On hot summer nights, the coastal strips of Lima, Peru are dotted with beach-loving partiers, soaking up the moonlight and twisting and shaking to the rhythm of deep techno beats echoing through the air. The plazas are filled with families out for a night stroll, historical monuments glow on the cityscape, and entertainers ring out in song and dance, bringing cheerful grins to amused onlookers.

With an ancient civilization that dates back earlier than almost any other in the world, China inevitably has a rich history full of transformation and development. From dynasties to open socialism, China has experienced both the pressures of political unrest and the peacefulness of political dominance.