The People's Republic of China straddles across a great deal of Asia and is the third or fourth largest country in the world, depending on whether disputed territories are counted or not. The huge nation shares borders with 14 other countries: Vietnam, Laos, Burma (Myanmar), India, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Mongolia and North Korea, and has around 14,500km of coastline stretching across the South China Sea, the East China Sea and the Yellow Sea. Geographically, China is a country of huge variety throughout, with mountainous regions, tropical areas, desert lands and sub-arctic climes in some areas - it's an incredible example of the amount of difference a person can experience in the world, all within the borders of one country. The country is one that still retains an air of mystique, even after thousands of years of history - the fact that China was essentially closed off to the world until relatively recently just serves to stir up this atmosphere of inscrutability, but visitors to the country are often rewarded with the trip of a lifetime. It would be near-impossible to see everything China has to offer in one lifetime, but a potential off plan investor looking to put up shop in a country of real wonder and mystery could do a lot worse than the People's Republic.

The history of China stretches back around 5,000 years - though remains and archaeological digs have revealed the presence of people in the region for thousands of years before this, the China that exists today is widely regarded as beginning roughly around 3000BC. The beginning of modern China came through a succession of Dynasties, the first of which is believed to be the Xia Dynasty, but little in the way of actual evidence has been unearthed, leaving historians just as unsure about the Xia as anyone else. The Shang and Zhou Dynasties followed, and a decentralisation of power was seen around the 8^th century BC - this eventually lead to the Qin Dynasty, which introduced Qin Shi Huangdi as the First Emperor of China, the Great Wall of China and a standardised Chinese written language - one which remains the same to this day. The few centuries saw Dynasties rise and fall in succession, wars fought in and out of China, invaders repelled and wannabe emperors foiled, as well as the embracing of Confucianism by those in charge. It wasn't until the 16^th century that the first Europeans arrived in China, with the Portuguese soon setting up trading routes with the Chinese - the British soon followed suit, though the Chinese exports far outweighed the British exports. The increasing popularity of opium on the world stage helped to change this, however, and the constant smuggling of opium into China by the British brought about the Opium Wars - the aftermath of which saw Hong Kong handed over to the British, and a number of concessions forced on the Chinese by the Americans, French and a few other nations. The early 20^th century saw a military revolutionary uprising and the formation of the Republic of China, but instability and infighting caused a power vacuum, which saw many different military leaders from provinces of the nation vying for total control. The Communist Party of China (CPC) was formed in the 1920s and soon entered into a guerrilla war with the dominant Kuomintang Nationalist Party - it was during this time that the CPC came under the rule of Mao Zedong. By the end of the Second World War and the collapse of the Japanese occupation the CPC had built a formidable force, and by 1949 the Nationalist Party had been routed, and on October 1^st, 1949, the People's Republic of China was declared. Land redistribution began, former landlords and capitalists were purged and foreign investment was all but wiped out in the early years of the PR. From 1958 Mao instigated the Great Leap Forward, but mismanagement and a whole host of other contributing factors ended with around 20 million people dying in a huge famine - this did not stop Mao from continuing to push his ideals forward, and his Red Guard terrorised the people of China until the Chairman's death in 1976. Deng Xiaoping became the new leader of the PR and instigated a new era of Economic Reforms and Openness, which allowed greater personal freedoms and a new influx of foreign investment - essentially a capitalist-based system, though still with an overarching socialist agenda. While China saw economic and personal growth in this period, it also saw some all-time lows, culminating in the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989, where many protestors were killed or injured - the event has since been stricken from the record inside China, and is an illegal subject. More recent history has seen China pursuing an even more aggressive line in economic growth, and the speed at which the country is growing - in a financial sense - means China is likely to be the most affluent and powerful nation in the world some years down the line. Admission to the World Trade Organisation and Beijing being awarded the 2008 Olympics has helped solidify China's new image as a forward-thinking and open nation. There are still controversies, the media is still strictly regulated and there are alleged human rights abuses - it isn't a haven for all the good and the free - but China is a country that no one should ignore.

China is a country that many potential off plan investors wouldn't even consider when thinking of somewhere to spend their cash, but the prospective growth in the country is huge - China has the fastest growing economy in the world and some of the fastest-growing cities to match. From a purely financial perspective, the chance to strike while the iron is hot really is now - before the much bigger influx comes after the 2008 Olympics and other events over following years. Property prices in major Chinese cities are very low when compared to those of their western equivalents, making it a very smart move to put money into the country. Such a huge nation with so much to see and do would be ideal for a second home or holiday getaway, and it will surely take a lifetime to explore, so throw in some very friendly people and fine cuisine and there's a recipe for success.

The standards of healthcare in China are excellent in main cities, but elsewhere can be very poor. Health insurance, including emergency evacuation cover, is essential.

Mobile phone coverage is good across main cities, but coverage elsewhere cannot be guaranteed. Landlines are available and lines are of a decent standard. Internet cafes are available, though internet use is strongly censored and many sites are unavailable.