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Mainland China (), or "Continental China", or simply "the mainland", is a Geopolitical term usually synonymous with the area currently administered by the People's Republic Of China (PRC). It does not include:
# Hong Kong # Macau INTRODUCTION The term came in popular use as a result of the Chinese Civil War which concluded in 1950, in reference to the area then administered by the Communist Party Of China (CPC), including all offshore islands such as Hainan . It excluded the area controlled by the retreating Kuomintang (KMT, Chinese Nationalist Party), as well as the then colonies of Hong Kong and Macau, and is thus not entirely synonymous with the geographical interpretation of the term Mainland . Despite the return of Hong Kong and Macau to China in 1997 and 1999 respectively, the term continues to regularly exclude these territories in respect of the policy as adopted by the PRC central government towards the SARs. The term is often used on both sides of the Taiwan Strait and in Overseas Chinese communities, although the Beijing government rarely uses the term in place of the name "People's Republic of China", even if it is without reference to the SARs. It may be considered relatively neutral towards the Political Status Of Taiwan , although its greater reference to the area directly controlled by the Beijing government may be considered less neutral to some due to its political inclinations. Supporters of Taiwanese independence also frequently disfavour the use of the term as it implied a geographical extension or relation to the rest of China. In the mainland itself, the term (), literally ''the interior'', has gained popularity in use in place of the term "mainland", particularly after the return of the SARs. In Taiwan, the term " Mainlander " can also refer to ''waishengren'' (), or the people who emigrated to Taiwan from Mainland China near the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949; and their children, who were born in Taiwan. The status of ''waishengren'' in Taiwan is a divisive political issue, with pro- Taiwan Independence politicians calling into question their loyalty and devotion to Taiwan and pro- Chinese Reunification politicians accusing the pro-independence politicians of playing identity politics. {Link without Title} The term "Mainlander" can also refer to ''daluren'' (), meaning the people who live on the Mainland now and the very small number of people who have emigrated to Taiwan recently. The term "Mainlander" is used in Hong Kong and Macau for people from the rest of the PRC. Other use of geography-related terms are also often used where neutrality is required. References to the Taiwan Strait ( Cross-straits Relations ()), or the physical shores on both sides of the straits ("two shores" ()) may be used. An extension of this is the term "two shores, three places" () when referring to either Hong Kong or Macau, or "two shores, four places" () when referring to both Hong Kong and Macau, although these terms are not as popular. CAPITALISATION The uncapitalised form, 'the mainland', is preferred by some authorities, such as the South China Morning Post . {Link without Title} SEE ALSO
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