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.