I Am Chinese
FoundationOur country is the People's Republic of China and its capital is Beijing. It has magnificent mountains and rivers and 56 peoples as one family, and Hong Kong is part of it.
- Our country is the People's Republic of China; the capital is Beijing.
- The Great Wall and the Forbidden City are world-famous; the Yangtze and Yellow River are the mother rivers.
- The giant panda is China's national treasure.
文體小知識：這種說明文介紹我們的國家：山河、文化與民族，讀完更認識中華人民共和國，更愛自己的國家。
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1We are Chinese. Our country is the People's Republic of China, and its capital is Beijing, home of the majestic Tiananmen and the Forbidden City and the country's political and cultural centre. China covers a vast area — one of the largest countries in the world — with high mountains, great rivers, grasslands and deserts. More than 1.4 billion people live on this land, in an ancient country full of life.
2The country has many world-famous places. The Great Wall coils over the mountains like a giant dragon — a great building built by the ancients. The Forbidden City in Beijing was the palace of emperors, with nearly ten thousand rooms. The bamboo forests of Sichuan are home to the giant panda, the national treasure. The Yangtze River and the Yellow River are the two most important rivers, nourishing generation after generation of Chinese people, so they are called the mother rivers.
3China has 56 ethnic groups. The Han people are the most numerous, and there are 55 minority groups such as the Tibetan, Uyghur, Mongol and Miao peoples. Their languages, dress and festivals differ, yet all belong to one family — the Chinese nation — respecting one another, living in harmony and building the country together. Only in unity can the nation prosper and stay stable.
4Hong Kong is part of the country. From the 1840s Hong Kong was governed by Britain, and on 1 July 1997 it returned to the motherland, becoming the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region under one country, two systems. We love Hong Kong and we love the country. When the country has good news — astronauts going into space, national athletes winning medals — we feel proud too.
5Growing a sense of the country starts with knowing it: read more of its history stories, learn about its development, and care about its affairs. As Chinese people we are proud of five thousand years of culture, magnificent mountains and rivers, and the country's progress. We should study hard and, when we grow up, contribute to Hong Kong and the country. Remember: we are all Chinese!
1Summary 重點摘要
Our country is the People's Republic of China and its capital is Beijing. It has magnificent mountains and rivers and 56 peoples as one family, and Hong Kong is part of it.
2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary
The full name of our country, China for short.
A country's central city; our capital is Beijing.
The world-famous great wall coiling over mountains like a dragon.
The emperors' palace in Beijing, now a museum.
The lovable black-and-white animal; China's national treasure.
The Yangtze and the Yellow River, which nourish the Chinese people.
China has 56 ethnic groups, all one family.
Hong Kong's name after returning to the motherland, under one country, two systems.
Feeling part of the country — identifying with and caring for it.
3Step by step Steps
- Step 1: Our country and its capitalEveryone has a country. Ours is the People's Republic of China — China for short — and its capital is Beijing, with the solemn Tiananmen, the grand Forbidden City and lively old lanes. China's land area is among the largest in the world, and with over 1.4 billion people it is one of the most populous countries in the world. As Chinese people, we should remember our country's name and capital, and get to know and care for her — the first step of a sense of the country.
- Step 2: The Great Wall and the Forbidden CityThe Great Wall is a world-famous marvel, coiling over the high mountains like a giant dragon. More than two thousand years ago the ancients built it brick by brick to guard their homeland — such a huge work that people say you are not a hero until you reach the Great Wall. The Forbidden City in Beijing was the palace of the Ming and Qing emperors, with nearly ten thousand rooms, red walls and golden roofs; today it is the Palace Museum, holding countless treasures. Both are the pride of the Chinese nation — must-see places on a trip to Beijing.
- Step 3: The giant panda and the mother riversThe giant panda, black and white and adorably clumsy, is China's national treasure, and countries around the world vie to invite pandas to visit. Pandas live in the bamboo forests of Sichuan and the high mountains, feeding mainly on bamboo. The Yangtze and the Yellow River are China's two longest and most important rivers: the Yangtze is busy with boats, and the Yellow River valley was the cradle of Chinese civilisation. They have nourished Chinese people for generations, so we call them the mother rivers. Protecting the environment keeps their water flowing clear.
- Step 4: 56 ethnic groups, one familyChina has 56 ethnic groups, like 56 brothers and sisters in one big family. The Han people are the most numerous, and there are 55 minority groups, such as the Tibetan, Uyghur, Mongol and Miao peoples. Each has its own language, dress and festivals: Mongols live in yurts and excel at horse riding and wrestling; the Dai people have the Water-Splashing Festival; Tibetans have the Shoton Festival. Customs differ, but all are one family of the Chinese nation — respecting and helping one another, for unity brings prosperity and stability.
- Step 5: Hong Kong and the countryHong Kong is part of the country. Over a hundred years ago Hong Kong came under British rule; on 1 July 1997 it returned to the motherland, becoming the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region under one country, two systems, keeping its original way of life. Living in Hong Kong, we are Hong Kong people and Chinese people at once. When the country has good news — the Shenzhou spacecraft rising into space, national athletes winning Olympic medals — Hong Kong citizens celebrate together, for we share the same bloodline and care for one another.
- Step 6: Growing a sense of the countryA sense of the country means holding family and nation in our hearts, with feeling and commitment. There are many ways to grow it: read Chinese history and idiom stories to know the culture; follow the news to learn about the country's development, such as high-speed rail, space flight and technology; stand solemnly at flag-raising ceremonies and sing the anthem loudly. As Chinese people we are proud of the nation's five-thousand-year culture and today's progress, and we should study hard to contribute to Hong Kong and the country when we grow up.
5Worked example Example
Example: Lap's pen friend Tom wants to know about China. If you were Lap, which three national features would you introduce, and why?
- First decide what to introduce: pick the three most representative features from scenery, animals, culture and food.
- Introduce the Great Wall first: it coils over the mountains like a dragon, a world-famous great building.
- Introduce the giant panda second: China's national treasure, black and white and adorable, loved around the world.
- Introduce Lunar New Year third: fai chun, lucky money and lion dances — lively and full of blessing.
- Answer: I would introduce the Great Wall, the giant panda and Lunar New Year. The Wall is a world wonder, the panda is a lovable national treasure, and Lunar New Year is lively and warm — the three most Chinese features, and Tom will surely be interested.
6Common mistakes Mistakes
7Quick check Quick check
Q1What is our country's name?
Q2What is the country's capital?
Q3How many ethnic groups does China have?
Q4Which animal is China's national treasure?
Q5In which year did Hong Kong return to the motherland?
8Recap Recap
- Our country is the People's Republic of China; the capital is Beijing.
- The Great Wall and the Forbidden City are world-famous; the Yangtze and Yellow River are the mother rivers.
- The giant panda is China's national treasure.
- The 56 ethnic groups stand united as one family of the Chinese nation.
- Hong Kong is part of the country — we love Hong Kong and love the country.