Archive February 1, 2020

China Panda, Giant Panda, Cute Panda, Panda Facts

By inOthers

Panda belongs to the family of bears. Pandas live in the bamboo forest of China, but loss of natural habitat and poaching pushed pandas to the brink of extinction. These beautiful animals are critically endangered with just 1000 pandas left in the wild.

Any animative movements of the giant panda will draw wide attention and generate happiness. They are cute and cuddly with cool eye patches and dopey gestures. There are many reasons why people love them and the most important one is that they are rare and endangered.

Endangered Panda

Giant pandas have become an endangered species in the world and many people wonder why. These creatures seem so benign, innocuous, and harmless that a great deal of curiosity arises as to how and why their numbers diminish. As is the case with scores upon scores of endangered and extinct animals, certain unexpected changes contributed to a decline in population.

Pandas, as is the case with other animals, must live in a very specific environment in order to survive. These creatures, which are cousins to the raccoon and not bears as commonly thought, must live in a forested area. The forest offers them the right climate and food source in which to survive. The intrusion of humans into their environment has had a devastating effect. Namely, humans have cut down the forests in which these creatures live. Specifically, the bamboo plants the panda relies upon for food are cut down.

During the early years of human intrusion, pandas could move to another section of the forest where a food supply exists. Over time, as more and more forests are cut down, there is far less food for the remaining population of pandas. The result here is that the pandas end up starving to death.

Many pandas were also slaughtered over the years by hunters who once killed them just for sport. However, such a practice is no longer commonplace today.

Habitat

Throughout history, most regions of China were home to giant pandas, including Zhoukoudian in Beijing, the site of the prehistoric Peking Man; Guangxi, Guangdong and Yunnan provinces; and nearby regions in Southeast Asia, including Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam.

In China, most giant pandas live in the mountains of Qinling, Minshan, Qionglai, Daxiangling and Xiaoxiangling. Their habitation area covers about 2.3 million hectares. Among them, 80 percent live in Sichuan province. The rest reside in Shaanxi and Gansu province.

Generally speaking, wild pandas live on mountains at an altitude above 2,500 meters.

The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is located in Chengdu, provincial capital of Sichuan. It is the world’s most famous agency for giant panda migration research and protection. It is also the world’s best place to watch giant pandas.

Food

More than 20 kinds of alpine bamboo (especially young fleshy stems and buds, bamboo shoots). An adult panda eats about 40kg (88 pounds) fresh bamboo shoot a day, 14kg (about 31 pounds) bamboo stalks, or 20kg (about 44 pounds) bamboo leaves. It has a greater appetite in summer than winter. In the wild, they may eat other plants and occasionally dead or small animals. Their ancestors were true carnivores. About one million years ago, they began to eat bamboo.

Breeders usually provide giant pandas with corn bread and fruit for nutrition supplementation. Pandas favor kiwifruit, aquatic plants, weeds, shrubs and trees.

Growing Process

A giant panda’s pregnancy lasts from 83 to 200 days. The body of a newborn giant panda is pink and spans 10 centimeters, which makes its tail seem particularly long. An average newborn giant panda weighs between 51 grams and 225 grams, less than one-thousandth of its mother’s weight.

Four to five days after its birth, a giant panda’s ears and eye sockets begin to gradually grow darker. After 30 to 38 days, it begins to have the characteristic appearance of other giant pandas. A mother panda has four nipples for babies to drink nutrient-rich milk. Panda breast milk also contains various substances that help newborns resist disease.

Baby pandas begin to walk at around 90 to 120 days old. Wild juvenile giant pandas leave their mother and live independently when they are 1.5 to 2 years old.

A wild juvenile giant panda usually leaves its mother and lives independently at 1.5 to 2 years old. A human-fed giant panda is weaned about five months to 1.5 years after birth, or sometimes at the age of two. A female giant panda sexually matures when it is about 5 years old, a male matures at around 7 years old.

Beijing Opera, Jinghuang, Daxi, Pingju, Jingxi

By inArts & Crafts, Culture

Beijing Opera is extolled as ‘Oriental Opera’. Having a history of 160 years, it has created many ‘firsts’ in Chinese dramas: the abundance of repertoires, the number of artists, opera troupes and spectators.

Beijing Opera is developed from absorbing many other dramatic forms, mostly from the local drama ‘Huiban’ which was popular in South China during the 18th century. It is a scenic art integrating music, performance, literature, aria, and face-painting. Certain rules are set up and regulations are standardized during many artists’ long practice on stage. Different from regional plays, it is stricter on the variety of the workmanship. The combination of virtual and reality – a special technique of expression, keeps it largely free from the restriction of time and space on stage performance. Beijing Opera has had many interesting names since it came into being, such as Jinghuang, Daxi, Pingju, Jingxi.

History

Its main melodies originated from Xipi and Erhuang in Anhui and Hubei respectively, It is believed that Beijing Opera gradually came into being after 1790 when the famous four Anhui opera troupes came to Beijing. Beijing Opera underwent fast development during the reign of Emperor Qianlong and the notorious Empress Dowager Cixi under the imperial patron, eventually becoming more accessible to the common people.

It has a history of more than 200 years. It is a form of traditional Chinese theater which combines music and acrobatics. It arose in the late 18th century and became fully developed and recognized by the mid-19th century. The form was extremely popular in the Qing Dynasty. The art form is also enjoyed in Taiwan, where it is known as Guoju. It has also spread to other countries such as the Unite States and Japan.

Four Roles

There are four roles in Beijing Opera – Sheng(a male role, usually a leading one), Dan(female roles), Jing(painted-face roles) and Chou(Clown role). These roles have the natural features of age and sex, as well as social status, and are artificially exaggerated by makeup, costume and gestures. All but the second portray a male or masculine character. Until recently, even that of the female or feminine character was played by a male actor.

Sheng

It’s a common name of male characters and composed of Lao Sheng and Xiao Sheng. Lao Sheng refers to the middle-aged man with a beard who acts as the decency figure; for example, Zhugeliang in ‘Empty City Scheme’. Xiao Sheng means young man without a beard. Zhangsheng in ‘The Story of the West Room’ is a representative of Xiao Sheng.

Dan

The general name for female characters can be divided into Zhengdan, Huadan, Laodan, Wudan. Zhengdan is also called ‘Qingyi’, who mainly plays the part of the strong-minded middle-aged woman who behaves elegantly. Huadan refers to little girls who often live in the bottom of society. Laodan refers to the senior woman and Wudan indicates the female who is good at fighting.

Jing

Painted face often refers to male characters with unique appearance or personality, such as Baozheng and Caocao. Besides, Chou is a comic role or villainous character or righteous person. The actor’s nose is painted by a piece of white powder, making him or her easily recognizable.

Facial Painting

Facial painting in Beijing OperaLianpu is formed through dramatic artists’ long-term practice and their understanding and judgment of the roles in plays. It is the colorful dressing on actors’ faces. By using transformative and exaggerated figures, professional spectators would easily tell the characteristic of a role. In this way, it is called ‘the picture of hearts’. There are certain formats of the facial painting in the aspect of color, type and shape. Usually, eyes, foreheads and cheeks are painted like wings of butterflies, swallows and bats.

Colors of Lianpu are varied with each representing a characteristic. For example, red symbolizes loyalty, such as Guanyu, a great general during Three Kingdoms Period (220-280). Black signifies honesty and frankness, such as Lord Bao, a righteous official during Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127), or abruptness and impertinence, such as Likui, an important figure in the famous Chinese ancient novel ‘All Men Are Brothers’. White stands for cattiness and cunning, with Caocao as its representative, a famous politician in the late Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220).

Costumes

Costumes are an integral part of the Beijing Opera performance. That are called Xingtou or Xifu in Chinese. In the early days, opera costumes were mainly made of wool or coarse cloth; later, satin, crepe and silk were used, decorated with various meticulously embroidered patterns. The making of opera costumes is a special and unique stagecraft. The costume box first appeared in the Ming Dynasty, and was greatly improved in the Qing Dynasty.

Lantern Festival, Yuan Xiao Festival, Shang Yuan Festival

By inChina Festivals

The Lantern Festival, also known in China as the Yuan Xiao Festival or Shang Yuan Festival, falls on the 15th day of the first month of the Chinese lunar calendar. It marks the end of the Spring Festival celebration and is also the first major festival after Chinese New Year.  On that day, family members gather to have a brilliant night, so ancient people also call it Shangyuan Festival . Celebrations and traditions on this day began from the Han Daynasty and became popular in the Tang Dynasty. Till today, the lantern festival is still held each year around the country.

History

With a history of over 2,000 years, various traditional customs and activities are held during Lantern Festival that appeal to people of different ages, including eating Yuanxiao,  watching lanterns and fireworks, guessing lantern riddles and performing folk dances.  In ancient China, young ladies were not allowed to go out freely except at the time of the Lantern Festival. Appreciating the lanterns offers a good chance for young boys and girls to communicate with each other. A line from Xin Qiji, a poet during the Song Dynasty, shows this:

Hundreds and thousands of times I searched for her in the crowd. Suddenly I turned, and there she stood, in the dim light.

However, as time has passed, the festival no longer has such a meaning of a  romantic story.

Eating Yuanxiao

 

Eating Yuanxiao has become an essential part of the Lantern festival.  Yuanxiao, also called Tangyuan,  is a small dumpling ball made of sticky rice flour typically filled with sweet red bean paste, sesame paste, or peanut butter, which tastes sweet and delicious. What’s more, Tangyuan in Chinese has a similar pronunciation with “tuanyuan”, meaning reunion. The Chinese people believe that Yuanxiao is round in shape so it is a symbol of reunion, harmony and happiness. So eating Yuanxiao may bring the family happiness and good luck in the new year. During the night of the festival, family members sit together to taste Yuanxiao and appreciate the full moon.

Appreciating Lanterns

Appreciating red lanterns is one of the main traditions. According to the Chinese tradition, at the very beginning of a new year, when there is a bright full moon hanging in the sky, there should be thousands of colorful lanterns hung out for people to appreciate. when the festival comes, red lanterns can be seen in the street, in each house, and store. In the parks, lanterns of various shapes and types attract countless visitors. Children will hold self-made or bought lanterns to walk on the streets, extremely excited.

Guessing Lantern Riddles

Guessing riddles is regarded as an important part of the Lantern Festival. The riddles are usually short, wise, and sometimes humorous, which often contain messages of good fortune, family, reunion, harvests, prosperity, and love. The answer to a riddle can be a Chinese character,a famous person’s name, or a place name. People write all kinds of riddles on pieces of paper, and paste them on colorful lanterns to let visitors guess. If one has an answer to a riddle, he can pull the paper to let organizers check the answer. Gifts are presented to the people who get the right answers. As riddle guessing is interesting and full of wisdom, it is still popular with people of all ages.

Setting Off Fireworks

 

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 excited by the fantastic fireworks and bright moon in the sky

Performing Folk Dances

In the daytime of the Festival, folk dances such as a dragon  dance, a lion dance, a land boat dance, and a yangge dance will be performed in the street or a park. All the people enjoy the happiness in this moment.

Zhaojun Museum, Zhaojun Tomb, Green Tomb

By inPopular Spots

The zhaojun museum is located at 9,000 meters. Six miles from Hohhot, it lies on a plain stretching along the north bank of the dahei river. There are many scenic spots in the museum, such as zhaojun tomb, hun culture museum, zen royal tent, and qin palace, zhaojun room, calligraphy and painting studio. Zhaojun museum has become one of the key cultural relics protection units in Hohhot.

The zhaojun museum is famous for its spectacular scenery. Summer climate is mild, wild flowers and weeds grow luxuriantly, and the towering green trees constitute a beautiful natural picture scroll. When autumn comes to September, unlike the grass that wilts and turns yellow at this time, the grass that grows on the grave is still green and full of life.

The zhaojun tomb in the museum, also known as the “green tomb”, is named after the grass growing on it, and is listed as one of the eight most popular attractions in Hohhot. The tomb is a large man-made mound, 33 meters high. 108 feet. It commemorates a great woman named wang zhaojun, one of the four most beautiful women in ancient China, who married the khan and sacrificed herself for the unification of China.

In front of zhaojun’s tomb, a bronze statue of wang zhaojun and her husband (khan) depicts their intimate conversation on horseback. These statues are a symbol of the friendly relationship between the han people and the xiongnu people, which was strongly advocated by wang zhaojun.

Behind the steles, stone stairs and a stone platform are connected with the Zhaojun Museum. Upon the stone platform you can find a pavilion. The pavilion offers visitors a good position from which to overlook the scenery surrounding the tomb and the far away Mt. Yinshan.

Xixi National Wetland Park, One of the Three “Xi”

By inPopular Spots

Xixi national wetland park, located less than 5km (3 miles) west of hangzhou, is a rare urban wetland. Rich in ecological resources, honest natural landscape, profound cultural deposits, and the west lake, xiling, known as one of the “three west”. It is the first and only wetland park in China that combines urban life, farming and culture. Xixi national wetland park has not only wide views but also abundant water features. Warm and humid climate, abundant rainfall, four distinct seasons, comfortable climate

The natural and cultural landscape of xixi national wetland park is divided into three causeway and ten scenes: causeway house, causeway road and causeway head.

Causeway bay is 2300 meters (1.4 miles) long and 7 meters (8 yards) wide, running through xixi national wetland park from south to north. There are six Bridges across the river, on which the Chinese character “fu” is written. Causeway road is 1, 600 metres (1 mile) long and 7 metres wide, running from west to east through the core reserve. It is an ecological bank that connects the ecological botanical garden with the major research projects of wetland. At 3,600 meters (2.2 miles) long and 4.5 meters (5 yards) wide, the causeway bow is the longest of the three cities, from south to north. Crisscrossed waterways and ancient trees form an ecological landscape.

The top ten scenic spots are the best scenic spots in xixi national wetland park, autumn igloo and the scenic spots accessible only by boat. Red persimmon in water; Dragon boat culture exhibition; Lotus ecological reserve, main bird-watching area; The charming hong jia villa, the place to live, cultivated a group of celebrities; Boating in a fishing village of moonlight, fog and water, a tourist center to enjoy local cuisine; Plum garden, plum tree township, known for plum blossom; A high villa, Shared with music.

Xilamuren Grassland, Famous for the Vast Green Grassland

By inPopular Spots

The xilamuren grassland is 90 kilometers (60 miles) from Hohhot, Inner Mongolia. Siramuren means “Yellow River” in Mongolian, referring to the river that flows through it. It is famous not only for its vast green grasslands but also for the nearby puhui temple. The best time is summer, because the weather is pleasant and the grass is greenest. The grassland has developed into a tourist destination and now has a strategic location for well-equipped yurts.

From July to September, hordes of tourists are eager to visit the shiramuren grassland to enjoy the greenest grassland and the blooming flowers. In addition, it is also a good place for tourists to escape the hot weather in other tourist destinations. Due to the high altitude and high latitude, the average temperature in summer is between 18-21 ° c (64-70 ° f).

Try a horse ride. Of course, most available horses are docile and the experienced trainer will accompany you. Horses are an important means of transportation for local herdsmen. Riding horses across the vast grasslands not only allows them to experience the life of the local people, but also gives them a complete relaxation. In recent years, xilamuren grassland scenic area has carried out a series of adventure activities, including riding camels, playing sandcarts and so on. Those who take part in these activities please abide by the safety rules.

The annual nadam fair is held on the hillamuren grassland in late July or early August. During this time, visitors can watch many interesting folk performances performed by local people, especially men. Horse racing, wrestling and shooting are the three basic skills of Mongolian men. At the nadam fair, the audience can not only see the wonderful performance of the brave grassland athletes, but also participate in these activities to show their skills and express their pride. When night falls, the bonfire party makes everyone excited and enthusiastic.

Puhui temple is very popular among tourists, and the local people always call it zhahe temple because it is located on the bank of the zhahe river. Built in 1759, the temple has three south-facing palaces. Inside the temple, visitors can admire the magnificent architecture of the han and Tibetan combination. There is an old well in front of puhui temple.

Wuzhi Mountain, Wuzhi Shan, Five Finger Mountain

By inPopular Spots

The center of Hainan island is mountainous, with mountains extending southward compared with the relatively low-lying areas in the north. In fact, the mountain is 343 meters (1,125 feet) higher than mount tai, long considered the top of China’s five most famous mountains.

Wuzhishan is the symbol of the whole island. The area has been listed by the international tourism organization for its unrivaled natural beauty and is one of the few remaining natural rainforests in the world.

Wuzhishan means five fingers in Chinese and is named for its formation. The whole shape extends like the five fingers of the hand. It is said that this is the hand of sakyamuni and the legendary Monkey King cannot escape his control.

A visit to this area will reward you with scenic wonders of the main peak, impressive waterfalls, and the chance for adventure to float down mountain streams. Here you can also enjoy the special customs and culture of the miao and li nationalities.

The first finger of the five main peaks points to the sky, rising more than 1,300 meters (4,265 feet). The second finger is the tallest, measuring 1,876 meters (6,155 feet). A natural bridge of boulders connects the two peaks. Legend has it that wonderful children and fairies often play on the bridge. Both peaks are accessible and you can climb to the top to get a bird ‘s-eye view of the spectacular surrounding scenery. The other three peaks are hard to climb, but the effort to climb the main peaks is a deserved reward when you feel the experience riding clouds and beyond the fog.

Wuzhishan mountain high steep, complex landform, forest green. The abundance of water nourishes many waterfalls, the most impressive of which is the wuzhishan waterfall on the north side of the first peak. At 1,000 meters (3,281 feet) high, it is a spectacular sight. The various waterfalls form a series of deep ponds that extend into the wuzhishan gorge.

Taking a boat across the grand canyon is an exciting experience. Starting at the top of the dam, a gentle stream of water carries you through the picturesque environment. Above you is the blue sky, dotted with white clouds, and you marvel at the green forests and rocks formed by water over thousands of years. The calm drift did not last long, however, as the water began to desce

Sun Island Scenic Area, the Deer Garden

By inPopular Spots

Located on the north bank of the Songhua river in Harbin, sun island scenic spot is a famous scenic spot at home and abroad. This beautiful area, surrounded by blue water, boasts crystal lakes, wooden rockeries, beautiful flowers and exotic architecture. In summer, comfortable weather is the first choice to avoid the summer heat, in winter, it is a paradise for snow and ice tourism. Every year, the Harbin international snow sculpture art fair is held here, exhibiting fascinating snow and ice sculptures and buildings that attract thousands of visitors.

The sun island scenic area covers 3,800 hectares (9,390 acres) and is made up of sun island and other small islands. There are more than two dozen attractions in the area, which can be divided into three sections. The animal world lies to the north and west. The center of the garden is the beauty of flowers, lakes, and ice. In the south, there are snow and ice series, Russian style series, gallery and memorial garden. The amazing sun gate is made up of five white oval doors, four small doors on either side of the door and a gate in the middle. In front of the gate is a symbol of the scenery — a huge stone called the sun stone.

Deer park, swan lake and squirrel island are located in the north and west of the sun island scenic area, making it a world of animals. The deer park is like a natural painting: some deer run or walk on the hillside, while others drink from streams. Slides, swings, mazes and other facilities bring children into wonderland. At squirrel island, visitors can feed cute squirrels themselves. In the swan lake near the squirrel island, the graceful black swans, whooper swans, tundra swans, mandarin ducks, swan geese and other water birds are raised. Fly day waterfall has artificial cave, is a paradise for animals.

Harbin Ice and Snow World, the Best Ice Sculpture Art in the World

By inPopular Spots

Harbin ice and snow world is the largest ice and snow art exhibition in the world. In addition, the festival is constantly evolving, bringing a new theme each year and providing visitors with a completely unique experience from one year to the next.

The ice sculptures at Harbin ice and snow world are considered the best ice sculpture art in the world, and visitors can enjoy some of the largest and most magnificent ice sculptures. Each ice sculpture is related to the theme of the festival in some way, enabling visitors to taste a variety of cultural flavors. For example, in the first year, the ice sculpture festival was designed with the concept of “prosperous China and soaring longjiang”, and the ice sculptures depict the rapid development of the country. The theme for 2005 is “china-russia friendship”, and all the sculptures are in typical Russian style. They include replicas of some of Russia’s most famous buildings, such as the east palace and Moscow’s red square.

One of the highlights for any visitor to the festival is visiting the site at night, where underground lights illuminate the sculptures and reveal a new and colorful exhibition space. The bright, dazzling lights contrast with the dark night sky, making the work even more spectacular.

Harbin ice and snow world is also a center of entertainment and entertainment, offering a variety of opportunities. Visitors will be amazed by the spectacular ice architecture, including an ice maze, an ice bar, and even an ice hotel. If you are a fan of snow sports, there are also opportunities to participate in activities such as ice climbing, ice skating, skiing, water skiing, snow fights, ice golf and ice archery. In addition, special performances based on holiday themes will be performed throughout the event, which will no doubt greatly entertain those looking for something less physically demanding.

Gegentala Grassland, A Place to Ride the Horse

By inTravel News

The gegentala grassland is located in ulanqab, Inner Mongolia, 140 km (87 miles) north of Hohhot. Gegentala means “grassland” in Mongolian. When visitors visit the area, they are treated with the most pomp and ceremony, such as hadad, a silk gift as a greeting, and fine horsemilk wine. From a distance on the relatively high slopes of the vast gegentala steppe, a circular stone structure known as aobo is visible, where local mongolians hold sacrificial rites and pray for good luck.

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Many tourists want to go to the Gegentala grasslands in the summer, especially in July and August, because all the grasslands are the best. In addition, compared with other tourist destinations, the climate here is cool every summer. The naadam fair is always held from August 15 to 25.

Be sure to arrange a horseback riding experience during your stay. There is a large stud farm for visitors. All the horses were carefully chosen, and most were good-natured. To be on the safe side, visitors can also try horseback riding with the help of a professional trainer.

To entertain and welcome visitors, the gegentala grassland scenic area has arranged horse racing, circus, wrestling and song and dance performances. The exciting performance aroused everyone’s enthusiasm. In addition, tourists can also take part in these recreational activities. When night falls, the bonfire party is a bright spot. Meanwhile, some locals sing and dance around the fire.

Spending the night in a yurt must be an unforgettable experience. There is a fixed area on the grassland with many traditional yurts for tourists to stay in. It’s a good chance to experience the local lifestyle, but it’s a bit pricey. Yurts are not just used as living rooms; Visitors can also hold parties or have meals inside.

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