Saturday, January 31, 2009

Chinese Mandarin - Qianmen




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Qianmen

( 2008-07-08 )

The Qianmen, also known as Zhengyangmen, was formerly the front gate of the Imperial City, a part of the ancient city of Beijing. It stands at the south end of the Tiananmen Square precinct.

First built in 1419, the gateway consisted of a gatehouse proper and an archery tower, which forms a large barbican. Today the archery tower and the gatehouse survive, incorporating some modern design elements. Its initial mud framework, in place for over half a century, was replaced with brick.
At 42 meters high, the gatehouse was, and is, the tallest among all of the gates of Beijing.

Qianmen Gate links the aristocratic “inner city” and common-folk “outer city.” Because of its grandeur and unique design, the Qianmen was long seen as the symbol of old Beijing.

To the south of Tian’anmen Square and Qianmen Gate is a straight street running due south. This is the Qianmen Street, the oldest market street in Beijing with a history of five centuries. An east-west lane opening onto the street on its western side is the famous Dashilan, the oldest commercial
street in Beijing. Most of the shops along the lane are hundreds of years old, and some still retain their traditional appearance, though there are also some new ones in between. This is a good place to buy silk or traditional Chinese medicine in the old shops there.

After restoration in 2008, Qianmen Street resumes its appearance as the busiest shopping street in the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). It becomes a vehicle-free promenade prior to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. The trolley bus, which disappeared for 50 years from Beijing, will reappear on the
street. The Yuhe area and Sanyan Well area will resume their original appearances, and the charm of the old residential community will show once again.

  Emblems More

* Dancing Beijing -- Beijing 2008 Olympic Emblem

============================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================

* Beijing Paralympics Emblem ( 07-10 )
* Environmental Emblem of Beijing 2008 ( 07-10 )
* Emblem of the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay ( 07-10 )
* Emblem of the Beijing 2008 OYC ( 07-10 )
* Emblem of the Beijing Olympic Cultural Festival ( 07-10 )

News More

* Museums to exhibit 1,000 national treasures
* Creating new rituals, Beijing style
* Marine mural unveiled in capital
* Illustrated Olympic giant panda story comes out
* Ten recommended Beijing shopping streets

Meet in Beijing More

* Dance Along the River during the Qingming Festival
* Concert by Macao Chinese Orchestra
* Kataklo Athletic Dance Theatre
* UK Contemporary Exhibition
* The Russia Star Ballet

Olympic on Beijing's Axis

  Online Tour

============================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================

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Chinese Pinyin - Arts from Hong Kong and Macao to Hit Beijing




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Arts from Hong Kong and Macao to Hit Beijing

( 2008-06-25 )

Dance "Along the River During the Qingming Festival"

In the Forbidden City in downtown Beijing, there is a famous painting called 'Along the River During the Qingming Festival'. It depicts in great detail the economy, culture, and customs of the Northern Song Dynasty dating back almost one thousand years. For the upcoming arts festival, the painting
has been choreographed into a folk dance by a group of veteran Hong Kong artists. Liang Guocheng, the director of the performance, said that the dance displays the prosperity of the ancient capital with a modern interpretation.

"Some folk dances from the Song dynasty have been preserved to this day, and we have incorporated many factors from them into our show. By dividing the painting into different scenes, we designed a total of 18 parts of dances to dynamically show various aspects of Chinese life. Audience will see
detailed portrayals such as 'willow leaves moving with the wind' and 'going to market with donkeys in spring's suburb'."

Concert performed by the Macao Chinese Orchestra

Focusing on Chinese characteristics is a key element of this festival. And a concert performed by the Macao Chinese Orchestra will be another highlight this year. The conductor of the orchestra Peng Jiapeng introduced their forthcoming performance.

"Macao is a city with abundant historical and cultural treasures, and Chinese music is one of the best ways to show the city's real face. Based on its colonial and religious background as well as the mix of different cultures in Macao, our music embraces diversified characteristics, such as
traditional Chinese music and Portuguese music. Moreover, the show includes some elements of life in Macao. For example, the audience may hear hucksters in the markets of small fishing villages from decades past."

Visual arts exhibition

Besides the three stage performances, there will be a visual arts exhibition as part of the festival. Items on display include paintings, photographs, sculptures and videos with unique Hong Kong and Macao flavors. From the work of local artists, visitors can enjoy a glimpse of the local life and
culture in the two regions far from Beijing.

Editor: Dong Jirong

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  Emblems More

* Dancing Beijing -- Beijing 2008 Olympic Emblem

============================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================

* Beijing Paralympics Emblem ( 07-10 )
* Environmental Emblem of Beijing 2008 ( 07-10 )
* Emblem of the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay ( 07-10 )
* Emblem of the Beijing 2008 OYC ( 07-10 )
* Emblem of the Beijing Olympic Cultural Festival ( 07-10 )

News More

* The Olympic flame brings together two cultures in Qufu
* Don't ask Olympic tourists age or wage
* Picket spots created for Games
* Wearing lucky clouds
* Welcome, all you faithfuls

Meet in Beijing More

* Dance Along the River during the Qingming Festival
* Concert by Macao Chinese Orchestra
* Kataklo Athletic Dance Theatre
* UK Contemporary Exhibition
* The Russia Star Ballet

Olympic on Beijing's Axis

  Online Tour

============================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================

| About us | E-mail | Contact |

Constructed by .cn
Copyright 2003 Ministry of Culture, P.R.China. All rights reserved

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Saturday, January 24, 2009

Pnyin - Visa Tips




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Visa Tips

( 2008-06-27 )

Once you know the dates of your trip to Beijing, you should submit a visa application to the Chinese embassy or consulate in your home country. The embassies and consulates will handle your visa application properly and within the specified time period. The information below will help you with
your application:

A tourist visa is appropriate for any international visitor who plans to come to China to watch the Olympic Games or to travel. In some cases, the visa application can be handled by consignees rather than the applicants themselves. Personal interviews may be required of applicants as part of the
visa application process.

Materials needed to apply for a Chinese visa:

(1) A passport which has a validity period of no less than six months following the date of submission, and a blank visa page;

(2) One Visa Application Form of the People's Republic of China, which is filled out clearly with truthful, accurate and complete information and signed by the applicant;

(3) One recent passport photo (The face of the applicant cannot be obscured in any way; headwear, such as hats, are not permitted. Candid photos, photo copies or digital photos printed on ordinary paper will not be accepted);

(4) Other related application materials demonstrating the purpose or purposes of your trip to China;

(5) Other materials related to the visa application, deemed as necessary by the visa officer;

(6) Visa application fee and rush service fees (if applicable).

  Emblems More

* Dancing Beijing -- Beijing 2008 Olympic Emblem

============================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================

* Beijing Paralympics Emblem ( 07-10 )
* Environmental Emblem of Beijing 2008 ( 07-10 )
* Emblem of the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay ( 07-10 )
* Emblem of the Beijing 2008 OYC ( 07-10 )
* Emblem of the Beijing Olympic Cultural Festival ( 07-10 )

News More

* Museums to exhibit 1,000 national treasures
* Creating new rituals, Beijing style
* Marine mural unveiled in capital
* Illustrated Olympic giant panda story comes out
* Ten recommended Beijing shopping streets

Meet in Beijing More

* Dance Along the River during the Qingming Festival
* Concert by Macao Chinese Orchestra
* Kataklo Athletic Dance Theatre
* UK Contemporary Exhibition
* The Russia Star Ballet

Olympic on Beijing's Axis

  Online Tour

============================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================

| About us | E-mail | Contact |

Constructed by .cn
Copyright 2003 Ministry of Culture, P.R.China. All rights reserved

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Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Chinese Tutor - Where to Eat Vegetarian Food in Beijing




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Where to Eat Vegetarian Food in Beijing

( 2008-06-27 )

Q: Where to Eat Vegetarian Food in Beijing

A: The best vegetarian restaurants to go are:

Lily Vegetarian

It is a vegan restaurant, which arranges classic book review and various lectures at weekend in all of its three branches.

Average price per person: 30-300 yuan (US$3.8-38)

Tel: 6202-5284/6287-8726/6405-2082

Tian Chu Miao Xiang

It has always been committed to promoting vegetarian culture and Confucius ideology.

Average price per person: 30-50 yuan (US$3.8-6.3)

Address: First Floor, Chuangye Plaza, Tsinghua Science Park, East Gate of Tsinghua University

Tel: 6279-7078/6278-0859/8983-3390

Gong De Lin

A combination of southern and northern flavors and tries to maintain original tastes of materials.

Average price per person: 40-50 yuan (US$5-6.3)

Address: 158 Qianmen Street (Due to the renovation of the street, the restaurant now pauses sales.)

Tel: 6702-0867/6511-2542

  Emblems More

* Dancing Beijing -- Beijing 2008 Olympic Emblem

============================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================

* Beijing Paralympics Emblem ( 07-10 )
* Environmental Emblem of Beijing 2008 ( 07-10 )
* Emblem of the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay ( 07-10 )
* Emblem of the Beijing 2008 OYC ( 07-10 )
* Emblem of the Beijing Olympic Cultural Festival ( 07-10 )

News More

* Museums to exhibit 1,000 national treasures
* Creating new rituals, Beijing style
* Marine mural unveiled in capital
* Illustrated Olympic giant panda story comes out
* Ten recommended Beijing shopping streets

Meet in Beijing More

* Dance Along the River during the Qingming Festival
* Concert by Macao Chinese Orchestra
* Kataklo Athletic Dance Theatre
* UK Contemporary Exhibition
* The Russia Star Ballet

Olympic on Beijing's Axis

  Online Tour

============================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================

| About us | E-mail | Contact |

Constructed by .cn
Copyright 2003 Ministry of Culture, P.R.China. All rights reserved

Learn Chinese, Learning Mandarin, Learning Materials, Mandarin audio lessons, Chinese writing lessons, Chinese vocabulary lists, About chinese characters, News in Chinese, Go to China, Travel to China, Study in China, Teach in China, Dictionaries, Learn Chinese Painting, Your name in Chinese, Chinese calligraphy, Chinese songs, Chinese proverbs, Chinese poetry, Chinese tattoo, Beijing 2008 Olympics, Mandarin Phrasebook, Chinese editor, Pinyin editor, China Travel, Travel to Beijing, Travel to Tibet

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Chinese Mandarin - Burial Figurines of the Han Emperor




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Classics>Collection

Burial Figurines of the Han Emperor

Shaanxi is the birthplace of Emperor Qin Shihuang's terracotta warriors, which are probably the best known burial figurines in the world. However, you may not know that 40 kilometers away from the Emperor Qin mausoleum there stands a huge mound, where the fourth emperor of the Western Han (206
B.C.-26 A.D.), Liu Qi ,and his family are buried. Although they can not compare to the grandeur of the Qin’s, the Han’s objects were superior in terms of the art of sculpture.

More than 100 thousands pottery figures, including vessels, animals, and human, have been excavated from the site. "They are just a little part of the mausoleum. It may take 150 years to find everything,"the curator of Hanyang mausoleum said.

Sagas of Han Burial Figurines

Han burial figurines were much smaller-- 50-60 centimeters on average, about one-third of the average Qin terracotta. Although small, the facial features were delicate and true to life. Individual facial expressions were presented with accuracy. The body figures were well-proportioned and elegant.
Even the weapons and daily utensils in their hands were made of iron or bronze and were proportional to the height of the figurines. In the hand of a pottery figurine is a circular copper coin whose diameter is less than 1 centimeter. But on its face were inscribed two words, clearly visible,
indicating its face value, "半两."

Naked Figurines of Han Yangling

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Monday, January 12, 2009

Chinese Tutor - Sheng (male)




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Exchange>Exhibition

Sheng (male)

Zhuge Liang

Empty City Scheme

With the Help of the East Wind

Zhuge Liang was the minister of the State of Shu during the Three Kingdoms Period (220-280), an outstanding politician and military expert.

Zhuge Liang was stationed in Xicheng to guard the city with little military presence, At the critical moment when Sima Yi, senior general of Cao Cao, was about to launch an attack against Xicheng, Zhuge courageously decided on the Empty City Scheme by which he sent the few remaining aged soldiers
to sweep the streets with the city gate wide open while Zhuge himself sat playing music on the city wall. Bewildered by the situation upon arrival, Sima refrained the army from advancing any further. By the time Sima learned the truth, Zhao Yun, senior general of the State of Shu, and his troupes
had already come to Zhuge's rescue. Sima Yi therefore had to withdraw his troops.

In the Battle of Red Cliff, the States of Wu and Shu formed the united front. Zhuge Liang and Zhou Yu decided upon a plan of fire attack against the strong army of Cao Cao. Zhuge secured, in Nanping Mountain, the east wind needed to implement the plan. Subsequently, the two States achieved to burn
Cao Cao's warships and won the victory.

Qiao Xuan

Qiao Xuan was the minister of the State of Wu during the Three Kingdoms Period (220-280), and father-in-law of Zhou Yu and general of the State of Wu. Sun Quan, king of the State of Wu played a trick by which he promised to marry his sister to Liu Bei, in an attempt to hold him as hostage, when he
came to meet his future bride, in exchange for the Prefecture of Jing occupied by Liu at that time. When Liu, well aware of the trick, responded to the invitation by coming to the eastern side of the river, the first visited Qiao Xuan. In the Temple of Ganlu, Qiao Xuan tactically praised Liu's
merits and virtues, which finally led to the consent of Sun's mother to the marriage between Liu Bei and Sun's sister.

Repertoire:The Temple of Ganlu

Zhou Yu

Zhou Yu was an important general of the State of Wu during the Three Kingdoms Period (220-280). Prior to the Battle of Red Cliff, Zhou Yu convened a gathering of all the heroes and elite forces against Cao Cao in the State of East Wu, during which all kinds of plans and strategies to defeat Cao
Cao were proposed. The famous event known as "gathering of heroes" contributed to the preparatory work for Zhou Yu's fire attack against Cao's troops.

Repertoire:Gathering of Heroes

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Saturday, January 10, 2009

Chinese Pinyin - A Different Flavor of "Peony Pavilion"




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Exchange>Stage

A Different Flavor of "Peony Pavilion"

Kunqu Opera

Kunqu Opera was included on top of the first batch of “Human Beings” Verbal and Intangible Cultural Heritage Representative Work selected by UNESCO. As the current most ancient drama form, Kunqu Opera is one of the originals from the world’s three largest ancient dramas. Starting from the
late Yuan Dynasty and early Ming Dynasty, Kunqu Opera is a performance and singing art with strict rules and forms, complete patterns, graceful and pleasant tunes, and gentle, lingering music. With integrated literature, drama, performances, music, dance, and art, Kunqu Opera is the stage art with
the most poetic and pictorial splendor. With all the advantages of ancient Chinese aesthetics, Kunqu Opera has always been reputed as the foundation of all dramas and considered a national treasure. Kunqu Opera The Peony Pavilion is the pinnacle in Chinese dramatic history and brings the delicacy
and romance of Kunqu Opera into full play.

Abstract of "Peony Pavilion"

In Lin’an city in Zhejiang Province, there lived a girl from a rich family named Du Liniang. One day, she goes to the garden to have some fun. She is mesmerized by the unsurpassed spring scenery and she is ravished by an intoxicating dream, in which a handsome scholar (Liu Mengmei) comes to her
with a willow branch and they fall in love at first sight. Waking from the dream, she finds no way to part with his image in her heart and it seems impossible for her to lock up her heart that has just been freed from the bondage of feudal ethics. She is so enchanted by the feeling that she finds
herself going nowhere else except in the dream where she stays with Liu Mengmei. As a result, she gets lost in the smothering atmosphere of her family where she cannot follow her heart to choose her ideal spouse.

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