Chinese Culture, gardens, architectures, alleys and lanes

1. Chinese Culture, gardens, architectures, alleys and lanes • tourist attractions/ resort, destination • natural splendor • Places of historic figures and cultural heritage • Famous mountains and great rivers • scenery with mountains and rivers/ landscape • Winter shelter, • summer resort • National park • unearthed cultural relics • Ancient architectural complex • emperors’ mausoleum , funeral objects, • Tourist theme • Tourist resources • Cultural heritage • folklore

2. Pottery soldiers, terra-cotta warriors and horses • Ceramics , pottery, porcelain • Five Sacred Mountains, Mount Tai • Famous Buddhist mountain • The Silk Road • Guilin’s scenery/ landscape • the finest spring under heaven • Cave, limestone cavern • Stalagmite, stalactite • Grotto , • Garden architecture • altar , pavilion, terrace, corridor, tower, mansion, • Waterside pavilion , marble boat, pagoda, stele/ tablet , pillar • glazed tile ,

3. summer Palace, • Humble Administrator Garden • Lingering Garden • Master of fishing • Warring state, • Bracelets,

4. Antique shop, • Artifact, handicrafts , • cloisonné enamel • Sandal wood fan, • embroidery • Tricolor-glazed pottery , ceramics of the Tang Dynasty • scroll of calligraphy and painting • The Four Guardians • the Eighteen Disciples of the Buddha

5. In heaven there is the paradise, and on earth there are Suzhou and Hangzhou/ Above there is …, below there is .. • Guilin tops the world in landscape, scenery stands out as the world’s best. • This temple has a long history dating back to the early period of the Tang Dynasty. • Suzhou boasts the largest and the most famous garden in China. • The architecture of the cathedral best represents the architectural style of the 16th century Europe.

6. Palace museum , tip of the iceberg. • The China National Tourism Administration has set different tourist themes. China Culture and Heritage Tour of ’94, Travel-in-China • Mount Tai, a perfect combination of culture and natural landscape, is the best among the five sacred mountains. • The tourists will be marveled at the numerous grotesque rock formations, clear waterfalls, ancient pine trees, temples, pavilions, bridges, towers and pagodas, and hall, as well as ancient inscriptions carved in stones by well-known writers and calligraphers of various dynasties.

7. Mount Tai has long been the preferred gathering place of artists and poets. • Ancient emperors prayed for the country’s prosperity and peace by offering sacrifices to Heaven and Earth on Mount Tai. • In 1985, UNESCO placed mount Tai on the UN list of World Cultural and Natural Heritage Sites.

8. The alleys and lanes took their initial shape in the early 18th century. From then on to early 20th, they were home to just about every resident in the capital city except the royal families. Even today, a great percentage of Beijing residents still have their houses located in these lanes, As people for generations have lived and worked here,a popular history and culture unique to Beijing has gradually developed and evolved out of the lanes and the people who reside in them. • A look at the alleys and lanes not only will help one trace the path of the history and culture and gain an understanding of the unique way of life in Beijing, but will also allow one to feel the pulse of the people in this town.

9. The Summer Palace is not only famous for its beautiful scenery but also for its long history. It is situated in the northwestern suburbs of Beijing, about 15 km away form the downtown. It used to be an imperial palace for short stays and an imperial garden. It is mainly made up of Longevity Hill and the Kunming Lake. The water surface occupies three-fourths of the whole garden. These palace halls and chambers were formerly a district for political activities, • court affairs, and received government officials and foreign diplomatic envoys • The garden-building art of the Summer Palace which is suggestive of poetry and painting has the following characteristics: Its landscape of lakes and hills is dottedwith numerous chambers, hall, mansions, towers, corridors, terrace towers, pavilions and bridges. They are all finely built/ gracefully built, each with its unique features.They are laid out appropriately, forming a unified entity. • An artificial work bearing the resemblance to a natural one.

10. Alleys and lanes in Beijing • Ancient, elegant, familiar, lovable and plain lanes, • To a certain extent, the alleys and lanes are the soul of Beijing, Beijing is not separable from alleys and lanes. How many alleys and lanes are there in Beijing? • According to the old residents, there are numerous/ countless of them. • The term “culture” refers to a particular way of lifestyle, people of different times have different ways of lifestyle and thus live in different cultures. • In this sense, for generations, people in Beijing have lived in a culture of lanes, • As time goes by, especially with the progress of urban construction, the number of alleys and lanes are in decrease. • The historic footprints of the culture of lanes in this ancient capital city, the myriad vistas of people, their typical ways of life and customs and habits unique to these lanes, it is not much of a creative surprise, but it is a very important cultural heritage.

11. a bird’s eye view of the intricate structure in the Forbidden City which were arranged in one after another courtyards of quadrangle houses. The paths and passages along the palace walls resemble alleys and lanes in civilian living quarters. The real differences lie in the terrible quietness and a cold solemnity and the absence of freedom and friendship.

12. To admit light and facilitate communication, city planners o Yuan Dynasty set the width of the lanes to be about 9.24 meters. Even in winter, the lanes were filled with sunlight so long as the weather was fine. On both sides of this lane are quadrangle houses. Kids can play in the lane, do graffiti on the wall and the elderly can enjoy their peace as well.. The well-known stores selling calligraphy and paintings, antiques, jade wares and porcelains , stationery, ancient books almost found in these lanes. Some theaters have been restored and open to the public. In the morning, the food stands in a lane are packed with customers and tricycle riders are looking for customers. Winter snow gives a new face on the lane, snow brings joy to both children and adults. The doors of quadrangle houses are decorated with the pattern of animals or flowers in order to expel ghost and attract good luck.

13. Interior of … corridor, no matter how difficult the living conditions are, residents always manage to build up a green environment. • “ Acting as the Bride”. Despite all other games of modern times, kids still favor the traditional game of pleasure. • Retirees often find pleasure from bird raising. , the birds could have a moment of pleasure of being in the nature. • To fly kites in the spring or fall is a favorable sport for many kids, colorful kites can be seen in the sky over small lanes. • Three generations live in harmony.

14. Once there is a wedding, the entire lane is filled with a festival mood. • With the introduction of Western culture, white wedding dress has taken the place of traditional wedding apparel / costume, and bridesmaids have been replaced by the best men. • Wedding has become a combination of Chinese and Western practices. • Grandparents and grandchildren enjoy a harmonious family reunion. • to watch street activities , chat about today and yesterday is a way of life for the old in the tea house. • Street performers, craftsmen and small pedlars have formed a unique feature of the lane. • Before the lunar new year, people would paste up Spring festival couplets and portraits of the door gods.

15. the tools used and the way people who sharpen kitchen choppers and scissors are exactly the same as described in folk paintings over a hundred years ago. • a key cutting stand, / a lock smith • a syrup figure looks better than taste. • Fruits are available in stands all year round at the entrances of small lanes. • Bund , waterfront , meeting place, • Superb breathing exercise,