China: The Land and Its People
Pathfinder
Ruben L. Barkley
MEDT 6464
Spring 2009
China: The Land and Its People
Given the cultural and ethnic diversity of our society, it is important for students to understand
other cultures and traditions. To live in a democratic society, students must have a tolerance of
all cultures. A study of the Chinese culture provides a well-rounded study of different religious
customs, important historical events, and geographical information on the third largest country in
the world.
China has a very unique culture, not just from the western world, but from neighboring cultures
also. Their cultural landscape includes an alphabet of more than 5,000 characters, music,
architecture, medicine, and philosophy. Knowledge of the physical landscape of China affords
one to know some of the world’s most magnificent scenery. The physical geography of China
includes natural barriers like the Himalayan Mountains and great deserts.
The 7th grade, Social Studies Georgia Performance Standards calls for students to be able to
describe and locate important physical and human characteristics in Southern and Eastern Asia.
Students are also required to explain the impact of location, climate, physical characteristics, and
population size on Asian countries. Additionally, students should be able to describe the
dominant religions of China as well as the major literary, artistic, and music forms in that
country.
Georgia Performance Standards
SS7G9 - The student will be able to describe and locate important physical and human characteristics in
Southern and Eastern Asia.
SS7G11 – The student will explain the impact of location, climate, physical characteristics, natural
resources, and population size on Southern and Eastern Asian countries.
SS7G12 – The student will describe the diverse cultural characteristics of the people who live in Southern
and Eastern Asia.
Subject Headings
Subject headings that can be used when researching this topic:
 Chinese culture
 China’s One Child Policy/Human rights in China
 Buddhism in China
 Confucius
 T’ien-an-amen Square
 Great Wall of China
 The Silk Road
 Modern China
 Chinese New Year
 Chinese food
 Mount Everest
 Himalayan Mountains
 Communism
 Eastern China
 Southern China
Dewey Decimal Classification System
011
Bibliographies
031
General Encyclopedic Works
291
306.4
895
915.1
951
920
Comparative Religion
Chinese Culture
Chinese Literature
Asia
General History of Asia and Adjacent Areas
Biography, Genealogy
Annotated List of Resources
Ardagh, P. (1997). Chinese Myths and Legends. Chicago, IL: World Book Inc.
This wonderfully illustrated book gives a glimpse into the culture of China through literature. It
begins by explaining the difference between a myth and a legend. It explains that Chinese myths
and legends are a blend of old belief and stories from three main religions: Confucianism,
Taoism, and Buddhism. There are several entertaining myths and legends, as well as myths and
legends glossary and an index.
Barnes, T. (1999). The Kingfisher Book of Religions. New York: Kingfisher
Publications.
This encyclopedia discusses the many faiths/religions that are practiced around the world.
Students can use this reference when researching Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism in
China. Included are the teachings, development, traditions, rituals, and cultural and social
origins of the religion. Also discussed is the role that children play within the religions. The
book is beautifully illustrated with pictures and photographs.
China. (1997). Retrieved July 1, 2006 from CIA World Factbook Website:
www.theodora.com/wfb.china_geography.html.
This website provides basic information on the physical geography of China. One of its features
includes international disputes such as the boundary dispute with Russia that remains to be
settled. Another feature is the environmental issues in China including water shortages, air
pollution and soil erosion.
China Geography (n.d.). Retrieved July 1, 2006 from
http://geography.about.com/library/cia/blcchina.htm.
This website provides a more than adequate amount of information on the geography of China.
The information is broken down very well. It includes information on its location, including
geographic coordinates and boundary countries. It also gives the area of China, coastline,
climate, terrain, natural resources, and other relevant information.
China on the Net (n.d.). Retrieved June 28, 2006 from
http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/China/hotlist.html.
What a wonderful site! This website is a collection of Internet sites on China. The sites/links are
grouped into categories. The categories are background information (CIA World Fact Book,
The U.S. Army Handbook, etc.), Touring the Country (maps of China, a travelogue by bicycle,
etc.), News Update, Chinese Culture, Religion, The Visual Arts, Business, Human Rights, The
Environment, China’s relations with neighbors, China and the Bid for the 2008 Olympics.
Teachers and students will exhaust themselves with the many links related to China’s geography
and culture. Each of the links contains beautiful pictures as well.
ChinaPage.Com (n.d.). Retrieved June 28, 2006 from
http://www.chinapage.com/china-rm.html
This website has a wealth of information on Chinese culture. Included are links to Chinese
poetry, paintings, language, quotations, parables/stories, Beijing opera, Chinese New Year and
festivals, the art and history of Chinese calligraphy, and dragons in ancient China. The website
also has a links to maps and links in which students can listen to live Chinese poetry.
China The Beautiful (n.d.). Retrieved June28, 2006 from
http://www.chinavista.com/travel/virtualtours.html
Students can take virtual tours of China on this website. Students can search the geographical
and historical sites of China. The tours include but are not limited to The Great Wall, the
Yangtze River, the Yellow Mountains, the Silk Road, and more. Each of the tours includes
descriptions, pictures, and maps of the sites. Students will enjoy navigating this site.
China Virtual Tours. (n.d.). Retrieved June 28, 2006 from
http://www.topren.net/travel/index.html
Students can navigate their way through the Chinese culture on this website. The site is filled
with many links on the arts and crafts, clothing, festivals, food, transportation, literature,
performing arts, and the people of Chinese culture. The website also has articles that students
can access and read about the Chinese culture. The background of each aspect of China’s culture
is described and includes photographs.
Davis, E. (Ed.). (2004). Encyclopedia of Chinese Culture. New York: Routledge.
This is an excellent reference source for researching contemporary Chinese culture. There are
articles on the architecture, education, language, performing arts, religion, sports, food, important
people, and much more. One article discusses the planned use of Tiananmen Square as the
planned site of beach volleyball at the 2008 Olympics. This volume has rich and colorful
illustrations, maps, and Chinese paintings. The book also lists websites that students can visit.
Education Services: About China. (n.d.). Retrieved July 1, 2006 from http://www.chinainc.com/education/geography/
Provides brief information about the geography of China along with a few, beautiful illustrations
of major landmarks.
Fontes, J. & Fontes, R. (2003). China A to Z. New York: Children’s Press.
This book describes all aspects of China’s history and culture. The book is beautifully illustrated
with photographs of the performing arts in China, foods and dishes, festivals, and The Great
Wall. Students can use this book when researching Chinese festivals, food, style of dress, jobs,
religions, transportation, and exports.
Gillespie, J. (2003). Best Books for Children: Preschool Through Grade 6.
Westport, Connecticut: Libraries Unlimited.
This resource is a bibliography of titles for children’s books. Annotations, grade level, and
review sources are given for each entry. The entries are grouped by subjects – history and
geography, biography, literature, arts and language, physical and applied sciences and recreation.
Included are twenty- nine titles related to the history, geography, and culture of China. Teachers
can use this source for selecting appropriate books for students to utilize while researching the
geography and culture of China.
Glassman, B. (Ed). (2001). Scholastic Book of World Records 2002. New York:
Scholastic, Inc.
The Scholastic Book of World Records 2002 contains information on a wide variety of subjects.
There is valuable information that can be utilized in research for China. It contains information
on the disastrous Huange He River flood and the Tangshan earthquake. It also reveals that it is
the country with the most moviegoers at over 14 billion tickets, which speaks to one aspect of the
culture of China.
Mamdani, S. (1999). Traditions from China. Austin: Steck-Vaugh Publishers.
This book provides information on the physical and cultural geography of China. It includes a
map of China and information on Chinese food, clothing, music, and religion. It also includes
one of the most famous stories in Eastern Asia entitled “The Monkey King.”
Oxford Children’s Book of Famous People. (1999). New York: Oxford University
Press.
This reference is a biography of famous people around the world. The book tells the story of the
lives of men and women who have shaped our world. Each entry has facts about the person’s
life, major achievements, and photograph. Biographies are written on religious leaders,
scientists, explorers, politicians, artists, musicians, and many more. Students can use this
reference when researching famous people of China, such as Confucius, Ts’ai Lun, the Chinese
inventor of paper, architect, I. M. Pei, and political leaders, Deng Xianoping and Mao Zedong.
Paton, J. (Ed). (1994). The Grolier Children’s Encyclopedia. Danbury, CT: Grolier
Educational Company.
This encyclopedia provides a brief overview of China. It includes a map of China, an excerpt
about the Chinese Language and a chronological history of China with its most important
historical events. This is a great basic resource for geographical and cultural information on
China.
Resources-China (n.d.). Retrieved June 28, 2006 from
http://www.unc.edu/~rwilkers/resource-china.htm#a.
This website is a bibliography of children’s books on Chinese subjects. Teachers can use this
website to select books that may help students with their projects/assignments on China.
Included are the title of each book, author, copyright date, publisher, and a plot summary.
Population of the Major Cities and Agglomerations of Countries in Asia. (n.d.). Retrieved
July 1, 2006 from http://www.citypopulation.de/Asia.html#ZHO.
If you are looking to get geographical information about the provinces of China, this website is
the one you need. It lists the provinces in alphabetical order along with its abbreviation, capital,
and area. If you click on a particular province, you will be taken to the place on a map. The
principal cities are also listed.
Seabrooke, K. (Ed). (2004). The World Almanac for Kids. New York: World
Almanac Education Group.
This reference source contains a wealth of information on many different topics. It can be used
for research of China. If you are looking information on cultural geography this book deals with
topics such as Beijing attractions, Chinese New Year, and immigrants. Topics dealing with
physical geography of China include earthquakes, energy production/consumption, and maps.
University of Texas Libraries. (n.d.). Retrieved July 1, 2006 from
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/china_pol01.pdf.
This website provides several maps of China. There are political and relief maps along with
detailed topographic maps and thematic maps.
References
Ardagh, Philip. (1997). Chinese myths and legends. Chicago: World Book Inc.
Barnes, T. (1999). The KingFisher book of religions. New York: KingFisher
Publications
China. (1997). Retrieved July 1, 2006 from CIA World Factbook Website:
www.theodora.com/wfb.china_geography.html.
China Geography (n.d.). Retrieved July 1, 2006 from
http://geography.about.com/library/cia/blcchina.htm.
China on the Net (n.d.). Retrieved June 28, 2006 from
http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/China/hotlist.html.
ChinaPage.Com (n.d.). Retrieved June 28, 2006 from
http://www.chinapage.com/china-rm.html.
China The Beautiful (n.d.). Retrieved June28, 2006 from
http://www.chinavista.com/travel/virtualtours.html
China Virtual Tours. (n.d.). Retrieved June 28, 2006 from
http://www.topren.net/travel/index.html.
Davis, E. (Ed.). (2004). Encyclopedia of Chinese culture. New York: Routledge.
Education Services: About China. (n.d.). Retrieved July 1, 2006 from http://www.chinainc.com/education/geography/
Fontes, J. & R. (2003). China A to Z. New York: Children’s Press.
Gillespie, John. (2003). Best books for children: Preschool through grade 6.
Westport, Connecticut: Libraries Unlimited.
Glassman, Bruce S. (Ed). (2001). Scholastic book of world records 2002. New
York: Scholastic Inc.
Mamdani, Shelby (1999). Traditions from China. Austin: Steck-Vaugh
Publishers
Oxford children’s book of famous people. (1999). New York: Oxford University
Press.
Paton, John (Ed). (1994). The Grolier children’s encyclopedia.
Danbury: Grolier Educational Company.
Resources-China (n.d.). Retrieved June 28, 2006 from
http://www.unc.edu/~rwilkers/resource-china.htm#a.
Population of the Major Cities and Agglomerations of Countries in Asia. (n.d.). Retrieved
July 1, 2006 from http://www.citypopulation.de/Asia.html#ZHO
Seabrooke, Kevin (Ed). (2004). The World almanac for kids. New York: World
Almanac Education Group.
University of Texas Libraries. (n.d.). Retrieved July 1, 2006 from
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/china_pol01.pdf.