The Chinese have a history that goes back thousands of years. The first Chinese dynasty, the Xia Dynasty, emerged in 2100 BCE, as one of the earliest civilizations in the history of the world. Thanks to thousands of years of dynasties, creative movements, war, and societal development, you could spend your entire life learning about China’s evolution, traditions and history. One of the best ways to learn about Chinese society is by living there, checking out museums, palaces, the Great Wall, ancient ruins and talking to people.
Chinese food in China tastes a little different than Chinese food you find around the world. Moreover, Chinese food tastes different depending on which region you’re in. This large country has varied climates, which has affected the different spices available in each area and subsequently the flavors associated with regional dishes. The most widely praised cuisines in China are Lu, Chuan, Yue and Huaiyang, coming from North, West, South and East Chinese regions, respectively.
First off, language learning comes with heaps of benefits for your brain, like prolonging dementia. Learning Mandarin in particular can help open professional doors working in emerging Chinese markets and also lead to greater insight into Chinese culture, literature and customs. Mandarin also happens to be the most widely-spoken first language in the world, with nearly 1 billion native speakers.
Learning more about China means learning more about a major portion of the world’s population, as 1.4 of the 7.6 billion people on earth are Chinese (UN Report, 2017). Living in Shanghai or Hong Kong will give a young professional firsthand insight into this massive country and its impact. Interns can then take their experiences and expertise back home with them, helping the rest of the world understand China, its contributions, culture and the economic opportunities available.
The Chinese economy makes up for nearly 15% of the entire global economy, second only to the United States with GDP at $11 trillion in March 2017. No matter where you’re from, chances are that your country does some business in China, making an internship in China and learning Mandarin a strategic move to be a more competitive professional.
One of the world’s four largest emerging markets is China, implying massive opportunities for investment in the region. As the Chinese economy continues to grow, foreign companies can cash in on development if they make the right investments. Knowledge of Chinese industries and business practices can be a major boost to your resume if you’re applying for positions at firms with an eye on China.
Sources: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2017/03/worlds-biggest-economies-in-2017/, https://www.bu.edu/wll/home/why-study-chinese/, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_languages_by_number_of_native_speakers, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_China#Ancient_China, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_cuisine, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emerging_markets, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_population_(United_Nations)
Photos
1. based on Star Ferry Hong Kong., by Bernard Spragg. NZ, Public Domain
2. based on Coming up, by Matthias Ripp, CC-by-2.0
3. based on Boatman Causeway Bay Hong Kong, by Bernard Spragg. NZ, Public Domain