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Collective wedding
ceremony |
Hebei is
one of the densely populated provinces in China. According to the statistics at the end
of 2006, Hebei has a population of 68,978,000. In 2006, its population growth
rate is 6.23‰. Because of the differences between areas in natural conditions,
development status,communications, social economy, and other factors, the
distribution of population density is quite uneven. The plain area has more
population than the mountain and plateau areas; the southern part is peopled
more densely than the northern part.
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Local-style dwelling
houses | China is
a unified multi-national country, peopled by 56 ethnic groups. The Han
nationality, main body of the Chinese nation, is the largest one of all, making up 94
percent of the total population. Generally speaking, the various ethnic groups
live in mixed but relatively compact communities. Hebei is similar with
the whole country in its structure of nationalities. The Han nationality makes
up 96 percent of Hebei's population. Except the Han, there are
55 minority nationalities, such as the Manchu, Hui, Mongolia, Korea, Zhuang, Miao
and Tujia. The population of these minority nationalities makes up 4 percent
of Hebei' total and ranking 10th in the whole country. Minority people can be
found living in every county or city in Hebei, but most live in the area of
Chengde and Cangzhou. Some live in Zhangjiakou, Baoding, Langfang, and Tangshan.
Hebei has 6 autonomous counties, 55 autonomous townships and 1,390 autonomous
villages of minority nationalities. Although there are differences between these
nationalities in their economic and cultural development, each of them has its
long history and the equal right to take part in the administration of the state
affairs. They have, together with the Han nationality, made great contributions
to the development and prosperity of Hebei's economy and
culture.
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The north mosque in Cangzhou
city |
There are 5 different religions in
Hebei, namely Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Catholicism and Christianity. Among the
believers, nearly one million are Catholics, making up one fourth of the
national total. As the largest group of Catholics in the country, they are
distributed in 148 counties (county level cities) of Hebei Province. All
religious believers, like other Chinese citizens, are protected and respected
for their freedom of religions.
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