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Architecture:

Chinese Quadrangle

Chinese Quadrangle03Chinese Quadrangle is a traditional residential house in North China, which appeared in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). The center of the principal room is determined to be the base point of the north-south central axis. The layout of the whole courtyard can be designed in accordance with the house area after determining the central axis.

Diaojiaolou

Diaojiaolou is a kind of dwelling popular among several of the ethnic minority communities throughout southern China in the mountainous areas.  Diaojiaolou are rectangular or square wooden buildings built in the ganlanstyle,  that is supported by stilts or wood columns.

Drum Towers

drum tower yintanThe Drum Towers that loom over every Dong village look like giant cedar trees winding their way to the sky. Drum Towers are a triumph of Dong architecture and are deeply culturally significant to the Dong ethnic minority. They are the place where the elders meet, socialise and, at one point in history, even passed judgement.

Fujian Tulou (Earthen Structure)

Fujian Tulou or Fujian Earthen Structure is a type of dwelling built by Hakka and Hoklo people in mountainous areas of South Fujian, China. It is a large enclosed construction with defensive function, usually in round or rectangular shapes to house multiple families.

Hui Architecture 

hui architectureA typical Hui residence was a compound comprised of several buildings on four or   three sides of an inner courtyard. The outer wall of the whole compound has a name of horse-head wall, which has white painting and black roofs. Brick-sculpture, woodcut and stone carving are considered as the three essential art of Hui architecture.

Kaiping Diaolou

These fortified watchtowers are located mainly in Kaiping County, Guangdong Province, and are part of an architectural tradition that dates all the way back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Their unusual mixture of Western and traditionally Chinese architectural features, coupled with their seamless integration into the natural landscape, make them unique among historical attractions in China.

Qilou

Qilou, also known as Tong Lau, are a unique style of architecture that became hugely popular throughout many regions in southern China. It originated from the bustling city of Guangzhou, which was a commercial port used frequently for foreign trade. The foreign influence on this style of architecture is palpable, as it resembles a perfect intermingling of traditional Chinese and Western styles of architecture. 

Shanxi Grand Compound

Qiao's family compund02These castle-like structures were constructed based on the architecture style of northern China, by rich Shanxi merchants in Ming and Qing Dynasties. Each big mansion looks like a compound formed by many small quadrangles.

Wind-Rain Bridges

Along with the traditional Drum Towers, Wind-Rain bridges were developed by the Dong ethnic minority. They are covered bridges that were originally designed to provide villagers with shelter from the wind and rain as they crossed the river. The bridges are so intricately carved and stunningly decorated that they look like small palaces that have been built atop a bridge.

Yaodong (Loess Cave House)

It is the typical dwelling house in the Loess Plateau, with the history of more than 4,500 years. Nowadays, there are still more than 40 million people living in this kind of residence.  There are three kinds of Yaodong – loess cliff rooms, hole courtyard and “updated” brick rooms.

The Great Wall 

The Great Wall spans over large parts of northern China, and is the result of thousands of years of construction. Officially it extends for approximately 8,850 kilometres (5,500 miles) from east to west, making it 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) longer than the River Nile! The history behind this practically legendary feat of architecture began during the Warring States Period (c. 476-221 BC).

 

Opera:

Huangmei Opera

Huangmei OperaHuangmei Opera originated from the Picking-tea-leaf Tunes popular in Huangmei (in Hubei Province). It developed and enriched in Anqing City (in Anhui Province), taking Anqing dialect as its basis of singing. It is one of the five major operas in China.

Peking Opera

It is the most popular and influential performance on China’s stages. It is named Peking (Beijing) Opera because it emerged and became popular in Beijing. However, its original root is publicly known as the Hui Opera.

Qinqiang Opera

Qinqiang opera is widely considered to be the forefather of all styles of Chinese opera. The name “Qin” derives from the fact that Qinqiang opera dates all the way back to the Qin Dynasty (221-206 B.C.) and its heritage stretches back over 2,500 years, making it one of the oldest forms of opera in China.

Sichuan Opera

Sichuan opera is actually comprised of five other, much older styles of opera. These five styles are known as Gaoqiang, Kunqiang, Huqing voice, Tanxi, and Dengdiao or Lantern theatre. While the traditional formula for the opera is quite systematic, it is punctuated by lively acts of face-changing, beard-changing, fire-spitting, rolling light, and puppetry.

Yu Opera

Yu Opera is the third most popular style of Chinese opera in the country, ranking just below Peking Opera and Yue Opera. The term “yu” is actually an abbreviated name for the province of Henan, which is unsurprisingly where this style of opera originates.

Yue Opera

Yue Opera 01Yue Opera is the second most popular style of Chinese opera after the world-renowned Peking Opera. It is characterised by its fresh, graceful, and lively style of singing, which is sweet-sounding and lends itself to the telling of love stories. Natural make-up is often employed to give the actors a softer appearance.

 

Eight Culinary Traditions of Chinese Cuisine:

Hui Cuisine

Hui cuisineHui Cuisine refers to the dish cooked by culinary skills in Huizhou area, rather than Anhui Province. It is known for using ham and rock candy as the flavouring. Braising and stewing are main cooking techniques instead of stir-frying which is the most common in Chinese cooking.

Jiangsu Cuisine

Squirrel-Shaped Mandarin FishThis style of cooking places emphasis on presentation, meaning local specialities are as visually pleasing as they are mouth-wateringly delicious. Huaiyang Cuisine, as a subgroup, is even considered to be among the Four Great Traditions of Chinese Cuisine.

 

Festivals:

Chinese New Year

春节图片Chinese New Year is the most important festival among all Chinese communities. Its history has over 4,000 years. Literally speaking, Chinese New Year is the first day according to Chinese Lunar calendar.  However, the celebration is generally from the 23rd December (Chinese Lunar calendar) till the Lantern Festival (15th January according to Chinese Lunar calendar).

Lantern Festival

Also known as the Yuanxiao Festival, the First Full Moon Festival, and the Shangyuan Festival, this time-honoured tradition falls on the 15th day of the first month according to the Chinese lunar calendar. Great red orbs illuminate the night sky, floating off into the distance as the full moon rises like a pearl in a sea of darkness.

Dragon Boat Festival

dragon boat 02The Dragon Boat Festival, known in China as the Duanwu Festival, is over 2,000 years old and was made an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 2009. Dragon boat races now take place across the globe, from America through to Holland, but few spectators know the tragic history behind them.

Mid-Autumn Festival

moon cakeMid-Autumn Festival takes place on the 15th day of the 8th month according to the Chinese lunar calendar, meaning it falls sometime between September and October. It is the second most important traditional festival in China since it is considered a time for families to come together.

 

Famous Tea:

Huangshan Maofeng

Huangshan Maofeng

Huangshan Maofeng is one of famous green tea in Huizhou area. The shape of top grade Huangshan Maofeng is like a sparrow’s tongue and has thick leaves with white fluff on them. It is yellowish green, nearing ivory white, in colour and golden pieces grow below the tea leaves.

Longjing Tea

The name “Longjing” literally means “Dragon Well” and is unsurprisingly named after the Dragon Well in Longjing Village, which rests just outside of Hangzhou in Zhejiang province. The best quality Longjing tea is picked right before the Qingming Festival, which takes place on the 15th day after the Spring Equinox (usually April 4th or 5th), and is thus referred to as Mingqian or “Pre-Qingming” Longjing.

Pu’er Tea

Pu'er tea

Generally, Pu’er Tea as a generic term refers to the tea in bulk or compressed form, which is made from the sun-greened raw tea grown in the six well-known tea-growing mountains in the Lancang River basin, with the production process of withering, rolling and dying.

 

Significance:

Culture of Huizhou

Huizhou refers to the region in the south of Anhui province in China that surrounds Mt. Huangshan. Hui culture integrates Confucianism, clan culture, and mercantilism. Filial piety and feminine chastity were particularly important concepts in ancient Hui culture.

Hutongs in Beijing

Walking through the Hutongs, you will feel as though you’ve found yourself in another world. The long, quiet lanes flanked by thick locust trees, the pigeons swirling above you, the loud shouts of peddlers in the street, the ancient Chinese Quadrangles (si he yuan 四合院), the royal mansions, the homes of important historical figures, the guild halls and the temples will all transport you back to life in ancient China.

The Silk Road in China

The Silk Road was not only a route used for commercial trade, but was also a place where various ethnic groups from China, central Asia, west Asia, and Europe could meet and take part in a cultural exchange.

 

The Yellow River

Known simultaneously as “China’s Pride”, the Yellow River not only makes the surrounding farmland incredibly fertile, which frequently results in an abundance of crops. It also played in the development of ancient Chinese civilisation. The agricultural societies were able to survive along the rivers’ banks over 7,000 years ago.

The Chinese Zodiac

While some regard it as an antiquated pastime, the Chinese zodiac still plays a focal role in the lives of numerous Chinese people. It is based on a 12-year cycle with 12 different animals representing each year.  In order, the 12 animals assigned to the Chinese zodiac are the Rat, the Ox, the Tiger, the Rabbit, the Dragon, the Snake, the Horse, the Sheep/Goat, the Monkey, the Rooster, the Dog, and the Pig.