Chinese Cuisines

Eight Cuisines(八大菜系)
China covers a large territory and has many nationalities, hence a variety of Chinese food with different but fantastic and mouthwatering flavor. Since China's local dishes have their own typical characteristics, generally, Chinese food can be roughly divided into eight regional cuisines, which has been widely accepted around. Certainly, there are many other local cuisines that are famous, such as Beijing Cuisine and Shanghai Cuisine.
Shandong Cuisine
Consisting of Jinan cuisine and Jiaodong cuisine, Shandong cuisine, clear, pure and not greasy, is characterized by its emphasis on aroma, freshness, crispness and tenderness. Shallot and garlic are usually used as seasonings so Shangdong dishes tastes pungent usually. Soups are given much emphasis in Shangdong dishes. Thin soup features clear and fresh while creamy soup looks thick and tastes strong. Jinan cuisine is adept at deep-frying, grilling, frying and stir-frying while Jiaodong division is famous for cooking seafood with fresh and light taste.
Shandong is the birthplace of many famous ancient scholars such as Confucious and Mencius. And much of Shandong cuisine's history is as old as Confucious himself, making it the oldest existing major cuisine in China. But don't expect to gain more wisdom from a fortune cookie at a Shandong restaurant in the West since fortune cookies aren't even indigenous to China.
Shandong is a large peninsula surrounded by the sea to the East and the Yellow River meandering through the center. As a result, seafood is a major component of Shandong cuisine. Shandong's most famous dish is the Sweat and Sour Carp. A truly authentic Sweet and Sour Carp must come from the Yellow River. But with the current amount of pollution in the Yellow River, you would be better off if the carp was from elsewhere. Shandong dishes are mainly quick-fried, roasted, stir-fried or deep-fried. The dishes are mainly clear, fresh and fatty, perfect with Shandong's own famous beer, Qingdao Beer
Sichuan Cuisine
Sichuan Cuisine, known often in the West as Szechuan Cuisine, is one of the most famous Chinese cuisines in the world. Characterized by its spicy and pungent flavor, Sichuan cuisine, prolific of tastes, emphasizes on the use of chili. Pepper and prickly ash also never fail to accompany, producing typical exciting tastes. Besides, garlic, ginger and fermented soybean are also used in the cooking process. Wild vegetables and animals are usually chosen as ingredients, while frying, frying without oil, pickling and braising are applied as basic cooking techniques. It cannot be said that one who does not experience Sichuan food ever reaches China.
If you eat Sichuan cuisine and find it too bland, then you are probably not eating authentic Sichuan cuisine. Chili peppers and prickly ash are used in many dishes, giving it a distinctively spicy taste, called ma in Chinese. It often leaves a slight numb sensation in the mouth. However, most peppers were brought to China from the Americas in the 18th century so you can thank global trade for much of Sichuan cuisine's excellence. Sichuan hot pots are perhaps the most famous hotpots in the world, most notably the Yuan Yang (mandarin duck) Hotpot half spicy and half clear.
Guangdong Cuisine
Cantonese food originates from Guangdong, the southernmost province in China. The majority of overseas Chinese people are from Guangdong (Canton) so Cantonese is perhaps the most widely available Chinese regional cuisine outside of China.
Cantonese are known to have an adventurous palate, able to eat many different kinds of meats and vegetables. In fact, people in Northern China often say that Cantonese people will eat anything that flies except airplanes, anything that moves on the ground except trains, and anything that moves in the water except boats. This statement is far from the truth, but Cantonese food is easily one of the most diverse and richest cuisines in China. Many vegetables originate from other parts of the world. It doesn't use much spice, bringing out the natural flavor of the vegetables and meats.
Tasting clear, light, crisp and fresh, Guangdong cuisine, familiar to Westerners, usually chooses raptors and beasts to produce originative dishes. Its basic cooking techniques include roasting, stir-frying, sauteing, deep-frying, braising, stewing and steaming. Among them steaming and stir-frying are more commonly applied to preserve the natural flavor. Guangdong chefs also pay much attention to the artistic presentation of dishes.
Fujian Cuisine
Consisting of Fuzhou Cuisine, Quanzhou Cuisine and Xiamen Cuisine, Fujian Cuisine is distinguished for its choice seafood, beautiful color and magic taste of sweet, sour, salty and savory. The most distinct features are their "pickled taste".
Jiangsu Cuisine
Jiangsu Cuisine, also called Huaiyang Cuisine, is popular in the lower reach of the Yangtze River. Aquatics as the main ingredients, it stresses the freshness of materials. Its carving techniques are delicate, of which the melon carving technique is especially well known. Cooking techniques consist of stewing, braising, roasting, simmering, etc. The flavor of Huaiyang Cuisine is light, fresh and sweet and with delicate elegance. Jiangsu cuisine is well known for its careful selection of ingredients, its meticulous preparation methodology, and its not-too-spicy, not-too-bland taste. Since the seasons vary in climate considerably in Jiangsu, the cuisine also varies throughout the year. If the flavor is strong, it isn't too heavy; if light, not too bland.
Zhejiang Cuisine
Comprising local cuisines of Hangzhou, Ningbo and Shaoxing, Zhejiang Cuisine, not greasy, wins its reputation for freshness, tenderness, softness, smoothness of its dishes with mellow fragrance. Hangzhou Cuisine is the most famous one among the three.
Hunan cuisine
Hunan cuisine consists of local Cuisines of Xiangjiang Region, Dongting Lake and Xiangxi coteau. It characterizes itself by thick and pungent flavor. Chili, pepper and shallot are usually necessaries in this division.

Anhui Cuisine

Anhui Cuisine chefs focus much more attention on the temperature in cooking and are good at braising and stewing. Often hams will be added to improve taste and sugar candy added to gain

chinese Taiji

Taiji originated from ancient China. Nowadays, it is practiced as an exercise for health. It.. is suitable for almost anyone- is easy to learn for health improvement has gentle and circular movements- integrates the body and mind- has many different forms - is enjoyable to practice - is known in China for centuries to be effective for arthritis Concentrating on correct posture and breathing control, Tai Chi's movements are fluid, graceful and well balanced, promoting the complete harmony of body and mind. Tai Chi provides the mental relaxation and physical fitness so essential in our modern stress-filled lives.

Tai Chi is an unusual form of martial arts whereby we believe in building strength - mental and physical from within, softness is stronger than hardness, moving in a curve is better than a straight line, yielding is more efficient than confronting. It is especially different from western types of sports such as rugby where the harder and quicker the better. Tai Chi is a sport that strengthens the body as well as the mind from within.

Paper cutting

Paper cutting can be seen in many parts of China during the Spring Festival. People paste patterns on the window, door lintel or desks for the festival atmosphere。

It's difficult to tell when it originated. One saying is that it originated from the religious ceremony or offering sacrifices. The ancient people cut papers into animals or people. They either buried them with the dead or burned them on the funerals, wishing that things that paper stand for could be with the dead. A thousand years ago, paper cut was used for decoration. According to historic books, women in the Tang Dynasty used paper cut as headdress. In the Song Dynasty, it was the decoration of the gifts. People pasted on windows or doors or used it as decorations on walls, mirrors or lanterns. Some people made a living by it.
Paper cutting is all made by hand. It is easy to learn the rudiments. Non-craftsmen need only a knife and paper. For craftsman, they need knives and gravers of various types to make complicated patterns. It can be one piece of paper or many pieces. Simple patterns can be cut with a knife. For complicated patterns, people first pasted the pattern on the paper and then used various kinds of knives to make it. No mistake can be made during the process otherwise the work would fail.
Paper cutting covers nearly all topics, from flowers, birds, animals, legendary people, figures in classic novels, to types of facial make-up in Peking opera. Paper cutting has various styles in different parts of China.

In the past, women living in the countryside gathered in their free time to make paper cutting, which is a way to judge their skillfulness. As society develops, fewer and fewer people learn this skill while there are some who still regard it as a profession. At present, there are factories and associations for paper cutting in China. Exhibitions and exchanges are held regularly and books of this kind are published. Paper cutting has changed from decoration to a kind of art. At the same time, paper cutting also appears in cartoons, on stage, in magazines or in TV series.

Chinese new year

Spring Festival is the most important festival in China .It’s to celebrate the lunar calendar ‘s new year .In the evening before the Spring Festival ,families get together and have a big meal .In many places people like to set off firecrackers .Dumplings are the most traditional food .Children like the festival very much ,because they can have delicious food and wear new clothes .They can also get some money from their parents. This money is given to children for good luck . People put New Year scrolls on the wall for good fortune . The Spring Festival lasts about 15 days long .People visit relatives and friends with the words “Have all your wishes ”. People enjoy the Spring Festival ,during this time they can have a good rest.

China’s First Spaceman---Yang Liwei

China’s First Spaceman---Yang Liwei
Yang Liwei was born in an ordinary family in Liaoning Province in 1965. He became a pilot in Chinese Air Force in 1987, spending 1,350 hours in the air. He has spent 5 years training to become a spaceman.
Yang Liwei was sent into space at 9 a.m on October 15th by China’s Shenzhou V spacecraft, which orbited the earth 14 times. He landed safely at 6:23 a.m the next day, making China the third country successfully sending a person into space after the former Soviet Union and the USA.
Yang Liwei came back to the earth after a 21-hour trip to space. In space Yang recorded everything he saw and showed China’s national flag and the United Nations’ flag to the people watching on TV at home.
All of the Chinese are proud of our first spaceman---Yang Liwei.

The Official Mascots of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games

The Official Mascots of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games
Like the Five Olympic Rings from which they draw their color and inspiration, Fuwa will serve as the Official Mascots of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, carrying a message of friendship and peace--and blessings from China--to children all over the world. Designed to express the playful qualities of five little children who form an intimate circle of friends, Fuwa also embody the natural characteristics of four of China's most popular animals--the Fish, the Panda, the Tibetan Antelope, the Swallow--and the Olympic Flame. Each of Fuwa has a rhyming two-syllable name--a traditional way of expressing affection for children in China. Beibei is the Fish, Jingjing is the Panda, Huanhuan is the Olympic Flame, Yingying is the Tibetan Antelope and Nini is the Swallow. When you put their names together--Bei Jing Huan Ying Ni--they say "Welcome to Beijing," offering a warm invitation that reflects the mission of Fuwa as young ambassadors for the Olympic Games. Fuwa also embody both the landscape and the dreams and aspirations of people from every part of the vast country of China. In their origins and their headpieces, you can see the five elements of nature--the sea, forest, fire, earth and sky--all stylistic rendered in ways that represent the deep traditional influences of Chinese folk art and ornamentation. Spreading Traditional Chinese Blessings Wherever They Go In the ancient culture of China, there is a grand tradition of spreading blessings through signs and symbols. Each of Fuwa symbolizes a different blessing--and will honor this tradition by carrying their blessings to the children of the world. Prosperity, happiness, passion, health and good luck will be spread to every continent as Fuwa carry their invitation to Beijing 2008 to every part of the globe. At the heart of their mission--and through all of their work--Fuwa will seek to unite the world in peace and friendship through the Olympic spirit. Dedicated to helping Beijing 2008 spread its theme of One World, One Dream to every continent, Fuwa reflect the deep desire of the Chinese people to reach out to the world in friendship through the Games--and to invite every man, woman and child to take part in the great celebration of human solidarity that China will host in the light of the flame in 2008.
Like all antelopes, Yingying is fast and agile and can swiftly cover great stretches of land as he races across the earth. A symbol of the vastness of China's landscape, the antelope carries the blessing of health, the strength of body that comes from harmony with nature. Yingying's flying pose captures the essence of a species unique to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, one of the first animals put under protection in China. The selection of the Tibetan Antelope reflects Beijing commitment to a Green Olympics. His head ornament incorporates several decorative styles from the Qinghai-Tibet and Sinkiang cultures and the ethnic design traditions of Western China. Strong in track and field events, Yingying is a quick-witted and agile boy who represents the yellow Olympic ring. Every spring and summer, the children of Beijing have flown beautiful kites on the currents of wind that blow through the capital. Among the kite designs, the golden-winged swallow is traditionally one of the most popular. Nini's figure is drawn from this grand tradition of flying designs. Her golden wings symbolize the infinite sky and spread good-luck as a blessing wherever she flies. Swallow is also pronounced "yan" in Chinese, and Yanjing is what Beijing was called as an ancient capital city. Among Fuwa, Nini is as innocent and joyful as a swallow. She is strong in gymnastics and represents the green Olympic ring.
In the intimate circle of Fuwa, Huanhuan is the big brother. He is a child of fire, symbolizing the Olympic Flame and the passion of sport--and passion is the blessing he bestows. Huanhuan stands in the center of Fuwa as the core embodiment of the Olympic spirit. And while he inspires all with the passion to run faster, jump higher and be stronger, he is also open and inviting. Wherever the light of Huanhuan shines, the inviting warmth of Beijing 2008--and the wishful blessings of the Chinese people--can be felt. The firery designs of his head ornament are drawn from the famed Dunhuang murals--with just a touch of China's traditional lucky designs. Huanhuan is outgoing and enthusiastic. He excels at all the ball games and represents the red Olympic ring.


Jingjing makes children smile--and that's why he brings the blessing of happiness wherever he goes. You can see his joy in the charming naivety of his dancing pose and the lovely wave of his black and white fur. As a national treasure and a protected species, pandas are adored by people everywhere. The lotus designs in Jingjing's headdress, which are inspired by the porcelain paintings of the Song Dynasty (A.D.960-1234), symbolize the lush forest and the harmonious relationship between man and nature. Jingjing was chosen to represent our desire to protect nature's gifts--and to preserve the beauty of nature for all generations. Jingjing is charmingly naïve and optimistic. He is an athlete noted for strength who represents the black Olympic ring.
In China's traditional culture and art, the fish and water designs are symbols of prosperity and harvest. And so Beibei carries the blessing of prosperity. A fish is also a symbol of surplus in Chinese culture, another measure of a good year and a good life. The ornamental lines of the water-wave designs are taken from well-known Chinese paintings of the past. Among Fuwa, Beibei is known to be gentle and pure. Strong in water sports, she reflects the blue Olympic ring.

Yungang Caves Of China

Yungang Caves, one of China's four most famous "Buddhist Caves Art Treasure Houses", is located about sixteen kilometers west of Datong, Shanxi Province. There exists 53 caves, most of which are made during the Northern Wei Dynasty between 460 and 494 AD, and over 51, 000 stone sculptures. It extends one kilometer from east to west and can be fallen into three major groups.

　　
The first group (including Cave 1, Cave 2, Cave 3 and Cave 4) are at the eastern end separated from others. Cave 1 and Cave 2 have suffered from rigors of time and the weather. Cave 3, an afterthought after the Northern Wei Dynasty, is the largest grotto among Yungang caves.
　　Tours normally begin from the second group ranging from Cave 5 to Cave 13.Yungang art manifests its best in this group. Cave 5 contains a seated Buddha with a height of 17 meters. In Cave 6, a 15-meter-high two storey pagoda pillar stands in the center of chamber and the life of the Buddha from birth to the attainment of nirvana is carved in the pagoda walls and the sides of the cave. The Bodhisattva was engraved in Cave 7. The rare seen Shiva Statue in Yungang with eight arms and four heads and riding on a bull is illustrated in Cave 8. Cave 9 and Cave 10 are notable for front pillars and figures bearing musical instruments. Musicians playing instruments also appear in Cave 12. Cave 13 has the Buddha statue with a giant figurine supporting its right arm.

       
　　The rest caves belong to the third group. Cave 14 has eroded severely. Cave 15 is named as the Cave of Ten Thousand Buddha. The caves numbered 16 to Cave 20 are the oldest complex and each one symbolizes an emperor from the Northern Wei Dynasty and the subject of "Emperor is the Buddha" is embodied. The caves from No. 21 onward are built in the later times and can not compare to their better preserved counterparts

Emei Mountain Of China

Emei Mountain lies seven kilometers southwest of Emeishan City and is one of the four mountain ranges in China that Buddhists consider sacred. It was included in the UNESCO world heritage list in 1996. The mountain stretches more than 200 kilometers from south to north. Its main peak, Wanfo Top, is 3,099 meters above sea level. Since ancient times Emei Mountain has been described as "Beauty Under Heaven". Temples were built as early as the Eastern Han Dynasty (25——220) and Buddhism was introduced to the mountain during the Jin Dynasty. In the Ming and Qing dynasties there were more than 150 temples.
　　A legend claims that the mountain was where Samantabhadra gave lectures on Buddhism and most temples house a statue of Samantabhadra. The main scenic spots on the mountain include the Baoguo Temple, Wannian Temple, Fohu temple, Qingyin Pavilion, Heilongjiang Tunnel, Hongchun Platform, Xianfeng Temple (Jiulao Cave), Xixiang Pond and Golden Summit. These places are at different altitudes and have different climates. Temperatures at the top of mountain are 15 degrees lower than at the foot. Emei Mountain is a well-known natural museum with more than 3,000 specimens of plants and 2,000 types of animals including groups of monkeys that appear on the mountain roads and fascinate the tourists.
　　Baoguo Temple sits at the foot of the mountain at the entrance and exit of the mountain area. The temple was built during the reign of Ming Emperor Wanli(1573——1620). About 15 kilometers from the Baoguo Temple is Wannian Temple, one of the main temples in the mountain area. Wannian Temple, or the Temple of Samantabhadra as it was known before the Ming Dynasty, was built during the reign of Emperor Long'an of the Eastern Jin dynasty (397——401). It has no beams and houses a bronze statue of Buddha Samantabhadra mounted on a six-toothed white elephant cast in 1980, the fifth year of the Northern Song Dynasty. The statue is 7.3 meters high and weighs 62 tons. Xianfeng Temple is situated a the foot of the Jiulao Peak and the old halls were built with tin sheets and iron tiles. The intact halls were rebuilt in 1779. Fohu Temple is located one kilometer west of Baoguo Temple and at the foot of Fohu Hill. It is one of the largest temple in the mountain area. Rebuilt in 1651, it covers an area of 13,000 square meters and is accessible from the highway. At the Golden Summit, the pinnacle of the mountain area 3,065 meters above sea level, is Puguang Hall of Temple. It was constructed during the Eastern Han Dynasty and has been rebuilt several times after being struck by lightning. The Golden Summit is an ideal place to view the sunrise, the sea of clouds, the "Buddhist lights" and "Sacred lamps".
　　The Giant Buddha on the east bank of Mingjiang River in Leshan City, Sichuan Province, rests his feet where three rivers——the Minjiang, Qingyi and Dadu——join. The Buddha faces Emei Mountain across the river and at its back is the western slope of Lingyun Mountain. Standing at 70.7 meters with shoulders 24 meters wide it is an impressive sight. A water drainage system reduces erosion by rain and slows weathering.
　　The statue was begun in 713 and completed in 803. To the right of the statue a plank road with nine turns was built and it is now famous as the nine-turn plank road; it goes from the bottom to the top.

Huanglong Scenic of Sichuan Province CHINA

Huanglong Scenic area is located in Songpan County, Sichuan Province. It was listed as a world heritage site in 1992. The area, which extends over 700 square kilometers, contains two parts: the Huanglong and Maonigou. This scenic spot is the result of the formations of talpatate which give a special color to ponds and beaches. Together with high mountains, snow covered peaks, valleys, waterfalls, lakes and forests, these talpatates look especially marvelous.

　　Among the various unique and wild scenes of the scenic area, one of the most eye-catching is the Huanglong (Yellow Dragon) Ravine. The ravine, located at the foot of the Xuebao Peak in the Minshan Mountain, is 3.6 kilometers long and 30-170 meters wide. The section from the Fuyuan Bridge at the entrance to the Yuyu Pond is 3,160-3,574 meters above sea level and its surface is a thick layer of light yellow talpatate. In the sunshine, the ravine looks like a golden dragon winding its way through the forest.

　　
In the ravine there are a variety of talpatate scenes, such as talpatate ponds, beaches, waterfalls, caves and dykes. However, the 3,400 colorful talpatate ponds in different shapes, sizes and colors are the most attractive.

　　Surely, Huanglong Scenic Area will make your trip rewarding

China Telecom

Company Profile
China Telecom Corporation Limited (the "Company") is a joint stock limited company established pursuant to the PRC Company Law by China Telecommunications Corporation as its sole promoter on 10 September 2002. Its controlling shareholder China Telecommunications Corporation, a wholly state-owned enterprise, directly owns 70.89% of its issued share capital.
The Company is the leading provider of wire-line telecommunications services in 20 provinces / Autonomous Regions and Municipalities of China. The service regions consist of Shanghai Municipality, Guangdong Province, Jiangsu Province, Zhejiang Province, Anhui Province, Fujian Province, Jiangxi Province, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Chongqing Municipalities, Sichuan Province, Hubei Province, Hunan Province, Yunnan Province, Hainan Province, Guizhou Province, Qinghai Province, Gansu Province, Shaanxi Province, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.
In 2002 the Company successfully completed its corporate restructuring and global initial public offering with its H shares listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on Nov.15, 2002 (Hong Kong time) and ADS listed on the New York Stock Exchange on Nov.14, 2002 (New York time).
Listings
H share （港股）: The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited HKEx:728
ADS: New York Stock Exchange Inc. NYSE:CHA

Angelica Sinensis 当归

Latin Plant Name : Angelica Sinensis
Pinyin Mandarin Name: Dang Gui
Common English Name: Angelica Sinensis Part of Plant
Used: RootNature: WarmTaste: Sweet, acrid, bitter

Meridians Entered: Spleen, Kidneys

Common Usages:This herb regulates the female reproductive organs and is most often used in formulas that treat the female menstrual cycle (TCM: tonifies Blood). It is also used to treat headaches or dry skin associated with the female cycle (TCM: deficient Blood). Traditional Usages and FunctionsTonifies Blood and regulates menses; invigorates and harmonizes Blood; moistens Intestines and moves stool.Common Formulas Used InAngelica; Bupleurum and Dang Gui; Cerebral Tonic Pills; Cimicafuga; Clematis and Stephania; Gentiana; Ginseng and Astragalus; Ginseng and Longan; Ginseng and Dang Gui; Ginseng and Zizyphus; Leonuris and Achyranthes; Pseudoginseng and Dragon Blood; Qiang-Huo and Turmeric; Rehmannia and Dogwood Fruit; Dang Gui and Gardenia; Dang Gui and Ginseng Eight; Dang Gui and Indigo; Dang Gui Four;RemarksGenerally only the root of the plant is used and different parts of the root are said to have different actions. The head of the root is supposed to be the most tonifying, while the tail is said to move the Blood more strongly. The root is sold in slices that have been steamed in wine.Cautions in UseUse with caution where there is diarrhea, or where there is bloating due to dampness, or sign of Yin deficiency with heat.

Water Plantain 泽泻

Latin Plant Name :Alismatis Plantago Aquaticae;

AlismatisPinyin Mandarin Name: Ze Xie

Common English Name: Water Plantain Part of Plant

Used: Tuberous stem (bulb)
Nature: Cold Taste: Sweet, bland

Meridians Entered: Kidneys, Bladder

Common Usages: This herb is most often used in formulas for its ability to gently promote urination; also used to treat blood in the urine, difficulty in urination, diarrhea, thirst, and phlegm retention; may also be used for pelvic infections, leukorrhea (mucousy vaginal discharge), herpes, abdominal bloating, kidney stones, and diabetic syndrome. Traditional Usages and Functions: For urinary-tract heat-damp imbalances without the strong yin-injuring effect of many other herbs and diuretics that drain dampness. Common Formulas Used In:Anemarrhena, Phellodendron, and Rehmannia Eight; Immortal Long Life Pill; Gentiana; Hoelen Five; Rehmannia and Dogwood Fruit; Rehmannia and Magnetitum; Rehmannia Eight; Rehmannia Six.

Cautions in Use:Long-term usage of alismatis can irritate the intestines. Do not use with deficient Kidney Yang or damp cold with leakage of sperm or with leukorrhea.

Chinese music

A:hi,i heard that you know a lot about chinese folk music,can you tell me something about it

B:ok.folk music in china has a long history,it happeded in four or five thousand years ago.some of the folk music is played on solo instruments or ensembles of plucked and bowed stringed instruments.

A:what are they

B:well,woodwind has dizi,sheng,paixiao,guan,bells,bowed stings has erhu,dahu,banhu,jinghu,plucked and stuck strings has guqin,yangqin,ruan,pipa,something like that

A:i see,tell me more

B:ok.in some places,a genre of traditonal ballads,they are sung by a woman accompanied by a xiao and a pipa and other traditional instruments.the music is generally sorrowful and mouring and typically deals with love_stricken women.silk and bamboo music from jiangnan is a style of instrumental music,often played by musicians in teahouses in shanghai.

A:oh yes,i remember it,i watched it in hangzhou.is that the same type

B:i think so.i like it a lot

A:thank you for telling me those about folk music.i would like ask more next time

B:anytime

Double Ninth Festival 重阳节

Double Ninth Festival
The 9th day of the 9th lunar month is the traditional Chongyang Festival, or Double Ninth Festival. It usually falls in October in the Gregorian calendar. In an ancient and mysterious book Yi Jing, or The Book of Changes, number "6" was thought to be of Yin character, meaning feminine or negative, while number "9" was thought to be Yang, meaning masculine or positive. So the number nine in both month and day create the Double Ninth Festival, or Chongyang Festival. Chong in Chinese means "double." Also, as double ninth was pronounced the same as the word to signify "forever", both are "Jiu Jiu," the Chinese ancestors considered it an auspicious day worth celebration. That‘s why ancient Chinese began to celebrate this festival long time ago.
The custom of ascending a height to avoid epidemics was passed down from long time ago. Therefore, the Double Ninth Festival is also called "Height Ascending Festival". The height people will reach is usually a mountain or a tower. Ancient literary figures have left many poems depicting the activity. Even today, people still swarm to famous or little known mountains on this day.
On this day, people will eat Double Ninth Gao (or Cake). In Chinese, gao (cake) has the same pronunciation with gao (height). People do so just to hope progress in everything they are engaged in. There is no fixed ways for the Double Ninth Cake, but super cakes will have as many as nine layers, looking like a tower.
The Double Ninth Festival is also a time when chrysanthemum blooms. China boasts diversified species of chrysanthemum and people have loved them since ancient times. So enjoying the flourishing chrysanthemum also becomes a key activity on this festival. Also, people will drink chrysanthemum wine. Women used to stick such a flower into their hair or hang its branches on windows or doors to avoid evilness.
In 1989, the Chinese government decided the Double Ninth Festival as Seniors‘ Day. Since then, all government units, organizations and streets communities will organize an autumn trip each year for those who have retired from their posts. At the waterside or on the mountains, the seniors will find themselves merged into nature. Younger generations will bring elder ones to suburban areas or send gifts to them on this day.

The Lantern Festival

The Lantern Festival falls on the 15th day of the 1st lunar month, usually in February or March in the Gregorian calendar. As early as the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 25), it had become a festival with great significance.


This day's important activity is watching lanterns. Throughout the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220), Buddhism flourished in China. One emperor heard that Buddhist monks would watch sarira, or remains from the cremation of Buddha's body, and light lanterns to worship Buddha on the 15th day of the 1st lunar month, so he ordered to light lanterns in the imperial palace and temples to show respect to Buddha on this day. Later, the Buddhist rite developed into a grand festival among common people and its influence expanded from the Central Plains to the whole of China.

Till today, the lantern festival is still held each year around the country. Lanterns of various shapes and sizes are hung in the streets, attracting countless visitors. Children will hold self-made or bought lanterns to stroll with on the streets, extremely excited. "Guessing lantern riddles"is an essential part of the Festival.

Lantern owners write riddles on a piece of paper and post them on the lanterns. If visitors have solutions to the riddles, they can pull the paper out and go to the lantern owners to check their answer. If they are right, they will get a little gift. The activity emerged during people's enjoyment of lanterns in the Song Dynasty (960-1279). As riddle guessing is interesting and full of wisdom, it has become popular among all social strata.

People will eat yuanxiao, or rice dumplings, on this day, so it is also called the "Yuanxiao Festival."Yuanxiao also has another name, tangyuan. It is small dumpling balls made of glutinous rice flour with rose petals, sesame, bean paste, jujube paste, walnut meat, dried fruit, sugar and edible oil as filling. Tangyuan can be boiled, fried or steamed. It tastes sweet and delicious. What’s more, tangyuan in Chinese has a similar pronunciation with "tuanyuan”, meaning reunion. So people eat them to denote union, harmony and happiness for the family.

In the daytime of the Festival, performances such as a dragon lantern dance, a lion dance, a land boat dance, a yangge dance, walking on stilts and beating drums while dancing will be staged. On the night, except for magnificent lanterns, fireworks form a beautiful scene. Most families spare some fireworks from the Spring Festival and let them off in the Lantern Festival. Some local governments will even organize a fireworks party. On the night when the first full moon enters the New Year, people become really intoxicated by the imposing fireworks and bright moon in the sky.

The Dragon Boat Festival - race

Dragon Boat race


Traditions At the center of this festival are the dragon boat races. Competing teams drive their colorful dragon boats forward to the rhythm of beating drums. These exciting races were inspired by the villager's valiant attempts to rescue Chu Yuan from the Mi Lo river. This tradition has remained unbroken for centuries。


Tzung Tzu


A very popular dish during the Dragon Boat festival is tzung tzu. This tasty dish consists of rice dumplings with meat, peanut, egg yolk, or other fillings wrapped in bamboo leaves. The tradition of tzung tzu is meant to remind us of the village fishermen scattering rice across the water of the Mi Low river in order to appease the river dragons so that they would not devour Chu Yuan。


Ay Taso


The time of year of the Dragon Boat Festival, the fifth lunar moon, has more significance than just the story of Chu Yuan. Many Chinese consider this time of year an especially dangerous time when extra efforts must be made to protect their family from illness. Families will hang various herbs, called Ay Tsao, on their door for protection. The drinking of realgar wine is thought to remove poisons from the body. Hsiang Bao are also worn. These sachets contain various fragrant medicinal herbs thought to protect the wearer from illness。

The Dragon Boat Festival

The Dragon Boat Festival, also called Double Fifth Festival, is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth moon of the lunar calendar. It is one of the most important Chinese festivals, the other two being the Autumn Moon Festival and Chinese New Year。


The origin of this summer festival centers around a scholarly government official named Chu Yuan. He was a good and respected man, but because of the misdeeds of jealous rivals he eventually fell into disfavor in the emperor's court。


Unable to regain the respect of the emperor, in his sorrow Chu Yuan threw himself into the Mi Low river. Because of their admiration for Chu Yuan, the local people living adjacent to the Mi Lo River rushed into their boats to search for him while throwing rice into the waters to appease the river dragons。


Although they were unable to find Chu Yuan, their efforts are still commemorated today during the Dragon Boat Festival。

Ching Ming Festival

Ching Ming Festival is one of the 24 segments in Chinese calendar. It normally falls on the 4th or 5th of April because it's depended on the Cold Food Day （105 days after previous year's winter solstice）. In the old days, Ching Ming was celebrated 3 days after the Cold Food Day but Cold Food Day was shorted to one day and then abandoned. So nowadays, Ching Ming and Cold Food Day fall on the same day although no one celebrate Cold Food Day any more. Ching Ming is also known as "Remembrance of Ancestors Day" or 'Grave Sweeping Day'.


On Ching Ming, the whole family will visit their ancestors or relatives' graves. I remember when I was little, we had to catch a diesel train to north New Territories to do grave sweeping. As a kid, I always find it scary when the train go through the dark tunnel of the hill. But there is no more diesel trains running in HK now. If you want to see one, you can find it in the Railway museum in Tai Po Market.


We have to carry incense sticks, joss sticks and paper offerings like paper money and paper clothes and any other paper accessories, depends how serious your family is with this thing. All paper offerings will be burnt for they believe that the relatives can receive the goods and even 'money' this way. As a kid, I am always asked to carry a bunch of flower. Chrysanthemum is normally chosen so don't give Chrysanthemum to Chinese people as gift coz it's a funeral/grave sweeping use flowers, although some households may find it to display home on normal days.


Food like roasted suckling pig, steamed chicken, fruit and wine are offered during the ceremony. Then we will eat it up after the worshipping.


There were children in scruffy looking t-shirts offering you a red piece of paper and a stone to put on top of the grave stone. My family never explains to me what it's for but I suppose red always implies luck so maybe it helps to bring good luck to the dead person? In return, you are supposed to give a few dollars to the children to buy this red paper.


There were also poor teenagers or adults carrying sickles and offer weeding services around the grave stones. As our family visits the graves twice a year （Ching Ming and Chung Yeung）, we can manage with a pair of scissors!


Some superstitious people even carry willow branches with them or hang it on the front door. It's believed that willows help to get rid of evil spirits, when Ching Ming is one of the days that ghosts and spirits wander about.

Shredded Pork with Green Peppers

Shredded Pork with Green Peppers

Ingredients: 300 grams (0.66 lb) pork tenderloin 100 grams (0.22 lb) green peppers 5 grams (5/6 tsp) salt 1 gram (1/4 tsp) MSG 10 grams (2 tsp) mixture of cornstarch and water 100 grams (7 tbsp) cooking oil 1 egg white 10 grams (2 tsp) cooking wine 25 grams (1 1/2 tbsp) water

Directions: 1. Cut the meat into shreds 6 cm (2.4 inches) long and 0.3 cm (0.12 inch) thick and wide. Put in a bowl. Add 1 g ( 1/6 tsp) of salt and stir until mixture becomes sticky. Add the egg white and dry cornstarch and mix well. Cut the green peppers into shreds of similar size to the meat. 2. Heat the oil to 110-135ºC (230-275ºF) and stir-fry the pork shreds until they are done. Take out and drain off the oil. 3. Put 25 g (1 2/3 tbsp) of oil in the wok and stir-fry the shredded green peppers for one minute. Add the shredded pork, cooking wine, salt, MSG and water, and bring to boiling point. Put in the mixture of cornstarch and water to thicken the sauce. Take out and serve.

Features: The meat is white with a light pink tinge. While the peppers are invitingly green. Taste: The shredded pork is tender and the green peppers crispy. The dish is salty to the right taste.

Chinese cloth tiger

Cloth Tiger
Cloth tiger is a popular folk art in China. Chinese people regard tiger as a symbol to ward off evils and to protect wealth. On the Dragon Boat Festival, people like to make cloth tigers or draw tiger pictures on the forehead, hoping to bring health, strength and braveness. There are various types of cloth tigers.

The materials used and procedures are different. Usually people use cotton or silk and fill it with sawdust or bran of grain. People use color-drawing, embroidering, cutting or patching to draw the facial outline and decorative pattern. People usually make tigers to have big head, big eyes, big mouth and big tail to show that it is courageous and powerful. Besides the Dragon Boat Festival, on certain occasions, such as Spring festival or Lantern festival, people make cloth tigers as a wish to ward off evils, to prevent illness and to be lucky.

the Ancient Silk Road of China

This ancient trade route starts in the old capitals of Luoyang and Xian, and reaches the Yellow River at Lanzhou, follows along the "Gansu Corridor" and stretches along the edge of deserts and mountains. Before the discovery of the sea route to India, the Silk Road was the most important connection between the Orient and the West. The Silk Road experienced its last great era during the time of Mongols,when the entire route from China to the Mediterranean was part of one empire. At that time, Nicolo and Marco Polo traveled from Kashgar to the Far East along the southern route. The overland link quickly lost its importance as trade across the seas developed.Today it has been replaced in China with the railway line Lanzhou-Hami-Urumqi.The last part, to Alma-Ata in Kazatchstan was completed in 1992. The trade route was never known as the Silk Road historically. It was given the name by a German geographer Ferdinand Freiherr von Richthofen. Silk Road tours allow you to step back into the 13th century as you visit the cities of the legendary silk traders and monks. Travel through deserts where silk traders have traveled for thousands of years. You can discover the ancient mysteries of the Silk Road including bazaars where merchants haggle over camels and carpets,where you can meet the nomadic minorities of China, and attend music, dance and artistic performances. These tours are often combined with stops to Beijing, Xian, and Dunhuang to make your China travel adventure vacation complete.

China weather

Climate Features and Impacts in July of 2005

In July, the climate characteristics were showed as follows: monthly precipitation was less than normal in China as a whole. The precipitation was from 200-300mm in some regions of Shandong, Henan, Jiangshu, Anhui, Hubei, Sichuan etc, and more than 300mm in south of Henan and north of Anhui. While the precipitation was less than 50 mm in some regions of Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, Gansu etc. Temperature was higher than normal in China as a whole by 0.8℃. In some regions of Inner mongolia, Xinjiang, Xizang, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangxi etc, temperature was higher than normal by 1～2℃. In July, the main climate events include: Server flood, mud-rock flow and landslide disaster happened in Yangtze river basin, Sichuan etc, which caused 93 peopel dead and 23 people lost as well as 75.4 billion Yuan economical lost. Typhoon “HAITANG” landed on Taiwan on 18 July and Fujian on 19 July, which caused serious damages in Zhejiang and Anhui with 119.2 billion Yuan economical lost. Another typhoon “WASHI” landed on Hainan on 30 July. Heat wave raided in Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan, Anhui etc, the highest temperature was higher than 40℃ in some regions of Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, Gansu, Hebei, Zhejiang, Shanxi etc. Summer Drought last or developed at west and middle of Inner Mongolia, north of Shanxi and Shaanxi, east of Guizhou and west of Hunan etc, shortage of water influenced agriculture, living water and supply of electric power. More than 20 Provinces hit by thunderstorm, hail and gale. 15 people were killed by gale and cyclone in Weiji town of Biling county of Anhui. Sand storm appeared in some regions of Inner Mongolia and Gansu from 16 to 17 July

Chinese Bamboo Flute (dizi) 中国竹笛

Dizi (Chinese Bamboo Flute) （中国竹笛）

Because of its euphonious timbre, ease of learning, portability and inexpensiveness, the Dizi (Chinese Bamboo Flute) becomes one of the most popular Chinese instruments in Asia. 由于声音悦耳，学习便利，携带方便,价格不高，笛子（竹笛）是亚洲最流行的中国乐器之一。

Dizi (also called D'Tzu or Zhu Di), is a side-blown wind instrument made of Bamboo. Dizi has a very simple structure: 1 blowhole, 1 membrane hole, 6 finger holes, and two pairs of holes in the end to correct the pitch and hang decorative tassels. 笛子，又称竹笛，是一种用竹子做成的侧吹管乐器. 笛子的构造简单，一个吹孔，一个膜孔，六个指孔，两对在尾端用于调音以及挂装饰物的孔。

The most special part of Dizi is the "Mo-Kong" (membrane hole) which is located between the blowhole and 6th finger holes. The Mo-Kong was invented by Liu Bing in Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) , and he named the flute "Qing Xing Guan". What makes the Mo-Kong special is its thin membrane covering. Some people mistake this membrane for rice paper, but it is actually made of membrane of a bamboo or a reed instead. The membrane vibrates with Dizi, during the process of playing, producing a sweet, bright timbre. In addition, it helps to deliver the sound far away. Liu Bing stated the purpose of his great invention as "To help produce better tone quality". You can also adjust the membrane to switch the tone colour to accord with the specific musical mood. 笛子最有特色的地方当属膜孔，该孔处于吹孔和第六指孔之间。 最早的带膜孔的笛子是在唐朝的刘秉(参见俞逊发先生和胡锡敏先生著《中国竹笛》)发明的，他把这种笛子称为七星管。膜孔的特点 是在上面贴有一层薄膜.有人曾误以为这些薄膜是糯米纸,但实际上这种薄膜取自竹管或芦苇管的里层.当演奏笛子时,薄膜和笛子一起震动,发出甜美,明亮的声音. 除此之外,它还能使笛子的声音传得更远.刘秉将他这一伟大举措的目的概述为"用以提高音质".也可以根据需要通过调整这层薄膜使音色更能表现特定的感情.

Generally, Dizis are separated into 2 categories. In the north, a flute used to accompany the Bon Zi Opera is called a Bon Di. This flute is short with a high pitch. In the south, the flute used to accompany the kunqu Opera is called a Kun Di. This flute is longer than the Bon Di and the music style is gentler contrarily. 总体来说,笛子分成两大类:在北方,笛子曾主要用于伴奏梆子戏,称为梆笛.这种笛子比较短,因为大小的原因,音调较高.在南方,笛子用于昆剧的伴奏,称为昆笛.昆笛比梆笛长,音色也 更柔和.

Presently, Dizis comes in adjustable and nonadjustable versions. The nonadjustable Dizis usually have better tone quality than the adjustable ones because the whole Dizi vibrates when played. Since temperatures have a big impact on the pitch, unfortunately, nonadjustable, Dizi players usually need to have 2 sets of Dizi; one for ummertime with a lower natural pitch and one for wintertime with a higher pitch. 现在,笛子有可调音和不可调音的两种.不可调音的笛子音质比可调音的笛子音质更好一些.因为演奏时不可调音的笛子能全管共振.不幸的是,由于温度对于音高有很大的影响,使用不可调音笛子的演奏者通常需要准备两套笛子,一套音高较低,夏天使用,另一套音高稍高,冬天使用.

Chinese Five Big City

Beijing 　　

If your visions of Beijing are centred around pods of Maoist revolutionaries in buttoned-down tunics performing t’ai chi in the Square, put them to rest: this city has embarked on a new-millennium roller-coaster and it’s taking the rest of China with it.　　The spinsterish Beijing of old is having a facelift and the cityscape is changing daily. Within the city, however, you’ll still find some of China’s most stunning sights: the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven Park, the Lama Temple and the Great Wall, to name just a few.　　

Hong Kong　　

Hong Kong has the big city specials like smog, odour, 14 million elbows and an insane love of clatter. But it’s also efficient, hushed and peaceful: the transport network is excellent, the shopping centres are sublime, and the temples and quiet corners of parks are contemplative oases.　　Hong Kong has enough towering urbanity, electric streetscapes, enigmatic temples, commercial fervour and cultural idiosyncrasies to utterly swamp the senses of a visitor, and enough spontaneous, unexpected possibilities to make a complete mockery of any attempt at a strictly organised itinerary.　　

Macau　　

Macau may be firmly back in China’s orbit, but the Portuguese patina on this Sino-Lusitanian Las Vegas makes it a most unusual Asian destination. It has always been overshadowed by its glitzy near-neighbour Hong Kong - which is precisely why it’s so attractive.　　Macau’s dual cultural heritage is a boon for travellers, who can take their pick from traditional Chinese temples, a spectacular ruined cathedral, pastel villas, old forts and islands that once harboured pirates. A slew of musuems will tell you how it all came about.　　

Shanghai　　

Although the lights have been out for quite some time, Shanghai once beguiled foreigners with its seductive mix of tradition and sophistication. Now Shanghai is reawakening and dusting off its party shoes for another silken tango with the wider world.　　In many ways, Shanghai is a Western invention. The Bund, its riverside area, and Frenchtown are the best places to see the remnants of its decadent colonial past. Move on to temples, gardens, bazaars and the striking architecture of the new Shanghai.　　

Xi’an　　

Xi’an was once a major crossroads on the trading routes from eastern China to central Asia, and vied with Rome and later Constantinople for the title of greatest city in the world. Today Xi’an is one of China’s major drawcards, largely because of the Army of Terracotta Warriors on the city’s eastern outskirts. Uncovered in 1974, over 10,000 figures have been sorted to date. Soldiers, archers (armed with real weapons) and chariots stand in battle formation in underground vaults looking as fierce and war-like as pottery can. Xi’an’s other attractions include the old city walls, the Muslim quarter and the Banpo Neolithic Village - a tacky re-creation of the Stone Age. By train, Xi’an is a 16 hour journey from Beijing. If you’ve got a bit of cash to spare, you can get a flight.

chinese inventions

The Four Great Inventions of Ancient China (traditional Chinese: 四大发明; simplified Chinese: 四大发明; pinyin: Sì dà fā míng, meaning “four great inventions“) are, according to Chinese tradition and the British scholar and biochemist Joseph Needham:The Compass[1] Gunpowder[2] Papermaking[3] Printing[4] These inventions are celebrated in Chinese culture for their historical significance and as signs of ancient China‘s advanced science and technology.[5] These four discoveries had an enormous impact on the development of Chinese civilization and a far-ranging global impact.In 1620, the English philosopher Francis Bacon wrotePrinting, gunpowder and the compass: These three have changed the whole face and state of things throughout the world; the first in literature, the second in warfare, the third in navigation; whence have followed innumerable changes, in so much that no empire, no sect, no star seems to have exerted greater power and influence in human affairs than these mechanical discoveries. (Novum Organum, Liber I, CXXIX—Adapted from the 1863 translation)The Compass Diagram of a Ming dynasty mariner‘s compassThe earliest Chinese literature reference to magnetism lies in a 4th century BC book called Book of the Devil Valley Master (鬼谷子): “The lodestone makes iron come or it attracts it.“
[6]The earliest reference to a magnetic device as a “direction finder“ is recorded in a Song Dynasty book dated to 1040-44. Here we find a description of an iron “south-pointing fish“ floating in a bowl of water, aligning itself to the south. The device is recommended as a means of orientation “in the obscurity of the night.“
[7]However, it should be pointed out that the compass remained in use by the Chinese in the form of a magnetic needle floating in a bowl of

Qipao--Chinese traditional costume

Qipao (Ch'ipau) is one of the most typical, traditional costumes for Chinese women. Also known as cheongsam, it is like a wonderful flower in the Chinese colorful fashion scene because of its particular charm. In the early 17th century in North China, Nurhachi, a great political and military strategist, unified the various Nuzhen tribes and set up the Eight Banner System. Later he led his troops into Beijing and overthrew the Ming Dynasty. Over the years, a collarless tube-shaped gown was developed, which was worn by men and women. This is the embryo of the Qipao. It became popular among the royal palace of the Qing Dynasty and the mansions of the Manchu nobility. At that time, it was loosely fitted and long enough to reach the insteps. Usually it was made of silk, and embroidered, with broad laces trimmed at the collar, sleeves and edges. The dress empresses of past dynasties wore them. Their style of dress was regarded as the highest of standards for Chinese women for several thousand years. The only medium to display the elegance of a human body is an elegant costume. Whatever costume a woman wears, in addition to magnificence and nobility, she must have a thirst for elegance or beauty. Perhaps that's the reason why Qipao was born. In the past, the collar of the costume was made high and tight-fitting to keep warm. Qipao has incorporated this feature, not just for preventing coldness but also for beauty. The collar of Qipao generally takes the shape of a semicircle, its right and left sides being symmetrical, flattering the soft and slender neck of a woman. The collar of Qipao is meticulously made, especially the buttonhole loop on the collar, which serves as the finishing touch. We can't help but admire the designers' artistic originality. The design of the front of Qipao depicts the maturity of women properly, reminding people of the line of a Chinese poem 'A garden full of the beauty of spring can not be prevented from being enjoyed.' Qipao generally has two big slits at either side of the hem for convenient movement and display of the slender legs of women. Unlike a short-length skirt, the slits of Qipao expose a woman's legs indistinctly when she walks, as if there was a blurred emotional appeal of 'enjoying flowers in mist.' Qipaos can display Chinese women's modesty, softness and beauty. Like Chinese women's temperament, Qipaos are elegant and gentle. Like other costumes, the beauty of Qipao comes first. Simplicity is one of its features from the collar, loop, chest, waist and hips to the lower hem, and a Qipao almost varies with a woman's figure. It not only lays stress on the natural beauty of a female figure, but also makes women's legs appear more slender. Mature women in Qipaos can display their graceful refined manner. Besides its simplicity, Qipao provides designers with vast, creative space: some short, some long, with low, high, or even no collars at all. Practicality always goes with beauty. Qipaos are worn in both urban and rural areas, its long-standing elegance and serenity making wearers fascinating. When wearing Qipao, women should pay attention to the match as a whole; particularly middle-aged or elderly women should do so. Hairstyles, jewelry, socks and shoes should match Qipaos properly in color and design. Today, with the development of the market economy in China, designs or styles of fashions are so dazzling as the stars that the eye cannot take them all in. As a result, people are often at a loss what to choose when facing the vast sea of fashions. On the other hand, it is just a golden opportunity for Chinese national costumes to regain their popularity. Fashion culture has become a point of intersection of social culture, reflecting economic developments, social progress and educational level. It represents people's spirit, living standards and aspirations towards beauty.

china

A country of eastern Asia. Its ancient civilization traditionally dates to c. 2700 b.c. . Beijing is the capital and Shanghai the largest city. Population, 1.295 billion.
Our term china for porcelain or ceramic ware is a shortening of chinaware and probably china dishes. Although the word china is identical in spelling to the name of the country, there are 16th- and 17th-century spellings like chiney, cheny, and cheney that reflect the borrowing into English of the Persian term for this porcelain, chºº.} The Persian word and the Sanskrit word cº³¡,} “Chinese people,” which gave us the English name for the country, go back to the Chinese word Qin, the name of the dynasty that ruled China from 221 to 206 b.c.

Gansu Travel Guide

Gansu Travel Guide

　　Dear friends, would you like to ramble along the ancient Silk Road and re-enter the historic long river? Come then to Gansu, a memorable tour awaits you.
　　Located in the upper reaches of the Yellow River, northwest China, Gansu is one of the cradles of Chinese cultures. It occupies a total area of 450,000 square kilometers （173,700 square miles） Neighboring provinces are Shaanxi to the east, Sichuan to the south, Qinghai and Xinjiang to the west and Inner Mongolia and Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region to the north. With a population of 23.7 million, Gansu has a multinational population which includes ethnic minority groups of Kazak, Mongolian, Tibetan, Hui, Dongxiang, Tu and Manchu. They mutually influence each other in the fields of economics, politics and culture and hold close ties with the Han people. They have thus developed a unique cultural community.
　　Lanzhou, a well-known ancient city in China, is the capital of Gansu. It is the second largest city in northwest China, and also the political, economic and cultural center of the province.
　　What to see
　　With a long history and brilliant cultures, Gansu is abundantly endowed with cultural relics and natural scenery. Vast and graceful natural scenery like endless desert and pure glacial landscape presents an impressive and breath-taking picture before your eyes. Take for example the world-famous Mogao Grottoes. It is the largest and most well-preserved Buddhist art palace and also a post along the ancient Silk Road; the grand Jiayuguan Pass, an important outpost in ancient China, is the western end of the Great Wall; the Labrang Monastery in Xiahe is one of the largest Tibetan Buddhist resorts in China while the Bingling Thousand Buddha Caves in Lanzhou are a treasure trove of Han Buddhism. All of these are commendatory scenic spots for your tour.
　　When to go
　　It is important for tourists to be familiar with the local temperatures. The annual average temperature is about 0 to 15C. The lowest temperature occurs in January and is approximately -14 to 3C and the highest temperature is in July between 22 and 25C. Average annual rainfall is between 30 to 860 millimeters （1.18 to 33.86 inches）. With plenty of rain, you would be well-advised to take an umbrella along with you for the tour. However, despite the changeful weather, your sightseeing visit from May to October would be uninterrupted.
　　The traditional handicrafts in Gansu are archaized carpets （using patterns from ancient carpets）, luminous cups and the duplicates of sculptures and murals of the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang.

Chongqing Travel Guide

Chongqing is a port city with the largest municipal area and population in China. It is situated in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River at the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers in southwest China. With an area of 82,400 square kilometers （31, 800 square miles）, Chongqing shares borders with the provinces of Hubei, Hunan, Guizhou, Sichuan, and Shaanxi. Besides the Han who form the majority of its total population of 30.9 million, numerous ethnic groups reside in Chongqing, including Yi, Tibetan, Miao, Qiang, You and Tujia.
　　Since its founding 3,000 years ago, Chongqing has been called Jiangzhou, Yuzhou, and Gongzhou, before getting its present name nearly 800 years ago. Since the Qin Dynasty （221 BC-206 BC）, many dynasties have set up administrative institutions that have endowed the city with brilliant cultures. Perched beside the Yangtze, the "Golden River," Chongqing symbolizes Yangtze River civilizations and is the cradle of Bayu culture.
　　Today, Chongqing is a modern city, China's fourth municipality after Beijing, Shanghai, and Tianjin. Within its borders Chongqing encompasses a wealth of water reserves, mineral resources, dense forests, and abundant flora and fauna. The focal point of the unique Yangtze Three Gorges Dam, Chongqing is a tourist attraction as well as a commercial city.
　　Chongqing attracts visitors from home and abroad for its cultural heritage and other tourist attractions. The city is the starting point for the Yangtze River Cruise, which explores the stunning scenery of the Three Gorges. Other attractions include the Dazu Rock Carvings , valuable works of art carved during the Ninth Century, Gold Buddhist Mountain, a rich repository of diverse animals and plants; and Fishing Town, one of three ancient battlefields in China. Ancient Ci Qi Kou village lures tourists to linger in its streets to buy handicraft souvenirs.
　　Chongqing is famous for its hot Sichuan cuisine and world-famous hotpot dishes. Street vendors as well as restaurants feature exciting spicy delicacies for the adventurers.
　　Servicing western China, Chongqing provides convenient water, land, and air transportation. Hundreds of star-ranked hotels provide excellent facilities and services. Chongqing is ready to be the pilot in the Western China Development to usher in more investors and visitors.
　　Chongqing is located at the center of an ancient Bayu Area which is also the birthplace of Bayu Culture, a historical and cultural city in China with more than 3,000 years of history. About 20 to 30 thousand years ago, human beings had moved to the Chongqing area, thereby marking the start of Chongqing's long history.
　　Name Origin of Chongqing
　　Chongqing is located at the confluence of the Jialing and Yangtze Rivers and is nestled among the gently sloping surrounding mountains. Although the name of the city has changed several times including Jiangzhou, Ba Shire, Chuzhou, Yuzhou and Gongzhou, kingdoms, shires, prefectures and counties. Most names involved the name Ba because Chongqing was the center of the Ba Kingdom established by Ba ethnic groups and local aborigines who were conquered in the areas near the Yangtze, Wujiang and Jialing rivers. The Wendi Emperor of the Sui Dynasty （581-618） changed Chuzhou to Yuzhou and the mountainous city was called Yu for short for a long while. In the year of 1189, Song （960-1279） Guangzong was crowned as Gong King and the emperor of the whole country in succession. He gladly renamed Gongzhou to Chongqing meaning 'double gaiety'.
　　Ba Kingdom
　　Western Sichuan was called Ba Fang during the Xia Dynasty （21st - 16th century BC） and Ba Dian during the Shang Dynasty （16th - 11th century BC）. Ba Dian delivered a tribute to the Shang Court every year. Ba people did not accept oppression under the Shang and bravely joined the Zhou （11th century BC - 221BC） Army in a crusade against the last king of the Shang Dynasty. Shang was finally defeated and the Ba group was authorized to be Ba Kingdom, one of the seventy-one vassal states of the Western Zhou. Chongqing was approved to be its capital during the 11th Century BC.
　　The Ba Kingdom reached its heyday from the last years of the Spring and Autumn Period （770 BC - 476 BC） to late Warring States Period （476 BC - 221 BC）, during which it's bronze culture had reached its zenith. However, the fortification of Chongqing didn't start until 316 BC according to the annals of history. At that time, Ba and Shu rivaled each other and Ba asked for help from the Qin State. The Qin conquered the Shu Kingdom and spared Ba Kingdom, too. The general of the Qin troop, Zhang Yi, conducted major new construction projects. He was the first person in history to truly build the city including the impressive fortification of Chongqing. Until the year of 316 BC of the middle Warring State period, the Ba Kingdom had existed for 800 years.
　　Ba Culture
　　During the early Warring States Period, the Ba Kingdom moved from the upper reaches of Hanjiang River to Eastern Sichuan around the main stream of the Yangtze River. Bronze culture assimilated with local aboriginal Neolithic culture, forming the Ba Culture, and the origin of Bayu Culture. Chongqing is the epicenter of this culture.
　　Representatives of Bayu Culture
　　Bayu Dance is a kind of folk martial dance of ancient Bayu Area. Ba people were well known for their bravery and dash as well as being good at singing and dancing. It was said in ancient records that Ba troops always sang and danced while marching to their crusade against the Shang Dynasty. During the early Han Dynasty （206BC-220AD）, Bayu Dance was introduced to the imperial palace, becoming a royal court dance for appreciation, reception of envoys and guests and also official rites. This kind of dance gradually disappeared after the Tang Dynasty （618-907）, and yet it was still popular among common people.
　　Folk songs of Ba people were also famous not only in local areas but also in the neighboring Chu State in ancient times. Chongqing people still sing of their lovely mountains and rivers. Work songs of boatmen are a part of the colorful folk culture of Chongqing.
　　Bayu dance and songs are considered to be the most important elements of Bayu Culture. Additionally, Ba people brewed their own fine wine, had their own burial ceremonies （boat coffin, hanging coffin and other kinds of burials）. They had symbolized character, totems, bronze sculptures, fascinating legends and myths. These are all symbols of Bayu Culture.
　　Chongqing as a capital In its some 3,000 years history, Chongqing had been a capital city three times.
　　Capital of Ba Kingdom: in 1066BC of the Zhou Dynasty. Capital of Xia Kingdom: In 1363, the general Ming Yuzhen of peasant rebel army cleaned up the power of the Yuan Court in Sichuan and proclaimed himself emperor of the Xia Kingdom. Secondary capital of the Republic of China: In 1937 when the Sino-Japanese War erupted, the National Government moved to Chongqing later and made Chongqing as the assistant capital.

Hainan Travel Guide

Different from other provinces, Hainan is the second largest ocean island and the smallest land province in China. Although scenery in Hainan lacks the grandness of the Great Wall and the mystery of the Terror-Cotta Warriors, its natural beauty has gained a good reputation among the visitors and has been widely known around the world. People call it "the Oriental Hawaii".
　　Hainan is located at south end of China, and occupies an area of 35,000 square kilometers （13,510 square miles）. Its administrative regions are Hainan Island, Xisha archipelago, Zhongsha archipelago and Nansha archipelago. Its neighboring countries are Philippines towards the east, Malaysia and Brunei towards the south, Indonesia （Natuna Islands） towards the southwest, and Vietnam towards the west. The surrounding sea area totals 2,000,000 square kilometers （772,000 square miles）. Due to the mild climate and favorable environment, Hainan is regarded as a long life island. The young often travel to Hainan seeking a return to nature and the old would rather live there to enjoy their lives. Hainan now has a population of 7.11 million, among which about one million are ethnic minorities.
　　Ethnic Minority Groups
　　Hainan is a multinational region, and there the ethnic villages of Li and Miao are very typical. The hospitable villagers will treat you to traditional food as well as wonderful singing and dancing performances. So the Li and Miao Villages are well worth a visit in Hainan. Nowadays, Hainan cuisine is very popular all over the world, especially the fresh and delicious seafood. Furthermore, Hainan is famous for their beautiful handicrafts, like shell carvings.
　　The capital of Hainan is Haikou City. Located in northern part of the island, it is the political, economic, cultural and transportation center of the whole province. In Hainan, the cities Haikou and Sanya are where most tourists congregate.
　　When to go
　　Hainan is an ideal place for you to be away from the cold winter. In January and February, the average temperature is 16C to 24C, and 25C to 29C is in July and August. The rainy seasons are from May to October. The best time to visit Hainan is between November and March the next year. I suggest those who are fond of swimming had better come to Hainan. It's an excellent swimming and bathing place all the year around, and far away from the crowded cities, it is your best choice for relaxation and entertainment.
　　What to see
　　Sanya is famous for its tropical beach landscapes. Tianya Haijiao and Dadonghai are two well known beaches. Just imagine that you are lying on the soft beach under beautiful sunshine or that you are walking through the coconut plantation under the blue sky. How wonderful everything is! Historical heritages such as Hairui Tomb （Hairui （1514 - 1587） who was a compassionate and popular officer during the Ming Dynasty） and Wugong Temple （Fiver Officials' Temple） in Haikou are also worth a visit.

Henan Travel Guide （china)

Highlight of Henan Province,Songshan Mountain lies southwest of Zhengzhou and it is one of the most famous mountains in China because of the rugged beauty of its peaks and the Bonsai-like appearance of its beautiful old trees. Shaolin Temple, the most famous Buddhist temple in China and the largest of the Songshan range, is located on Shaoshi Mountain. Shaolin Temple and Shaolin Gongfu (martial arts) have long taken on a legendry color and are famous both in and outside China.
　　The name of the province Henan comes from its geographic location. Henan means"the south of the river",indicating that Henan lies south of China‘s Yellow River. The province covers an area of over 160,000 square kilometers (about 62,000 square miles). It is populated by Han, Hui, Manchu, Mongolian and other ethnic groups totaling 92,560,000 people.
　　When to go
　　Henan has a humid warm-temperate climate. Dry and windy in winter and spring,the province is hot and rainy in summer and bakes in strong sunlight during the autumn months. Rainfall averages about 600-1000 millimeters increasing from north to south, as does the annual temperature which increases from about 12.8C in the north to 15.5C in the south.
　　History
　　Henan province is considered the cradle of Chinese civilization due to its location on the Yellow River. This rich historic heritage has endowed Henan with numerous historic treasures, from primitive dwellings to earliest wheel thrown pottery. The remains of some of the earliest human settlements have been unearthed here, including the over 7000-year-old Peiligang Culture Site, the 6000-year-old Yangshao Culture Remains and the 5000-year-old Dahe Culture Remains. All these cultural remains have profound significance in the history of Chinese civilization.
　　Luoyang City has been the capital of nine dynasties since the time of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty (770BC-221BC).There are many historical sites to be viewed in Luoyang as well as the opportunity to purchase replicas of the famed Tang three-glaze horses. Luoyang‘s Longmen Grottoes, famous for its grand treasure trove of Chinese Buddhist statues, are located 12km (7 miles) south of Luoyang. First sculpted and chiseled around 493 AD when the capital of the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534) was moved from Datong City to Luoyang,the grottoes of Luoyang house an awe-inspiring collection of sculpted Buddha and other religious subjects.
　　Kaifeng,one of the ancient capitals,also boasts the following buildings worthy of a visit:Iron Pagoda(Tie Ta)of the Northern Song Dynasty(960-1127),Dragon Pavilion (Long Ting)- site of imperial palace of the Song and Jin dynasties - and the 1400-year-old Xiangguo Temple which is one of the most famous Buddhist temples in China. Also on view in Kaifeng are ruins of the Shang Dynasty, an important part of human cultural and historic heritage. The Shang Dynasty Ruins, also known as the ‘Yin Ruins’, are famous because of the unique style of the large palace and its grand mausoleums, in which emperors of the Shang Dynasty are buried. The bronze vessels of the Shang Dynasty, which were both finely decorated and popularly used by the citizens of the Shang Dynasty, are well-known at home and abroad.

heilongjiang province of china

Are you a snow kind of person？If you like snow then you should visit Heilongjiang,a province,which brings you the wonderful scenery of northeast China. You will have chance to enjoy the national Ski Festival and Ice Festival held every year, and also the culture in the famous music town Harbin. Harbin, famous for its name 'Ice City', is the administrative center of the Heilongjiang Province.
　　Heilongjiang is located at north most of China and has an area of more than 460,000 square kilometers (177,607 square meters). It borders the provinces of Inner Mongolia to the west, Jilin to the south and Russia on the northeast. Historically it was one of the main gateways from China to Russian and Europe.
　　Ethnic Minority Groups
　　With a population of over 36.8 million, there are about 35 ethical groups living in Heilongjiang.Among them the most characteristic ethical groups are Hezhe fishermen, Ewenki Hunters and Daur ethnical group, who raises mainly cattles. Their life styles are very different from each others. So if you are interested, you might feel free to spend time with them.
　　When to go
　　In summer, if you go to Heilongjiang, you will feel cool and comfortable. Average temperature is around 18C to 23C in July. It's definitely a summer resort. In winter, you will experience harsh and extreme cold. Winter in Heilongjiang is long, cold and dry. In January, average temperature is about -31C to -15C, and the record low temperature was -52.3C. So wrap up before you go, or purchase the fine quality leather hats, overcoats and shoes there to keep you warm. Annual average rainfall is 250 to 700 millimeters (9.8 to 27.56 inches), so the crops grow well and the typical northeast foods are dumplings, bread and sausages.
　　What to see
　　Of course, there is more than just cold. You can visit the snow resort. Wu Da Lian Chi,the natural volcano garden of the world. In this unique land witness the volcanoes' ravage to the Heilongjiang Province. Jing Po Lake, the largest mountain lake in China, has a particular and wonderful Diao Shui Lou waterfall; In the arctic pole village Mohe, you may be fortunate to see aurora borealis.
　　Festivals
　　The national Ski Festival is a wonderful program for those who like skiing; and the national Ice Festival displays the exquisite art of ice carvings and its elegant masterpieces. Both festivals are held annually from December to January. During the famous Summer Concerts in Harbin you will hear the most beautiful music in the world, especially the Chinese classical music. All this is pleasing to all both your eyes and ears.
　　Every year, tourists from various countries gather here in the winter months just to get a glimpse of snow. For some visitors it is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see snow.

Hebei travel Guide

Hebei Province, with its beautiful Capital, Shijiazhuang,is located to the north of the Yellow River, and to the east of the Taihang Mountains. Hebei is somewhat overshadowed by its neighbors, Beijing and Tianjin, whose vastness covers an area of 190,000 square kilometers (about 73,363 square miles), and its vibrant population is estimated to be at 67,440,000. Hebei's long and proud history can be traced back to the Spring and Autumn Period (770 BC - 476 BC), which dates from 770 BC to 476 BC. At that time it was called 'The Land of Yan and Zhao', because its northern area was dominated by the Kingdom of Yan, while its southern area was occupied by the Kingdom of Zhao. Today, that same area is home to more than 50 minority ethnic groups, such as Han, Hui, Manchu, Mongolian and Korean.
　　When to go
　　Hebei is also known for its moderate climate. The four seasons are felt and enjoyed. In spring it is arid and windy, hot and rainy in summer, balmy and fine in autumn and dry and cold in winter. The annual rainfall averages between 300 - 800 millimeters and its corresponding temperature ranges from 0C to 13C. So the best time to travel to Hebei is during autumn, when you can enjoy the clear and crisp climate.
　　What to see
　　The visitor to Hebei has the unequalled opportunity to view many relics that can be found in this beautiful province. The very famous Mountain Resort of Chengde used to be the largest royal summer resort of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Outside the surrounding wall of the Mountain Resort, the visitor will find a display of several brilliant and glistening temples. They are called 'Eight Outer Temples' and are the largest imperial temples in all of China. The Mulan Paddock in Hebei Province was used as the hunting place for the emperors of the Qing Dynasty. At the present time, it is one of the few natural grassland resorts and a very popular destination for those visitors who are after a bit of fresh air and peaceful countryside. Shanhaiguan Pass, also called 'The First Pass Under Heaven', is the easternmost end of the Great Wall, which winds its way through the north of Hebei. All these beautiful highlights will make the tourist feel excited about the scenery, history and natural beauty which is in the Hebei Province.
　　In the tour to Hebei Province,tourists can not only have a long look at all the historical relics,but they also see all the beautiful natural landscapes that you can only dream of. In summer, tourists can enjoy the sunshine, beaches, and all the fresh air that blows in from the Bohai Gulf in the Beidaihe and Nandaihe Scenic Spots; In spring tourists can ride on the vast and magnificent grassland; In autumn, they can explore the fascinating Yesanpo Scenic Area in Baoding City. And in winter, another spectacular destination in Baoding City is the Baiyang Lake. The Baiyang Lake will be a very special attraction, because tourists can see very unique scenery of reeds and snows.
　　Hebei beckons and welcomes you.

Jingsu Travel Guide

Jiangsu, an eastern Chinese province, has over 1000-kilometer (620 miles） coastline along the Yellow Sea. There are two great rivers flowing through the whole province: Yangtze River from west to east and Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal from north to south. With an area of 100,000 square kilometers (38,600 square miles）, Jiangsu is populated by Han, Hui, Manchu and other ethnic groups. Its population totals 73.54 millions. The neighboring areas of Jiangsu are Shandong Province in the north, Anhui Province in the west, Shanghai Municipality and Zhejiang Province in the south.
　　When to go
　　With an annual average temperature ranging from 13 C to 16 C, the climate in Jiangsu is semi-humid and subtropical. There are four distinct seasons with cold winters and hot summers. Besides, the annual average rainfall is 800 to 1,200 millimeters (31.5 to 47.2 inches）, with high precipitation in the southeast and low in the northwest, and 60 percent of the rain falls during the summer. So the best time for a visit should be in spring and autumn.
　　What to see
　　Nanjing, one of the six ancient capitals of China, is also the administrative center of Jiangsu Province. Situated at the south bank of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, Nanjing has numerous tourist attractions for you to access. Yangtze River Bridge in Nanjing is very famous and impressive. Opened on December 23, 1968, it is one of the greatest achievements of the Communist Party and a great source of pride to the Chinese. The Mausoleum of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the mausoleum of the great revolutionary forerunner, Dr. Sun Yat-sen, is a well-preserved tourist destination. Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum built for Zhu Yuan Zhang, the founder of the Ming Dynasty (1368~1644）, is one of the largest ancient imperial tombs in China. Other scenic spots in Nanjing like Qinhuai River, Yu Hua Tai and Qixia Scenic Spot are also well worth a trip if you want to trace back to the long history of Nanjing. As one of the four "furnace" cities in China, tourists are advised not to visit Nanjing during summer.
　　Suzhou is a well-known garden city in Jiangsu Province. It's a historic city in China and also the center of cotton, silk and wool. The Humble Administrator's Garden presents a traditional Chinese ink-and-wash painting before you, and walking in the garden, you would feel you are actually walking in the paintings! The Lingering Garden is one of the best gardens in Suzhou as well as being one of the four most famous gardens in China. Zhouzhuang, a small town near Suzhou, is the China's top water town. The layout of the town and the residential areas maintains the traditional style and the old river ways and boats are very popular among the visitors. Besides, Suzhou has its unique highlights such as Kunqu Opera, Suzhou Opera and Suzhou embroidery.
　　Wuxi, the famous tourist city in Jiangsu Province, is one of the 15 economic central cities in China called as "homeland of fish and rice". Taihu Lake, the third largest freshwater lake in China, has many islets which have now become the main tourist destinations for visitors. The Three Kingdoms City, built in 1993 to film the famous historical TV serial - the Romance of Three Kingdoms, which is one of the four most famous novels in China, was totally in Han Dynasty style. So when you enter the Three Kingdoms City and sometimes see lots of people wearing ancient costumes, don't be so surprised, it's only a scene for filming actually.
　　In possession of many cultural and historic cities like Nanjing, Suzhou and Wuxi, Jiangsu has abundant tourist resources. Far beyond your expectations, Jiangsu is really an ideal tourist resort.

Hunan Travel Guide

Located in the south central part of the Chinese mainland, Hunan has long been known for its natural beauty. Hunan is surrounded by mountains on the east, west, and south, and by the Yangtze River on the north. Hunan's mixture of mountains and water makes it among the most beautiful provinces in China. For thousands of years, Hunan has been a major center of Chinese agriculture, growing rice, tea, and oranges.
　　When to go
　　Hunan has a humid, subtropical climate. The monsoon rain falls mostly in April, May, and June. July and August are uncomfortably hot and humid. The best time to visit is in the fall, when temperatures are cooler and the rainfall lighter. For persons who live in cold northern climate, traveling to Hunan in the winter can be pleasant. After all, any place that grows oranges can't be all that cold. Low temperatures in winter are usually above freezing, with daily highs around 10C. Annual rainfall is around 1,250 - 1,750 millimeters (49.2 to 68.9 inches）. Northern Hunan has more climate extremes than southern Hunan. It can get colder in the winter and hotter in the summer.
　　What to see
　　The headspring of life, Dongting Lake, is frequently mist-covered in the early morning. It is the second largest lake in China. Yueyang City, located on the shore of Dongting Lake, is home to one of China's three famous towers. Yueyang Pavilion was originally built during the Tang Dynasty (618-907）. The present pavilion is of recent reconstruction, built in the style of the Song Dynasty (960-1279）.
　　In 1982, China established its first national forest park. Zhangjaijie National Forest Park was established in a particular scenic area in northwest Hunan. The park is especially known for its quartz-sandstone rock formations, bare stone sculpted by nature and set among green trees and frequent clouds.
　　The high and steep Mt. Hengshan is frequently snow-capped in the winter, contrasting with the subtropical fields that one sees below it. It is one of the five most famous mountains in China. Known for its precarious cliffs, it is a holy mountain for both Taoists and Buddhists.
　　The region along the Yuanjiang River is especially well known for its serene beauty. It takes its name, the Peach Blossom Fountainhead, from a work of Chinese literature from the Jin Dynasty (265-420）. Tao Yuanming wrote about an isolated Utopia-like paradise where generations of people had escaped from the difficulties that others had experienced. The Yuanjiang River region has been a travel destination since ancient times.
　　Historic Changsha, one of China's famous cultural centers, is the capital of Hunan Province. It is also a tourism center, offering its visitors many historical sites and other places of interest.
　　Highlights
　　Hunan's cuisine has its unique flavor. In Hunan, nearly every dish tastes hot, and delicious. The people of Hunan like eating peppery foods.
　　Hunan's products include Xiang embroidery, one of China's four famous embroideries. It has high artistic value. With 200 years of history behind them, the chrysanthemum stone carvings of Liuyang are vivid and exquisite. Liuyang City is known for its firecrackers, which are popular all over China.
　　Many great people have come from Hunan Province. In ancient times, Quyuan, a patriotic poet, committed suicide by throwing himself into the Miluo River. The story of his death and the search for his body started the tradition of Dragon Boat Festival. Chairman Mao, idol of the Chinese people, was born in Shaoshan. Zhu Rongji, one of the important leaders in the country, also comes from Hunan Province. Such famous people show that Hunan is a place that has cultivated talent as well as being a destination for tourists.
　　With abundant natural resources, Hunan covers 210,000 square kilometers (81,000 square miles）. It is adjacent to Jiangxi Province in the east, Chongqing Municipality and Guizhou Province in the west, Guangdong Province and Guangxi Autonomous Region in the south, and Hubei Province in the north. Hunan has a total population of 64,400,700. It is multiethnic, with Maio, Dong, and Yao being the most numerous minorities. Their unique cultures and ethnic customs attract numerous tourists.

Inner Mongolia Travel Guide （china）

The Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, bordering to the north with both the Republic of Mongolia and Russia, is the widest province in China (by its latitude）. It is the third largest Chinese province (over 1.1 million square kilometers or 424,736 square miles） but not very populated. The province has about 24 million inhabitants. Many ethnic groups are living in this area including Mongolian, Daur, Oroqen, Ewenki, Hui, Han, Korea and Manchu. Hohhot is the capital of Inner Mongolia.
　　When to go
　　Climate in Inner Mongolia is very different during the year. Winter is cold and can be very long, with frequent blizzards. Usually summer is short and warm. The climate changes from arid to semi-humid from west to east, and to humid in the northeast. The annual rainfall is 80 - 450 millimeters, also increasing from west to east. The main feature of the climate here is that the different in temperature between days and nights is very big, so tourists should wear layer of clothes when traveling here.
　　What to see
　　Inner Mongolia has a peculiar natural scenery, long history and brilliant culture. There are many historic sites in this area. Some of the key historic sites are:
　　Wudangzhao Monastery in Baotou is a vast complex and used to be the residence of the highest ranking lama in Inner Mongolia and now it is the only intact Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Inner Mongolia.
　　Inner Mongolia is the hometown of Genghis Khan (1162-1227）, the great leader of Mongolians. His Mausoleum, located 185 kilometers (about 71 miles） south of Baotou, holds his clothing buried in his memory.
　　Dazhao Temple is one of the biggest and best-preserved temples in Hohhot. Xilituzhao Palace is the largest surviving Lama temple in Hohhot.
　　Zhaojun Tomb, six miles to the south of Hohhot, is located on one of the most beautiful scenes of ancient times. A legend says that each year, when it turned cold and grass became yellow, only this tomb remained green and so it got the name Green Tomb (Qing Zhong）.
　　Wanbu Huayanjin Pagoda, also called White Pagoda, used to be a place where nearly ten thousand volumes of Huayan Scripture were preserved. It is an exquisite and magnificent brick-wood structure about one hundred and fifty feet tall.
　　But what is most attractive about Inner Mongolia is its natural beauty. Vast grasslands, including the Xilamuren Grassland, Gegentala Grassland and Huitengxile Grassland are all good places for a grassland experience. The mushroom-like yurts, bright sky, fresh air, rolling grass and the flocks and herds moving like white clouds on the remote grassland, all contribute to make the scenery a very relaxing one. While visiting Inner Mongolia you may try different activities such as Mongolian wrestling, horse & camel riding, rodeo competitions, archery, visiting traditional families and enjoying the graceful Mongolian singing and dancing. The best time to visit the grassland is definitely during the traditional Mongolian Nadam Festival period when there is a better chance to both participate and feel the lively atmosphere of the grassland life.
　　You can also visit deserts in Inner Mongolia. The deserts are located in the western part of the province: the most famous and visited ones are the Badain Jaran Desert, Tengger Desert and Kubuqi Desert. Early autumn (from the middle of August to the end of September） is the best time to explore the desert as the temperatures are very temperate.