This term refers to the areas along the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow

River where ancient Huaxia (华夏) people or the Han people lived. Originally,

the term Zhongguo (中国) meant both this region and its culture. The Huaxia

people established their states along the Yellow River. Believing the areas

were located in the center of the world, they called it Zhongguo (the Central

Country, as against other areas around it). Later, the term was used to refer to

the Central Plains in North China and the states founded in that area. Since the

Qing Dynasty, Zhongguo has been used to refer specifically to all the territory of

China and its sovereignty. Currently, Zhongguo is used as the abbreviated form

of the People's Republic of China.