I know the Chinese government themselves are just as given to engaging in it, but the idea of talking about "thousands of years" of Chinese administration as if

I know the Chinese government themselves are just as given to engaging in it, but the idea of talking about "thousands of years" of Chinese administration as if there's no real difference between China's various dynasties and the modern state makes about as much sense as considering the Firth Republic as representing an unbroken chain going back to Charlemagne.