperialist invaders. It was not until 1911 that the rule of the Qing Dynasty was overthrown through a revolution led by Sun Yet-sen. On October 1, 1949, the Communist Party of China with Mao Zedong as the Chairman united the Chinese people and founded the People's Republic of China.

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