A Simple Guide to People of China

China is considered the most populous country globally, having approximately 1.4 billion people. The national capital of China is Beijing. Apart from being the most populous country, it is the second-largest country in terms of geographical size. China consists of a wide variety of people in the 23 provinces, four municipalities, 5 autonomous regions, and two special administrative regions. China is one of the members of the United Nations Security Council. It has another achievement in its account of being the second wealthiest country globally in terms of wealth. During the war in 1949, many people had to give up their lives in the war. So, the governments after 1949 declared that people should have large families to increase the workforce, and as a result, it became the most populous country. Being the most populous country, every citizen of China thrives for the welfare and betterment of its country. 

Of China’s large population, 16.7% of the population includes 14 years old or younger people, 70% are between 15 and 59 years old, and 13% include over 60 years citizens. Since China has been divided into various regions, one can find a blend of different people following different cultures and traditions. 

Provinces Of China

The provinces of China are distributed in the following 3 regions:

1. Eastern regions- 11 provinces are included: Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Liaoning, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Shandong, Guangdong, and Hainan.
2. Western regions- 12 provinces are included: Inner Mongolia, Guangxi, Chongqing, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, Tibet, Shaanxi, Gansu, Qinghai, and Ningxia Xinjiang.
3. Central regions- 8 provinces: Shanxi, Jilin, Heilongjiang, Anhui, Jiangxi, Heenan, Hubei, and Hunan.

Municipalities Of China

They are under the control of the central government. Four municipalities have the same political, economic and jurisdictional rights. Beijing, Chongqing, Shanghai and Tianjin are the four municipalities included in the most populous country China.

Autonomous Regions Of China

The highest level administrative divisions of China are the autonomous regions. As the name suggests, these regions have governments that only formulate the rules and laws confined to those regions. These autonomous regions of China have a higher population than the other regions of China. The first autonomous region was Inner Mongolia, which was established in 1947. The following are the regions included under the autonomous regions of China:

1. Guangxi- The people are called Zhuang. The People’s Republic of China recognises this ethnic group of people. They are the most significant minority found in China. Men engage in babysitting and stay in their wives’ homes.
2. Inner Mongolia– The people present here are called Mongols. They are the East Asian ethnic group of people who speak the Mongolian language. They emerged during the Liao dynasty. They believe in Buddhism. Genghis Khan belonged to this group of people. 
3. Tibet autonomous region– People belonging to this region are called Tibetan people. They are also the East Asian ethnic group whose current population is estimated at around 6.7 million. Like Mongols, they also practise Buddhism. It includes the Muslim minority group of people. Tibetan people are confined to China, but they are also found in India and Nepal. The Tibetan people who follow Buddhism are collectively referred to as Bon. It is famous for its varied culture. They do religious art that is pious. Its drama, architecture and cuisine are famous all over the world. 
4. Xinjiang– It is the largest autonomous region of China. The people present here are called Uyghur. They are the Turkic ethnic group of people. They are the regional minority. They believe in various local deities. Some people practice Buddhism, whereas other groups of people practise Christianity. Among them, some are Muslims too. Sanam is a popular dance form. 
5. Ningxia– The people belonging to this region are Hui. They are commonly known as Chinese Muslims. Since they follow the Islamic tradition, people wear dresses with white caps, and the women wear scarves on their heads. The Hui people were involved in the military, and they were given responsibilities of soldiers and other military official positions.

Special Administrative Regions of China

They are commonly known as SAR of the People’s Republic Of China. China’s special administrative regions are also autonomous and do not depend on the other regions’ rules and regulations. They have the right to talk and enjoy the freedom of press and religion. They enforce their laws, which the people follow. Presently, two special administrative regions of China include Hong Kong and Macau SAR. The laws that are made in SARs do not promote trade and investments. The two SARs are discussed as follows:

1. Hong Kong– It is the most popular tourist destination and the most densely populated place in the world. It is considered to be a developed city. The people present here are mostly Chinese, but it has not lost its identity. Due to the immigration of people from different corners of the world, they have a mixture of cultures and traditions. Hong Kong always encourages sports in its area and has earned four gold medals in the Summer Olympics. 
2. Macau– It was initially under the control of the Portuguese but became independent over time. An agreement was signed by Macau, which stated that, after 50 years, i.e., in 2049, it will revert to China. It is one of the most densely populated cities in the country. It has its own economic and governing systems. 

Conclusion

China, considered the most populous country, does not have a single culture. Since it has been divided into many regions, they have a blend of cultures and traditions. Various regions have different types of people, and a few of the regions are also considered the hub of tourists. Though different regions separate them, the people welcome and show their best hospitality.