Editing China (section)

== Culture and society==
{{Main|Chinese culture|Culture of the People's Republic of China}}
{{wide image|File:Temple of Heaven, Beijing, China - 010 edit.jpg|1000px|The [[Temple of Heaven]], a center of [[Chinese theology|heaven worship]] and a UNESCO [[World Heritage Site|World Heritage site]], symbolizes the Interactions Between Heaven and Mankind.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Temple of Heaven: an Imperial Sacrificial Altar in Beijing |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/881 |access-date=18 February 2023 |website=UNESCO World Heritage Centre}}</ref>}}
[[File:瘦西湖小金山2017.jpg|thumb|A [[moon gate]] in a Chinese garden]]

Since [[Ancient China|ancient times]], Chinese culture has been heavily influenced by Confucianism. Chinese culture, in turn, has heavily influenced [[East Asia]] and [[Southeast Asia]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bader |first=Jeffrey A. |date=6 September 2005 |title=China's Role in East Asia: Now and the Future |url=https://www.brookings.edu/on-the-record/chinas-role-in-east-asia-now-and-the-future |access-date=16 May 2023 |website=Brookings Institution}}</ref> For much of the country's dynastic era, opportunities for social advancement could be provided by high performance in the prestigious [[imperial examination]]s, which have their origins in the Han dynasty.<ref>{{Cite book |title=China: Understanding Its Past |date=1997 |publisher=[[University of Hawaii Press]] |page=29}}</ref> The [[Chinese literature|literary emphasis]] of the exams affected the general perception of cultural refinement in China, such as the belief that [[Chinese calligraphy|calligraphy]], [[Classical Chinese poetry|poetry]] and [[Chinese painting|painting]] were higher forms of art than dancing or drama. Chinese culture has long emphasized a sense of deep history and a largely inward-looking national perspective.<ref name="ChinaFuture">{{Cite news |last=Jacques |first=Martin |date=19 October 2012 |title=A Point of View: What kind of superpower could China be? |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-19995218 |access-date=21 October 2012 |publisher=[[BBC News]]}}</ref> Examinations and a [[meritocracy|culture of merit]] remain greatly valued in China today.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=2005 |title=Historical and Contemporary Exam-driven Education Fever in China |url=http://suen.educ.psu.edu/~hsuen/pubs/KEDI%20Yu.pdf |url-status=dead |journal=KEDI Journal of Educational Policy |volume=2 |issue=1 |pages=17–33 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150301123007/http://suen.educ.psu.edu/~hsuen/pubs/KEDI%20Yu.pdf |archive-date=1 March 2015}}</ref>

[[File:Fenghuang old town.JPG|thumb|[[Fenghuang County]], an ancient town that harbors many architectural remains of Ming and Qing styles<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fenghuang Ancient City |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5337 |access-date=19 February 2023 |website=UNESCO World Heritage Centre}}</ref>]]

Today, the Chinese government has accepted numerous elements of traditional Chinese culture as being integral to Chinese society. With the rise of [[Chinese nationalism]] and the end of the Cultural Revolution, various forms of traditional Chinese art, literature, music, film, fashion and architecture have seen a vigorous revival,<ref name="Ref_abcdef">{{Cite web |date=July 1987 |title="China: Traditional arts". Library of Congress – Country Studies |url=http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+cn0133) |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050226150229/http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd%2Fcstdy%3A%40field%28DOCID+cn0133%29 |archive-date=26 February 2005 |access-date=1 November 2011 |website=[[Library of Congress Country Studies]]}}</ref><ref name="Ref_abcdeg">{{Cite encyclopedia |title=China: Cultural life: The arts |encyclopedia=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]] |url=https://www.britannica.com/eb/article-258942/China |access-date=1 November 2011}}</ref> and folk and variety art in particular have sparked interest nationally and even worldwide.<ref name="Ref_abcdeh">{{Cite web |date=July 1987 |title=China: Folk and Variety Arts |url=http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+cn0138) |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041114173430/http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd%2Fcstdy%3A%40field%28DOCID+cn0138%29 |archive-date=14 November 2004 |access-date=1 November 2011 |website=[[Library of Congress Country Studies]]}}</ref> Access to foreign media remains heavily restricted.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kuo |first=Lily |date=13 March 2013 |title=Why China is letting 'Django Unchained' slip through its censorship regime |url=http://qz.com/62717/why-china-is-letting-django-unchained-slip-through-its-censorship-regime/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514072402/http://qz.com/62717/why-china-is-letting-django-unchained-slip-through-its-censorship-regime/ |archive-date=14 May 2013 |access-date=12 July 2013 |work=[[Quartz (publication)|Quartz]]}}</ref>

=== Architecture ===
{{Main|Chinese architecture|3 = List of World Heritage Sites in China}}

[[Chinese architecture]] has developed over millennia in China and has remained a vestigial source of perennial influence on the development of East Asian architecture,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Goodrich |first=L. Carrington |title=A Short History of the Chinese People |date=2007 |publisher=Sturgis Press |isbn=978-1-4067-6976-0 |edition=Third}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Formichi |first=Chiara |title=Religious pluralism, state and society in Asia |date=2013 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-1345-7542-8}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Robin W. Winks |title=Historiography |last2=Alaine M. Low |date=2001 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-1915-4241-1}}</ref> including in [[Japanese architecture|Japan]], [[Korean architecture|Korea]], and [[Architecture of Mongolia|Mongolia]].<ref name="Cartwright-2023">{{Cite web |last=Cartwright |first=Mark |title=Ancient Chinese Architecture |url=https://www.worldhistory.org/Chinese_Architecture |access-date=19 February 2023 |website=World History Encyclopedia}}</ref> and minor influences on the architecture of Southeast and South Asia including the countries of [[Malaysia]], [[Singapore]], [[Indonesia]], [[Sri Lanka]], Thailand, Laos, [[Cambodia]], [[Vietnamese architecture|Vietnam]] and the Philippines.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bandaranayake |first=Senake |title=Sinhalese monastic architecture: the viháras of Anurádhapura |date=1974 |publisher=Brill |isbn=9-0040-3992-9}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Nithi Sathāpitānon |title=Architecture of Thailand: a guide to traditional and contemporary forms |last2=Brian Mertens |date=2012 |publisher=Didier Millet |isbn=978-9-8142-6086-2}}</ref>

Chinese architecture is characterized by bilateral symmetry, use of enclosed open spaces, [[feng shui]] (e.g. directional [[Hierarchy|hierarchies]]),<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Tuobin |title=Bu lu ke lin = Brooklyn |last2=托宾 Toibin |first2=Colm |date=2021 |publisher=Shang hai yi wen chu ban she you xian gong si |others=Bo,Li, 柏栎 |isbn=978-7-5327-8659-6 |edition=Di 1 ban |language=zh}}</ref> a horizontal emphasis, and an allusion to various cosmological, [[myth]]ological or in general symbolic elements. Chinese architecture traditionally classifies structures according to type, ranging from ''[[pagodas]]'' to [[Chinese palace|palaces]].<ref name="Itō-2017">{{Cite book |last1=Itō |first1=Chūta |title=Zhongguo jian zhu shi |last2=伊藤忠太 |date=2017 |publisher=中国画报出版社 |others=Yizhuang Liao, 廖伊庄 |isbn=978-7-5146-1318-6 |edition=Di 1 ban}}</ref><ref name="Cartwright-2023" />
[[File:Tian'anmen from the square (20200825114150).jpg|thumb|[[Tiananmen Square]], a [[Town square|city square]] in the [[city center]] of [[Beijing]]. [[Tiananmen]] is the [[Gatehouse|entrance gate]] of the [[Forbidden City]].]]
Chinese architecture varies widely based on status or affiliation, such as whether the structures were constructed for emperors, commoners, or for religious purposes. Other variations in Chinese architecture are shown in vernacular styles associated with different [[Geography|geographic]] regions and different ethnic heritages, such as the [[stilt house]]s in the south, the [[Yaodong|Yaodong buildings]] in the northwest, the [[Yurt|yurt buildings]] of nomadic people, and the [[Siheyuan|Siheyuan buildings]] in the north.<ref>{{Cite book |last=徐怡涛. |title=Zhong guo jian zhu |date=2010 |publisher=Gao deng jiao yu chu ban she |others=Xu yi tao, 徐怡涛. |isbn=978-7-0402-7421-9}}</ref>

=== Literature ===
{{Main|Chinese literature}}
[[File:Pekin przedstawienie tradycjnego teatru chinskiego 7.JPG|thumb|The stories in ''[[Journey to the West]]'' are common themes in [[Peking opera]].]]

Chinese literature has its roots in the Zhou dynasty's literary tradition.<ref>{{Cite web |script-title=zh:中国文学史概述 |url=http://cai.jstvu.edu.cn/cai/daxueyuwen/2/two/xxck.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722034509/http://cai.jstvu.edu.cn/cai/daxueyuwen/2/two/xxck.htm |archive-date=22 July 2015 |access-date=18 July 2015 |website=jstvu.edu.cn}}</ref> The [[Chinese classics|classical texts of China]] encompass a wide range of thoughts and subjects, such as the [[Chinese calendar|calendar]], [[List of Chinese military texts|military]], [[Chinese astrology|astrology]], [[Chinese herbology|herbology]], and [[Chinese geography|geography]], as well as many others.<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 November 2013 |title=The Canonical Books of Confucianism – Canon of the Literati |url=http://weber.ucsd.edu/~dkjordan/chin/hbcanonru-u.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202210607/http://weber.ucsd.edu/~dkjordan/chin/hbcanonru-u.html |archive-date=2 February 2014 |access-date=14 January 2014}}</ref> Among the most significant early works are the ''[[I Ching]]'' and the ''[[Classic of History|Shujing]]'', which are part of the [[Four Books and Five Classics]]. These texts were the cornerstone of the Confucian curriculum sponsored by the state throughout the dynastic periods. Inherited from the ''[[Classic of Poetry]]'', [[classical Chinese poetry]] developed to its [[floruit]] during the Tang dynasty. [[Li Bai]] and [[Du Fu]] opened the forking ways for the poetic circles through romanticism and realism respectively. [[Chinese historiography]] began with the ''[[Shiji]]'', the overall scope of the historiographical tradition in China is termed the [[Twenty-Four Histories]], which set a vast stage for Chinese fictions along with [[Chinese mythology]] and [[Chinese folklore|folklore]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Guo |first=Dan |script-title=zh:史传文学与中国古代小说 |url=http://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTotal-MQXS199704006.htm |url-status=dead |journal=明清小说研究 |issue=April 1997 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722013727/http://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTotal-MQXS199704006.htm |archive-date=22 July 2015 |access-date=18 July 2015}}</ref> Pushed by a burgeoning citizen class in the Ming dynasty, Chinese classical fiction rose to a boom of the historical, town and [[gods and demons fiction]]s as represented by the [[Four Great Classical Novels]] which include ''[[Water Margin]]'', ''[[Romance of the Three Kingdoms]]'', ''[[Journey to the West]]'' and ''[[Dream of the Red Chamber]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |script-title=zh:第一章 中国古典小说的发展和明清小说的繁荣 |url=http://iclass.nbtvu.net.cn/kecheng/072157/3title4200499122140/z3.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015200539/http://iclass.nbtvu.net.cn/kecheng/072157/3title4200499122140/z3.htm |archive-date=15 October 2015 |access-date=18 July 2015 |website=nbtvu.net.cn}}</ref> Along with the [[wuxia]] fictions of [[Jin Yong]] and [[Liang Yusheng]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 March 2014 |script-title=zh:金庸作品从流行穿越至经典 |url=http://www.baotounews.com.cn/epaper/btrb/html/2014-03/12/content_286579.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722071612/http://www.baotounews.com.cn/epaper/btrb/html/2014-03/12/content_286579.htm |archive-date=22 July 2015 |access-date=18 July 2015 |website=Baotou News}}</ref> it remains an enduring source of popular culture in the [[Sinosphere|Chinese sphere of influence]].<ref>{{Cite journal |script-title=zh:四大名著在日、韩的传播与跨文化重构 |url=http://d.wanfangdata.com.cn/Periodical_dbsdxb-zxsh201006025.aspx |journal=Journal of Northeast Normal University (Philosophy and Social Sciences) |issue=June 2010 |access-date=18 July 2015}}</ref>

In the wake of the [[New Culture Movement]] after the end of the Qing dynasty, Chinese literature embarked on a new era with [[written vernacular Chinese]] for ordinary citizens. [[Hu Shih]] and [[Lu Xun]] were pioneers in modern literature.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 2000 |script-title=zh:新文化运动中的胡适与鲁迅 |url=http://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTotal-HZSW200004009.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722013427/http://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTotal-HZSW200004009.htm |archive-date=22 July 2015 |access-date=18 July 2015 |publisher=CCP Hangzhou Party School Paper (中共杭州市委党校学报) |language=zh-CN}}</ref> Various literary genres, such as [[misty poetry]], [[scar literature]], [[young adult fiction]] and the [[xungen movement|xungen literature]], which is influenced by [[magic realism]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 2006 |script-title=zh:魔幻现实主义文学与"寻根"小说" |url=http://www.literature.org.cn/article.aspx?id=25449 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723065447/http://www.literature.org.cn/article.aspx?id=25449 |archive-date=23 July 2015 |access-date=18 July 2015 |website=literature.org.cn |language=zh-CN}}</ref> emerged following the Cultural Revolution. [[Mo Yan]], a xungen literature author, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 October 2012 |script-title=zh:"莫言：寻根文学作家" |url=http://e.hznews.com/paper/djsb/20121012/A0607/1/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722034627/http://e.hznews.com/paper/djsb/20121012/A0607/1/ |archive-date=22 July 2015 |access-date=18 July 2015 |publisher=Dongjiang Times (东江时报) |language=zh-CN}}</ref>

=== Music ===
{{Main|Music of China|C-pop|Chinese opera}}

Chinese music covers a highly diverse range of music from traditional music to modern music. Chinese music dates back before the pre-imperial times. [[Traditional Chinese musical instruments]] were traditionally grouped into eight categories known as ''bayin'' (八音). Traditional Chinese opera is a form of musical theatre in China originating thousands of years and has regional style forms such as Beijing and [[Cantonese opera]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=A Brief History of Chinese Opera |url=https://www.thoughtco.com/history-of-chinese-opera-195127 |access-date=14 September 2020 |website=ThoughtCo}}</ref> Chinese pop (C-Pop) includes [[mandopop]] and [[cantopop]]. [[Chinese hip hop]] and [[Hong Kong hip hop]] have become popular.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Why Chinese rappers don't fight the power |date=6 November 2019 |url=https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20191106-why-chinese-rappers-dont-fight-the-power |access-date=23 November 2021 |publisher=BBC}}</ref>

=== Fashion ===
{{Main|Chinese clothing|Hanfu}}

[[Hanfu]] is the historical clothing of the Han people in China. The [[Cheongsam|qipao]] or cheongsam is a popular Chinese female dress.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Qipao {{!}} dress |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/qipao |access-date=14 September 2020 |website=Encyclopædia Britannica}}</ref> The [[hanfu movement]] has been popular in contemporary times and seeks to revitalize Hanfu clothing.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Current and Former EXO Members Are Some of China's Most Expensive Singers |url=https://www.jaynestars.com/news/current-and-former-exo-members-are-some-of-chinas-most-expensive-singers/ |access-date=14 September 2020 |website=JayneStars.com}}</ref> [[China Fashion Week]] is the country's only national-level fashion festival.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Xingxin |first=Zhu |date=19 September 2023 |title=China fashion week struts its stuff |url=https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202309/19/WS6508f98da310d2dce4bb6759.html |website=[[China Daily]]}}</ref>

=== Cinema ===
{{Main|Cinema of China}}

Cinema was first introduced to China in 1896 and the first Chinese film, ''[[Dingjun Mountain (film)|Dingjun Mountain]],'' was released in 1905.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hays |first=Jeffrey |title=Early history of chinese film |url=http://factsanddetails.com/china/cat7/sub42/item1630.html |access-date=14 September 2020 |website=factsanddetails.com}}</ref> China has had the largest number of movie screens in the world since 2016;<ref name="hr">{{Cite web |last=Brzeski |first=Patrick |date=20 December 2016 |title=China Says It Has Passed U.S. as Country With Most Movie Screens |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/china-says-has-passed-us-as-country-movie-screens-957849 |access-date=21 December 2016 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> China became the largest cinema market in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tartaglione |first=Nancy |date=15 November 2016 |title=China Will Overtake U.S. In Number Of Movie Screens This Week: Analyst |url=https://deadline.com/2016/11/china-cinema-screens-overtake-us-box-office-2019-1201852359/ |access-date=15 November 2016 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=PricewaterhouseCoopers |title=Strong revenue growth continues in China's cinema market |url=https://www.pwccn.com/en/press-room/press-releases/pr-170619.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200303120239/https://www.pwccn.com/en/press-room/press-releases/pr-170619.html |archive-date=3 March 2020 |access-date=14 September 2020 |website=PwC}}</ref> The top three [[List of highest-grossing films in China|highest-grossing films in China]] {{as of|2025|lc=y}} were ''[[Ne Zha 2]]'' (2025), ''[[The Battle at Lake Changjin]]'' (2021), and ''[[Wolf Warrior 2]]'' (2017).<ref name="Alltimedomestic">{{Cite web |title=内地总票房排名 |trans-title=All-Time Domestic Box Office Rankings |url=http://www.endata.com.cn/BoxOffice/BO/History/Movie/Alltimedomestic.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200216170558/http://www.endata.com.cn/BoxOffice/BO/History/Movie/Alltimedomestic.html |archive-date=16 February 2020 |access-date=2 March 2020 |website=China Box Office |language=zh}}</ref>

=== Cuisine ===
{{Main|Chinese cuisine}}
[[File:Cuisines of China.png|thumb|Map showing major regional cuisines of China]]
Chinese cuisine is highly diverse, drawing on several millennia of culinary history and geographical variety, in which the most influential are known as the "Eight Major Cuisines", including [[Sichuan cuisine|Sichuan]], [[Cantonese cuisine|Cantonese]], [[Jiangsu cuisine|Jiangsu]], [[Shandong cuisine|Shandong]], [[Fujian cuisine|Fujian]], [[Hunan cuisine|Hunan]], [[Anhui cuisine|Anhui]], and [[Zhejiang cuisine|Zhejiang]] cuisines.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 June 2011 |title=Eight Major Cuisines |url=http://www.chinesecio.com/cms/en/culture/eight-major-cuisines-ba-da-cai-xi |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150912222348/http://www.chinesecio.com/cms/en/culture/eight-major-cuisines-ba-da-cai-xi |archive-date=12 September 2015 |access-date=17 July 2015 |website=chinese.cn}}</ref> Chinese cuisine is known for its breadth of [[Chinese cooking techniques|cooking methods]] and ingredients.<ref>{{Cite news |date=23 September 2013 |script-title=zh:中国美食成外国网友"噩梦" 鸡爪内脏鱼头不敢吃 |url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/photo/2013-09/23/c_125426786.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926145102/http://news.xinhuanet.com/photo/2013-09/23/c_125426786.htm |archive-date=26 September 2013 |access-date=17 July 2015 |agency=[[Xinhua News Agency]]}}</ref> China's staple food is rice in the northeast and south, and wheat-based breads and noodles in the north. Bean products such as [[tofu]] and [[soy milk]] remain a popular source of protein. Pork is now the most popular meat in China, accounting for about three-fourths of the country's total meat consumption.<ref>{{Cite news |date=19 June 2013 |title=China's Hunger For Pork Will Impact The U.S. Meat Industry |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2013/06/19/chinas-hunger-for-pork-will-impact-the-u-s-meat-industry/ |access-date=18 January 2020 |work=Forbes}}</ref> There is also the vegetarian [[Buddhist cuisine]] and the pork-free [[Chinese Islamic cuisine]]. Chinese cuisine, due to the area's proximity to the ocean and milder climate, has a wide variety of seafood and vegetables. Offshoots of Chinese food, such as [[Hong Kong cuisine]] and [[American Chinese cuisine]], have emerged in the [[Chinese diaspora]].

=== Sports ===
{{Main|Sport in China|China at the Olympics|China at the Paralympics}}
[[File:FloorGoban.JPG|thumb|[[Go (game)|Go]] is an abstract strategy board game for two players, in which the aim is to surround more territory than the opponent, and which was invented in China more than 2,500 years ago.]]

China has one of the [[Sport in China|oldest sporting cultures]]. There is evidence that [[archery]] (''shèjiàn'') was practiced during the [[Western Zhou dynasty]]. Swordplay (''jiànshù'') and ''[[cuju]]'', a sport loosely related to [[association football]]<ref>{{Cite book |title=Historical Dictionary of Soccer |date=2011 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=978-0-8108-7188-5 |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=9j1wbp2t1usC&pg=PA2 2]}}</ref> date back to China's early dynasties as well.<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 August 2013 |title=Sport in Ancient China |url=http://www.theworldofchinese.com/2013/08/sport-in-ancient-china/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010152027/http://www.theworldofchinese.com/2013/08/sport-in-ancient-china/ |archive-date=10 October 2017 |access-date=28 June 2014 |publisher=JUE LIU (刘珏) (The World of Chinese)}}</ref>

[[Physical fitness]] is widely emphasized in Chinese culture, with morning exercises such as ''[[qigong]]'' and [[tai chi]] widely practiced,<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Thornton |first1=E. W. |last2=Sykes |first2=K. S. |last3=Tang |first3=W. K. |date=2004 |title=Health benefits of Tai Chi exercise: Improved balance and blood pressure in middle-aged women |journal=[[Health Promotion International]] |volume=19 |issue=1 |pages=33–38 |doi=10.1093/heapro/dah105 |pmid=14976170 |doi-access=free}}</ref> and commercial [[gym]]s and private fitness clubs are gaining popularity.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 July 2011 |title=China health club market – Huge potential & challenges |url=http://chinasportsbiz.com/2011/07/01/huge-potential-of-fitness-market-in-china/ |access-date=31 July 2012 |website=China Sports Business}}</ref> Basketball is the most popular spectator sport in China.<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 August 2014 |script-title=zh:2014年6岁至69岁人群体育健身活动和体质状况抽测结果发布 |url=http://www.wenzhou.gov.cn/art/2014/8/7/art_9113_318011.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151109001344/http://www.wenzhou.gov.cn/art/2014/8/7/art_9113_318011.html |archive-date=9 November 2015 |access-date=23 November 2015 |website=Wenzhou People's Government}}</ref> The [[Chinese Basketball Association]] and the American [[National Basketball Association]] also have a huge national following amongst the Chinese populace, with native-born and NBA-bound Chinese players and well-known national household names such as [[Yao Ming]] and [[Yi Jianlian]] being held in high esteem.<ref name="Beech2003">{{Cite magazine |last=Beech |first=Hannah |date=28 April 2003 |title=Yao Ming |url=http://www.time.com/time/asia/2003/heroes/yao_ming.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110705191234/http://www.time.com/time/asia/2003/heroes/yao_ming.html |archive-date=5 July 2011 |access-date=30 March 2007 |magazine=Time}}</ref> China's professional football league, known as [[Chinese Super League]], is the largest football market in East Asia.<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 July 2013 |script-title=zh:足球不给劲观众却不少 中超球市世界第9亚洲第1 |url=http://sports.sohu.com/20130714/n381558488.shtml |access-date=17 July 2015 |website=[[Sohu]] Sports}}</ref> Other popular sports include [[Chinese martial arts|martial arts]], [[table tennis]], [[badminton]], [[swimming (sport)|swimming]] and [[snooker]]. China is home to a huge number of [[cycling|cyclists]], with an estimated 470 million bicycles {{As of|2012|lc=y}}.<ref name="470MBikes">{{Cite news |date=17 August 2012 |title=Bike-Maker Giant Says Fitness Lifestyle Boosting China Sales |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-08-16/bicycle-maker-giant-says-fitness-lifestyle-boosting-china-sales.html |access-date=8 September 2012 |work=[[Bloomberg News]]}}</ref> China has the world's largest [[esports]] market.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kharpal |first=Arjun |date=15 July 2022 |title=China remains the world's largest e-sports market despite gaming crackdown |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/07/15/china-is-worlds-largest-e-sports-market-despite-crackdown-study.html |website=[[CNBC]]}}</ref> Many more [[Traditional games of China|traditional sports]], such as [[dragon boat]] racing, [[Mongolian wrestling|Mongolian-style wrestling]] and [[horse racing]] are also popular.<ref name="Ref_abcden">Qinfa, Ye. [http://chineseculture.about.com/library/weekly/aa032301a.htm "Sports History of China"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090303183246/http://chineseculture.about.com/library/weekly/aa032301a.htm |date=3 March 2009}}. [[About.Com]]. Retrieved 21 April 2006.</ref>

China has [[China at the Olympics|participated in the Olympic Games]] since 1932, although it has only participated as the PRC [[China at the 1952 Summer Olympics|since 1952]]. China hosted the [[2008 Summer Olympics]] in Beijing, where its athletes received 48 gold medals – the [[2008 Summer Olympics medal table|highest number of any participating nation that year]].<ref name="Ref_abcdeo">{{Cite news |date=27 August 2008 |title=China targets more golds in 2012 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/7583735.stm |access-date=27 November 2011 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> China also won the most medals at the [[2012 Summer Paralympics]], with 231 overall, including 95 gold.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Medal Count |url=http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/medals/medal-count/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120830230101/http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/medals/medal-count |archive-date=30 August 2012 |access-date=9 September 2012 |website=London2012.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=9 September 2012 |title=China dominates medals; U.S. falls short at Paralympics |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/story/2012/09/9/china-dominates-medals-us-falls-short-at-paralympics/57719222/1 |access-date=19 June 2013 |work=[[USA Today]]}}</ref> In 2011, Shenzhen hosted the [[2011 Summer Universiade]]. China hosted the [[2013 East Asian Games]] in Tianjin and the [[2014 Summer Youth Olympics]] in Nanjing, the first country to host both regular and Youth Olympics. Beijing and its nearby city [[Zhangjiakou]] collaboratively hosted the [[2022 Winter Olympics]], making Beijing the first dual Olympic city by holding both the Summer Olympics and the Winter Olympics.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Beijing: The world's first dual Olympic city |url=https://olympics.com/en/news/100-days-to-go-beijing-worlds-first-dual-olympic-city |access-date=6 February 2022 |publisher=olympics.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=23 February 2018 |title=Beijing 2022 Winter Games Olympics – results & video highlights |url=https://www.olympic.org/beijing-2022 |access-date=23 February 2018 |publisher=International Olympic Committee}}</ref> China hosted the [[Asian Games]] in [[1990 Asian Games|1990]] (Beijing), [[2010 Asian Games|2010]] (Guangzhou), and [[2022 Asian Games|2023]] (Hangzhou).<ref>{{Cite news |date=21 September 2023 |title=At-a-glance guide to the Hangzhou Asian Games |url=https://www.rfi.fr/en/sports/20230921-at-a-glance-guide-to-the-hangzhou-asian-games |access-date=15 December 2024 |work=[[Radio France Internationale]]}}</ref>