school contained a considerable number of pieces of equipment for science teaching, and portraits in the corridors of such western scientists as Copernicus, Galileo and Darwin

KEY FACTS 1. The Chinese civilisation is one of the oldest in the world. Two thousand years ago during its Han Dynasty, it was roughly equal in area and population to the Roman Empire of the time.

2. China has over one-fifth of the total population of the world. In spite of a sharp reduction in the rate of growth, partly at least the result of strong measures to enforce family planning, it continues to grow at about 1.1 per cent a year,

3. China has a wide range of natural resources, but in relation to its population size its bioclimatic and water resources are limited while its proved reserves of oil, natural gas and most non-fuel minerals are very small.