China Religion Tour Blog

Today I will introduce you the Temple of Heaven. It is also a worthwhile visiting place in Beijing. It is much bigger than the Forbidden City and smaller than the Summer Palace with an area of about 2,700,000 square meters. The Temple was built in 1420 A.D. during the Ming Dynasty to offer sacrifice to Heaven. As Chinese emperors called themselves ‘The Son of Heaven’, they dared not to build their own dwelling,’ Forbidden City’ bigger than a dwelling for Heaven. It is the largest group of temple architecture in China and also the largest heaven- worshipping building in the world.
The Temple of Heaven is enclosed with a long wall. The northern part within the wall is semicircular symbolizing the heavens and the southern part is square symbolizing the earth. The northern part is higher than the southern part. This design shows that the heaven is high and the earth is low and the design reflected an ancient Chinese thought of ‘The heaven is round and the earth is square’.
Built as a place of worship, the temple is different from any other imperial structures. There are two parts in the temple zone - inner part and outer part. The main buildings of the Temple lie at the south and north ends of the middle axis line of the inner part. The most magnificent buildings are The Circular Mound Altar (Yuanqiutan), Imperial Vault of Heaven (Huangqiongyu) and Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest (Qiniandian) from south to north. Also, there are some additional buildings like Three Echo Stones and Echo Wall.Almost all of the buildings are connected by a wide bridge called Vermilion Steps Bridge (Danbiqiao) or called Sacred Way.
The Circular Altar has three layered terraces with white marble. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368 A.D. - 1911 A.D.), the emperors would offer sacrifice to Heaven on the day of the Winter Solstice every year. This ceremony was to thank Heaven and hope everything would be good in the future. The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest is a big palace with round roof and three layers of eaves. Inside the Hall are 28 huge posts. The four posts along the inner circle represent four seasons-spring, summer, autumn and winter; the 12 posts along the middle circle represent the 12 months; and 12 posts along the outer circle represent 12 Shichen (Shichen is a means of counting time in ancient China. One Shichen in the past equaled two hours and a whole day was divided into 12 Shichens). The roof is covered with black, yellow and green colored glaze representing the heavens, the earth and everything on earth. The Hall has a base named Altar for Grain Prayers which is made of three layers of white marble and has a height of six meters.
The Vermilion Steps Bridge connects the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest and the Imperial Vault of Heaven. The south end of the Bridge is lower than its north end. The emperors in the past believed that they could go to heaven through this Bridge, which is why this bridge is also called Sacred Way. A Yu Route and a Wang Route are on two sides of the Sacred Way. The former one is only for the emperors to walk on and the later one is for the princes and the high officials to pass.
Another interesting and famous place for you to visit is called Echo Wall owning special feature. The wall encloses the Imperial Vault of Heaven. Its perimeter is 193 meters.
If you and your friend stand at the east and the west roots of the wall respectively and you whisper a word, then your friend will hear clearly what you say. Isn’t it interesting? The phenomenon utilizes the theory of sound wave.

This article is from a private blog: sabrina1012.blogspot.com.

The last scenic spot of Beijing I want to share with you is the Summer Palace. It is a typical Chinese garden, and is ranked amongst the most noted and classical gardens of the world. It is also a monument to classical Chinese architecture, in terms of both garden design and construction. Borrowing scenes from surrounding landscapes, it radiates not only the grandeur of an imperial garden but also the beauty of nature in a seamless combination that best illustrates the guiding principle of traditional Chinese garden design: “The works of men should match the works of Heaven”.

The Summer Palace landscape, dominated mainly by Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake, three quarters of which is under water. Centered on the Tower of Buddhist Incense (Foxiangge) the Summer Palace consists of over 3,000 structures including pavilions, towers, bridges, and corridors. The Summer Palace can be divided into four parts: the court area, front-hill area, front-lake area, and rear-hill and back-lake area.
Front-Hill Area: this area is the most magnificent area in the Summer Palace with the most constructions. Its layout is quite distinctive because of the central axis from the yard of Kunming Lake to the hilltop, on which important buildings are positioned including Gate of Dispelling Clouds, Hall of Dispelling Clouds, Hall of Moral Glory, Tower of Buddhist Incense, the Hall of the Sea of Wisdom, etc.
Rear-Hill and Back-Lake Area: although the constructions are fewer here, it has a unique landscape, with dense green trees, and winding paths. Visitors can feel a rare tranquility, and elegance. This area includes scenic spots such as Garden of Harmonious Interest and Suzhou Market Street.
Court Area: this is where Empress Dowager Cixi and Emperor Guangxu met officials, conducted state affairs and rested. Entering the East Palace Gate, visitors may see the main palace buildings: the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity served as the office of the Emperor, the Hall of Jade Ripples where Guangxu lived, the Hall of Joyful Longevity, Cixi’s residence, the Hall of Virtue and Harmony where Cixi was entertained.
Front Lake Area: covering a larger part of the Summer Palace, opens up the vista of the lake. A breeze fluttering, waves gleam and willows kiss the ripples of the vast water. In this comfortable area there are the Eastern and Western Banks, the Seventeen-Arch Bridge, Nanhu Island, and so on. On the western bank float six distinct bridges amongst which the Jade-Belt Bridge is the most beautiful.
In the end, some tips I will tell you. One is the best season to come here is April to October. The other is The Summer Palace is now under large scale restoration and refurbishment. Attractions such as Foxiangge (the Pavilion of Buddhist Fragrant) and Paiyunge (the Pavilion of cloud) are also under renovation. So you should adjust your traveling schedule

All the 5 scenic spots that I introduced these days are all the best famous spots in Beijing. Next I will introduce another charming city – Nanjing, where I live in.

Today I will introduce you the Tiananmen Square. Located at the center of Beijing City is Tiananmen Square - the largest open-air square in the world, where you can visit Tiananmen Tower, Monument to the People’s Heroes, Great Hall of the People, Mao Zedong Memorial Hall and watch the daily national flag raising ceremony early in the morning (the time varies subject to the sunrise). The above picture shows you the Tiananmen Square before the national flag rising ceremony. Thousands of people come to the Square every day. It is the must place to visit in Beijing City.

The Tiananmen Rostrum, standing to the north of the Tiananmen Square, precisely in the south – north central axis of Beijing, was the main gate to the Forbidden City-Palace museum for emperors of Ming and Qing dynasties. The magnificent gate has five passages. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the passage in the middle leading to the Forbidden City was particularly reserved for the emperor himself. The emperor went through the central passage on the way to the altars for rituals and other religious activities, for instance. The high-ranking government officials and the empresses, concubines, princess and princesses could only enter the Forbidden City through the side passages, while the ordinary subjects were banned from entering the Forbidden City. That’s why the palace complex is called” Forbidden City”.

The granite Monument to the People’s Heroes is just at the center of the Tiananmen Square. Built in 1952, it is the largest monument in China’s history. ‘The People’s Heroes are Immortal’ written by Chairman Mao is engraved on the monument. Eight unusually large relief sculptures show to the people the development of Chinese modern history. Two rows of white marble railings enclose the monument, simple and beautiful.

West of the Square is the Great Hall of the People. This building, erected in 1959, is the site of the China National People’s Congress meetings and provides an impressive site for other political and diplomatic activities. Twelve marble posts are in front of the Hall which has three parts–the Central Hall, the Great Auditorium and a Banqueting Hall. The floor of the Central Hall is paved with marble and crystal lamps hang from the ceiling. The Great Auditorium behind the Central Hall seats 10,000. The Banqueting Hall is a huge hall with 5,000 seats.

Mao Zedong Memorial Hall is at the south side of the Square. This Hall is divided into three halls and our dear Chairman Mao’s body lies in a crystal coffin in one of the halls surrounded by fresh bouquets of various famous flowers and grasses.

Another important place for the tourist to visit is the China National Museum at the east side of the Square. It just came into existence in 2003 and is a combination of Chinese History Museum and Chinese Revolutionary Museum. This National Museum faces the Great Hall of the People. Inside the Chinese Revolutionary Museum are a lot of material objects, pictures, books and models to present the development of modern China. The Chinese History Museum shows a large number of cultural relics illustrating the long history and glorious culture of China from 1,700,000 years ago to 1921 when the last emperor left the throne.

Five Star Red Flag-the Chinese national flag, flies high in the sky above the Square. To see the guard of honor raise the Flag is a must for the tourist visiting Beijing City. You have to get up very early and arrive at the Square before sunrise. Only by doing so can you see the ceremony clearly as there are crowds of people attending the ceremony every day.

Like any other big city in the world, Hong Kong, nicknamed “the Pearl of the Orient” by many travelers, has plenty of smog, smells and jostling elbows.

For some, big cities hold no attraction at all, but for many those could just be the right factors to contribute to an ultra unforgettable experience.

Actually the best thing about being in Hong Kong is feeling and experiencing the confluences and contradictions of a Chinese city with multi-Asian and Western elements.

There you will encounter grannies indulging in Cantonese operas and mahjong games, daring and energetic young Chinese men in slick suits speaking perfect English, and also, not too surprising perhaps, Westerners humming some dumb Cantopop tune while slurping their noodles.

While there is a lot to do in the 1,102-square-kilometer city packed with some 6.8 million people, dining and shopping should be among those top priorities on any traveler’s itinerary.

Where to eat

It is no exaggeration that once you are in Hong Kong, the only regret you could have about food is that your eyes are always bigger than your stomach.

Renowned for its exotic fusion of Eastern and Western flavors, Hong Kong is regarded as “a gourmet’s paradise” where you can find everything from any Asian delicacy to the very best Western fare.

The famous Chinese cuisine, noted for its various flavors, aromas and textures, is sure to satisfy even the most discerning of palates.

The most popular styles of Chinese cooking in Hong Kong are Cantonese, Chiu Chow. Cantonese and Chiu Chow, originating from the same Chinese province of Guangdong, but rather different in both style and flavor.

Besides, no trip to Hong Kong would be complete without trying dim sum, those delightful, mouth-watering snacks served in steaming bamboo baskets and eaten with pots of Chinese tea. Steamed pork bun, shrimp dumpling, steamed rice-flour roll, fried spring roll and barbecued pork pastry are all affordable local favorites.

While many tea houses and restaurants offer an equally good dim sum collection, some do have their own secret recipes. For instance, the XO dipping sauce offered at Yat Tung Heen of Eaton Hotel, a medium spicy chef’s recipe, could go perfect with almost all dim sum and make your culinary experience a more fulfilled one.

Meanwhile, you may also want to have a try of bor law yau, a steaming hot sweet bun stuffed with melted butter, or daan tart, a tasty baked egg custard. These two popular snacks, while served with yuen yeung, a 50-50 mixture of tea and coffee, could be a well affordable and highly popular choice to soothe hunger pangs before supper.

Moreover, any imaginable cuisine from all the other Asian countries can all be easily found in Hong Kong where a dazzling number of Thai, Indian, Vietnamese, Japanese and Korean restaurants are scattered around. And Western flavors - including the widespread French, Italian and German fare as well as the rather rarer Greek and Mexican cuisine, are all available in Hong Kong. For those who like a view with their dinner some of the Western restaurants on the Victoria Peak will definitely fulfill even the highest expectations where guests can tantalize all their senses with bird’s-eye panoramic views of the splendid Victoria Harbor.

Where to shop

Shop till you drop! Believe it or not, it can happen in Hong Kong.

Shopaholics could just expect a full retail therapy in this shopping paradise.

With brand names from every corner of the world, as well as the tax free policy for all goods except alcohol and tobacco, Hong Kong has established itself as one of the world’s most attractive shopping destinations.

From high-end shopping centers such as The Landmark, The Galleria and IFC mall to mid-end department stores including Sogo and Marks & Spencer, and then to bustling markets such as the Temple Street and Stanley Market, shoppers with every taste and budget can be satisfied.

For trendsetters, Langham Place in Mong Kok, Kowloon, could be an ideal place to go. Shoppers will easily find themselves spoiled for choice in the 15-story shopping mall where two of Hong Kong’s longest indoor escalators are under operation. From fashion labels to casual wear, from accessories to electronics, almost everything could be found in the 200 plus outlets. For those who are not keen on shopping, it’s also a perfect place to kill time. Choices are abundant as there are 30-plus food and beverage stores there and the UA Cinema with a capacity of 1,122 seats allows visitors to catch the latest blockbuster.

For those who want to hone their bargaining skills, the Temple Street in Yau Ma Tai shouldn’t be missed. The kilometer-long bazaar has stalls selling all sorts of bargain merchandise, food stalls, fortune tellers and even Chinese opera performances.

And for those who want an insight into something near and dear to the hearts of Chinese people, a visit to the Jade Market might be worth while. The green stone, smooth and cooling to the touch, is associated with long life and good health. Many Chinese people wear the jade - usually next to the skin - to ward off all sorts of health hazards.

Located on Kansu and Battery streets in Yau Ma Tai, the Jade Market is a collection of around 400 stalls selling a wide range of jade pendants, rings, bracelets, carvings and ornaments.

Mention Guangzhou to anyone in China, and the first thing they’ll think of is food, perhaps some more food, a nap, then some snacks, dinner, a drink of tea, followed by, you guessed it: food. But there’s more to Guangzhou than eating.

6am: If you have 24 hours, you may as well make the most of it, so head to Baiyun Mountain, one of the symbols of Guangzhou, to watch sunrise over the city. It’s a peaceful start to the day as you gaze across the parks filled with early bird ballroom and fan dancers. If you hang around, you might end up indulging in a bungee jump and/or some grass skiing.

8:30am: Join the locals for tea and dim sum at nearby Song Feng Xuan, where the dishes start at an affordable RMB 4. Once sated, join in the chorus for a local song or two.

10am: You simply can’t leave Guangzhou without some kind of local embroidery, paper-cutting or wood carving (or so the locals would have us believe). The alleys around the well-preserved Chen Clan Temple off Zhongshan Lu are like a miniature artistic oasis, a fine place to buy, or simply watch the masters at work.

1pm: Kick back by the Pearl River with a set lunch in the garden at 1920 German Bar and Restaurant. Don’t overeat though, as a night of feasting awaits.

2:30pm: From 1920, take a lazy stroll west along the ‘mini-Bund’ on the banks of the Pearl River to Shamian Island, where you¡±ll do find quiet, tree-lined streets and 1920s merchant houses now housing diplomats. Pick up some traditional herbal tea at any of the local teahouses on the banks of the river.

6:30pm: Cantonese cuisine has to be on your agenda, so why not head to the original Guangzhou Restaurant on historic Wenchang Nan Lu, or its jazzed-up sister outlet in the up-and-coming Tianhe district, a Pudong-like mix of wide streets and high-rise office towers.

9pm: By now, you’ll have worked up a thirst. Up and down Jiansheliuma Lu, next to the Garden Hotel, you’ll find bars and caf¨¦s aplenty. But head away from the crowds to Friends Daily on Taojin Lu and choose a bottle of wine from their huge selection, accompanied by imported nibbles.

12am: If you still want to party, go on to New Era for the latest in electronic sounds and live MCs (just be careful not to fall into the swimming pool on your way to the dancefloor). If it’s cheap and cheerful you’re after, then you can’t go wrong with Cave Bar or Gypsy Kings: a Windows-esque underground dive near the Garden Hotel.

Travel Pack

Song Feng Xuan
next to entrance to Baiyun Mountain (020-3620 9288)

Chen Clan Temple
7 Zhongshan Lu

1920 German Restaurant & Bar
183 Yanjiang Zhong Lu (020-8333 6156)

Guangzhou Restaurant
1) 2 Wenchang Nan Lu (8138 0388);
2) Baifu Square, 112 Tiyu Dong Lu, Tianhe District (020-3880 9138)

Friends Daily
G/F, 11 Tao Jin Jie (020-8359 6681)

New Era
2 Zhongshan San Lu (020-8381 3327)
Visit www.thatsprd.com for more information.

Have you ever dreamed of an escape from the sounds and furies of urban life, when you can take a bamboo-raft ride, floating down a crystal clear Nine Bend Stream from atop one of the most beautiful mountains of China and enjoying a feast of nature’s most spectacular peaks waving and whispering by, near and far wide?
Wu Yi Mountains are such a paradise! Located in northwestern Fujian along the Fujian-Jiangxi boarder in subtropical China, Wu Yi Mountains are one of the world heritage sites (1999) that boast both natural splendor and cultural significance.

The Wu Yi Natural Preserve and Scenic and Historic Interest Area stretches more than 99,975 ha., surrounded on the east, west, and north by high mountains, spanning out a park-like region in the mid-south, which bears a rich variety of vegetation and wildlife along the meandering Wu Yi Stream. Known as the Roof of East China, Wu Yi has an elevation ranging from 200m to 2158m. The temperature ranges from 12 to 18 degrees Celsius all year around and humidity 80% to 85%. Misty weather is common in the mountains, conducive to the growth of green and black tea, which is one of the best known produce of the region and most visitor cannot afford to miss a taste of.

Wu Yi Mountains have been home to a rich diversity of flora and fauna, including more than 2888 species of higher plants and more than 5000 animals which have been recorded, and many more yet to be investigated.

Human activity in the region can be traced back to the 21st century BC, with numerous historical and cultural relics scatters about the mountains slopes, cliff recesses, and various dwellings in the valley. Among the ancient inhabitants were the Min-Yue people, who lived there more than 2300 years ago. With its many caves and tranquil scenery, Wu Yi mountains have long been a base of Chinese philosophical development, including Taoism and Confucianism, which are evidenced by the cliff dwellings, rock inscriptions and other religious sites across the valley. In particular, Wu Yi is known as the cradle of Neoconfucianism, founded by Chu Hsi (1130-1200) of the Northern Song Dynasty, who is revered in China as a master of thought next only to Confucius.

Wu Yi is just as well known for its majestic scenery of nature—imposing mountain peaks and serene streams. Among the major tourist attractions are the Aquiline Rock, whose formation resembles that of a perched eagle; the Paradise Trip Rock, which is regarded as the most sacred; the Thread of Sky, which is the longest cleavage; the Three Lookup Rock, which is the highest peak; the Cloth-drying Rock, which is the largest; the King Rock, which is the most magnificent; the Jade Lady Rock, the most graceful; the Waterfall Cave, which is the most charming spot; the Clouds’ Rest, which is the grandest wonder, the Great Red-Robe Tea Grove, which, known as King of Tea, consists of only four plants living at the foot of a narrow cleavage of a high cliff, so unique in its location, flavor and magic healing effects that it is considered invaluable. And there are many more scenic spots of distinctive Wu Yi spirit. With such a variety of mountain peaks and endless trails, Wu Yi provides days of pleasure of hiking for her visitors, who will enjoy the ever-changing view of the surrounding scenery from each summit.

All these scenic pearls are ultimately strung together by the 9.5km-long Nine Bend Stream, achieving a landscape of heavenly harmony of mountains and water, where the stream is contained in between the mountains and mountains braced by the stream; the water winds along the mountain and the mountain reflected in the water. What a harmony of water and mountains, the dynamic and the static, of which only mother nature is capable! As is said, the Nine Bend Stream flows the soul of Wu Yi Mountains.

Nianbaoyuze, when translated from the Tibetan language,means the grand mountain of boulder. Located on the border of Qinghai and Sichuan provinces, it is composed of about 3,600 mountains and 360 lakes about 4,000 meters above sea level.

Though it is said Nianbaoyuze has 360 lakes, the local tourism bureau and local Tibetans said they are mainly 16 large lakes and about 300 smaller lakes dotting the mountains.However, because 360 is a lucky number in Buddhism, the Tibetans believe there are 3,600 peaks and 360 lakes in Nianbaoyuze.

Nianbaoyuze is said to be the birthplace of the local Tibetans on the Golok Grassland.

As the main peak on the southeastern section of Mountain Bayan Har, it is about three hours drive from the most beautiful county in Sichuan province, Aba, and 40 kilometers from the small Jiuzhi County.

Before the middle of last year,Nianbaoyuze was still largely unknown among most of the “outsiders”from Guoluo Grassland.However, its diversified landforms and various kinds of plants and wild animals have attracted not only adventurers but also numerous scientists and geologists.

By May 2006, Nianbaoyuze was appraised as a National Nature park,and is now being promoted by the local tourism bureau. Since then,the name “Nianbaoyuze” has been spread fast among tourists and backpackers.

Here you can find no lake more transparent or more clear. Being regarded as holy lakes, these waters are forbidden to be touched by people. Only two years ago, two monks from Aba County adventured to swim in t he lakes, yet later both were found dead in mysterious circumstances.It is said there is a god living in the lakes that protects the local Tibetans, and the local Tibetans said the monks’ deaths were caused by t he punishment from this god.

Nianbaoyuze is also home for various plants and rarely seen wild animals. In t he sout heastern parts,there are virgin forests of pines and firs. The ravines are home to elusive snow leopards, brown bears and lynxes.

Climbing on the main peak of Mountain Nianbaoyuze is one of the dreams for many mountaineers. The mountain is covered by a gigantic glacier, and the main peak is 5,369 meters above sea level. The mountain is at a longitude of 101 degrees east and a latitude of 33.35 degrees north. Last year, Nianbaoyuze was named as one of the top 10 mountains “with great difficulties for climbing” in China.

Summer, with hundreds of flowers blooming and the slight changes in weather, is considered to be the best season to enjoy the beauty of Nianbaoyuze. And summer is also a good time to experience the holy rituals by the local monks.

Monks from Sege’er Temple in Aba County come here ever y July to hold rituals for those who have finished t he three-year ascetic practices, according to the doctrines of Buddhism. The monks will throw green branches wrapped with silk into the lake,which they believe shows respect to the Natural God.

So far, there is still no road in t his area, and a single trip to travel across this place will take at least seven days. But a local guide is a must to avoid getting lost in this vast land, and plenty of food and camping equipment is also essential.

For common visitors, the Fairy Lake and Siren lakes are most approachable. However, even to walk across the two lakes takes at least one day.

Covering an area of more than 10 square kilometers, the Fairy Lake is a freshwater lake teeming with non-squama fish (fish without scales). People cannot even touch t he swimming fish in the clean water, because the fish in the lake are also considered holy just like the lake itself. Therefore, Tibetans are forbidden from eating the fish.

If you are fascinated with ancient Chinese history, you must not miss the glorious Tang culture.

The Tang Dynasty (618-907), with its capital at Chang’an (now Luoyang in Henan Province), is regarded by historians as the highest point in the Chinese civilization process. And Wu Zetian, China’s only woman to ever attain the title of emperor of China, also obtained her great power from the Tang Dynasty.

Luoyang, located in the west part of Henan Province, was the capital for a further seven dynasties until 1644. Famous for the Chinese Mudan flower, Water Banquet of LuoYang, and Longmen Grottoes, Luoyang is a must-visit city to digest the Tang culture.

Longmen Grottoes, nesting on both banks of the Yi River, is now listed as a World Heritage site by UNESCO. It’s home to over 2,300 caves and niches and more than one hundred thousand Buddhist images, as well as 300,000 characters with over 1,500 years of history.

From the Northern Wei Dynasty, when emperor Xiaowen moved his capital to Luoyang (AD493), the stone carving work at Longmen began. Those carved niches and Buddhist images, which aimed to express imperial wills and behaviors, also became an important carrier and promoter of Buddhism.

The carving lasted more than 400 years, with Buddhist images varying greatly among the different dynasties. The figures of those images carved during Tang Dynasty are relatively plump, while those in other dynasties are comparatively slim. That tells the concept of beauty in Tang Dynasty; plump women were more attractive than those who were lean and slim.

The wearing of the images carved during Tang Dynasty were also obviously gorgeous, however, that of the carved images of other dynasties were quite simple.

The Tang Dynasty, the period which reflects the pinnacle of the development social
economies, also made itself the peak period of the stone carving craft.

The largest Buddhist image, which sits in Fengxiansi Cave, represents the works of sculpture art of Tang Dynasty brought to a climax. The open niche was carved in accordance with Avatamsaka Sutra. While the main Buddha Vairocana is 17.14 meters in height, with his head 4 meters tall and his ears 1.9 meters long. During that time, the craftsman already mastered the “bottom view” skills. The tourist guide explained that looking at the Buddha Vairocana by a horizontal view, you will find that his body was not carved by the most correct proportion, but looking at the figure from a bottom view, you will see all the proportions are perfect. Since this sculpture is so huge, the craftsman knew that people would raise their heads and look at the Buddha Vairocana from a bottom view.

If not visiting the Longmen Grottoes, how could one get a little clue as to know how smart the Tang person was!

But unfortunately, many of the carved figures were stolen and destroyed through ast centuries. Some of them were destroyed by the natural disasters of the times, while still a greater majority of them were destroyed by the Chinese during the movements”and Western imperialists during their involvement in China from the beginning to 20th century till the end of 1940s.

Though a lot of vivid sculptures flowed out of China, the Longmen Grottoes still remains to weave its charms on visitors both home and aboard.

April is the best time to visit Luoyang, as it is also the time for the blossoming of the most majestic national flower, the Mudan. Mudan, widely known as ChineseTree Peony, has hundreds of species and over 1,000 varieties.

Water banquet, originated from Luoyang, is also a well-known cuisine in China and has a history of more than 1,000 years.

The 24 courses of dishes are noted for their various soups with sour and spicy flavors. The different dishes are served continuously like the flow of water; hence it got the name “Water Banquet”.

Considering that it was constructed for the purpose of keeping foreigners out of China, it’s ironic that the Great Wall has become China’s number one attraction for visitors from abroad.

If you’ve only done the chairlift at Badaling, however, you can hardly count yourself as a Wall veteran. Indeed, speak to any tourist visiting Beijing, and you may well get the impression that there are only three parts of the Great Wall to be seen in the country. Backpackers are especially quick to make fun of the Badaling and Mutianyu crowd, and speak in hushed tones of the “real” wall at Simatai.

Let’s be honest - all three of these sections are intensely marketed to tourists of varying persuasions - and while all of them are fine parts of the Wall to see, on a monument with sections scattered across the country there is certainly a lot more ground to be covered.

We may no longer be able to follow in the steps of William Lindesay - the Briton who journeyed the entire length of the Wall on foot in 1987 - but there are still numerous locations within reach of Beijing where visitors can enjoy features and designs unique to each particular section.

If you want to be able to stay a step ahead of those backpackers who assume they’ve seen more of China than you have just because they’ve climbed some stairs at Simatai, take a day off to see some of the less-travelled Wall and give yourself something really worth boasting about.

Don’t forget that much of the Great Wall in this part of the country climbs near-vertical mountain faces, so if the only exercise you’ve been doing is thumbing through boxes of DVDs, gird yourself to expend some effort. The Wall sections in most of these locales are rough staircases up mountainsides. The climb, however, is more than worth the effort.

If you’re making a weekend of it, you’ll usually be able to find a local farmer with a room to rent - they’re used to tourists coming knocking. In Xifengkou, however, you’ll need to go back to Qianxi to find a hotel, and in Jiumenkou and Laolongtou, head for the walled city of Shanhaiguan to spend the night.

Each March, the Dai minority, one of China’s 56 ethnic groups, finish their farm work and start preparing for their New Year’s ceremony, the Water-Splashing Festival.According to the Dai calendar, the sixth month, April on solar calendar, is the start of the new year. Water-splashing is an important ceremony to wash off the dirt of the past year and spread blessings for happiness and health in the new one.
This year, the International Water-Splashing Festival will be held by the government of Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Region from April 12 to 15. Being splashed and blessed during the festival is an experience like none other.

April 13

Fanggaosheng

Fanggaosheng is an important event for the Dai people when celebrating their New Year. Gaosheng is a kind of firework made from bamboo and powder. The Dai people fill the bottom of the bamboo with powder and other materials and put it on the bamboo Gaosheng shelf. People usually fire Gaosheng at night. If sealed properly, the detonation of the powder will make a huge explosion, launching the bamboo into the sky like a rocket with white smoke before exploding.

The higher the Gaosheng flies, the happier the people feel. People hope the Gaosheng will carry away the diseases and disasters from the earth and bring a good harvest and safety.

Duisha (sand-piling) competition

Duisha is a traditional Dai activity with its roots in a legend about a widow asking for sons by piling sands and shaping them into children. Not long after, the widow gave birth to three sons who were talented and smart. The three boys went on to fight with cruel and filthy people when they grew up.

The Dai people celebrate Duisha wishing for happiness as they pile sands. They regard the competition as a way of communicating with others and strengthening friendships. If you go to see the Dai Water-Splashing Festival, don¡¯t miss the Duisha competition. You can bless your family and friends, and also reeive well-wishes from the Dai people.

April 14

Ganbai

Ganbai is the biggest and busiest event during the Water-Splashing Festival. In cities, towns and villages, there are various size fairs where Dai people go to buy and sell goods.

Each year in the middle of April, you can see Dai people everywhere near the villages and the river banks. Young people gather together, singing, dancing, and selling goods. You can taste traditional Dai food as well, or even sit down watching people firing Gaosheng.

April 15

Water-Splashing ceremony

At the climax of the festival, everyone is dressed in beautiful clothes and prepares for blessing and receiving wishes from others. Don’t be shy - just splash water on everyone no matr whether you know them or not. Don’t worry about your clothes being ruined either, the more wet you are, the more blessing you’ve received from othersToday is the Water-Splashing Festival and the main reason we came to Xishuangbanna. My wife and I got up early in the morning and bought a basin, filling it with water. As soon as we stepped out of the house, someone hit us with a barrel full of water. My wife and I defend ourselves by throwing water back. We were totally soaked even before arriving downtown for the festival.

We lost count of how many people splashed us with water and how many people we splashed. It was the coolest day I ever spent. At the grand plaza, government officials were paraded about on litters. Everyone tossed water at them from their basins. My wife joined in and splashed each official.

yushan blog–I got off the train in Jinghong, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Region, on the day of the Water-Splashing Festival. Coming out of the railway station, I saw crowds of people gathering in front of different hotels and restaurants, splashing water with small bowls and basins. The festival was still nowhere near its climax.

When I arrived at the cultural plaza, I was soaked by water hurled from every direction. I had no idea what had happened.

It was interesting and exciting to run through the street of splashing water. I could see some water splashed through windows; some off the tops of buildings; some tossed by people along the street; some splashed from barrels and basins; some shot by toy squirt guns. Some people were even lining up to splash water. Old and young, adults and children, everyone was happy.