Chinese civilization has endured, outlasting the Romans, the Egyptians, Europe, and of course the U. S. Why is this? For starters they have a common written language. Spoken Chinese has different dialects such as Cantonese and Mandarin. Written communication, however, has existed since the earliest times. With over 50,000 characters, its complexity requires mental agility, encouraging learning and scholarship. Secondly, China has never had a religious war. There have been civil wars over territory and political causes. Thirdly, Confucianism influence is inbred. Hence family loyalty, respect for authority, patience and self control are ingrained.

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A 2000 year Snapshot History of China
The Han Dynasty, 206 BCE-220 CE, succeeded the Qin Dynasty and is credited with four major discoveries: gunpowder, paper, printing and the compass. This was followed by an unstable period of civil war before the prosperous Tang Dynasty, 618-907 CE, when the arts flourished. Elaborate costumes, music, dance and pageantry became hallmarks of Chinese civilization. The Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties continued imperial rule until the 1911 when the Revolution established the Republic of China (R.O.C.) The defeat of China in the Opium War, 1839-1842, marked a major turning point in Chinese history, introducing European merchants and missionaries to China. The Chinese Communist Party (C.C.P.) founded in 1921, eventually defeated Chaing Kai-shek after WW II. Many Chinese who "temporarily" fled to Taiwan never returned. Despite periodic saber rattling, relations between the Mainland and Taiwan remain peaceful.

Xi'an-Once the largest city in the world (prounced she-on)

Out of the fog of time in March, 1974 a startling archaeological discovery was made when farmers searching for water stumbled upon thousands of terra cotta warriors which had been guarding the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi for 2200 years. There were no records of this site.Qin was instrumental in pulling together six warring kingdoms resulting in a unified China. He established a universal written language throughout the country. He created a unified system of weights and measures and a single currency. He was demonstrating his absolute power to the rest of the world by building this massive subterranean army as guardians of his final resting place. This site has been called the eighth wonder of the world.

Terra Cotta Warriors

Happy commuters, Tang Dynasty Emperor

A weekend on the Great Wall, Number 1 Lion