China
Nau mai. Haere mai.
Welcome to Term 2, 2025!
This time we are focusing on China.Hello in Mandarin is 你好, pronounced Nǐ hǎo
The official name of China is the People’s Republic of China
The capital city is Beijing and the population of China is 1.4 billion people
The Himalayas are the major mountain range with Mount Everest as the highest peak at 8,850 meters high. Mount Everest straddles the border between Nepal and the Chinese region of Tibet.
The main rivers are the Yangtze & Yellow Rivers
There are many ancient things to explore in China:
- The Forbidden City, a palace complex in Beijing, contains about 9,000 rooms!
- The mortar used to bind the Great Wall’s stones was made with sticky rice! All sections of the Great Wall of China adds up to about 21,196 kilometres
- Xi’an, the ancient capital of China, is home to one of the world’s most remarkable archaeological discoveries—the Terracotta Warriors. These life-sized statues, were part of the tomb of China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang. They are over 2,200 years old.
Temperatures in China’s Turpan Depression can range from 49°C in summer to -29°C in winter.
More people speak Mandarin, as their first language, than any other language in the world.
Some of our young friends from Christian Surfers share some more information about China in this video, along with some beautiful scenery.
Map of China
Memory Verse
This video is The Lord’s Prayer in Mandarin. You might like to listen along and enjoy the images from China’s wildlife.
Chinese Steamed Buns
You’ll find the recipe on our resources page.
Prayer for China
We invite you to pray for China in your homes and children’s programmes. These are some topics you might like to choose from, or, perhaps you have friends living there that you might like to pray for:
- Many people live in China. In 2023 the population was 1.4 billion.
Millions and millions of people don’t know about Jesus yet. Let’s pray for these people, that they would discover the love of Jesus. - Hidden among the mountains of south-west China are many villages where 20 million Zhuang people live who have never heard of Jesus. Pray for people willing to proclaim the good news of Jesus among the Zhuang people group.
- In most areas of the Skylands (the high plateaus of China, Mongolia, and Bhutan), there are hardly any people who know Jesus. Most Skylands peoples live in areas that are extremely difficult for outsiders to reach and then learn languages and culture. Pray for new ideas among Jesus’ followers to overcome these challenges of reaching the Skylands people.
- Many people in big cities in China have difficult health issues and illnesses. They can feel lonely and isolated. People can turn their backs on them, yet the Lord who made them loves them.
Pray that those who feel unloved will know God and know that they are treasured by Him. - People with mental and physical disabilities are often ignored. Many live in poverty and without hope. Pray for people who love Jesus to lead the way in serving these people and for society to see God’s love in action.
Pray for strength & courage for caregivers.
Pray for new ideas and technology to help people with disabilities have access to resources and be able to thrive. - Closer to home in Aotearoa New Zealand, we pray for good relationships between the Chinese government and our neighbours in the Pacific - For clear communication and helpful outcomes for the Pacific nations.
The Godwit – Aotearoa to China
At Whiria Kids we love stories of birds traveling the world and then returning home. This remind us that we too can go and return. Our friends who travel overseas to learn from cultures and introduce people to Jesus travel far and return back at different times.
You can learn more about the Godwit’s journey here: https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/296-flight-of-the-godwit.
Our Whiria Kids badge this year has the Royal Albatross/Toroa on it, another migrating bird. Contact us at [email protected] to order free badges, made by Joyya in Kolkata, for the children in your community. Just let us know your postal address & the number of badges you would like.
Craft Activity
There’s info on our resource page to make your own Chinese Lantern.
Have Fun!
Through the Roof Bible story
1.4 billion people live in China. That also means many people with illnesses, isolation and disabilities may be overlooked and find it hard to find friends and community.
You may have decided to pray for some of these people in your prayer space.
The Bible story we look at today explores one of Jesus’ responses to friends, healing and forgiveness. The full script is on our resource page.
One of our friends in Aotearoa has translated the Wonder questions into Te Reo Māori. The Bible story comes from Te Paipera Tapu. There is an online app of this translation.
I wonder if you have ever needed to be carried?
Teeraa pea, I teetehi waa he hiahia noou kia piikautia e teetahi atu?
I wonder if you have ever carried someone else?
Teeraa pea naau teetehi atu i piikau?
I wonder why the people in this story carry their friend to Jesus?
He aha te tokowhaa i kawe ai i taa ratou hoa ki a Ihu?
I wonder who Jesus really is?
Teenaa, ko wai a Ihu?
Through the Roof
Through the Roof - Te Reo Māori
Whiria content
You might like to use our content in different ways. Perhaps:
- For an ‘all-in’ intergenerational service
- A starter activity for your Sunday children’s programme
- Or, your whole children’s programme
- Or, for home-based activities
We also have Whiria Kids badges available for children to earn by learning memory verses, attending Whiria sessions and joining projects. Up to you how you choose to award these and you can order them here
