As more and more investors look abroad for investment ideas, we have put together a series that seeks to illuminate some of the risks and rewards related to international investing. And during the course of this week, we also hope to uncover a few international superstars.

Scaling a mammoth historical structure to buy into the world's most populous nation is worth the effort. But it's not necessary to go to such lengths. Investors don't need to catapult themselves over the Great Wall to grab a piece of China's fast-growing economy. They don't even need to carry a valid passport.

These days, a simple click of a "Buy" button on your online broker's trading screen is all it takes to buy into one of dozens of Chinese companies. I'll get into a few of the names that I like -- including one in which I own a stake and another two that have been recommended in our Rule Breakers newsletter service -- but let's start by looking at why you should be looking at China as an investing opportunity, and what the risks are.

1.3 billion reasons to like China
Last week, it was reported that China's trade surplus with our country was a whopping $12 billion for the month of October. We're talking about a nation that has generated export sales of $614.5 billion through the first 10 months of the year. That creation of wealth has not been squandered: Chinese residents have combined for import sales of $534.1 billion in that time.

In short, the economy is booming in China. The country's gross domestic product this past quarter grew by 9.4%, several times more than our own country's growth and far, far better than the economic growth in Europe.

You don't need to be a master economist to put all of the pieces together. Growth has never been a major priority in communist China, and its citizenry was as poor as it was plentiful. However, now that the prosperous ways of Hong Kong and Shanghai are starting to spill over into mainland China, you have an enormous nation -- more than 1.3 billion people -- that's on the verge of explosive growth.

Per capita income in China is a mere $1,300 a year. I expect that figure to improve dramatically in the coming years as the growth story plays itself out. From infrastructure plays to leisure companies looking to take advantage of a surge in disposable income, why wouldn't you want to earmark at least a small portion of your growth portfolio to opportunities overseas?

Games republics play
Yes, there are geopolitical risks with China. Even though the yuan is likely to continue to rise in value -- thus making every dollar invested in the region that much more valuable over time -- it's only natural to feel uneasy about the country's political climate. Clearly, there are risks to buying into a burgeoning economy. Then again, great risks are often tied to even greater rewards.

Let's consider something as basic as online gaming. NetEase (NASDAQ:NTES) and Shanda Interactive (NASDAQ:SNDA) are the leaders in the multiplayer role-playing games that have taken China by storm. As many as 827,000 gamers have played NetEase's Fantasy Westward Journey at the same time. Shanda's collection of commercial games has drawn a gaming audience as large as 2.6 million participants strong.

Both companies are highly profitable -- and with fat margins to boot. Both companies have also been recommended to Rule Breakers newsletter subscribers. However, keep in mind that many people are paying just pennies an hour to play these games in Internet cafes. What happens as the economy continues to improve and this same game-happy generation can afford to pay more to companies like NetEase and Shanda? What happens as the penetration of Internet access in Chinese homes grows from the current 8%-10% range?

Those are the same trends that had me recently plunking down my own money to scoop up shares of Baidu.com (NASDAQ:BIDU). As the most popular Internet search engine in China, by far, all Baidu has to do is look to the West to see the potential value in online portals. Because Baidu is just starting to tap into the revenue-generating potential of its enormous reach, trailing results aren't much to write home about. That has led some to wonder whether the stock is overvalued. I'll let the future answer that question. For now, my money is on Baidu.

Climbing that Great Wall of worry
As long as you believe in China's growth story, opportunities are everywhere you turn. Think China's improving financial state will empower more citizens to own cars? Check out China Automotive (NASDAQ:CAAS). The maker of power steering components will do just fine exporting its wares, but things may get even better once more of its production is absorbed within China.

What about China as a trade partner with the rest of the world? Will that inspire more trips in and out of the world's largest nation? If so, travel specialist Ctrip (NASDAQ:CTRP) stands to benefit. It's doing just fine at the moment, anyway. Last week, the company reported a 71% surge in profits as revenues grew by 55% over last year's third-quarter showing.

China's market has had a volatile run over the years. Chinese stocks like NetEase and Sina (NASDAQ:SINA), a Motley Fool Stock Advisor recommendation, were some of Wall Street's biggest winners a couple of years ago on the strength of their wireless value-added services. As that market started to buckle, sending its largest players looking elsewhere for growth, the market itself did not die. In fact, earlier this month, Hooray! Holdings (NASDAQ:HRAY) announced slightly higher profits on a 31% spurt in revenues.

That's why China's future, despite the hiccups along the way, is worth betting on. Sure, there are plenty of stateside companies with interests in the region. You can certainly buy into them for exposure. However, limiting your investment choices to just the companies that reside within our borders is a lot like buying only into companies that are based out of your home state or start with the letter M. Sure, an investor takes on risks by investing abroad, and suffers a bit with regard to vigilance, but it's a wide world out there.

Later today, the latest edition of Motley Fool Rule Breakers will issue two brand-new stock recommendations. International companies? Probably not this time, though past picks like NetEase and Shanda prove that the research service has no problem spanning the globe to find the next great growth stock. Curious about what the two picks will be, or about the world of investing information to be found in the growing library of past issues? Go for a free 30-day trial to see whether the service is right for you.

Until then, keep climbing that Great Wall of market know-how. In the end, scaling the classics will make you a better globetrotting investor.

To receive updates on our international coverage, click here.

For related Foolishness:

• International Superstar Stocks: The ABCs of ADRs
• International Superstar Stocks: Why Invest Overseas?

Longtime Fool contributor Rick Munarriz has been a fan of China's high-margin gaming stocks for a long time and recommended NetEase last year to Rule Breakers subscribers. He also owns shares in Baidu.com. T he Fool has a disclosure policy. He is also part of the Rule Breakers newsletter research team, seeking out tomorrow's ultimate growth stocks a day early.