2009年3月31日星期二

Chinese Arts

China tours
Chinese art has varied throughout its ancient history, divided into periods by the ruling dynasties of China and changing technology. Different forms of art have been influenced by great philosophers, teachers, religious figures and even political leaders. Chinese art encompasses fine arts, folk arts and performance arts.With their stress on simplicity and economy, Chinese calligraphy, painting, and poetry are closely related. In all of them, the artist seeks to express both inner harmony and harmony with the natural surroundings. Chinese poets and painters often have sought inspiration by withdrawing to isolated, mountainous areas, and these landscapes have become conventional themes of Chinese art. Similarly, Chinese architecture has traditionally aimed to convey harmony with society and nature.
Early forms of art in China were made from pottery and jade in the Neolithic period, to which was added bronze in the Shang Dynasty. In early imperial China, porcelain was introduced and was refined to the point that in English the word china has become synonymous with high-quality porcelain. One of the oldest and most basic forms of Chinese art is calligraphy, the painting of the Chinese characters with a brush. Calligraphy has developed as a pure art form with its own standards of excellence. Building on the tradition of calligraphy, Chinese painting developed a distinctive style that differs greatly from Western painting.
Around the 1st century AD, Buddhism arrived in China, though it did not become popular until the 4th century. At this point, Chinese Buddhist art began to flourish, a process which continued through the 20th century. It was during the period of Imperial China that calligraphy and painting became highly appreciated arts in court circles, with a great deal of work done on silk until well after the invention of paper. Buddhist architecture and sculpture thrived in the Sui and Tang dynasty.
Late imperial China was marked by two specific dynasties: Ming and Qing. Artwork in the Ming dynasty perfected color painting and color printing, with a wider color range and busier compositions than Song paintings. In the Qing dynasty, Beijing opera was introduced; it is considered the one of the best-known forms of Chinese opera.
New forms of Chinese art were heavily influenced by the New Culture Movement, which adopted Western techniques, introduced oil painting and employed socialist realism. The market of Chinese contemporary art is widely reported to be among the hottest and fastest-growing in the world, attracting buyers all over the world.
Today, the market of Chinese art is widely reported to be among the hottest and fastest-growing in the world, attracting buyers all over the world. In terms of buying-market, China recently overtook France becoming the world's third-largest art market, after the United States and the United Kingdom, due to the growing middle-class in the country.

Chinese Festivals & Customs


China travel guide
China is a country with a long history of about 5,000 years. In its ever-forward history course there have developed a good number of traditional festivals, which are of rich varieties and long standing. The culture of festivals rooted deeply in the people, and it thus shows its enormous vitality. In spite of the change of times, it has gradually become part of the heritages of the colorful Chinese culture.
Boasting rich cultural meaning and a long history, traditional Chinese festivals compose an important and brilliant part of Chinese culture.
Most traditional festivals took shape during the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC), the first unified and power-centralized dynasty of China. By the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220), China had experienced a great development period and major traditional festivals were fixed. In the most prosperous Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907), traditional festivals liberated themselves from primitive sacrifice, taboo and mystery and became more entertaining. From then on, festive occasions turned more brisk and exciting and more and more folk customs were developed. Some festivals and customs we still follow today, but others disappeared into the mists of time.
The formation of traditional festivals is a long process of historical and cultural accumulation in a nation or a state. Festival customs passed down to today still show signs of ethnic group struggles. Festival activities always reflect primitive sacrifice, superstitious taboo and earthly life, people's spirit and religious influence. Sometimes historical figures become the focus of a festival, showing people's commemoration for them and endowing some historical sense to it.Moreover, traditional Chinese festivals were often connected with ancient astronomy, calendars and mathematics. Jieqi, or the 24 seasonal division points, is a key factor in forming traditional festivals. According to the traditional Chinese calendar, a year is divided into 24 points, which can accurately show seasonal changes and acts as a basic guidance system for agricultural production. The 24 seasonal division points came into being in the Warring States Period (475 BC-221 BC).
As China is a vast land and has many ethnic groups, different ethnic groups have different festivals in different places. Even on the same festival, they follow different customs. In fact, these traditional festivals have absorbed nourishment from different regions and various ethnic cultures and are a precious cultural heritage for the whole Chinese nation and its guests.
The traditional Chinese festivals not only are an important part of the cultural life of the Chinese people, but they also play a special role in the commercial trade and cultural communication. In these festivals, farmers exchange different products; goods; scholars share their works with each other; and the government also hold some grand activities to establish or reaffirm the moral principles as a kind of conduction.

2009年3月25日星期三

The cities in China

Which is your favorite city in China?
How many cities have you travelled to in China?
If you have travelled to many cities in China, you will find that there are so many differences between the cities in the north and the south (the east and the west).
My favorite city is Nanjing in Jiangsu province that is in the east of China.

Nanjing, the capital of ten periods in Chinese history, is a city famed for its rich culture, long history and beautiful landscape. Nanjing, with a favorable geographical location and picturesque landscape, is also a famous tourist city. Nanjing is situated on the lower reaches of the Yangtze River where the four seasons are clearly demarcated, bringing plenty of rainfall and abundant produce. The mountains, lakes, rivers, forests and the city properly form beautiful vistas all year round. In spring, it is common to visit Niushou Mountain scenic area's misty greenness. In summer the sunlight and clouds in the eastem suburbs is famous, while in autumn climbing the splendid Qixia Mountain is favored, Lastly, in winter it is recommended to view the stone city wall under the white snow. Nanjing's magnificent scenery extends across the seasons and across the city's reach.

I find a guide about all China cities here: China city guide
If you are interested in China cities, you can browse it.

About China Hotels

China Hotels

A new generation of Chinese managed hotels is the cornerstone of a highly developed, traveler-friendly tourism infrastructure. China now has a complete range of hotel choices in all price categories, from luxurious five-star suites to deluxe mid-priced hotels and clean, comfortable rooms even in the budget category. Today, every major city in China can provide discriminating travelers with a wide selection of modern, world-class properties that meet, and often exceed, international standards. Tourochina.com has built good relationship with over 700 hotels in main cities of China.

Yangtze River - The largest and longest river in China

Yangtze River

Yangtze River Cruise


The Yangtze River (Changjiang), over 6,300 kilometers long, is the largest and longest river in China, and the third-longest in the world, next only to the Nile in northeast Africa and the Amazon in South America. The source of the Yangtze River lies to the west of Geladandong Mountain, the principal peak of the Tanggula Mountain chain in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, southwest of China. The river flows from west to east through provinces of Qinghai, Tibet, Sichuan, Yunnan, Sichuan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Anhui and Jiangsu as well as the city of Shanghai, finally emptying into the East China Sea. With plenty of rainfall all year round, the Yangtze River is named the golden watercourse.
The most impressive section of the river is the three Yangtze River gorges: Qutang Gorge, Wuxia Gorge and Xiling Gorge, collectively known as Sanxia, or the Three Gorges.

Qutang Gorge



Wuxia Gorge

Xiling Gorge

Shanghai Travel Tips

Recommend some Shanghai Tours

Weather Tips
Shanghai starts the year shivering in midwinter, when temperatures can drop below freezing and the vistas are gray and misty. Spring brings warmth; April to mid-May is probably one of the best times to visit there, along with autumn (late September to mid-November). In summer the hot and humid weather makes conditions outside uncomfortable, with temperatures sometimes as high as 40C (104F) in July and August. In short, silk long johns and down jackets are needed in winter, an ice block for each armpit in summer and an umbrella wouldn't go astray in either of these seasons.
What to Pack
Light clothes like lined Jacket and woolen sweater are suitable for the weather in Spring (from March through to the end of May) and Autumn (from September to November). Extra-light clothing is for summer (from June to August). Heavy woolen overcoats are necessary to keeping out the cold outdoors in winter (from December to February). Since there is much rain during the periods between Spring and Summer and between Summer and Autumn, it is advisable to get rain gear ready.
General Tips
You will need to check with your local vet / government dept about getting most of the documentation mentioned above.
It could be of big help to have a (simplified) Chinese translation made of these documents when you arrive. The Chinese embassy in your country may be able to help, or provide details of a translator in your area. Make sure that the translations are certified copies.
Check with your local authorities what are the procedures of bringing back your pet to your home country. For some countries bringing out your pet is easier than bringing back your pet.
Check with your airline if they allow you to bring your pet.
Always check with the nearest Chinese embassy for the latest updates for the rules and regulations for bringing your pet to China.

Climate of China

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China lies mainly in the north temperate zone, characterized by a warm climate and distinctive seasons, with a climate well suited for habitation. From September to April the following year, dry and cold winter monsoons blow from Siberia and the Mongolian Plateau, resulting in cold and dry winters and great differences in the temperatures of north and south China. From April to September, warm and humid summer monsoons blow from the seas in the east and south, resulting in overall high temperatures and plentiful rainfall, and little differences in the temperatures of north and south China. In terms of temperature, the nation can be sectored from south to north into equatorial, tropical, subtropical, warm-temperate, temperate, and cold-temperate zones. Precipitation gradually declines from the southeastern coastal areas to the northwestern inland areas, and the average annual precipitation varies greatly from place to place. In southeastern coastal areas, it reaches over 1,500 mm, while in northwestern area, it drops to below 200 mm.

Chinese Yummy Food Travel

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As one of the most important part of Chinese culture, Chinese cuisine is echoedthrough the vastness of China’s geography and history.
You may get a little access to the strong tinge of Chinese cuisine from magazines,s or have the experience of going to the Chinese restaurants in your country.
However, what does authentic Chinese food entail and how different is the cuisine you eat in your country? To begin with, most not-real Chinese food is heavily battered and fried. Vegetables are more or less condiments, rather than the primary basis for some dishes. Next, the not-real Chinese food that you get when you order take-out, does not embrace the many regional differences found throughout the vast empire of China.
Fancy authentic Chinese flavor? Why not come to China in person? Except for tasting the fantastic food, more intriguing stories about Chinese cooking culture are waiting for you. Nowadays, more and more foreign visitors are crazy about Chinese food. So, TOC designs this special “Chinese Yummy Food Tour” for special you. No matter you are a fine-food-lover, or Chinese cultural fan, or just a normal visitor, we sincerely invite you to join us in this tantalizing tour!
Now, we’d like to introduce those super stars accompanying you in this whole tour.In China, there are eight distinct Chinese cuisines, which correspond to the regions from which they originate. Based on different regions, they are cuisines of Shandong, Sichuan, Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Hunan, and Anhui. Their features are related to the geography, climate, local product and eating habit. Make an imagination, which set of cuisine caster for your taste?


NO.1 Shandong Cuisine ...............................................................................................................................
Origin: Shandong
Feature:
- Abundant aquatic products and grains as well as sea salt.
- Its dishes are crisp, tender, delicious, and greasy with salty and some sweet and sour flavors.
- People in Shandong like to eat onions and use onions as a seasoning.
- People in Shandong also like foods made of wheat flour.

NO.2 Guangdong Cuisine (Cantonese Cuisine) ...................................................................................
Origin: Guangdong
Feature:
- Its raw materials, cooking methods, and flavorings all differ from the other cuisines.
- To the people of Guangdong, everything that walks, crawls, flies, or swims is edible.
-Guangdong cuisine has been heavily influenced by foreign cooking cultures.
- Guangdong chefs also pay much attention to the artistic presentation of their dishes.

NO.3 Sichuan Cuisine ...................................................................................................................................
Origin: Sichuan, Chongqing
Feature:
- Sichuan food is famous for its many flavors, and almost every dish has its own unique taste.
- Pepper and prickly ash are always in accompaniment, producing the typical exciting tastes.
- In Sichuan food, a single flavor is rarely used, compound flavors are most common.
- Famous Dry Stewing looks faddish, oily, and shiny and tastes delicious, crisp and soft.

NO.4 Hunan Cuisine ....................................................................................................................................
Origin: Hunan
Feature:
- The cooking skills employed in the Hunan cuisine reached a high standard as early as the Western Han Dynasty.
- Hunan food is characterized by its hot and sour flavor, fresh aroma, greasiness, deep color of the main flavor in each dish.
- Hunan dishes require meticulous care of the raw materials and stress cutting skill, length and degree of cooking, color, and appearance.

NO.5 Fujian cuisine .....................................................................................................................................
Origin: Fujian
Feature:
- Fujian cuisine emphasizes seafood, river fish, and shrimp.
- Fujian dishes are more fresh, delicious, and less salty, sweet, and sour.
- The most characteristic aspect of Fujian cuisine is that its dishes are served in soup.
- Cutting is important in the Fujian cuisine. Most dishes are made of seafood, and if the seafood is not cut well the dishes will fail to have their true flavor.

NO.6 Zhejiang Cuisine ................................................................................................................................
Origin: Zhejiang
Feature:
- Zhejiang cuisine, not greasy, wins its reputation for freshness, tenderness, softness, and smoothness of its dishes with mellow fragrance.
- Zhejiang cuisine specializes in quick-frying, stir-frying, deep-frying, simmering and steaming, obtaining the natural flavor and taste.
- Zhejiang cuisine offers fresh aquatic food and poultry that has a special rural flavor, sweet in smell, soft and glutinous in taste, thick in gravy and strong in season.

NO.7 Jiangsu Cuisine (Huaiyang Cuisine) ...............................................................................................
Origin: Jiangsu
Feature:
- Known as "a land of fish and rice" in China, Jiangsu Province has a rich variety of ingredients available for cooking.
- Jiangsu cuisine has the characteristics of strictly selected ingredients, exquisite workmanship, elegant shape, and rich culture trait.
- Its carving techniques are delicate, of which the melon carving technique is especially well known.
- Jiangsu dishes can be classified into that of Suzhou-Wuxi style, Shanghai-Benbang Style and Zhenjiang-Yangzhou style

NO.8 Anhui Cuisine .....................................................................................................................................
Origin: Anhui
Feature:
- The highly distinctive characteristic of Anhui cuisine lies not only in the elaborate choices of cooking materials but also in the strict control of cooking process.
- Anhui cuisine chefs pay more attention to the taste, color of dishes and the temperature to cook them, and are good at braising and stewing.
- Anhui dishes preserve most of the original taste and nutrition of the materials.
- Some master dishes usually stewed in brown sauce with stress on heavy oil and sauce. Ham is often added to improve the taste and sugar candy added to gain freshness.

Customize your Chinese Yummy Food Tour :
Any time you want to join in this tour, please click here, and inform us any requirement and suggestion about this tour. Our professional trip advisor will design an exclusive Chinese Yummy Food Tour in accord with your needs within 24 hours. The customized service is totally free.