China

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The capital

Beijing, previously Romanized as Peking, is the capital of China. With more than 22 million residents, it is the world's most populous national capital city as well as China's second largest city after Shanghai. It is located in Northern China

It’s located

in East Asia and lies between latitudes 35.0° North and longitudes 103.00° East.

It’s people

It is the world's most populous country, with a population of around 1,439,323,776 in 2020 at midyear according to UN data and world's third largest country in terms of area.

The official language

China’s language is the world’s oldest written language and has a history going back more than 6,000 years

Because China covers a large area of land with dozens of national minorities, there are hundreds of languages spoken throughout China. Mandarin, the most commonly spoken language in China, is also the world’s most spoken language with 1.5 billion speakers.

There are more than 300 languages spoken in China that fall under 9 language families. While these spoken dialects of mainland China are sometimes mutually unintelligible, some share a common written language. because there are huge variations in these dialects or languages, some may be as subtle as different accents or dialect words known in certain regions — such as the difference between UK and US English — but some are considered very distinct languages.

The official religion

Atheism

Atheism is the official religion of the People's Republic of China. However, there are now five alternative state-sanctioned religious affiliations: Buddhism, Taoism, Catholicism, Protestantism, and Islam. The Chinese Communist Party is officially atheist, but it recognizes these five religions. Authorities tightly monitor registered and unregistered groups. There are a growing number of religious believers, including those who practice folk religions and more than a dozen other banned faiths

 Why Chinese people like Red color so much?

In Chinese culture, red symbolizes good fortune, prosperity, and happiness. The Chinese phrase “红红火火” (hóng hóng huǒ huǒ) conveys the auspicious wishes for vigor, passion and liveliness.

Chinese Ethnic Groups

China is composed of 56 ethnic group (we will focus on 6 of them)

1-   The Han

Han Chinese represent more than 90% of China’s population and roughly 20% of the world’s population, around 1.1 billion people. Han Chinese derive from the Han Dynasty, which ruled for 400 years, making it the longest-ruling empire in China’s history. Most Han speak Mandarin.

2-   The Zhuang

with 18 million people. The Zhuang people are mostly concentrated in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in southern China. Although the Zhuang have their own language, most of them speak Chinese dialects.

Muslim ethnic groups

There are two major Muslim ethnic groups in China: the Hui and the Uighurs. There are 10.5 million Hui and 10 million Uighurs in China.

3-   The Hui

The Hui are concentrated in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in northwest China and also spread out across Xinjiang. The Hui practice Islam and are descendants of the Turks like the Uighurs, however, unlike them, they didn’t retain a Turkish dialect and mostly speak Mandarin. In some sense, the Hui are unique because they represent the only ethnic group in China for which religion is the only unifying criterion of identity. The vast majority of the Hui speak Mandarin and have the same dietary preferences as the Han, but refrain from eating pork, which is the most common meat consumed in China. The Hui have largely assimilated into Han society and have adapted their Islamic practices to fit into the Confucian-influenced culture. Hui mosques blend traditional Chinese dynastic architecture with Islamic motifs.

4-   The Uighurs

on the other hand, account for more than half of all Muslims in China. They are distant relatives of the Turks, and their language belongs to the Turkic group of the Altaic branch. Their written language is based on Arabic characters. Uighur means “unity” or “alliance” and they’re mostly settled in China’s northwestern territory, namely the Xinjiang province.

5-   The Manchu

with over 10 million people. Manchuria is a region of northeastern China that encompasses Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning provinces. Manchuria has a long history both as a conqueror and conquest of China. Their ancestry can be traced back more than 2,000 years to the Sushen tribe, and later to other tribes native to the Changbai Mountains such as the Yilou, Huiji, Mohe, and Nuzhen. Manchu men and women were excellent equestrians and archers, and young children were taught to hunt swan with bows and arrows by the age of six or seven, while teenagers learned to ride on horseback in full hunting gear. The very last emperor of China, Henry Pu Yi was a Manchu. Today, only a handful of elderly people in the most remote corners of northeast China still speak the Manchu language, which belongs to the Manchu-Tungusic group of the Altaic language family. As for the rest of the Manchus, they speak Mandarin like the Han.

6-   The Mongols

The Mongolians mainly live in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, with others scattered around Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang, Xinjiang, Hebei, and Beijing. More than 21 million people live in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, 2 million of whom are Mongolians. Many others belong to minorities such as Hui, Manchu, Daur, Ewenki, Oroqen, Koreans, and Han. was the name of a tribe roaming along the Erguna River. The Mongols moved through the grasslands of western Mongolia in the 7th century until they settled in the upper reaches of the Onon, Kerulen and Tula Rivers and areas east of the Kentey Mountains in the twelfth century. Many tribes stemmed from the Mongols, including the Tartar, Wongjiqa, Mierqi, and Kelie around Lake Baikal.

China famous clothing

Hanfu

It is the most well-known Traditional style of Chinese clothing. Because of its luxurious styles and beautiful colors, Hanfu has become one of the most favorable clothing to take photos for Chinese females. Hanfu features a loose upper garment with a cross collar, wide sleeves, and ankle-length skirts or trousers. The buttonless upper garment overlaps the right border to the left and is tied with a belt sash. The belt sash was often decorated with jade. Hanfu is a typical representative of traditional Chinese clothing. It has a history of more than 4,000 years.

Han Traditional Chinese Clothing

Chinese people don't wear Hanfu in their daily lives, but Han fu is still popular on special occasions such as weddings and Chinese New Year celebrations.

Cheongsam - Qipao

The cheongsam, also known as Qipao, is a traditional Chinese dress originating from a kind of garment worn by Manchurian women about 300 years ago.

Qipao

The cheongsam is a tight-fitting dress. The length of the cheongsam can be long or short. Cheongsam features a standing collar, the two ends of the collar fasten at the center of the front of the neck with pankous (traditional Chinese knotted buttons), and a pair of high-side slits above the knee. The sleeves can be of different shapes and lengths. Cheongsam is now the most famous traditional Chinese clothes around the world.

Suit (Tangzhuang)

Tang suit, also known as the Chinese suit, or Tangzhuang, is a traditional Chinese jacket with Manchu origins and Han elements combined with a Western-style suit-cutting method.

It does not refer to the clothing of the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907). Actually, the Tang suit originated and developed from "Magua", a clothing of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

Originating from Magua, a Manchu men's jacket in the Qing Dynasty, the Tang suit features a duijin, a Chinese-style front opening jacket with buttons down the front. It has a stand-up collar, and knobs made of intricately knotted strings.

The Tang suit is popular in the world. It also has had a great influence on the clothing styles of some Asian countries.  Today, Chinese men still wear Tang suits as one of the formal attires on various occasions.

Tang Suit as Wedding costumes

Zhongshan Suit

Zhongshan suit, also called the Yat-sen suit or Mao suit, is a male attire style that combines the Western-style suit and traditional Chinese clothing style.

It features a turn-down collar, four pockets with flaps, five big buttons in the front, and three small cuff buttons on either sleeve.

The name of the Zhongshan suit comes from Sun Yat-sen, the main leader who ended the Qing dynastic government and founded the Republic of China (1912 - 1949).

Sun Yat-sen introduced the Zhongshan suit as a national garment shortly after the founding of the Republic of China and it became extremely popular among the Chinese people since then.

Most common clothing wearing nowadays

Light layers: Bring a mix of long-sleeved shirts, light sweaters, and a medium-weight jacket.

Trousers and jeans: Comfortable pants for daily wear.

Comfortable walking shoes: For exploring cities and attractions

China landmarks

Dujiangyan Panda Base

the Best Place to See the Giant Pandas

A landmark in wildlife preservation. China's giant panda has become one of must-see attractions of China, alongside the Great Wall, the Terracotta Army, and the Li River. The best places to see the giant pandas are at the Dujiangyan Panda Base in Chengdu, where volunteer programs allowing close contact with the giant pandas.

 The 20 Yuan Bank Note Site — a Li River Landmark

As the fifth series of Chinese bank notes was issued, the Li River scenery printed on the back of the 20-yuan bill became a landmark of China. This image was taken at a site near Xingping Dock in Yangshuo. It is a part of theLi River cruise route. Your cruise ship will slow down there, so that you can feast your eyes on the landmark.

Renowned for its karst landforms, limestone cones, cylinders, and hills, the Li River has inspired countless Chinese poets and artists and has been repeatedly depicted on the country's newspapers and magazines.

Mutianyu's "Mao Loyalty Ridge", the Best Place to See the Great Wall

The Great Wall, a star attraction in China, is a symbol of China, together with Tiananmen Square and the five stars or the Communist flag.

If you are planning to visit the Great Wall of China, the best section is at Mutianyu, a fully-restored with elegant scenery, less crowds, and good walking conditions. The most challenging section (very steep) is near the "Mao's Loyalty Ridge", taking about 30 minutes to climb the steps.

The landmark of Mutianyu's Great Wall section is the hill with a large stone inscription saying "忠于毛主席" (Be loyal to Chairman Mao), which was made in the Cultural Revolution period (1966-1976). Standing on the ridge, you can have a bird's eye view of the Great Wall in this area.

The Forbidden City — the Largest Imperial Palace in the World

The Forbidden City (or the Palace Museum) is one of the must-visit attractions for travelers to China. It used to be an imperial palace in the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. It has housed 24 emperors. Today, the palace is a large museum, housing thousands of historical relics.

The layout of this palace is strictly according to Chinese fengshui theory. China's best-preserved imperial palace is the world's largest ancient palatial structure (720,000 square meters, and more than 9,000 halls), and the essence and culmination of traditional Chinese architectural accomplishment.

You cloud visit the 12 selected places in the complex to discover the deep secrets of the royal families, while other group tours only visit six spots briefly. Listen to the interesting stories of eight famous figures in the Forbidden City.

The Terracotta Warriors Museum

Buried in 210 BC with the first Emperor of the Qin Dynasty, this breathtaking underground army of Xi'an is another star attraction in China. The Terracotta Warriors Museum, with three pits, covers an area of 22,780 square meters. Over 8,000 terracotta soldiers and horses, and more than 10,000 bronze weapons were unearthed in these three pits.

The Terracotta Warriors is First Emperor Qin's Buried Battalions, about one kilometer from his mausoleum. The life-sized terracotta army is exhibited in the museum built at the site of archeological excavation. An interesting fact is that all the terracotta soldiers were made to face east towards Emperor Qin's enemies.

In addition to visiting and learning about these terracotta warriors, you could make your own warriors at a cave dwelling where there are only a few craftsmen left who continue to work in a traditional way.

Mount Qomolangma, or Mount Everest

Mount Qomolangma is a holy mountain for local Tibetan people. Mount Qomolangma or Everest is also a representative landmark of the Himalayas, Tibet, even China. This pyramid-shaped world record holder straddles the border of China and Nepal, with the north col located in Tingri, and the south col located in Nepal.

The best time for Everest mountaineering is during the period from early September to late October, before the windy season (from November to February). Read more about Trekking to the Everest Base Camp

The Mogao Caves in Dunhuang

"In the West there is the Louvre; in the East there are the Mogao Caves." The Mogao Caves are famous for their exquisite murals and Buddhist statues. The Mogao Caves were included in UNESCO's world cultural heritage list in 1987.

Artists from different periods of the Middle Ages left their work there. All kinds of works spanning over one thousand years complement each other.

Standing out in the desert, the Mogao Caves are like a glittering pearl that adorns the Silk Road. In addition to visit these wonderful caves, you could get some hands-on archaeological experience. We can take you to the Dunhuang Research Academy. There, you can linger over copies of murals created by masters and can copy a sample mural on a mud slab with your own hands under the guidance of the teacher.

Holy Tibet

The Great Wall

With a round-trip ride by cable car, you would be escorted to the platforms that have a wide visual field whilst benefiting from fewer tourists and not much walking.

Terracotta Warriors Museum

After visiting the Terracotta Warriors Museum, you would have an opportunity to make your own little warrior with the guidance of a local artisan.

Floating Mountains in a Place of Wonder

Zhangjiajie seems to defy gravity as its enchanting sandstone pillars rise dramatically from the earth, once providing inspiration for the movie Avatar.

Live There Like a Local

Relax in the countryside by the picturesque Li River. You would experience real rural life with your tour guide, such as shopping in a local market and writing Chinese calligraphy.

Towering Skyscrapers

Combining historical gardens and ultra-modern buildings, Shanghai would offer you an immersive experience as you wander through the city and listen to the stories behind it.

Dos and Don’ts in China

DO: Gift-giving: Don’t go empty-handed

Chinese people love gifts. Gift-giving is an important part of Chinese society and you should expect to have a gift with you whenever thanking someone for their hospitality.

DO: Bring small items from your home country that you can give to your tour guide, schools you might visit, or dinner hosts. Foreign candies or souvenirs are always appreciated.

DON’T: If you receive a gift, try to avoid opening it in front of your gift-giver. Unless they insist, thank them and put it away.

Eating: Honour your host

Eating is at the center of Chinese culture, and you are certain to have several delicious meals during your trip.

DO: Everything about eating involves honoring your host. As the host will pay for the meal (don’t expect any bill-splitting in China), show your respect by waiting for them to start eating and leaving food on the serving dishes for them to finish.

DON’T: Most Chinese restaurants will not have forks and knives, so you will get quite good at using chopsticks during your trip. When you are done using them, make sure not to stick them into your bowl of rice, as this symbolizes death. Rest them on the table during your meal and on your bowl when you are finished eating.

Conversation: Personal, not political

If you really want to immerse yourself in local life, you can’t shy away from conversations with strangers. But be careful because the dialogue might go a little differently than you might expect.

DO: Expect to be asked lots of personal questions that you might not be used to receiving in your home country. People will not hesitate to ask about your age, income, or why you are not married yet. It’s ok not to answer questions you are uncomfortable with, but don’t get offended if someone asks why you are an unmarried adult over 25!

DON’T: Avoid touchy subjects about Chinese politics.

Chinese people will get offended if you appear to say anything negative about China and will take it as a personal affront. Try to steer clear of discussing North Korea, Taiwan, or the South China Sea.

Religious sites: Read the rules

China is less strict than other Asian countries about their temple etiquette, but there are still some behaviors to avoid. Whether you are visiting a Confucius temple like Qufu Temple in Shandong province or strolling through a Buddhist temple like Lama Temple in Beijing, it is best to err on the side of caution.

DO: Try to see what other people are doing. For instance, not every temple requires you to take off your shoes, but if you see a pile by the door, you should copy the crowd.

DON’T: Take photos inside any buildings. You can take them outside in the courtyards.

The Architecture in China

1-   Beijing Daxing International Airport

Opened: September 2019

Architect: Zaha Hadid Architects

Location: Beijing

With vaulted ceilings, flowing forms, and tons of natural light, the Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX) is a welcome breath of fresh air. With China set to overtake the U.S. as the world’s largest aviation market, Beijing needed a new airport that could not only handle high-volume traffic, but also stand as a symbolic gateway in and out of China’s capital.

Drawing from principles of traditional Chinese architecture, the airport’s famous “starfish” design not only boosts the number of aircraft and cargo that funnel through, but also cuts down distances for travelers. Passengers can walk to their gate within eight minutes while enjoying the light-filled interior studded with stores and amenities, reducing the stress of travel.

Like many other great works of architecture, the Daxing airport goes further to integrate into its surrounding environment. Design elements such as sun shading and natural light filtration not only brighten up the space, but also reduce the building’s overall energy consumption and carbon emissions by approximately 50%. Powered by solar panels, the airport hosts a complex heating system and an impressive rainwater collection and water management system not only to reduce its carbon footprint, but also to store and purify water from nearby ecosystems to prevent flooding and manage the local microclimate.

2- CCTV Headquarters

Opened: 2012

Architect: Rem Koolhaas and Ole Scheeren (OMA)

Location: Beijing

Not your average skyscraper, the contorted form of the CCTV headquarters offers a unique addition to Beijing’s skyline. The battle for more space led the design team to imagine a new structure, as opposed to a straight shot skyward. Two main towers are knitted together by a perpendicular, 75-meter cantilever, forming an eclectic shape of sharp angles and diagonals.

The design is the result of long-term collaboration between European and Chinese engineers to rethink the concept of a high-rise. Rem Koolhaas, one of the leading architects, has always been interested in making structures that expose conflicting energies at work in society. The bones of the building are seen from the outside: Irregular webs of darker, triangulated steel tubes draw out the forces at work on the building’s facade, condensing in areas of stress and opening up in areas requiring less support. As one walks around the building, it changes form, animated by the viewer’s perspective. The end result is a dynamic challenge to modern architecture’s dogma of structural purity.

Koolhaas has defended the design of the tower after Chinese leader Xi Jinping in 2014 criticized the construction of “weird architecture” in the country.

Harbin Grand Theater

Opened: 2015

Architect: Mǎ Yánsōng 马岩松 (MAD Architects)

Location: Harbin, Heilongjiang Province

Nestled along the Songhua River’s north bank in Harbin, the Harbin Grand Theater appears as if carved from wind and water. Made to house Harbin’s famous 100-year-old Symphonic Orchestra, the two-theater complex can house up to 2,000 people within its billowing walls.

Though music may be the initial attraction, the building stands as its own artistic feat. An exterior of smooth white aluminum panels echo the force and spirit of the northern city’s untamed wilderness and frigid climate. Visitors who enter are first greeted by a grand lobby space lit up by a soaring glass diagrid ceiling, then guided toward the grand theater, a warm and cavernous space carved out of a rich wood — a stark contrast to the icy entrance.

“We envision Harbin Opera House as a cultural center of the future — a tremendous performance venue, as well as a dramatic public space that embodies the integration of human, art and the city identity, while synergistically blending with the surrounding nature,” said Ma Yansong, the lead architect and founder of MAD Architects.

See also: Wormhole Library, Ma Yansong’s newest project, was named one of the 10 “coolest new buildings to gawp at this year” by The Times of London.

Great Bamboo Wall

Opened: April 2004

Architect: Kengo Kuma (Kengo Kuma and Associates)

Location: Daxing District, Beijing

Commissioned by 10 Asian architects, the Great Bamboo Wall is a small set of residences tucked in the middle of a forest at the foot of the Great Wall. Conceived by Zhāng Xīn 张欣 and Pān Shíyì 潘石屹, the structures combine the style of traditional Chinese architecture with Japanese spatial concepts to reflect the ethos and aesthetics of Eastern civilization.

Built to enhance, rather than interfere, with the surrounding environment, the structures showcase the style and function of bamboo. Locally sourced bamboo walls partition the rooms, where visitors peek out of the spaces between the shafts at the undulating, lush landscape of the valley.

Brought long ago from China to Japan, bamboo is a symbol of cultural interchange between the two countries. The Great Bamboo Wall’s airy, organic shafts cut a sharp contrast to the Great Wall’s solid stone and brick. “The Great Wall was once used to separate China’s civilized world from the world of savages; the [Great Bamboo Wall] would allow light and wind to pass through to represent a connection between two worlds,” said the architects.

Xiangxiangxiang Boutique Container Hotel

Opened: June 29, 2012

Architect: Tongheshanzhi Landscape Design Co.

Location: Southwest Chenghuang Tourist District, Tianxiadou, Changzhi County, Shanxi Province

Centered on the theme of xiāng 香 (incense, fragrance), the Xiāngxiāngxiāng 香箱乡 Boutique Container Hotel is the first to be built out of converted freight containers. The hotel was built as part of a joint project with the National Reform and Development Commission and China International Marine Containers (CIMC) of Dalian, the world’s biggest manufacturer of containers.

Aptly named, each character nods to the three core design concepts behind the project. The first xiāng 香 (fragrance, incense) represents the theme, image, and services of the hotel and the important role of incense in Confucian and Taoist tradition. The second xiāng 箱 (trunk, box) denotes the freight containers repurposed into visitors’ living spaces. The third xiāng 乡 (rural, countryside) refers to the project’s layout, which draws from the enclosed courtyards of traditional Shanxi homes.

Wuyishan Bamboo Raft Factory

Opened: 2012–2013

Architect: Huá Lí 华黎 of TAO (Trace Architecture Office)

Location: Xingcun Town, Wuyishan Mountain, Fujian Province

The Wǔyíshān Bamboo Raft Factory 武夷山竹筏育制场 is a storage and manufacturing facility that produces bamboo rafts used to sail the Nine Bend River near Wuyi Mountain. Because of its industrial purpose, the structure’s design veers toward a simple logic, smartly combining form and function.

The factory was designed to meet the specific functional, topographical, and climate demands of its location, and based on the location’s constraints, designers used concrete and local materials such as wood and bamboo. The three buildings on-site — a storage warehouse, a manufacturing workshop, and a dormitory with offices — are knit together by a central courtyard.

Liyang Museum

Opened: 2020

Architect: CROX Architects

Location: Liyang, Jiangsu Province

An icon of Jiangsu Province, the Lìyáng Museum 溧阳博物馆 draws on the region’s culture and traditions. Inspired by the jiaoweiqin (焦维琴 jiāowéiqín), a Chinese musical instrument and one of the region’s cultural symbols, the museum’s organic form translates the spirit of the seven-stringed zither into the shape of a building.

Sitting at the base of a low green hill, the museum features multiple entryways and gaping spaces, allowing visitors to seamlessly flow through indoor and outdoor spaces. With no exact points of exit and entry, the fluid shape welcomes visitors arriving from all sides as a symbolic reference to opening all the doors of culture.

“From the Asian point of view, architecture is seen as part of the whole of nature, which contains both inner and outer space; space that connects humans, earth, and everything in the universe,” the architects stated. “A key driver in this design was the connection between inside and outside, both visually, in terms of lines and overall flow, and physically, in terms of access points and routes.”

Chinese Culture Exhibition Center

Opened: 2019

Architect: ECA2 & Tengyuan Design

Location: Lanzhou, Gansu Province

Located near the Yellow River in Gansu Province, in northwest China, the Chinese Cultural Exhibition Center has a split-dome facade that mimics the rolling hills of its landscape. Built using locally sourced materials, the center is clad in fish-scale roof panels that echo those used in local traditional buildings, while their layered format recalls a building technique used in the nearby Hekou Ancient Town. Inspired by the ancient story of Pan Gu creating heaven and earth, the building’s curved interior represents the chaotic state of the universe, while the two shell-shaped roofs represent two overlapping wings of a sleeping bird about to take flight. As the gaping “eye” in its split roof offers the audience a view of the natural landscape, the center’s design becomes a part of its immersive multimedia productions.

Jingdezhen Imperial Kiln Museum

Opened: 2020

Architect: Zhū Péi 朱锫 (Studio Zhu-Pei)

Location: Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province

In an homage to traditional brick kilns, the Jǐngdézhèn Imperial Kiln Museum 景德镇御窑博物馆 is made up of cavernous brick vaults designed to allow natural light to filter in. Designed by famed architect Zhū Péi 朱锫, it is the first museum in China to display the archaeological restoration of imperial porcelain during the Ming and Qing dynasties, built on top of the Imperial Kiln ruins in the city of Jingdezhen.

“Jingdezhen is known as the porcelain capital of the world because it has been producing pottery for 1,700 years,” explained the Beijing studio.

Sweeping indoor and outdoor spaces are connected by small courtyards to create spatial flows, as visitors meander among the porcelain artifacts and historic kilns. The museum, built with the same bricks used in much of the city’s traditional architecture, also contains multiple features that overlook the Imperial Kiln ruins.

He Art Museum

Opened: March 30, 2021

Architect: Tadao Ando

Location: Fo Shan, Guangdong Province

Designed by Pritzker Prize laureate Tadao Ando, the museum is home to the He family’s art collection. There are five floors in the gallery, featuring the work of notable artists like Pablo Picasso, Ellsworth Kelly, and Hiroshi Sugimoto.

The museum compound’s overall shape is meant to embodies the concept of “the sky was round and divine; the earth was flat and square” from ancient Chinese cosmology and philosophy. To achieve this, the layout combines circular components of architecture from southern China’s regional Lingnan culture together with square components from ancient buildings in the Central Plains.

The Security of China

1- The US-China trade escalation has no end in sight

What was supposed to be a historic, era-defining trade war launched by US President Donald Trump against a group of countries has, for now, been reduced to a single target: China. Beijing's response has been to deliver on its promise to impose retaliatory tariffs. The pace of this escalation has been astonishing. Over the course of a week, Trump's tariffs on Chinese imports jumped from 54% to 104%, and now to 125%—figures that are in addition to the existing tariffs imposed before the president's second term. China responded in kind, raising retaliatory tariffs on all US imports to 84%. This confrontation is paving the way for a historic rupture that will not only cause pain for these two deeply intertwined economies but will also add enormous friction to their geopolitical rivalry. "This is a historic rupture that will not only cause pain for these two deeply intertwined economies but will also add tremendous friction to their geopolitical rivalry," said Nick Marro, senior Asia economist at the Economist Intelligence Unit, referring to an outcome in which the two economies will experience almost no trade and mutual investment. "It's really hard to overstate the potential shocks this will have, not just to the Chinese economy itself, but to the entire global trade landscape," as well as to the United States, he said.

2- The economic Risk Shocks in 2025

China's Economic Slowdown

For the first time in decades, China's economic acceleration appears to be slowing sharply, a worrying sign for a global economy that relies on China's nearly 1.5 billion people to drive its overall development. This situation also has far-reaching political and security implications, meaning that the potential ramifications of China's economic slowdown are crucial to understanding how the situation will evolve in 2024.

1. Rising youth unemployment is one of the most pressing issues facing China.

The latest release of youth unemployment data showed that the unemployment rate rose to 21.3%, with a corresponding increase in the rate of students returning to their rural homes within six months of graduation, indicating a difficult labor market. High youth unemployment not only slows potential future growth but also allows acquired skills to atrophy at great expense. It could also generate negative social backlash against a government with a long and turbulent history of student movements.

3- The real estate sector

which accounts for about a quarter of China's GDP, is facing a severe crisis. Debt-laden real estate giants Evergrande and Country Garden have highlighted the sector's $124.5 billion in bond defaults as of October, raising concerns of a ripple effect on the financial system and the economy as a whole. But unlike the real estate markets of many other countries, China's is also a key part of how local governments and state-owned enterprises raise capital. The result is that if the real estate sector collapses, China could face a compound crisis across a large part of its economy—the depletion of its people's savings—while simultaneously seeing a key domestic fundraising component go bankrupt.

4- Chain Reactions to the Ukraine Crisis in 2025

Conflicts in multiple regions may experience new and complex developments. The Russia-Ukraine conflict could escalate again before any peace negotiations are reached, with the risk of approaching nuclear war. This ongoing conflict is profoundly reshaping the geopolitical landscape in Central Asia, posing significant challenges to the Belt and Road Initiative. With Trump likely to cut US aid to Ukraine, the likelihood of European countries sending troops to support Ukraine is increasing, and these changes will impact China's strategic position on the Eurasian continent. The situation in the Middle East has also become more complex, with Israel likely to assert greater influence in the region and exert increased pressure on Iran, particularly through potential strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. For China, the continuation and escalation of these regional conflicts could lead to sharp fluctuations in energy prices, disrupt the security of the global supply chain, and pose greater challenges to Chinese companies seeking to expand internationally.

South China Sea Dynamics between China, the United States, and the Philippines

The situation in the South China Sea could escalate significantly between mid- and late 2025. With U.S. support, the Philippines may take more provocative actions, including joint patrols and military exercises, and may seek to revive or initiate new international legal proceedings regarding the South China Sea disputes. Enhanced military cooperation between the United States and the Philippines will increase the frequency of maritime confrontations and increase the risk of accidental conflict with China. The United States has publicly stated that any "attack" on Philippine vessels will trigger the Mutual Defense Treaty, directly complicating China's efforts to protect its interests in the South China Sea. Meanwhile, countries outside the region may interfere in South China Sea affairs under the guise of fisheries, environmental protection, and resource development, disrupting China's normal maritime law enforcement and resource extraction activities. The Philippines may also push for the inclusion of sovereignty and maritime rights disputes in the South China Sea in more international discussions, further intensifying diplomatic pressure on China regarding the South China Sea issue.

5- South China Sea Dynamics between China, the United States, and the Philippines

The situation in the South China Sea could escalate significantly between mid- and late 2025. With U.S. support, the Philippines may take more provocative actions, including joint patrols and military exercises, and may seek to revive or initiate new international legal proceedings regarding the South China Sea disputes. Enhanced military cooperation between the United States and the Philippines will increase the frequency of maritime confrontations and increase the risk of accidental conflict with China. The United States has publicly stated that any "attack" on Philippine vessels will trigger the Mutual Defense Treaty, directly complicating China's efforts to protect its interests in the South China Sea. Meanwhile, countries outside the region may interfere in South China Sea affairs under the guise of fisheries, environmental protection, and resource development, disrupting China's normal maritime law enforcement and resource extraction activities. The Philippines may also push for the inclusion of sovereignty and maritime rights disputes in the South China Sea in more international discussions, further intensifying diplomatic pressure on China regarding the South China Sea issue.

6- political and social risks in China’s neighboring regions are likely to become more acute

Myanmar remains mired in instability, with the military government losing control and civil war intensifying. Ethnic armed groups could seize control of territories along the Myanmar side of the China-Myanmar border, raising the risk of conflict spilling over into China. In Pakistan, terrorist activities may reach new levels, with suicide bombings and explosions directly targeting Chinese assets, posing a significant threat to the development of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Meanwhile, the Islamic State’s Khorasan branch is displaying an increasing capacity for regional expansion, with a growing focus on China. These mounting security risks not only jeopardize the safety of Chinese personnel and projects in these regions but also threaten the steady advancement of the Belt and Road Initiative

7- The European Union (EU) is expected to push forward its vision of an “economic NATO,”

strengthening coordination with countries such as the United States and Japan while increasing joint pressure on China. The EU’s approach to China may become more cautious, with “de-risking” measures likely to be further implemented. From imposing anti-dumping tariffs to tightening investment scrutiny, the EU may introduce a series of policies aimed at encouraging businesses to reassess their strategies regarding China. In sectors such as new energy vehicles and the digital economy, trade restrictions may escalate, and additional anti-subsidy investigations targeting China could be launched. Meanwhile, the China-Europe Railway Express may face heightened geopolitical disruptions, as countries like Poland and Lithuania could impose restrictions on Chinese logistics firms under the pretext of security concerns. Internally, divisions within Europe may deepen, with some nations aligning more closely with the U.S. in imposing new export controls on China, particularly in critical areas such as semiconductors and artificial intelligence. Although the 2024 European Parliament elections may offer opportunities for policy recalibration, the structural contradictions in China Europe relations are unlikely to be resolved in the near term

8- China warns of artificial intelligence risks, calls for increased national security measures

BEIJING (AP) — China’s ruling Communist Party has warned of the risks posed by advances in artificial intelligence while calling for heightened national security measures.

The statement issued after a meeting Tuesday chaired by party leader and President Xi Jinping underscores the tension between the government’s determination to seize global leadership in cutting-edge technology and concerns about the possible social and political harms of such technologies. It also followed a warning by scientists and tech industry leaders in the U.S., including high-level executives at Microsoft and Google, about the perils that artificial intelligence poses to humankind, China has been cracking down on its tech sector in an effort to reassert party control, but like other countries it is scrambling to find ways to regulate fast-developing AI technology. the most recent party meeting reinforced the need to “assess the potential risks, take precautions, safeguard the people’s interests and national security, and ensure the safety, reliability and ability to control AI,” the official newspaper Beijing Youth Daily reported Tuesday.

Sam Altman, CEO of ChatGPT-maker OpenAI, and Geoffrey Hinton, a computer scientist known as the godfather of artificial intelligence, were among the hundreds of leading figures who signed the statement on Tuesday that was posted on the Center for AI Safety’s website.“Mitigating the risk of extinction from AI should be a global priority alongside other societal-scale risks such as pandemics and nuclear war,” the statement said.More than 1,000 researchers and technologists, including Elon Musk, who is currently on a visit to China, had signed a much longer letter earlier this year calling for a six-month pause on AI development. The missive said AI poses “profound risks to society and humanity,” and some involved in the topic have proposed a United Nations treaty to regulate the technology.

A lack of privacy protections and strict party control over the legal system have also resulted in near-blanket use of facial, voice and even walking-gait recognition technology to identify and detain those seen as threatening, particularly political dissenters and religious minorities, especially Muslims, Members of the Uyghur and other mainly Muslim ethnic groups have been singled out for mass electronic monitoring and more than 1 million people have been detained in prison-like political re-education camps that China calls deradicalization and job training centers.

AI’s risks are seen mainly in its ability to control robotic, self-governing weaponry, financial tools and computers governing power grids, health centers, transportation networks and other key infrastructure.

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