9781422285824

INTRODUCTION W ith a population of 1.35 billion people, China is the world’s most populous nation, a country brimming in history and overflowing with culture. Despite its rugged geographical isolation marked by brutal deserts, high mountain ranges, and thick rainforests, China has forged over the millennia what is perhaps the world’s longest continuous civilization. In terms of area, China is the third largest country in the world, behind Russia and Canada. Because of its immense size, China is a nation wrapped in many languages, religions, traditions, and cultures. It is a world that fascinates.

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INTRODUCTION