As the world's most populous country and oldest continuous civilization, China will always be associated with its ancient traditions and revered treasures, such as the Great Wall stretching across China's ancient frontier and the Terra Cotta Warriors that stand guard in Xi'an. Yet in recent years, as China has become an economic powerhouse and political heavyweight, Americans are increasingly interested in China's future. With this meteoric rise come new environmental, social and political challenges as China strives to integrate sweeping economic change with its ancient traditions and socialist political legacy. Study abroad students of all academic levels and fields of interest are drawn to this dynamic country. 

Education has played a major role in China's cultural history and economic development. The Cultural Revolution disrupted China's educational programs for nearly a decade, but following Mao Zedong's death in 1976, the government began a review of these policies. In response, Deng Xiaoping launched the "Four Modernizations," which recognized that higher levels of training were necessary for the advancement of science and technology, agriculture, industry and national defense.

Since the implementation of these reforms, China has made significant achievements in higher education, encompassing all branches of learning - degree and non-degree, scientific, technical and vocational. Engineering and science are very popular, and other fields, such as international relations, political science, medicine, economics, literature and law have grown in recent years. Some of China's more prominent comprehensive universities include Peking University and Tsinghua University in Beijing, Fudan University in Shanghai and Nanjing University. Beijing Institute of Technology, Tongji University and the University of Science and Technology rank high among the science and technical universities.

Career opportunities in all sectors are also opening up as China emerges as a world power. Internship placements in the arts, social sciences, education, business and many other fields are available through a number of institutions and organizations including New York University's program in Shanghai and the University Studies Abroad Consortium program in Chengdu, while Syracuse University offers a directed field study program specifically designed to examine China's developing role in the global economy.

Chinese language and culture are fascinating to study. The Alliance for Global Education, Boston University and CSA, Center for Study Abroad are just a few of the institutions and organizations that offer comprehensive programs in the world's most commonly spoken tongue. Putonghua or Mandarin, the standard form of Chinese, is China's official spoken language, and is spoken by much of the majority Han population. China's ethnic minorities constitute 10 percent of the population, and speak diverse languages including Uyghur, Mongolian, Tibetan and Kazakh.

China has more than 60 cities in which the population exceeds one million. Beijing, the country's capital, is China's cultural, economic, communications and intellectual center. Tiananmen Square, the largest public plaza in the world, was erected here in 1417 at the height of the Ming Dynasty. A number of impressive monuments outline the Square's perimeter, including the mausoleum of Mao Zedong. The Beijing Center for Chinese Studies offers nearly 75 English-taught courses in most major fields that are combined with total cultural immersion and extensive travel to the far corners of China.

The Chinese government has launched a number of healthcare initiatives, and there is renewed interest in traditional medicine, herbal medications and acupuncture in the health services. Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province, is the provincial center for transportation, science and technology, and home to the Yunnan Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Through SIT Study Abroad, students have the opportunity to study traditional medicine in the social context of public health.

Chengdu is the most important economic center of southwestern China and the capital of Sichuan province. Known for its breathtaking scenery and giant pandas, it also the site of Sichuan University, a key national research university with the broadest selection of disciplines in western China. Through AsiaLearn, students can take courses in environmental studies, the arts, social sciences and the humanities.

Shanghai is China's major mainland port and most populous urban center. Located on the great Yangtze River, this bustling industrial city is considered the center of finance and trade. Students interested in these fields might want to consider the Shanghai University of Business and Finance. In the center of Shanghai in People's Square is the world famous Museum of Art. Its eleven galleries cover most of the major categories of Chinese art, including calligraphy, Ming and Qing furniture, art of minority nationalities, and ancient bronze and ceramics.

Xi'an, located in the Yellow River Basin, is the capital of Shaanxi Province and the starting point of the legendary Silk Road. Considered one of the birthplaces of ancient civilization, Xi'an has earned the title of China's "natural history museum" thanks to the wealth of cultural and historical knowledge that has been preserved here. Cross-Cultural Solutions' volunteer program provides opportunities to connect with the diverse population of Xi'an.

China is famous for its exquisite cuisine, which can be divided into four styles: the Cantonese cuisine of the south, the spicy Szechuan style, the Mongolian influenced cuisine of the north, and the sweet dishes of the east. Xi'an, with its ethnic mix, is lauded as the "capital of table delicacies." Students must be sure to try the Xi'an dumplings, the delicate Guangdong cuisine, the Sichuan hotpot and the local favorite, sweet persimmon pie.

Jingju, or "drama of the Capital city," is known in the West as Peking Opera. It is an exciting theatrical art form that combines speech, music, acrobatics, dance, mime and martial arts to tell stories from Chinese history and folklore.

The vastness and complexity of China only add to the excitement of planning to study abroad here. With its rich cultural history, stunning landscapes and booming economy, China has something to offer every student.

Resources -

IIEPassport.org: www.IIEPassport.org
IIEPassport Study Abroad Funding: www.StudyAbroadFunding.org
National Security Education Program: www.iie.org/NSEP
Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program: www.iie.org/gilman
Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the US: http://www.china-embassy.org/eng
China National Tourist Office: http://www.cnto.org
Ministry of Education: http://www.moe.edu.cn
New York University: www.nyu.edu/studyabroad
Freeman Asia: www.iie.org/programs/Freeman-ASIA