When it comes to geographic significance, or to political and economic one, Germany enjoys an irreplaceable role and plays a part of bridge and leader. Moreover, due to the time-honored and deep-seated history and culture, we are fully confident that, in order to get access to Europe, you might as well begin with Germany. When stepping close to Germany, that is, the European culture, this western cultural palace that radiates its splendor with Asian eastern culture throughout the world will surely astound you. Consequently, as to Chinese, a people living in a ever-developing society that progresses with each passing day, and with the Chinese access to WTO, all the Chinese people are beholding and experiencing the magnificent process of global economic integration that is nearly accomplished. In the mean time, it is inevitable for Chinese people to place themselves on the international stage jointly inspected and questioned by epoch, history and future: If you really intend to make a sense of Europe and the world at large, Why not come to Germany?

Germany, like China, boasts a long-standing history and splendid culture, the role of which is indispensable in Europe, like China in Asia. Therefore, from the angle of Europe, or the whole world, Germany enjoys a glorious tradition and sustained development in the domain of history, education, literature, music, publication and media etc.

History

When dated back to 10th century BC, there lived Germans in the border of Germany. At the early stage of 10th century, the early Germany feudal country uncovered its veil, ensuing the establishment of Holy Roman Empire of Germany nationality. Around mid-13th century, owning to the decline of central authority, there occured feudal separatism. As early as 1871, the Prussia Kingdom won the war between Prussia and France so that erected the German Empire fulfilling the unity of Germany. In 1914 and 1939, the First World War and the Second World War were provoked in sequence, and ended in failure in 1918 and 1945 respectively. In 1949, the occupied territories of the United States, Britain and France were combined into Federal Republic of Germany, while the occupied territory of Soviet Union was turned into Democratic Republic of Germany. On oct.2nd 1990, Federal Republic of Germany and Democratic Republic of Germany reunified at last.

Education

Germany enjoys extremely developed college, middle-level, preliminary and vocational education with a 12-year compulsory education. Furthermore, tuition is free in public schools, while some relief is put on studying tools, such as textbooks. The schooling length of primary school and middle one are 4-6 years and 5-9 years respectively. Simultaneously, colleges enjoy a certain right of self-determination, implementing a system of enrolling high-school graduates freely in principal and setting quota limits on some disciplines. Germany boasts a multitude of world-renowned colleges, such as Heidelberg University, Humboldt University Berlin, the University of Cologne, Leipzig University, Goettingen University etc. German colleges, according to their function, can be classified into 3 categories: multiversity, application & technical college, college for arts & music, including college for drama & film. These three kinds of colleges are of the same level, graduates passing the graduate examinations and dissertation reply are able to acquire Master’s degree or other degrees of corresponding level and state-recognized credentials of the equivalent level.

Literature

The Italy renaissance exerted a profound influence on German literature, which reached its prime stage in 1700s. Goethe, Heine, Schiller, Lessing and the Green brothers are the surpassing representatives of German literature. In 1900s, there appeared some Well-known writers, such as Heinrich Boell, Guenter Grass winning the Nobel Prize on literature in 1972 and 1999 respectively.

Music

Germany, a nationality passionate about music and endowed with a myriad of music talent, enjoys an incomparable achievement in music. There is not a country, like Germany, that have fostered so many music masters in the development of history, such as Beethoven, Bach, Mendelssohn, Wagner and so forth. Nowadays, Germany features 121 opera houses and 146 professional bands. In addition, multitudes of bands and musical groups have radiated their fame all over the world, such as Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Leipzig Symphony Orchestra, Dresden State small band etc.

Publication

Loving reading books is one of the glorious traditions of Germans so that German press & publishing industry is exceedingly developed, with the publication of books ranking 2nd in the world after the United States. Furthermore, a variety of newspaper lies in Germany, with per capita newspaper possession ranking 4th worldwide lagging behind Japan, Britain and Switzerland. Over 1600 kinds of magazines are published annually, the circulation of which is around 140 million copies. Frankfurt and Leipzig are the German book publishing industry center, and Leipzig boasts the largest library in Germany and printing museum that witnessed German printing history.

Media

--Newspaper
Photo paper enjoys the widest circulation among daily newspaper in Germany. Among others are Le Monde, Frankfurt reporting, Time Weekly, Mirror weekly which have radiated its international impact throughout Germany and the whole Europe at large.

--Press agency
Founded in 1949 and with its head office located in Hamburg, Germany-Presse is acknowledged as one of the world ten largest press agencies. Germany-Presse has stationed correspondences or staff writers in more than 80 nations, distributing news dispatches in Germany, English, Spanish, and Arabic via satellite, telex and other means of communication. Moreover, the adoption rate in German daily newspaper reaches 99% so that Germany-Pressse is the major source of information.

--Broadcasting
German radio station, jointly funded and established by federal Government and state radio stations, is mainly responsible for domestic broadcasting. Voice of Germany radio station is a international radio station broadcasting worldwide in 31 kinds of languages involving Chinese.

--Television
ARD, run by German radio association jointly founded by each state radio station, German radio station and voice of Germany radio station, broadcasts the first set of programs nationwide and the third set of programs locally. ZDF, the largest German television station, broadcasts the second set of programs.