In China , modern industry blends with ancient empires to create an urban landscape unlike any other. Walk through the streets of Shanghai or Beijing and you'll see skyscrapers towering over slums and factories that stretch for kilometres.

The Chinese economy is booming—right now it's the fastest growing economy in the world. Giant factories have popped up all over the country and millions of Chinese are moving to the cities to work in them.

But China 's economic growth hasn't benefited all Chinese people, especially in rural areas. Almost half of China 's population lives on less than $2 a day, with most of these people living in rural areas. Two hundred million of these people survive on less than $1 a day.

Our Adopt a Village program in China brings sustainable development to rural areas. Through our schoolbuilding program, we build schools where there are none, and replace schools that don't have basics live roofs and windows. Some of the schools we replace are dangerous structures, where students are at risk of getting hurt by buildings that are literally falling apart. Water and Sanitation projects outfit these rural schools with clean water and a clean place to go to the bathroom, a major improvement in children's health.

Finally, the Alternative Income projects we bring to rural China provide families with pigs and other farming support so parents can afford to sent their kids to school.

Quick Facts: China

• In the past, China has given pandas to other countries as symbols of peace in a process known as "panda diplomacy".
• People in rural areas of China are 24 percent less likely than people in urban areas to have access to improved water sources.
• In cities across China , a giant paper dragon lantern is made each year for Chinese New Year. It's carried through the streets as part of the celebration.