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The population of Beijing, the capital city, is 14 million. Shanghai business center 28 At least 50 cities in China have populations of one million or more. As more people move to the cities, the cities grow upward and outward. In some cities, too many people have moved in too quickly, and there are not enough homes and jobs for everyone. Chongqing More than 30 million people live in the city of Chongqing [chong-ching], and the surrounding area. This very large city is in central China. 29 Rush hour in Beijing Ting-a-ling!

China was once closed off from the rest of the world. Now, it is a proud nation taking its place on the global stage. Goodbye zàijiàn [zi-jyen] 47 Glossary Ancestors Family members of past generations. Ancient Very old, having existed for many hundreds or thousands of years. Bamboo A type of woody grass that grows in tropical places. Calligraphy The art of elegant handwriting. In China, calligraphy involves writing characters. Characters Symbols that represent words, as used in Chinese writing.

To mark the occasion, they have built high-tech sports arenas, new parks, and better public transportation systems. An effort has also been made to reduce pollution in the capital and other cities through the Green Olympics program. China’s Olympic Stadium is nicknamed the Bird’s Nest. 46 Introduction of the five official 2008 Olympic mascots, whose combined names mean “Welcome to Beijing” The theme for the Beijing Olympics is “one world, one dream,” a sign of how far the country has come. China was once closed off from the rest of the world.