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Norbulingka, the Treasure Park in Tibet

By inPopular Spots

Norbulingka, which means “treasure park” in Tibetan, is located on the western outskirts of Lhasa on the Banks of the jiuqu river, about 1 km (0.6 miles) southwest of the potala palace. The garden covers 360,000 square meters (about 430,000 square yards) and has 374 rooms. It is the largest man-made garden in Tibet autonomous region.

Construction began in the 1740s. It was once a wild land full of wild animals, overgrown with weeds, and overgrown with weeds. It was the favorite and frequent haunt of the seventh dalai lama, for which the qing government built a palace. A few years later, the port was built on the orders of the seventh dalai lama. Later, it was used as the old Summer Palace for successive lamas, where they solved political problems and held festivals. After a series of extensions and renovations, the exterior has been improved with pavilions, gardens and woods. Now it has become a park open to the public.

Norbulingka consists of several palace complexes, such as Potrang of gesang, Potrang of zoki, jinlinka and Takten Migyur Potrang. Each palace complex is divided into three sections — the palace section, the front section of the palace and the front section of the forest.

The potala palace, named after the seventh dalai lama, is a three-story palace with a hall, bedroom, reading room and sanctuary dedicated to the Buddha. In norbulingka, he was considered the most attractive when the eighth dalai lama came to power. The hall built during the han and Tibetan dynasties is where the dalai lama enjoyed Tibetan opera. In 1922, a wealthy donor built the golden Linka and Chensel Potrang for the 13th dalai lama. At the same time, many flowers, grass and trees were planted. In 1954, the 14th dalai lama built the potala palace, also known as the new Summer Palace, which means “eternal palace” in Tibetan. The building combines the characteristics of the temple and the villa, which is more spectacular than other palaces. The exquisite murals in the palace are worth mentioning and visiting. The frescoes in the north hall show the gentle, calm sakyamuni and his eight contemplative disciples. However, the murals in the south temple vividly tell the story of Tibet’s development in the form of comic strips.

Ice Lantern Garden Party, the Earliest and Biggest Artistic Exhibition of the Ice Lantern

By inPopular Spots

The Harbin ice lantern garden fair is the world’s oldest and largest open-air ice lantern art exhibition, with an exhibition area of 6.5 hectares (about 16 acres) and an ice volume of about 2,000 cubic meters (about 71,000 cubic feet). It is listed by the national tourism administration as one of the country’s 35 “great beauty spots”. The festival began in 1963 and has been held every winter since then at zhaolin park, where some 1,500 traditional ice lanterns are displayed. It is considered the beautiful name card of Harbin.

The ice lantern garden is an outstanding achievement of the local people in exploiting and utilizing the local ice and snow resources. Craftsmen in that city used the ice of the songhua river to create various forms of ice sculptures. All the works of art present a grand verve and charm.

Inspired by ancient Chinese ice lanterns, artisans at the ice lantern fair have created works of art that transcend nature. Legend has it that once upon a time, when winter nights came, a few people would leisurely dress up or fish on the songnen plain, which is located in the northeastern provinces including Harbin. They used old ice lanterns for lighting. At that time, the technique was simple. The water from the songhua river was put into a wooden bucket and frozen into icicles. Then a hole was made in the center of the icicle and an oil lamp was put in. Hence the ice lanterns. It helped a lot of people live at that time. Later, when the Chinese New Year and Lantern Festival came, people liked to decorate these ice lanterns to celebrate the festivals.

Now, it has evolved into a local traditional festival. The Harbin ice and snow festival is held every year on January 5. Throughout the festival and the ice lantern garden party, visitors can participate in international sports such as: sitting on an ice boat, hitting a top on the frozen river, attending weddings on ice, skating on ice and watching winter swimming competitions. When night falls, you will attend the Harbin ice and snow festival party. You can see wonderful performances there, and you can also take part in them. That would be great!

Today, ice lanterns are a source of local pride. The art of making ice lanterns has matured. This is a unique ice and snow art exhibition integrating horticulture, architecture, sculpture, drama, Chinese painting, Chinese literature, Chinese music and other disciplines. At the same time, using modern optical, mechanical, acoustic and other science and technology, to show us the colorful, beautifully carved ice lanterns. Ice art works include ice architecture, ice sculptures, ice waterfalls, ice flower beds, ice slides, ice Chinese calligraphy, ice scenes, ice advertisements and, of course, ice lanterns. Various works of art are randomly scattered around the ice lantern garden party, creating a perfect world of ice and snow.

Dragon Tower, Harbin Longta, Heilongjiang Radio and Television Tower

By inPopular Spots

The dragon tower, the second tallest steel tower in the world and the tallest in Asia, features tourism, catering, entertainment, advertising and wireless communications in addition to radio and television signals. Since its opening in 2000, it has become one of the top ten scenic spots in Harbin and one of the most worthwhile tourist attractions in heilongjiang province.

The long tower is composed of the tower body, the middle part of the tower body, the upper part of the tower body and the antenna on the top of the tower. From the first floor to the fourth floor, it has a spherical top. The section of the tower body is octahedral and the longitudinal part is parabolic. Elevators at 2.5 meters per second can reach all floors of the tower. The tower is 181 meters (594 feet) tall and 206 meters (676 feet) tall, with a steel ball and a flying saucer-shaped structure on top. The antennas are arranged between 220.5 m (723 ft) and 336 m (1102 ft). Dragon tower design is unique, tourism resources are very rich.

The 181-meter (594-foot) observation deck boasts the world’s longest clear glass skywalk, with a perimeter of more than 60 meters, giving visitors a great view of the area beneath the tower. The carrying capacity of this glass is 1000 kg per square metre. Covering 1,256 square meters (1,502 square yards) and seating 350 people at a time, the 186-meter (610-foot) high revolving restaurant in the sky is the world’s tallest restaurant in the sky. While enjoying the buffet, you can see the charming night view of the city from all angles.

The 190 meter (623 ft) outdoor viewing platform allows visitors to overlook the cityscape. Adventurous visitors can also try the game of the brave, where challengers wear seat belts and walk on the edge of the circular platform outside the guardrail. The butterfly gallery also displays more than 2000 famous and precious butterfly specimens at home and abroad. The 206-meter (676-foot) high blessing pavilion is the tallest, with more than 100 characters in calligraphy. Visitors can enjoy the magnificent cityscape while drinking tea in the teahouse.

The exhibition hall of dwellings in northeast China shows the structure of houses and the appliances of the past, such as kangs (beds), window paper and kerosene lamps, allowing visitors to experience the local customs. Hanging out on China’s tallest swing outside the dragon tower, 210 meters (689 feet) high, is an exciting adventure.

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.

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