Chinese Knot

Chinese Knot or Chinese traditional decorating Knot is a kind of characteristic folk decorations of handicraft art. Appeared in ancient time, developed in Tang and Song Dynasty (960-1229A.D.)and popularized in Ming and Qing Dynasty (1368-1911A.D.) Chinese Knot has now become a kind of elegant and colorful arts and crafts from its original practical use.

The characteristic of Chinese Knot is that every knot is made of a single rope and named by its specific form and meaning. By combining different knots or other auspicious adornments skillfully, an unique auspicious ornament which represents beauty, idea and wishes is formed. For example, "Full of joy". "Happiness & Longevity", "Double Happiness". "Luck and Auspiciousness as one wishes" and "Wish you a fair wind" are Chinese traditional pleasant phrases expressing warmest regards, best wishes and finest ideal.

To fit in with the needs of modern life, Chinese Knot has various products. The two main series are auspicious hanging and knitting clothing adornment. Auspicious hanging includes large tapestry, big room hanging, automobile hanging etc. Knitting clothing adornment includes ring, eardrop, hand chain, necklace and other woman's special adornments.

Today, people are fond of Chinese Knot for its characteristic form, colorfulness and profound meaning.

the Eastern Pearl

The Eastern pearl broadcasts the television tower to be situated on the Huangpu River bank Pudong land point, constructs with Bund's Wan Guo reads extensively the group to separate the river to face one another. The tower height 468 meters, are situated Asia first, world third Gao Ta and about two sides Nampo bridges, the Yang water's edge bridge same place, the shape form a pair potential of the Long Xizhu, becomes the Shanghai reform and open policy the symbol.
The Eastern pearl broadcasts the television tower the designer is rich in the fantasy 11 sizes not one, the height scattered about spheroid from the deep blue airborne series to like the green lawn on, two giant spheroids just like two rubies, crystal clear are eye-catching, newly is completed with the tower under the world first-class Shanghai international convention center (1,999 wealths forums Shanghai annual meeting host conference site) two Earth spheroid, constituted has filled "the big bead bead to fall the jade plate" the rich in poetic and artistic flavor sublime landscape.
In the Eastern pearl tower Shanghai history museum, is specially introduces the Shanghai history the annals museum. Through the precious cultural relic, the literature, the file, the picture, by the advanced film and television and the acoustic equipment, the image vividly reflect the modern Shanghai urban development the history.
Under the Eastern pearl tower international pleasure boat wharf, has "Pujiang to tour" the traveling project, mounts Comrade Deng Xiaoping same year south patrolled inspects when Shanghai while place pleasure boat, saw to the full the Pujiang both banks beautiful scene, you will understand "the scene of dazzling fireworks and lanterns lively district" ideal condition.
The Eastern pearl broadcasts the television tower collection to go sightseeing, the conference, reads extensively, the dining, the shopping, the entertainment, the lodgings, the broadcast television launch is a body, has become the 21st century Shanghai city the sign construction. At present, "the Eastern pearl" the year goes sightseeing the population and the traveling income is only inferior in world each Gao Tazhong to France's Chinese mugwort Feir iron tower is situated second, thus crowds the life experience famous scenic site ranks.

Paper cutting of 12 animals of Chinese zodiac

Paper Cutting is one of the traditional activities during the Spring Festival, which is one of the traditional Chinese festivals in the history.

And the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac represent their means in the Chinese Culture.

Rat – 鼠 (子) (Yang, 1st Trine, Fixed Element Water): Forthright, tenacious, intense, meticulous, charismatic, sensitive, intellectual, industrious, charming, eloquent, sociable, artistic, shrewd. Can be manipulative, vindictive, self-destructive, envious, mendacious, venal, obstinate, critical, over-ambitious, ruthless, intolerant, scheming.
Ox – 牛 (丑) (Water buffalo in Vietnam) (Yin, 2nd Trine, Fixed Element Water): Dependable, ambitious, calm, methodical, born leader, patient, hardworking, conventional, steady, modest, logical, resolute, tenacious. Can be stubborn, dogmatic, hot-tempered, narrow-minded, materialistic, rigid, demanding.
Tiger – 虎 (寅) (Yang, 3rd Trine, Fixed Element Wood): Unpredictable, rebellious, colorful, powerful, passionate, daring, impulsive, vigorous, stimulating, sincere, affectionate, humanitarian, generous. Can be restless, reckless, impatient, quick-tempered, obstinate, selfish, aggressive, moody.
Hare – 兔 (卯) (Cat in Vietnam) (Yin, 4th Trine, Fixed Element Wood): Gracious, good friend, kind, sensitive, soft-spoken, amiable, elegant, reserved, cautious, artistic, thorough, tender, self-assured, shy, astute, compassionate, lucky, flexible. Can be moody, detached, superficial, self-indulgent, opportunistic, stubborn.
Dragon – 龙 (辰) (Yang, 1st Trine, Fixed Element Wood): Magnanimous, stately, vigorous, strong, self-assured, proud, noble, direct, dignified, eccentric, intellectual, fiery, passionate, decisive, pioneering, artistic, generous, loyal. Can be tactless, arrogant, imperious, tyrannical, demanding, intolerant, dogmatic, violent, impetuous, brash.
Snake – 蛇 (巳) (Yin, 2nd Trine, Fixed Element Fire): Deep thinker, wise, mystic, graceful, soft-spoken, sensual, creative, prudent, shrewd, elegant, cautious, responsible, calm, strong, constant, purposeful. Can be loner, bad communicator, possessive, hedonistic, self-doubting, distrustful, mendacious, suffocating, cold.
Horse – 马 (午) (Yang, 3rd Trine, Fixed Element Fire): Cheerful, popular, quick-witted, changeable, earthy, perceptive, talkative, agile—mentally and physically, magnetic, intelligent, astute, flexible, open-minded. Can be fickle, arrogant, childish, anxious, rude, gullible, stubborn.
Ram – 羊 (未) (Yin, 4th Trine, Fixed Element Fire): Righteous, sincere, sympathetic, mild-mannered, shy, artistic, creative, gentle, compassionate, understanding, mothering, peaceful, generous, seeks security. Can be moody, indecisive, over-passive, worrier, pessimistic, over-sensitive, complainer, weak-willed.
Monkey – 猴 (申) (Yang, 1st Trine, Fixed Element Metal): Inventor, motivator, improviser, quick-witted, inquisitive, flexible, innovative, problem solver, self-assured, sociable, artistic, polite, dignified, competitive, objective, factual, intellectual. Can be egotistical, vain, arrogant, selfish, reckless, snobbish, deceptive, manipulative, cunning, jealous, suspicious
Rooster – 鸡 (酉) (Yin, 2nd Trine, Fixed Element Metal): Acute, neat, meticulous, organized, self-assured, decisive, conservative, critical, perfectionist, alert, zealous, practical, scientific, responsible. Can be over zealous and critical, puritanical, egotistical, abrasive, proud, opinionated, given to empty bravado.
Dog – 狗 / 犬 (戌) (Yang, 3rd Trine, Fixed Element Metal): Honest, intelligent, straightforward, loyal, sense of justice and fair play, attractive, amicable, unpretentious, sociable, open-minded, idealistic, moralistic, practical, affectionate, sensitive, easy going. Can be cynical, lazy, cold, judgmental, pessimistic, worrier, stubborn, quarrelsome.
Pig – 猪 (亥) (Boar in Japan and Elephant in Northern Thailand) (Yin, 4th Trine, Fixed Element Water): Honest, gallant, sturdy, sociable, peace-loving, patient, loyal, hard-working, trusting, sincere, calm, understanding, thoughtful, scrupulous, passionate, intelligent. Can be naïve, over-reliant, self-indulgent, gullible, fatalistic, materialistic.

The Harbin Ice and Snow World

Harbin Icand Snow e World is by far the largest ice and snow art exhibition in the world. It was launched by the government in 1999, along with Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival every winter. It probably has the most beautiful night views, the most recreational activities and many forms of entertainment. The ice carvings of the Harbin Ice and Snow World are regarded as some of the world's finest ice art, and the visitors are able to see some of the largest and most majestic ice-sculpted masterpieces. People can find the reproductions of some full size buildings which are made of ice.
The Harbin Ice and Snow festival is one of the world's four largest ice and snow festivals, along with Japan's Sapporo Snow Festival, Canada's Quebec City Winter Carnival, and Norway's Ski Festival. The Festival, established in 1985, is held annually from January 5 and lasts for over one month.
The best collections of ice artworks are exhibited in the following five main places: The Sun Island Scenic Area, Harbin Ice and Snow World, Yabuli International Ski Resort, The Ice Lantern Garden Party and Zhaolin Park. The winter activities in the festival mainly include Yabuli alpine skiing, winter swimming in the Songhua River, and the ice-lantern exhibition in Zhaolin Garden.

The Traditional Chinese Festivals

The Spring Festival

The Spring Festival ,also called New Yearls Day of the Chinese Lunar calendar, is a symbol unity and the festival of most solemn of the Chinese people’s traditional festival.In addition, it’s the new hope for the future sustenance of the festival. With the founding of New China, the Chinese New Year celebrations more colorful. Not only preserves the past folk customs, with the exclusion of some of the activities of feudal superstition, but also increased a lot of new content. China is a multi-ethnic country, the national New Year different forms.It turns out the colorful New Years.

The Lantern Festival

The Lantern Festival is celebrated on the fifteenth day of the first month of the lunar year.People make lanterns in the shape of different animals,vegetables,fruits and many others things. On Lantern Festival people go outside to have a look at the lanterns and guess the riddles on the lanterns.And there are some wonderful folk performances like Dragon Dance and Yangko.

The Qingming Festival

Qing Ming, which means clear and bright in Chinese, falls on April 5th this year. It is both the fifth term in the traditional lunar calendar and a festival to hold memorial ceremony for the dead. People often go to sweep and weed graves with whole family and take a walk in the countryside as well in this festival.

The Dragon-Boat Festival

Dragon Boat Festival, often known as Tuen Ng Festival or Duan Wu Festival, is a traditional Chinese festival held on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese calendar.It’s the festival memorializes the Chinese poet Quyuan of the Warring States Period. Today, people eat zongzi (the food originally intended to feed the fishes) and race dragon boats in memory of Qu's dramatic death.

The Mid-Autumn Festival

The Mid-Autumn Festival falls on the fifteenth day of the eighth month of the Chinese lunar calendar. In this day, people ,especially family members will have a happy get-together. So Chinese people vaule this festival for its important meaning of "reunion".And the mooncake is the symbolic food.It represents the "reunion" just like the full moon.

About Chengdu

Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province, lies in the hinterland of the Chengdu Plain, in central Sichuan. Covering a total land area of 12,400 square kilometers, Chengdu has a jurisdiction of over 7 districts, 4 cities and 8 counties. By the end of 1999, the population of Chengdu had reached 10.036 million, of which 3.30 million were urban residents. Chengdu enjoys a long history.As one of China's famous historical and cultural cities, Chengdu enjoys rich tourist resources. 15,500 years ago, a well-known poet in the Jin Kingdom, Zuo Si extolled Chengdu as lofty and pretty. This city has also gained the eulogium by both Li Bai, the poet immortal and Du Fu, the poet sage. With rich cultural heritage and beautiful scenic spots, Chengdu is a peaceful and prosperous city. As is known to all, the tourism resource in Sichuan province is very abundant and you know ,Chengdu is a city makes you reluctant to leave once you’re here. The Luodai Old Town is the local old style architecture and relax yourselves in the happy village near the old town.Then is the Mount Qingcheng , which is one of the ancient cradles of Daoism. The area is green all year round and is known for its secluded tranquility. The famous scenic sites are: the Shangqing Palace, the Jianfu Palace, and the Tianshi Cave, ect. Among them, the Jianfu Palace, with extraordinary bearing, stands against the barranca under the Zhangren Peak.Eating in Chengdu is a very wonderful memory you can remember forever. Sichuan being the most known Chinese food style within China, you will find no shortage of delicious Sichuan food in Chengdu. Most of the food is quite spicy, be sure to order non spicy or little spicy food, at least if you are not accustomed to it yet, or have a bottle of peanut milk ready to quell the fire.You can have a taste these cuisine such as Pock Bean Curd, Hotpot and many style noodles and more and more.After having the feast ,you will be on the scoop.

Lhasa Travel Guide

Lhasa is unique with an allure all of its own differing from the inland cities and other places in Tibet. It is the center of Tibet's politics, economy and culture. The city has also been appointed as one of the 24 historical and cultural cities of China.In the Tibetan language, Lhasa means the Holy Land or the Buddha Land. Lhasa is rightly one of the most featured and dreamt-about cities in the world. This is not only because of its remoteness, its high altitude at 3,650 meters (11,975 feet) means limited accessibility, but also because of its impressive heritage of over a thousand years of cultural and spiritual history that has helped to create the romantic and mysterious Tibetan religion. The splendor and grandeur of the Potala Palace in Lhasa remains a world-famous symbol of the enigmatic power of politics and religion in this region.As the beautiful capital city of Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), Lhasa is situated in the South Central part of the region, on the North bank of the Kyichu River (Lhasa River) in a mountain-fringed valley. This ancient sprawling city, settled 1,300 years ago, covers 30,000 square kilometers (11,583 square miles), with a population of 400,000, of which 87 percent are Tibetans.If you want to have a trip in Lhasa, some points you should be pay attention:Generally speaking, due to the large temperature differences during any given day in Tibet, warm clothes should be taken to keep away the cold. However, because it also receives a great deal of sunshine, sunglasses, suntan oil, and a sun hat are indispensable items if you're traveling anywhere in Tibet. Then is the travel transportation :First, taking the plane is a comfortable and timesaving option, but offers little time for you to acclimate to the altitude so that may cause sickness. Second, taking the bus along one of five highways that have been opened-up for tourists' use. This will take longer but will enable you to see the amazing scenery en route. And last ,taking the train ,is a fabulous new option, giving the opportunity to see hitherto unseen mountain scenery. With the operation of Tibet Railway from July 1st, 2006, more and more tourist have swarmed into Tibet via the great Tibet train.' Please bear in mind that traveling in Lhasa, as well as in Tibet on the whole, is more challenging than in any other part of China.Despite this more and more people from every corner of the world are being attracted towards this vibrant city with its mysterious culture. Its unique scenery, long history, exotic culture, mystical religion and spectacular monuments will ensure your stay is unforgettable.It is a mysterious land of China.