Happy New Year!

Today February 19, 2015 is the start of the Chinese New Year! The New Year is based on a lunar calendar. The Chinese lunar calendar is associated with the Chinese zodiac, which has 12 animal signs: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, Rooster, dog, and pig. Each animal represents a year in a 12-year cycle, beginning on Chinese New Year's Day. 2015 is a year of the goat! China will be holding a festival for the longest public holiday in Chinese history. It lasts for three days and the time spent is for families to come together and celebrate by have reunion dinners with many generations attending. People light off fireworks and participate in dragon dances during the spring festival all over China. The color red is everywhere, the Chinese believe that red is an auspicious color. Gifts are also a big part of the festival red envelopes filled with cash are given to children and the elderly. Some superstitions the Chinese believe in to bring them good luck in the upcoming year included not cleaning or washing your hair the first few days of the New Year, doing this is believed to wash away good luck. Children crying is bad luck, asking for a loan is not favorable, and praying in a temple is a must. Lastly, the Chinese will wear red underwear to bring them good luck in the upcoming year! Happy Chinese New Year Everyone!

Valentine's Day in Shanghai

With the holiday of love right around the corner, I thought it would be interesting to see how the people of China, specifically Shanghai, celebrate Valentine's Day. The photo above is a vintage car from the Shanghai Auto Museum. This famous museum offers free entry, as well as a 2 hour free ride, on February 14th! A few other suggestions that China Daily poses to lovers include dinner on the Ferris Wheel in Jing Jiang Park, visiting the Japanese animae exhibit in the Shanghai Takashimaya Department Store, viewing a romantic comedy at the Shanghai Poly Grand Theatre, or even a kissing contest! The kissing contest even presents a diamond ring worth 10,000 yuan to the winner in the Shanghai Happy Valley theme park.

Happy Valentine's Day! 

快乐情人节

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/life/2015-02/09/content_19510567.htm  

China Holds Canadian on Suspicion of Stealing State Secrets

A Canadian Couple Julia Dawn Garratt, and Kevin Garatt are being accused of spying on China do to both having ties with a Christian group that provides aid to North Koreans. Specific aid that is being provided to these North Koreans is; humanitarian which is assistance to help people that are going through a disaster whether it is natural, or man-made. In August Mrs. Garratt was taken into custody by the state security bureau because they thought she has acted suspicious with espionage, the act of spying to receive government, or military information. Kevin Garratt is being hold to custody because of the same reasoning. Mr. Garratt is being accused of stealing some of China's State secrets. 

While Mr. Garratt was moved to criminal detention, being of the suspicious act his wife was released on bail after six months. Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Hong Lei stated that the authorities of China will handle this case with law, and ensure the right according to China's law. The case is now being looked at more closely by Chinese authorities.

In this latest investigation there has been no arrests to neither of the Garratts. No evidence was given to their lawyer therefore there has no criminal conduct to prove. While Mr. Garratt has been moved to a different detention facility at an unknown location, Mrs. Garratt has been forbidden to leave mainland China for one year. This news has spread internationally and has forced disapproval between the two countries creating ties between both China and Canada.


Information received from:
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/06/world/asia/china-holds-canadian-on-suspicion-of-stealing-state-secrets.html?ref=topics&_r=0

 

Hello everyone!

I just wanted to add a map of China to our blog along with some facts about the population.

§  The population of China is estimated at 1,393,783,836 as of July 1 2014.

§  China's population is equivalent to 19.24% of the total world population.

§  China ranks number 1 in the list of countries by population.

§  The population density in China is 145 people per Km².

§  54% of the population is urban (756,300,115 people in 2014).

§  The median age in China is 35.7 years.

§ 

Year	Population	Yearly % Change	Yearly Change	Migrants (net)	Median Age	Fertility Rate	Density (P/Km²)	Urban Pop %	Urban Population	Country's Share of World Pop	World Population	Global Rank
2020	1,432,867,566	0.44%	6,256,191	-300,000	37.7	1.69	149	61%	873,848,614	18.57%	7,716,749,042	1
2025	1,448,983,501	0.22%	3,223,187	-300,000	39.6	1.72	151	65%	946,910,718	17.93%	8,083,412,759	1
2030	1,453,297,304	0.06%	862,761	-300,000	42.1	1.74	151	69%	999,040,166	17.25%	8,424,937,474	2
2035	1,448,589,290	-0.06%	-941,603	-300,000	44.4	1.76	151	71%	1,032,192,299	16.57%	8,743,446,952	2
2040	1,435,499,255	-0.18%	-2,618,007	-300,000	45.9	1.78	150	73%	1,053,311,933	15.88%	9,038,687,151	2
2045	1,414,088,967	-0.30%	-4,282,058	-300,000	46.4	1.80	147	75%	1,066,152,377	15.19%	9,308,438,178	2
2050	1,384,976,976	-0.42%	-5,822,398	-300,000	46.3	1.81	144	77%	1,070,698,001	14.50%	9,550,944,891

 

 

 

-          All in formation was received from http://www.worldometers.info/world-population/china-population/