Understanding China Quiz

China's One-Child Policy

• Exceptions to the one-child policy included: rural families, ethnic minorities, and families where both parents were only children themselves.
• Families were allowed to have a second child under certain circumstances, such as if the first child was a girl or disabled, or if the parents were from one-child families themselves.
• The one-child policy was successful in reducing the birth rate and population growth, with the total fertility rate (TFR) decreasing from 2.8 in 1979 to 1.6 in 2012.

Current Status and Impact

• The one-child policy was replaced with a two-child policy in 2016, allowing all couples to have up to two children.
• The policy has had a significant impact on China's population growth, with an estimated 400 million fewer births between 1979 and 2012.
• Without the policy, China's population could have reached 1.9 billion by 2012, rather than the actual 1.35 billion.

Population Composition and Structure

• China's increasing life expectancy has led to an ageing population, with a significant increase in the proportion of elderly citizens.
• The 4-2-1 family structure, where one child supports two parents and four grandparents, has significant implications for China's social security and pension systems.

Demographic Shift and Societal Structure

• The demographic shift has affected China's societal structure and family dynamics, with increasing pressure on working-age citizens to support a growing elderly population.
• Predictions suggest that by 2050, 39% of China's population will be elderly, leading to concerns about social security, healthcare, and pension systems.

Tourism and Urban Development

• The world's largest outdoor bronze Buddha is located in Leshan, Sichuan Province.
• The main attraction for tourists in Chengdu and Sichuan Province is the Giant Buddha of Leshan.
• The highlight of the Yangtze cruise is the scenic Three Gorges.
• Shenzhen is significant as a major economic and technological hub.

Urban Development and Architecture

• Shikumen housing in Shanghai is a traditional style of architecture characterized by stone gates and inner courtyards.
• In the 1980s, Shanghai faced major environmental and urban issues, including pollution, overcrowding, and poor infrastructure.
• The Pudong area was developed in 1989 as a new economic and financial hub, and is now a major business district.

Current Status and Significance

• Pudong is now a major financial and economic hub, and a symbol of China's economic growth and development.
• Shikumen housing in Shanghai is now largely redeveloped or gentrified, with only a few remaining examples of the traditional architecture.

Test your knowledge about China and its people, landscapes, climate, and rapid development. This quiz will help you understand the differences between China and UK, and appreciate the speed and unevenness of its development.