Chinese Pinyin - The Forbidden City

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The Forbidden City

( 2008-07-08 )

The palace grounds are divided into two parts: the Front Palace (Qianchao) to the south and the Inner Palace (Neiting) to the north. The Front Palace consists chiefly of three halls -- the Hall of Supreme Harmony (Taihedian), the Hall of Central Harmony (Zhonghedian) and the Hall of Preserving
Harmony (Baohedian). Here, important ceremonies, such as the accession of a new emperor to the throne and the emperor's birthday and wedding, were held.

The Inner Palace mainly includes the Palace of Heavenly Purity (Qianqinggong), the Hall of Prosperity (Jiaotaidian) and the Palace of Earthly Tranquility (Kunninggong), where emperors and empresses lived. Behind them is the Imperial Garden.

On each side of the inner three great halls are six eastern palaces and six western palaces, respectively, which were used as residences for concubines.

The Palace Museum in the Forbidden City has the country's largest collection of ancient art works, some of which are invaluable national treasures. Art works in the museum's collection total 1,052,653, including paintings, pottery, bronze wares, inscribed wares, toys, clocks and court documents,
etc.

In 1987, the Forbidden City was included in the World Heritage List of UNESCO.

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Learn Chinese - Hunting and Archery on Horseback

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Hunting and Archery on Horseback

( 2008-07-07 )

Hunting was one of the productive activities carried out by the primitive man as a means of survival. In the latter stage of the primitive society it began to be incorporated into the military training programmes of the ruling class. By the Spring and Autumn and the Warring States periods (770-221
BC) it assumed enormous dimensions as the rulers "taught the civilians ways to fight" by training them in such combat skills as marching, archery on horseback, and hand-to-hand fighting.

In the early Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 24), hunting gradually became a kind of recreation for the emperors and the nobility. Emperor Liu Che (140 BC- AD 88) had a hunting ground opened up in a forest west of the city of Xi'an. Named Shang Lin Yuan Park, it covers a large area with a
circumference of hundreds of kilometers. Li Yuanji, son of the Tang emperor Li Yuan, is said to "prefer going without food for three days to going without hunting for one day." This shows what great favor hunting was among the nobility.

Rulers of the Oing Dynasty (1644-1911) hailed from northeast China where people depended on hunting for their livelihood. Following an old tradition, they practised marching and fighting through hunting. Emperor Kangxi (1662-1723) had a hunting ground named Mulan Ranch opened up in Rehe (a region
comprising parts of today' s Hebei, Liaoning and Inner Mongolia), where large-scale hunting was carried out in the seventh and eighth months of the lunar year for six decades on end. Oianlong (1736-1796), another Oing emperor, issued a decree to make his officials understand the importance of
hunting to both military exercise and physical training.

　 Emblems More

* Dancing Beijing -- Beijing 2008 Olympic Emblem

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* 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 Class - Where Can I Find Siheyuan-style Hotel to Stay in Beijing

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Where Can I Find Siheyuan-style Hotel to Stay in Beijing

( 2008-06-27 )

Q: Where can I find Siheyuan-style hotel to stay in Beijing

A: Touring around Beijing, you'll see lots of modern hotels. Have you thought of staying in Siheyuans Hiding in hutongs, the Siheyuan hotels have red walls, old chairs and embroidered pillows, all those reminding you that here is Beijing, a modern city with long history as well.

It is normal for a Siheyuan (courtyard) has four rooms positioned along the north-south, east-west axes. The room positioned to the north and facing the south is considered the main house and would traditionally have accommodated the head of the family. The rooms adjoining the main house are
called "side houses" and were the quarters of the younger generations or less important members of the family.

Those Siheyuan hotels listing below make experience old Beijing life style.

Haoyuan Hotel

Having a big front yard and quiet back yard, Haoyuan is a typical Siheyuan. In the front yard there is stone chair under a giant tree. Sitting there in the sun, you'll feel warm though it's still winter.

There are single rooms, double rooms and suits in Haoyuan. Every room has wooden chairs and the wooden windows are decorated with paper-cut. In the afternoon, sunshine will penetrate into the room through the window.

Haoyuan has started receiving foreign guests ever since the early 1990s and part of the hotel's annual turnover has been contributed to charity organizations.

The dining department at Haoyuan serves both Chinese and Western breakfasts and also provides courtyard barbeque.

Location: No.53, Shijia hutong, Dongcheng District

Tel: 010-65125557

Price: Chinese luxury suite (RMB1,960 per night)

Chinese feature room (RMB680 per night)

Standard room (RMB550 per night)

Lusongyuan Hotel

As the mansion of a prestigious general in Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), the yard is rather complicated. Thanks to the guidance of an old man dressed in ancient Chinese suit, you won't get lost.

The room is usually dimly lit, with dark colored desks and chairs, white china cups, red embroidery silk blanket, red lanterns and red curtains, which deliver a vivid representation of old Beijing atmosphere.

The hotel's restaurant offers Beijing homemade dishes, which makes you feel at home.

After meal, have a cup of tea in a teahouse next to the restaurant. Take off your shoes, crouch on the couches and enjoy a sunny afternoon. Don't think of too much about the properties, you will find many others do the same. Sometimes, the hostess will sit over there, doing some embroidery. How
relaxed!

This is the place you may stay for long time, and indeed you'll find there are some people do live there for weeks. Lusongyuan is also a member of the Youth Hotel Association China.

Location: No.22, Banchang hutong, Kuanjie, Dongcheng District

Tel: 010-64040436

The Bamboo Garden Hotel

Compared with other houses in the same Hutong, the bright red door of the Bamboo Garden Hotel is very noticeable.

Like its name, Bamboo Garden, there are lots of bamboos inside the Siheyuan. Especially when you go to the back yard, you'll be astonished by the green world.

Location: No.24, Xiaoshiqiao hutong, Jiugulou Dajie (old Drum and Tower Avenue), Xicheng District

Tel: 010-64032229

　 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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Study Chinese - One With Everything

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One With Everything

The title of the sculpture exhibition, Looking for Spiritual Space, suggests Taiwan artist Li Zhen's inner contemplation of Buddha and nature.

Now on at the National Art Museum of China, the exhibition displays some 30 pieces of Li's bronze sculptures. Polished in silver gloss, most of the works are based on such Buddhist images as Sakyamuni and the Goddess of Mercy.

Ranging from half-a-meter to three meters in height, the works look imposing and convey a feeling of auspiciousness. The sculptures are done in different poses - some standing, some sitting and yet others lying down.

Li has done a lot of research on Buddhist and Taoist classics. Combining his comprehension of tradition and modern techniques, he comes up with his own personal sculptural language. Simple compositions and a streamlined design make for an integral whole.

The works are imbued with a philosophical spirit and a sense of meditation.

For his representative work Avalokitesvara Rides on a Dragon, which was created in 2001, Li employed round-modeling and symmetrical composition. The surface of the sculpture is glazed black, transmitting both heavy and light effects. Avalokitesvara, Goddess of Mercy, opens up his arms to embrace
the sky, the earth and all human beings. His gesture is full of momentum while his facial expression is calm and warm. Under his feet, the strength of dragon is vividly executed. Stepping on pearls, lotuses and auspicious clouds, the dragon and its master transcends through space and time.

Born in 1963, Li made traditional Buddhist sculptures in his early years. Many of his works have been selected for international art shows around the world.

9 am-5 pm, until May 11

National Art Museum of China, 1 Wusi Dajie, Dongcheng District

6401-7076

Editor:Wang Nan

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HSK - Dan (female)

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Dan (female)

Yang Yuhuan

Yang Yuhuan was a concubine of Tang Minghuang, Emperor of the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Emperor Tang Minghuang and Yang Yuhuan, his concubine, made an appointment to drink at the Hundred Flower Pavilion. After waiting for a long time in vain for the arrival of the Emperor Minghuang, Yang was so
angry that she drank a lot till she got drunk. She returned to her residence with great disappointment.

Repertoire:The Drunken Beauty

Wang Zhaojun

Wang Zhaojun was the former concubine of Emperor Han Yuandi. She was later married afar to the Chieftain of the Huns. The Han regime was not strong enough to resist the invasion of the Huns due to weakness of the Emperor and incompetence of the court ministers and officials. Wang Zhaojun, filled
with grief and indignation, was forced to assume her mission of marrying afar to the Chieftain of the Huns in order to defend the Han from foreign invasion and seek a cease-fire between the two belligerent parties.

Repertoire: Zhaojun Married Abroad

Yu Ji

Yu Ji was the beloved concubine of Xiang Yu, overlord of the State of Chu, in the period when the states of Chu and Han were engaged in war. In the late period when the states of Chu and Han were in war against each other, Yu Ji performed the sword dance in profound agony, to comfort the then
defeated Xiang Yu, before she ended her life with the sword, encouraging Xiang Yu to break out of the siege.

Repertoire: Farewell, My Concubine

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Learning Chinese - A Time for Space

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A Time for Space

Public Space No. 26 by Wu Yang.

Today's red-hot Chinese art market is always looking for something new and it appears abstract painting has become one of the coolest new discoveries. Renowned curator Fang Zhenning says the Chinese community has long understood the fine art of creating and appreciating abstract essentials in
visual imagery thanks to Chinese characters, calligraphy and painting.

"But we never relate calligraphic artto a painting, because its function as a language was established," he says.

"However, there have always been abstract elements in Chinese painting from the very beginning. The most outstanding example is Master Badashanren from the Qing Dynasty."

Fang now has a new favorite abstract artist Wu Yang, who has blown away critics, curators and foreign artists with a breakthrough new exhibition.

Wu Yang

Flying White is the fourth solo exhibition for Wu Yang, who comments on China's fast developing urban landscapes by painting striking black-and-white abstract acrylic images on photographic paper.

The artist's combination of photographic paper and Chinese ink images of the urban landscapes has interested foreign art critics who have praised her traditional-modern fusion technique.

Indian artist Sarbajit Sen has said he was very inspired after seeing Wu's paintings because it gave him special insight into the Chinese psyche.

"I felt a strong energy and discovered very familiar poetry of an urban mindscape where things are fragmented and are in a constant state of flux and uncertainty."

Sen said the discovery of new art ideas inspired him to be a better artist himself.

German art critic HD Schrader said he was very impressed by the subject of urban spaces presented on photographic paper.

He said Wu's language was very contemporary yet the painting naturally creates feels of Chinese ink painting.

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Chinese language - Items on Display (III)

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Items on Display (III)

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