@ Turnoi, I am the first to remind many Chinese people I met during my time in China, that the 5,000 year history argument is futile. It's like two fleas arguing over who has been biting the dog they are both on the longest, or in more modern parlance, "penis envy", mine is longer, therefore, better than yours.

As a European, I could say I can trace my system of philosophy back to the Greeks, my country's development to the Romans, and so on. And doesn't the western system of numerals come from the Arabs/moors, so one could claim that the history goes back even longer...

Not against you, but it always galls me that because they put two men into space and are running high speed trains, the rest of the world should look on in awe. I'd be more amazed when there is a efficient sewage system and clean drinkable water from the tap, but I won't hold my breath.