All posts by Cassidy Tse

Central Street, Zhongyang Dajie, Eastern Moscow

By inOthers

Known as the “Oriental Moscow”, Harbin has been regarded as a unique foreign city. The most exotic place in Harbin is zhongyang dajie, or zhongyang dajie in Chinese. As a newcomer to the city and not sure where to go, be sure to start your journey on center street. This promenade of European architecture is the pride of every local in the city. It offers a fascinating destination, rich in history, and attracts both domestic and international tourists.

Construction of the street began in 1898. It was called China street in its early days and acquired its current name in the late 1920s. Originally, the street was paved with trolleys carrying railroad supplies. In May 1924, center street was paved with square stones, designed by a Russian engineer. Since then, it has been home to many foreign shops, hotels and bars. In this fashionable street, you can find Russian leather, English wool, French perfume, German medicine and so on. In 1997, the Harbin city government designated the street as a pedestrian street, adding more charm to the charming location.

Today, central street is 1,450 meters (1,586 yards) long, reflecting a variety of European architecture. There are 71 works in all, some of which are replicas of European architectural styles. The flood monument is also a sign of center street. Mod-er Hotel(formerly Modern Hotel) and Daoliqiulin Shop were built in 1906 and 1919, respectively, as examples of art nouveau architecture. Fuer store (women’s and children’s store) was formerly Concorde bank in 1917. The building reflects the classical architecture of the Renaissance. There are many other strange and attractive buildings. They are well preserved and play an important role in People’s Daily life.

This central street is the intersection of modern and historical civilizations in Harbin. It is a perfect example of the city and has witnessed the most brilliant cultural development in Europe for 300 years.

As one of the longest pedestrian streets in Asia, it presents a fascinating landscape to tourists with its profound cultural heritage whenever they come here. It is a comprehensive leisure place combining tourist pleasure and shopping excitement, attracting thousands of tourists every year.

Black Tiger Spring, Heihu Spring in Jinan

By inPopular Spots

Black tiger spring, also known as black tiger spring, is located in jinan city, shandong province south moat bank, the east side of the spring square, opposite the square. One of the four hot spring groups in jinan, and the treasure earth spring, pearl spring, wulongtan. The black tiger spring formation is composed of 10 springs including agate spring, pipa spring, bean sprout spring and spray spring. The gurgling spring flows into the moat, and the water in turn replenishes it. Surrounded by rockeries, cloisters, pavilions, trees and flowers, it is also a beautiful natural resort, with attractions open to the public for free all day.

The spring came from a naturally formed cave with a large stone covered with moss. From the outside, it looks dark and dark. In addition, the water gushed from the spring, hit the stone, plus the sound of the wind blowing inside, you can hear the tiger roar, hence the name “black tiger spring”.

Black tiger spring consists of two parts: the head and the pool. The head is located in a natural cave about 3 meters (9.8 feet) deep, 2 meters (6.6 feet) high and 1.7 meters (5.6 feet) wide. Bluestone piles up at the entrance. A blind hole connects the fountain head to the spring pool. After flowing from its source, the water flows through the mountain pass and into the pool through three stone tiger heads, creating waves that can reach more than a meter (3 feet) in length. The spring has a maximum spray capacity of 410,000 cubic meters (1.4 million cubic feet) per day, second only to the baotu spring.

During the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), the black tiger temple was located above a cave surrounding quantou, although the courtyard now sits in its place. The tea pavilion and terrace also provide a viewing platform for visitors to enjoy the scenery.

From the north side of the pool, you can see a lock where the water flows out and down the rocks, creating a curtain of water. It’s like a waterfall. Pleasant scenery will refresh your mind and body. Sometimes, locals gather around the pond to scoop up the spring, which is also a unique sight.

Baotu Spring Park, One of the Three Major Places of Interest in Jinan

By inPopular Spots

The beautiful baotou hot spring park is located in the center of jinan, where you can find baotou hot spring. In the past, baotuquan was only 4 mu (about two-thirds of an acre). The park itself was founded in 1956 and has recently expanded to 158 acres (about 26 acres). It is the symbol of jinan city and one of the three tourist attractions in jinan. Baotou hot spring park is a famous tourist attraction and an ideal place to enjoy natural springs, culture and various buildings.

Located in the center of baotuquan park, baotuquan is the best hot spring among the 72 springs in jinan. Since ancient times, many famous poems and essays have been associated with its unique beauty. According to experts, this spring has a history of 3,543 years, dating back to the shang dynasty (16-11 BC). Ji ‘nan special geographical structure created a unique soil – covered spring. The pool is rectangular, about 30 meters from east to west and about 18 meters from north to south. Water pours out of underground limestone caves day and night, sometimes reaching a peak of 240,000 cubic meters a day. When water spurts out of three outlets, the spring makes a thunderous noise and spouts water. Sometimes the water column is as high as 26.49 meters (about 86.9 feet), making it a true spectacle.

The temperature in spring remains at 18 degrees Celsius (64.4 degrees Fahrenheit) throughout the year. In the cold winter, the water mist rises and floats in the pool like clouds. The antique pavilions, colorful pictures and carvings are reflected in the clear water, creating a landscape that is almost a paradise.

Pure water, mellow taste, is the ideal choice for drinking and brewing tea. Tea tasting is the most popular leisure activity here. There is a saying that if you don’t drink the spring water, your trip to jinan will be a damp squib. To the east of spring is the famous wangheting teahouse, where you can recreate the emperors of the past sitting there sipping tea, enjoying the beautiful scenery and enjoying the fun of spring.

What’s more, the traditional and very popular Lantern Festival and chrysanthemum performance are also held in baotou spring park every year, which greatly highlights the cultural significance and importance of this beautiful and impressive attraction. There is no doubt that visitors will be impressed by this unforgettable place.

A-Ma Temple, One of the Three Famous Buddha Halls in Macau

By inArchitectures

Located in the southeast of the Macao peninsula, A-Ma Temple is the oldest temple in Macao. About four hundred years ago, the Portuguese landed on a headland near a temple. They asked the local people for the name of the land, but the locals misunderstood it, thinking the Portuguese were asking for the name of the temple. So they said “Ma Ge.” Later, the Portuguese translated the name “Macao” to refer to the land. A-Ma Temple is one of the three main buddhist temples in Macao.

Built in 1488 during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), the temple commemorates mazu, the goddess of the sea who protects fishermen. The goddess, Lin mo, is said to have been born in putian, fujian province, and is more intelligent than other children her age. She could predict good or bad luck, and after her death, she often helped merchants and fishermen avoid disaster, turning danger into safety. Many folk stories about the great goddess are now being told in the coastal areas.

A-Ma Temple is a place that offers quiet and spectacular views. It contains six main parts, all of which make up a series of Chinese classical architectural treasures, which are guarded by stone lions. Enter the hall of the red man, through the gate, after a winding path, to the hall of the red man. There is a statue of mazu, believed to be the oldest in the complex. Next, the guanyin hall will be presented to visitors. It was built mainly of brick and stone, in a simple style. Compared with other temples, the orthodox forest is tastefully designed in both scale and architecture.

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.

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