CHINA

Fast Facts

• Official Name: People's Republic of China

• Capital: Beijing• Biggest City: Shanghai• First Made in China:

Paper, fireworks, kites, yo-yos, the abacus, playing cards.

Money• The official currency of China is the Yuan. 1

Yuan is worth about 12 cents in U.S. dollars. Or $1.00 is about 8 Yuan.

Chinese Calligraphy(written Chinese)

• Fu - the Chinese word for 'luck‘

• Spring

Fortune, Prosperity, Longevity, Happinessfu lu shou xi

Chinese New Year• The Lunar New Year, also called the

Spring Festival, is the most important holiday for the Chinese.

• New Year's Day usually falls on the day of the second new moon after the winter solstice (first day of winter).

• The New Year is celebrated with firecrackers, dragon dances and visits to friends and family. It lasts for 15 days and ends with the Lantern Festival.

Customs• The entire house should be cleaned before

New Year's Day. Sweeping or dusting should not be done on New Year's Day for fear that good fortune will be swept away.

• Shooting off firecrackers on New Year's Eve is the Chinese way of sending out the old year and welcoming in the New Year. On the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve, every door in the house, and even windows, have to be open to allow the old year to go out.

• Red clothing is preferred on New Year’s Day. Red is considered a bright, happy color, sure to bring the wearer a sunny and bright future.

Weather

The following bar chart for Beijing, China shows the years average weather condition readings covering rain, average maximum daily temperature and average minimum temperature.

                                         

              

Masjid’s In ChinaThe Id Kah Masjid is a Masjid located in Kashgar,

Xingjian, in the western People’s Republic of China.