Traveling not only enriches the soul, it also enriches your mind. You get to understand other cultures and ways of life, learn new ways of expressing oneself through the use of a different language, and meet new people. You also get to know about a country’s origin and history as you go about viewing the remnants and monuments to a country’s past. And a deeper understanding about the country you will be visiting prepares you for the expected as well as the unexpected.

The ancient Chinese civilization came about the same time that the civilization in Mesopotamia, the Indus Valley in the Indian subcontinent and that of Egypt were also emerging. These ancient civilizations have things in common. All of them invented their own forms of writing, made tools and implements and use stones and metals, domesticated animals, created social structures and class systems, established government systems and hierarchy and built cities and towns.

China is a country that has a long and illustrious past. Historians believe that Chinese civilization dates back in 6000 BC, the longest continuous civilization in the world and a country that also has a written language that has been described as the longest in use. Throughout its long history, it is understandable but still quite remarkable that outstanding Chinese citizens were able to invent things that are still very useful today. Many inventions that came from China were made known to the outside world through merchants and traders and many of these inventions, although improved upon by other cultures, are still traced back to China. The country’s ancient inventors gave the world ice cream, gunpowder, kites, umbrellas, paper, block printing, abacus, porcelain, tea and silk among other noteworthy and useful inventions.

It is not only the inventions that China is famous for. There are simply too many things that are unique to the country and are worth knowing. China has the giant panda, the country’s symbol for bravery and might. The country also introduced tea to the world and discovered silk and sericulture, a very precious commodity and a well-guarded secret during those times. Chinese calligraphy was the origin of the written characters of Korea, Japan and Vietnam. The Great Wall of China can be clearly seen even from outer space and almost every one enjoys the gaiety and festivities associated with the celebration of the Chinese New Year.

China is truly a fascinating country to visit and once you land into the country and settled down, you will begin a journey that will be a delight for all your five senses. Our Travel Guide China brings you a sneak peek into the wonderful places to see, the things to do and the things that you might want to know about China and its people.

The Giant Panda

One of the highly recognizable icons of China is the rare giant panda, a bear that has distinct black and white coat. Its ears eyes and the upper portion of its body and its legs and arms are covered with black fur. The Giant Panda is native to southwestern and central western parts of China, in the provinces of Gansu, Sichuan and Shaanxi. The giant panda’s main food is bamboo although the animal belongs to the carnivorous order. In adapting to this diet, the giant panda must consume about 83 pounds of bamboo a day. The giant panda of China is also the icon used by the World Wildlife Fund or WWF, a fitting tribute to the highly conservation-reliant endangered animal.

The bear is generally solitary and prefer to roam and feed in the bamboo forests in the mountains. It can live to about 30 years in captivity but will only survive for around 20 years in the wild. The panda can climb trees and find shelter in tree hollows so its does not need to hibernate unlike other bears. It can move towards warmer locations during winter. The mating season is very brief (from March to May) and the male will leave the female alone after mating and the female will have sole responsibility of raising its cub.

A male adult giant panda can grow to a height of 4 to 6 feet or 1.20 to 1.38 meters with a tail of around 5.1 inches and can weigh up to 160 kilos or 350 pounds. The female is about 10% to 20% shorter and have an average weight of about 75 kilos or 170 pounds. It is surprising that the panda can grow to this size, as it will only weigh about 100 to 200 grams at birth and measure between 6 to 7 inches. The cub is also born blind, toothless and is colored pink. It will have its distinct color markings after a month.

Historians believed that the giant panda existed two to three million years ago and the earliest known reference to the animal was during the Qin Dynasty. It was a revered animal and considered a treasure during the Han Dynasty that ruled China from 206 BC to 24 AD. Its existence became known to the outside world in 1869 when Father Armand David, a French priest, botanist and zoologist sent a skeleton and panda pelt to Paris for research and further study.

Some panda bears were loaned by China to some zoos outside of the country. As of the 2006 study, there are about 2,000 to 3,000 panda bears living in the wild and in captivity, including the 127 found in Wolong, 239 in captivity, 67 in Chengdu and 27 outside of China.

Great Wall of China

Closely linked with China’s history is the iconic Great Wall of China, a World Heritage Site since 1987 and one of the most fascinating destinations in the country. It is like a dragon that’s meandering over and across grasslands, plateaus, mountains and deserts. Its total length is 5,500 miles or about 8,851.8 kilometers, running from east to west. Its Chinese names are Wàn Lǐ Cháng Chéng and Cháng Chéng in Chinese Pinyin. Construction of the fortification started during the Warring States, around the 5th century BC and was finished during the Ming Dynasty in the 16th century BC. That’s a span of some 2,000 years.

It is the longest human-made structure in the world and begins at the Shanhaiguan in the east to Lop Nur in the west of the country. The most famous part of the wall was built by China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang between 220 BC and 200 BC, although little of it remains today. It joined several regional walls constructed by the Warring States and was located further north than the present Great Wall. Most of the wall that can be seen today was built during the Ming Dynasty. Contrary to beliefs that the wall was constructed to bar invaders who will find it difficult to scale the wall, it was actually constructed to make sure that the semi-nomadic people who lived outside the wall cannot cross it astride their horses and thus prevent smuggling and stealing.

The Great Wall was built in parts – first by the short-lived Qin Dynasty then the Han Dynasty followed by the Five Dynasties and the period of the Ten Kingdoms and lastly by the Ming Dynasty under the rules of Emperor Hongwu and Wanli. Prior to the use of stronger construction materials like bricks and limestone, the early parts of the wall were made of earth, wood and stones.

It is one of the top destinations in China although it can be quite a feat to climb. Going up the steep steps to the wall can already be exhausting thus most tourists only get to walk along the walls for a few meters.

Precious Silk and the Silk Route

Sericulture was the most closely guarded secret in history and was kept that way by the Chinese for over 2,000 years. Such was the importance of silk that anyone caught smuggling silkworm eggs and/or silk cocoons out of China were meted the death sentence. According to the Chinese legend, Lady Hsi-Ling Shih accidentally discovered silk when a silkworm cocoon dropped into her cup of hot tea and the fibers unraveled. She was the wife of the mythical Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan Shi who ruled China around 3000 BC. That is part of the common legend, although she was actually given credit for the sericulture’s introduction and the loom’s invention to weave the silk fibers into cloth. However, archeological finds reveal that the origins of sericulture may be even earlier. A silkworm cocoon was discovered near the Yellow River located in Shanxi Province that’s dated between 2600 and 2300 BC while an ivory cup bearing a silkworm design, fragments of silk fabric, thread and spinning tools that is believed to be about 6,000 to 7,000 years old have been found near the lower Yangzi River. At Qianshanyan in the province of Zhejiang, ribbons, silk threads and woven silk fragments dating back around 3000 BC were also discovered.

Although there were several species of wild silk moths, China only used the blind and flightless Bombyx mori that lived on the white mulberry trees that are endemic to China. This flightless moth can lay more than 500 eggs within 4 to 6 days before it dies. An ounce of eggs will produce about 30,000 silkworms that will consume a ton of mulberry leaves. 12 pounds of raw silk can be harvested from this batch of worms. The growing silkworms are very particular of their surroundings. The eggs must be confined in a place that has a constant temperature of about 65 °F to 77 °F (18 °C to 25 °C) until they are hatched. The worms have to be fed every one-half hour and must be kept in an area that is free from strong smells such as meat and fish, drafts, and sweat odor and away from loud noises.

Silk clothes were only used by the king or emperor and his immediate family during the early times. Gradually the ministers and members of the elite were able to wear silk clothes. Eventually silk became an integral part of China’s economy and by the 5th century BC five provinces in China were producing the fine material. It became very valuable and treated almost like currency during the Han Dynasty, as silk fabrics were used for tax payments, salaries of civil servants and rewards for exemplary service. The practice continued until the Tang Dynasty.

Silk trading was established during the Han Dynasty, around 206 BCE. The Silk Route was established and expanded in Central Asia by 114 BCE mostly from the efforts of Zhang Qian, an imperial envoy for foreign relations. Its long network of interconnecting trade routes covered a distance of 6,500 kilometers, extending from China to East, West and South Asia and to the Mediterranean, Europe as well as East and North Africa. Silk was not the only commodity traded along the Silk Route or Silk Road. Other products such as spices, perfumes, medicines, teas, porcelain, ivory, precious stones, jewelry, gold, silver, carpets, wine, glassware, as well as philosophies, religions and technologies were traded, which led to the development not only of China but also of India, Persia, Ancient Rome, Arabia and Ancient Egypt.

Chinese immigrants brought sericulture to Korea about 200 BC. It reached India in 300 AD and the ancient Greek city of Byzantium around 550 AD when two monks were able to smuggle silkworm eggs. This led to the established of sericulture in other countries outside China which eventually led to the decline of the country’s monopoly on silk fabrics.

Chinese New Year

It is easy to think that nothing can be grander than when the Chinese celebrates the coming of the lunar New Year. It is the most important and the oldest festival in China and anywhere in the world where there is a Chinese community. It is also called the Spring Festival as this marks the start of spring. The 15-day celebration involves many preparations and the observance of traditional practices to be ready to welcome the New Year and receive luck for the whole year. These customs, traditions, beliefs and practices have been handed down through generations. Some of these include the thorough cleaning of their houses, repaying debts and buying new clothes, which are also similar to what is practiced in the West. It is a time for thanksgiving and family reunion. The highlight of the festival is the religious ceremony to honor family ancestor, household gods and heaven and earth as the family gathers for a feast called weilu, which translates in English to “surrounding the stove.” Firecrackers are set off during New Year’s Eve to send off the old year and welcome the new year.

However, the Chinese do have some beliefs that they follow such storing sharp knives to prevent these from cutting down the potential luck they may receive. Small orange trees (kumquat) with lots of fruits are purchased as a symbol of prosperity, happiness and wealth. Oranges are a symbol of good luck for the Chinese and used to honor ancestors and traditional gifts for the New Year. Oranges with leaves still attached are considered a symbol of secure relationship.

Plants with flowers are placed in the house for prosperity. The Chinese attach significance to different flowers and as such some of these become very popular during this particular season. Plum and peach blossoms are for good luck while the chrysanthemum and narcissus blossoms are for longevity and good health. Bamboo plants symbolize compatibility. Evergreen pines are meant for steadiness and longevity. Also considered lucky are peony, water lily and azalea blooms. The Chinese also prepare red envelopes called lai see, hungpow or hong bao with money. These are given to children, unmarried relatives, friends and married couples for good luck.

Instead of Santa Claus who knows who had been naughty or nice, the Chinese has the Kitchen God who reports to the Jade Emperor who had been bad and good throughout the year. To appease the Kitchen God, families prepare an offering of sweet and sticky food like sweets made with lotus seeds and sweet sticky rice five days before the New Year.

Chinese homes are decorated with oranges, images of fish and babies as the Chinese words for these items sound just like the word for lucky and gold, many and extra, respectively. A candy tray filled with different candies representing good fortune arranged in an octagon or circle shape is put on display. Adults usually place a lai see when they take candies from the tray. Candies contain candied melon, red melon seeds, lychees, kumquat, coconut, peanuts, lotus seeds and longan.

The Chinese people have very interesting customs that they observe during the 15-day festival. The first day is for welcoming the gods of earth and heaven. They abstain from eating meat to ensure their long and happy lives. The second day is believed to be the birthday of all dogs. Sons-in-law pay their respects to their parents-in-law during the third and fourth day. Po Woo is the name for the fifth day and is the time for welcoming the god of wealth. Nobody leaves the house or visits families and friends to avoid bringing bad luck to them and to others. Then do their visiting during the sixth day. It is also the time to visit temples to pray for health and good fortune. The seventh day is for farmers. They showcase their produce and make a drink from seven types of vegetables. Raw fish and noodles are eaten as this is also considered the birthday of all humans. The eighth day is reserved for another family reunion while the ninth day is the time to make offerings to the Jade Emperor.
During the tenth to the twelfth day of the festival, friends and relatives must be invited for dinner. Cleansing is observed on the 13th day by eating congee and mustard leaves. The 14th day is preparation time for the last day, which is culminated with the Lantern Festival.
Traditional New Year’s Day food is vegetarian. The dish is called jai and includes lotus seeds to get male offsprings, gingko nuts (silver ingots), black moss seaweed (abundant wealth), dried bean curd (happiness and abundant wealth) and bamboo shoots (general wellness). They also serve whole fish for prosperity and abundance and whole chicken (including head, tail and feet) for completeness.

Chinese Calligraphy

The tradition of Asian calligraphy started in China and was adapted by neighboring Korea, Vietnam and Japan. Chinese calligraphy is considered both as a writing discipline and as an art form, and is differentiated with other forms of cultural arts as it shows energy in motion and emphasizes a dynamic life with rhythm and time. It spurred the development of many art forms in East Asia.

The Jiǎgǔwén characters carved on the underside of tortoise shells and the scapulas of ox are the oldest existing characters from Ancient China. They were created around the 14th to the 11th century BCE, as those that were created with a brush did not survive. A new set of characters was developed by each kingdom that existed in China during the early years of the calligraphic development. Samples of these calligraphic characters can still be seen on the steles during Imperial China, including the stele of Emperor Qin Shi Huang. It was during his reign that Li Si, a calligrapher created a standard 3,300 Xiǎozhuàn characters.

During the Han Dynasty the Lìshū style or clerical script, characterized by a more regular and rectilinear script was developed. They are still used today for its artistry in advertising signboards and headlines. Also still in use today is the Kăishū style which is the more traditional and regular script. Its development was attributed to Wang Xizhi, called the Sage of Calligraphy who was born during the Jin Dynasty. By that time wooden printing blocks were already in use to print books. This led to the development of a more regular and stable script style. The use of this style was promoted extensively by Emperor Mingzong of the Later Tang Dynasty.

There are Four Treasures of the Study that are associated and essential to Asian calligraphy, namely the ink, ink stone, paper and ink brush. Calligraphy brushes are considered as extensions of the arm of the calligrapher and care is given to its creation. Common brushes have bamboo barrels or body but gold, ivory, silver, glass and red sandalwood, all rare materials were also used. The brush hairs are typically made from the hair or feathers of duck, chicken, wolf, tiger, deer, rabbit, pig and weasel. Special brushes were made from the hair of newborn babies. Special types of paper are used in China for calligraphy. Most of these papers, called Xuanzhi are traditionally created in the province of Anhui. These are made from tartar wingceltis. Some are made from paper mulberry, rice, hemp and bamboo.

The Chinese ink stones are highly priced items and are considered as art objects. These are made from clay, ceramic and stone found from the banks of the Yellow River. The ink stone is used to grind the ink stick with water. Students of calligraphy must learn the art of grinding ink sticks. Ink sticks are made from lampblack or soot and binding materials. Determinants for the beauty of the calligraphy are dependent on the size, stretch, type and shape of the hair in the brush, the density of the ink and the absorptive property of the paper. The expertise of the calligrapher is based on the pressure, inclination, direction, speed and final shape of each stroke as well as the quantity of the ink and water the brush take up.

Some of the representative of the beautiful Chinese calligraphy and art works can be seen in The Copy of Huaisu’s Goddess Tie by Huizong, Riding Crane by Ting Shouping, Heron and Stone by Badashanren and Autumn View of Stream and Mountain by Ma Yuan.

Chinese Tea

The center of origin of tea was the merging point of north Burma, southwest China, Tiber and northeast India in Southeast Asia. Geographically it is at the intersection of latitude 29° north and longitude 98° east. In China the tea plants were found growing in the provinces of Yunnan and Sichuan, with the former being identified as the place where tea was born and where humans first realized the brewing tea or eating the young tea leaves could be a pleasant experience. The home of the oldest cultivated tea tree, which is about 3,200 years old, is Fengqing Country, in the city of Lincang, located in the province of Yunnan.

Tea or chá in Mandarin, which is a popular beverage around the world, has many legends in China. One of the most popular one involved Emperor Shennong of China who was drinking boiled water around 2737 BC. Some leaves from a tree growing nearby were blown into the cup of hot water and changed its color. The emperor liked the brew for its restorative properties and flavor.

The brew had been consumed by the Chinese for thousands of years and the earliest records of tea consumption in China dates back around 10th century BC. However, it was already an imperial brew during the Qin Dynasty that existed around the 3rd century BC. The people from the Han Dynasty consumed tea for its medicinal properties. Chinese philosopher Laozi declared that tea was a major component of the elixir of life. Physician and surgeon Hua Tuo mentioned tea in 220 AD as able to improve mental functions in his book, Shin Lun.

As the popularity of tea became more widespread in China so do the recorded works on it. Writer Lu Yu, who lived during the Tang Dynasty, wrote the Cha Jing or The Classic of Tea where he described how the process of growing the plants, processing the tea leaves and the preparation of the beverage were done. The book also had a section on how tea was evaluated and how the best tealeaves are picked. During the Tang Dynasty, tea bricks were used as currency.

The Song Dynasty introduced new ways to prepare tea. The tea came in loose-leaf styles and powdered tea was also created. Tea bricks were steamed before but the powdered form’s the introduction changed the way tea was consumed, traded and distributed. It was also during the Song Dynasty that tealeaves were roasted and crumbled instead of being steamed. This was the start of the loose-leaf teas and tea brewing, as we know today.

The Ming Dynasty took things further in the 14th century and decreed that only loose tea leaves were the acceptable tribute to the monarchy, thus increasing its production and the invention of better processing techniques.