1. ChinaBasic Statistics • Population: 1,300M (US – 300M) (the largest, followed by India) • Area: 3.7M sq. miles (US – 3.6M) (only Russia and Canada are larger) • Capital: Beijing (Peking) • Highest: Mt.Everest @ 29K ft. (Danali @ 20K ft.) • Lowest: Turpan Depression – 500 ft. (Death Valley – 300 ft.) • 22 Provinces and 5 Autonomous Regions • Major faiths: Buddhism, Taoism, Confuscianism • 55 Distinct ethnic minority groups, but Han Chinese account for 93% of the population

3. The Silk Road

4. The Taklimakan Desert provides one of the most hostile climates on the planet, but helpful for preserving ancient art (and corpses!)