Mysterious Tiger of Ancient Ba People II

The Tujia people living along the Qingjiang River in today's Changyang County, Hubei Province affordable China tours, still offer sacrifice in their boats. The deity they worship is the Wuluo Zhongli Mountain nearby, where they believe their ancestor Lin Jun was born. Many activities today are symbolic rather than being heavy and magical in remote antiquity. History has recorded the religion, belief and customs of ancient ethnic groups.
Shiben (Origin of the World), compiled by the Qin and Han people and after which Sima Qian of the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-25 AD) wrote his Historical Records, said that there were two caves in the Wuluo Zhongli Mountain, one was red, the other black. The first king of the Ba State Lin Jun was born in the red cave. The Ba people were composed of five family groups with different surnames. Lin Jun, due to his accuracy in throwing swords and leading positions in boat-racing, became the leader of the five groups. Now the red cave and the temple to worship Lin Jun can still be found. Standing on the Wuluo Zhongli Mountain and looking far into the dark blue Qingjiang River, one can be lost in history.
To the east of Wuluo Zhongli Mountain China Photo Tour and on a platform of the Qingjiang River Valley, people found the Xianglushi (Stone used as an incense burner) Cultural Ruins, which cover an area of 70 square meters. From the articles unearthed there, we can vividly see the ancient scenes as recorded in historical documents. The huge oracle bones were mainly sculptured from gill covering of big fish or tortoise shells. This, to some degree, shows the fishing and hunting life of the early-stage Ba people. The oracle fish bone has not been found in any other ruins of the same period.
For the Ba people, migration was as important as war. Previous archaeological surveys came to the conclusion that the Ba people entered the Yangtze River by way of the juncture where the Qingjiang River joins the Yangtze. However, some later facts reversed this conclusion. Archaeologists believed that the ancient Yangtze River had a larger volume of water than today and landslides occurred time and again. Therefore, it was hardly possible for the ancient Ba people to go upstream among turbulent rivers and treacherous shoals in their simple canoes.
On the contrary, there is proof that the Ba people entered the Yangtze River Yangtze River tour through the Daxi. The Daxi has become a dry river bed today and is situated about 30 km to the east of Qutang Gorge. In the past, it moved toward the Qingjiang River, parallel to the Yangtze River. Going across the watershed between the Qingjiang and Yangtze rivers, Daxi entered Enshi. The Enshi section was available for navigation until the 5th century. During the Spring and Autumn Period (770 BC-476 BC), Ba troops were frequently spotted in Zhijiang, Songzi and Jiangling of Hubei Province. So we can say that the Ba people went eastward along the Daxi.
The Yangtze River became a new starting point for the Ba people. The usually strong Ba people began a pastoral life on two banks of the Yangtze River. They planted rice and oats, collected mulberries to raise silkworms and brewed wine with high-quality grain. As they got abundant food to eat, they used their surplus rice to make cosmetics. At intervals of wars, the Ba women would try their best to show their beauty.
According to archaeologists, the Ba people set up their homes mainly on tributaries of the Yangtze River as they first entered the area. The relatively weak Ba people found flat platforms and fertile soil convenient for living. Later, the Ba became prosperous in division and unity with the Chu and Shu states. As a result, they built capitals in Fengdu, Zhongxian and Fuling along the river.
Chongqing, now the largest industrial and commercial city in west China, used to be the most important capital of the Ba State and called Jiangzhou. Though more than 2,000 years have passed, we can still feel the enthusiasm and straightforwardness of the men and beauty of the women in the city. The residential houses supported by wooden columns, the boats connecting with each other and the endless stone stages may remind us of the past Ba life style.
In history, any ethnic group which adored war would never cease migrating. In the following hundreds and thousands of years, the Ba people covered nearly half of China. But later their force gradually decreased.
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Mysterious Tiger of Ancient Ba People I

In ancient China, the White Tiger is a collection of seven stars in the western group of 28 Constellations (while the eastern, northern and southern seven-star groups are respectively called Gray Dragon, Black Turtle and Red Phoenix?China vacation deals). The White Tiger is said to oversee the weapons and wars of mankind, and is known as a god of fighting and killing. During the wars of the Western Zhou (c.1100 BC c. 771 BC) and Shang Dynasty (c.1600 BC c. 1100 BC), a brave and resourceful army got high praise from King Wu of Zhou, thereby claiming the name of "huben" and "hushi", both meaning "brave warriors." These were warriors of the ancient Ba people. The tiger later became an important component of central Han culture.

The History of the Eastern Han depicts the totems and origins of the Ba people and their first king Lin Jun. Many historians regard it as an important source for solving Ba mysteries. The book says, "After Lin Jun died, his soul turned into a white tiger. The later Ba generations watered it with human blood and offered human bodies as sacrifices for it." This gives written evidence that the ancient Ba people took the white tiger as their totem and thought it to be their ancestors.

Archaeological discoveries in the Three Gorges?Yangtze River tour?area in 1998 provided further evidence that the ancient Ba people sacrificed men for the tiger. In a Ba-style tomb, archaeologists found two human skulls at the foot of the remains of a Ba warrior, besides common burial articles such as bronze weapons. Obviously, the skulls were sacrifices. In another tomb, the dead had been cut into several sections to be used for sacrifice. These accidental or inevitable occurrences gave people thousands of years later the possibility to decipher its ancient mysteries.

The book doesn't give a detailed conclusion about the death of Lin Jun, the Ba's first king, but you can still imagine the scene then: the Ba people mastered the skills of fishing and hunting and military conflict and conquest were frequent among the tribes. As a military leader who set up the Ba State, Lin Jun could only be thought of to have died in battle. The later Ba people respected him as their god -- the white tiger.

In the minds of the ancient Ba people, the white tiger was the same as their ancestors and that's why the custom of offering sacrificial humans to the tiger was handed down.

Qingjiang River, called Yishui in the past, originates from Enshi County of Hubei Province?Public China Holidays?and flows through such places as Lichuan, Badong, Digui and Jianshi. Most of these areas hosted the Ba culture throughout history. Today we can still find the Tujia ethnic group there, who are thought to be the direct descendants of the Ba. It is completely appropriate if we compare the present Tujia area as a frozen space in historic time. The primitive scenes of the Ba culture are preserved well and handed down. For example, today's Tujia people still imitate the jumping, fishtailing and face washing actions of a tiger when offering sacrifices to the dead. Meanwhile, they sing songs about tigers and the tiger also appears in different images on the front gate of the diaojiaolou (houses seated on wooden columns) of the Tujia ethnic group. Human were still sacrificed to the tiger until the 1930s, but today the Tujia people only have their forehead cut in a gesture of sacrifice to the white tiger.

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Travel Guide -Xiang Mountain Scenic Spot

Xiang Mountain ridges from Xuzhou twist and twine. The main peak is the zenith of north Anhui (famous travel destination for China vacation deals) and the highest one among neighbouring hills. Here are grotesque peaks, cloud caves, immerse forest, green cypresses, antique temples and Hans steles.
Grotesque Peak: The peak is in north of ‘Water-permeating Cliff’ and Moya Cliffside Inscription. The peak looks like a giant dragon crouching in the deep ravine and rises like a crane standing among chickens. Others stand as if they were obeying submissively and docile.

Wang Zhang Stele: The stele is exactly located in the north of Xian Tong Temple. The observe and reverse sides of the stele are inscribed with “Main Mountain in Ten Thousands of Meters High” and “Amitabha” in seal characters. It is said that the stele erected here before being blown away and that finally it returned after travelling several countries for thousand miles. Climbing the stele, tourists can have a panoramic view of Huaibei City (an optional destination for Educational tours in China ).

Xian Tong Temple
The structure is magnificent and the layout is scattered yet reasonable. Entering the courtyard, tourists can see that ancient cypresses and ginkgo trees are towering. From the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynastie, to the present, twenty-two stele inscriptions of temples are left. Among them, the most attractive one is the one made by the Emperor Qianlong of Qing Dynasty, ‘The Kindness of Nanli Upon Me’ in imperial characters.

Music-Playing Terrace
The terrace is an annex to Xian Tong Temple and is used for statesmen and gentlemen coming to pay religious homage to the ancestors.

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Yangtze River History - Salt and the Ba Kingdom

In Records of Mountains and Seas, the Wu Kingdom in the Three Gorges area is depicted as having been connected with the salt industry. According to the Houhanshu (The History of the Later Han Dynasty last minute China travel deals), the Ba Kingdom played a very important role in the Three Gorges area, and almost all of the kingdom's activities were related to the production of salt and fishing.

Most of the Three Gorges area is covered by high mountains and torrential rivers, not suitable for farming. But there were salt, a rare and expensive material at the time, and fish. With salt, the fishermen could preserve the fish they caught, making it possible for them to store it as commodity for exchange. Owing to these two vital resources, the Ba Kingdom thrived and became increasingly powerful during a certain period of history.

According to existent records, until the later Shang Dynasty, the Ba Kingdom remained as an important political power in the Three Gorges area Yangtze River tour. It took part in the war to help King Wu (the first ruler of Zhou Dynasty) attack King Zhou (the last ruler of Shang Dynasty). The brave Ba people made their contribution in the establishment and development of the Zhou Dynasty (c. 1100 B.C.-221 B.C.).

Various discoveries and studies show that salt production was a great part of the mightiness of the Ba Kingdom China travel video in the later Shang and early Zhou dynasties. As some scholars concluded: the Ba Kingdom was built out of salt-making and developed on the basis of salt-making.

During the Spring and Autumn Period (770 B.C.-476 B.C.), the Ba was surrounded by the various states on all sides, the Chu to its east, the Shu to its west, and the Qin to its north. Compared with the other three, who fought frequent wars against one another, the Ba was a much weaker force. Finally, the eastern Three Gorges area, the salt producing center, was occupied by the Chu, which rendered the Ba to an even weaker position. Then in 361 B.C., the Qin State wiped out the Ba and Shu, and fought with Chu in the Three Gorges area. Scrambling for salt was obviously the main aim of the more than 300 years of continuous wars. It was the situation of salt production that decided the final fate of the Ba Kingdom.

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A historical and famous travel destination - Huainan

Ancient Shouzhou Kiln
Shouzhou kiln China travel deals started from the Southern Chen Dynasty and stopped in the late Tang Dynasty. It has about 400 years history. The products from Shouzhou kiln wee pot, bowls, pillows, ancient wine pot, toys and construction materials. Shouzhou kiln was one of the top seven kilns in the Tang Dynasty. The book ‘the Classic of Tea’ written by Lu Yu, has a record ‘porcelain with yellow and violet color’ and listed Shouzhou kiln as the number five kiln in history.

Bagong Mountain
Bagong Mountain has over 40 peaks with lush pines and Huai River (another famous river in China as Yangtze River where you can enjoy the beautiful view by joining Yangtze River tour) flowing through the north. Fei River flows through the south of Bagong Mountain and converge with Huai River.
Bagong Mountain has rich history. Many scholars and writers came here and wrote poem and proses since ancient time

Shangyao Mountain
Shangyao Mountain is one of the four ancient kilns in China. There is a famous essay ‘Gao Tang Fu’ written by Song Yu of the Warring State Period left in the park. The ‘On the Roof’ was the site of Yu Meng Zhi Tai where the kign Qingxiang of Chu and Song Yu travelled.

The Taoist temple in the park was built in the Northern Wei Dynasty. It is said that the immortal, Zhang Guo Lao enlighten in this temple. There is also a place hwere the Hongwu Emperor begged and played in his childhood. The legends ‘the legend of Queen Mother’ and ‘Fairy Cave’ occurred here. It is said that there is a mark of wheat kernel on the Wangmu Tan and the traces of Queen Mother and Zhang Guo Lao.

Jiaogang Lake
Jiaogang Lake is bordered by Bagong Mountain to the east and Huai River to the south. It is a lake converged by 18 rivers from Ying Shang and Lu’an (consider it for your China Photography Tours ). The wetland plants are lush with a large reed pond and a lotus pond. It is one of the best ecological and environmental protection areas in Anhui.

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Get to know Ling Canal

The Ling Canal is one of Guilin’s hidden gems. The most unfortunate aspect about the Ling Canal is that it is situated about 70 klms north of Guilin City China travel deals in an area that does not attract many foreign tourists because of its isolation from other tourist destinations. The other tourist attraction in this area is Merryland Theme Park and Golf Resort but by its nature it attracts a different kind of tourist.

The Canal is a wonderful example of the engineering and architectural skill that existed in Chinese society more that 2000 years ago. The Canal was built in the year 214BC by Qinshihuang, first Emperor of the Qin Dynasty. The canal system connects two rivers, Guilin’s Li River Yangtze River tour and the Xiang River but as these rivers are tributaries of the Pearl and Yangtze Rivers the connection linked two of the largest river systems in China thereby opening a huge area to allow travel and commerce to flourish. It was also an important political move as it unified north and south and allowed the Emperor to consolidate his power.

The complexity of the project is more easily understood when we see the difference in water levels between the two rivers which in some planes is around 6 meters. The project required a complex system of locks and dams to allow the two water systems to merge. At one point the two rivers are only separated by about 20 meters. It is fascinating to watch as the rivers flow in different directions.

It is possible to take a boat ride down the south canal to Xing'an Town China Photography Tours which is well worth the money. The wooden punt is poled along the canal by two boatmen who are happy to point out the points of interest and answer questions if you have someone along who speaks Chinese. They are happy to stop at the most significant spots on the canal for photos or to allow you to get a better look. The ride finishes in the town. The canal continues through Xing'an. The walk along the waterway is very interesting. It is lined with old traditional style building where the residents go about their daily life. I do believe that it would be very crowded with domestic tourists at holiday time, but our visit was free of any congestion and we were the only western tourist in the place. We not hassled by anybody wanting to sell souvenirs or continually assaulted by “hello, lookie” venders.

A Chinese guide or Chinese speaker is almost a necessity to get the most out of the experience. The ticket office at the entrance advertises a boat ride but this is just across a small lagoon and is not worth the RMB 20 per person for a 50 meter ride. The boat ride down the canal is purchased from the boat operators at the start of the south canal. You can’t miss it. The park that surrounds the start of the canal also contains a small museum displaying he wreckage of one of the legendary “flying tigers” squadron that operated in the area during W W 2. We found it interesting but not riveting.

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The historical places of interest in Bozhou

Huanzu Nunnery
Since 2000 years ago, the lives of two Bozhou celebrities living in the same dynasty were written down in a quite different way. They are Cao Cao and Hua Tuo.
Both of them are from the district of Qiao in the state of Pei. In his youth, Hua Tuo ‘studied in Xuzhou and understood thoroughly canons’ and devoted himself to medical treatments. On the other hand, suffering from ‘chronic headache’ since childhood, Cao Cao had Hua Tuo diagnosis regularly. As time passed, Hua Tuo made an excuse of leaving that his wife was ill and finally Cao Cao discovered his deception. Cao Cao ordered Hua Tuo’s execution. After Hua Tuo died, no one can cured his headache. Huangzu Nunnery is, according to legend, constructed out of Cao Cao’s regret for execution. The nunnery consists of temple, former residence and herb garden.
Tang Wang Ling Park
Tang Wang Ling Park (an optional park for China travel deals) is the tomb of Tang. It is said t hat Tang of Shang is one of kings of best morality in ancient times. He was buried in Bozhou. The tomb is a huge and round hummock, with 6 meters in height and 60 meters in perimeter. A stele, carved with ‘the Burial Palace of Tang of Shang’, was erected in front of tomb. A yellow Chinaberry tree stands in the south of tomb over 500 years. Within the park, a great diversity of trees and flowers are planted. Pines and cypresses are evergreen in the park. Also, winding paths lead to secluded spots. Ancient trees, mausoleum and vertical tombstone are features of the royal garden.
Daodezhong Palace
Daodezhong Palace (must-see in Bozhou for China Educational tours ), constructed in the Tang Dynasty and renovated during the reign of the Emperor Shen Zong of Ming Dynasty, is the palace of worshipping Laozi. ‘Lao Zu Dian’ and ‘Lao Zi Xing Gong’ are alternative names. Four Words, ‘Dao De Zhong Gong’ are inscribed above the front gate of palace. Ren Zu is revered in the middle of the palace, while Lao Zi the latter of the palace. In front of the palace has Wenli Alley where according to the legend, Confucius met and consulted Lao Zi about ceremony.
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Get to know Stone Drum Town/Shigu Zhen

At the base of the mountain flanking the First Bay of the Yangtze, stands a small town called Stone Drum Town. This town affordable China tours derives its name from a white marble carved monument in the shape of a drum, (diameter 15 m, thickness 0.7 m). This monument memorializes the victory and subsequent spread of power of Baizhuang, the Tusi of Mu Family of Lijiang, during the Jiajin years of the Ming Dynasty. This historically relevant stone monument was erected during one of the earliest periods in Lijiang. To the right of the monument is a lovely willow forest at its bank; while on the left flows the Chongjiang River. Spanning this river is the 17m long Tiehong Bridge, constructed of boards paved over iron chains, and with similar iron chains serving as fences on both sides. Stone Drum Town is a historically important town on the ancient trade route for tea and horses between inland provinces and Tibet. The town still features a flourishing trade fair, currently held every three days.
Shigu is 50 kilometers from Lijiang. It was named after a stone tablet in the shape of a drum recording the merits of a headman in Lijiang during the Ming Dynasty. On the bank of the river there is a memorial hall of the Long March fo the Red Army.
There is a stone-drum-shaped tombstone Educational tours in China in the town with the inscription recording the story that Mu Gao, the Naxi chieftain, beat the Tiibetan. And that is the reason why the town was named as Shigu (stone drum). The climate in Shigu is mild. The soil here is very fertile and productive. Because of all these, it is very important in the Tea-horse Road. Tibetan people brought furs and herbs here to exchange for tea, salt, cloth and other articles for people live around. It is in the market day when you can really experience the natural and simple life in this important town on Tea-horse Road.
Weather & climate
The area is characteristic of a humid river valley China tour videos climate. The rainy season is from July to September. The annual average temperature is 14.6 degrees centigrade. The hottest month is July with an average temperature of 21 degrees centigrade. January is predictably the coldest month, with a temperature average of 6.7 degrees centigrade.
Special Features
Stone Drum Town is a bustling ethnic community, with Naxi, Zang, Bai, Yi, Miao, and Hui people all inhabiting the town. The Naxi are the main minority group, and their unique culture is well represented through their traditional lifestyle and centuries-old fashion of dressing. The women in Stone Drum Town do a special style of make-up. They usually wear blue hats and long gowns with white ribbons binding their waists. Moreover, traces of the town's glorious past as a vibrant trade bazaar are everywhere. The natural scenery is also stunning and vibrant, especially around the First Bend of the Yangtze River, and the scenery of the Jinshajiang River. The town has the premiere vantage point to view the First Bend of the Yangtze River Yangtze River tour.

Other Places to See in the ares of Huangshan

In its entirely, Huangshan Huangshan tour has enough sights worthy of attention to fill in a whole book. The following list is a brief summary of some of the places the mountain that warrant special mention:

West Sea Grand Canyon
Connecting the White Cloud area with the Cloud-dispelling Pavilion, this circular route passes by rare stone formations and reveals breathtaking views of the Grand Canyon of the West Sea. However this is a path reserved for the fittest travellers, as the steps can be very steep in places.

North Sea
Located next to the Beihai hotel, the Dawn Pavilion Huangshan Attractions offers views of the North Sea Valleys and the numerous peaks that are contained within. This is also another great place to catch the sunrise and the sunset, although it can get crowded in peak season.

Following his visit to Huangshan, Li Bai suggested that the first people to ascend these desolated peaks must have been astounded by nature; the scenery and unbelievable spectacle of watching the clouds roll by beneath their feet. More than a thousand years have passed since then and not much has changed, as travellers still leave Huangshan with the same emotion of surprise and awe. Xu Xiake, a celebrated traveler in the Ming Dynasty, once said that the Fiver Sacred Mountains are by far the most naturally stunning places in China and the Huangshan Mountain Range surpasses all of them in its unadulterated beauty. Just as thousands of pilgrims, poets and travellers who have come before; whenever you go and whatever you choose to see, Huangshan Huangshan travel guide will always find a place in your heart.

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Travel Experience to Basha Miao Ethnic Minority Village

Basha Miao Village is 7 kilometers from Congjiang County China vacation deals, and the most ancient Miao village keeping the vast majority of its original character.

The custom of drinking a bowl of mandatory rice wine has been remained among Miao villages. One of the distinguishing features of Miao’s culture is that they pass down their history by embroidery for there is no available written language. The Miao woman, known for her fine embroidery skill, begins to make her ceremonial clothing since she has fully learnt the art. Lusheng, a kind of Chinese wind instrument, is highly developed by Miao. The other unique feature of Basha people is that they are allowed to carry guns. It is the only such kind of tribe in China

Linked by the beautiful Duliu River to the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the county of Congjiang is situated in southernmost Guizhou Province. There, alongside a high road a few kilometers west of the county seat, the Basha Miao Village is one of several sites called home by Miao people residing in Guizhou's mountainous areas. And there is perhaps no better place on Earth for one to observe well-preserved traditional Miao. In the county of Congjiang visitors sometimes encounter villagers in unique Miao clothes. From the nearby Basha Village, they are easy to recognize, particularly due to their headwear. From about seven or eight years of age, girls from the Miao ethnic group in Kaili City's Lushan, Huangping, Shibing and Zhenyuan Student tours to China wear pleated caps with flat tops, while their hair remains wrapped with purple handkerchiefs until they are married. Married or unmarried, all women in Basha have in their hair arranged in a chignon, as sculpted by a wooden comb. The day after we arrived in Congjiang, we traveled by bus to Basha Village, a place hidden deep in rolling mountains. Viewing the village from the distance, we could see crisscrossing footpaths in fields framing stilted wooden towers orderly distributed along the mountainside.

Old customs and traditions
Welcome Ceremony with Guns: Visitors to Basha frequently are greeted outside the village in the traditional manner by a group of the Basha men carrying weapons of long rifles. Please don't be frightened!! They are the locals practicing a traditional welcoming ceremony.

Adult Ceremony: Like men of the Imperial Dynasties, most Basha men-folk still wear their hair long. As little children, Basha boys, like girls, have to keep their hair until they are 16 years old. The Adult Ceremony Public China Holidays is when the boy becoming a man is held and he is allowed to decide whether to keep his long hair. The Adult ceremony is held to have a young man's head shaved or to keep his hair which is twisted and coiled atop the head.

Worshipping Trees: Around the Basha Village, there are many large tall trees. Like many other tribes, who take an animal or material as their totem, Basha people worship trees. On important occasions or some traditional festivals, villagers usually burn incense under big ancient tress to pray for heath and happiness.

A tree is planted on the birth of a baby. Often it will be cut down to make a coffin for burial purposes when that person eventually dies.

Unique Dress Code: People in Basha maintain their unique code of dress dating back to the Qin Dynasty. Basha men usually wear a collarless coat with buttons on the left side or down the front with baggy short trousers. Basha men don't usually wear shoes, even in the cold winter. However women's clothes are more colorful. A coat buttoned down the front, a kilt and more colorful wrappings are the usual make-up for women.

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Far-reaching Effects of Hui Opera

Hui Opera has had a major influence on Peking Opera (must-see for China vacation deals). This form of regional opera laid the base on which Peking Opera developed. Beijing residents were not introduced to Hui Opera until 1790. Kunqu had been the dominant form of musical entertainment among the Beijing elite since the Ming Dynasty. Characterized by convoluted narratives and poetic language, most Kunqu pieces, like the famous Peony Pavilion, were written by and circulated among the intelligentsia. Kunqu, which was regarded as elegant, quickly gained official recognition in the Qing Dynasty because the foreign sovereignty was eager to identify itself with Confucian culture in order to legitimize its rule. Most other opera styles, including Hui Opera, were condemned.

In 1790, the emperor Qianlong, a opera fan, invited many of the most famous regional opera troupes around the country to Beijing (popular travel destination for China Photography Tours) to celebrate his 80th birthday. And among them was the Hui Opera troupe Sanqing. Sanqing stayed on in the city after the event and performed for people in the city. Beijingers, including emperor himself, fell for the new theatrical form immediately. And Hui Opera started to assimilate with other operas to become Peking Opera.

Seeing the extreme popularity of the Hui Opera, the Qing government worried that its licentious or superstitious element would corrupt its officials and citizens, and it passed various laws in early 19th century banning certain opera styles and works. But the actual effects of this legislation were minimal.

Hui Opera soon replaced Kunqu and dominated Beijing’s cultural scenes. The Qing emperors were such Hui Opera fans that they built the finest theaters, invested lavishly in stage settings, and invited the most talented performers to perform at court. Their performances ere so widely loved by the townspeople of capital that in every theatre Huizhou Opera were put on, and in every performance a Huizhou Troupe took a major part. After that, Cheng Changeng helped develop Huizhou Opera into Peking Opera by combining it with Han, Kun and other operas. So Huizhou Opera in a sense is an ancestor of Peking Opera.

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Learn to know The story of the cowherd and the weaver girl

In late summer, the stars Altair and Vega are high in the night sky, and the Chinese tell the following love story, of which there are many variations:

A young cowherd named Niulang , came across seven fairy sisters bathing in a lake. Encouraged by his mischievous companion the ox, he stole their clothes and waited to see what would happen. The fairy sisters elected the youngest and most beautiful sister Zhinv "the weaver girl", the star Vega) to retrieve their clothing. She agreed to do so, but since Niulang had seen her naked, she agreed to his request for marriage (China vacation deals).

She proved to be a wonderful wife, and Niulang to be a good husband. They lived happily and had two children. But the Goddess of Heaven (or in some versions, Zhinv's mother) found out that Zhinv, a fairy girl, had married a mere mortal. The Goddess was furious and ordered Zhinv to return to heaven. (Alternatively, the Goddess forced the fairy back to her former duty of weaving colorful clouds, a task she neglected while living on earth with a mortal.)

On Earth, Niulang was very upset that his wife had disappeared. Suddenly, his ox began to talk China Educational tours, telling him that if he killed it and put on its hide, he would be able to go up to Heaven to find his wife. Crying bitterly, he killed the ox, put on the skin, and carried his two beloved children off to Heaven to find Zhinv. The Goddess discovered this and was very angry. Taking out her hairpin, the Goddess scratched a wide river in the sky to separate the two lovers forever, thus forming the Milky Way between Altair and Vega.

Zhinv must sit forever on one side of the river, sadly weaving on her loom, while Niulang watches her from afar and takes care of their two children .

But once a year all the magpies in the world would take pity on them and fly up into heaven to form a bridge ( "the bridge of magpies", Que Qiao Holidays in China) over the star Deneb in the Cygnus constellation so the lovers may be together for a single night, which is the seventh night of the seventh moon.

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Main scenic spots of Wuyishan Mountain National Park

The Intricate Terrain:

The park is a land of superlatives,which is filled with an interior graced by sculpted mountains and peaks China travel deals,quiet rivers and lush forests. The park,therefore,includes 3 basic types of terrains:disconnected mountains and separated peaks,gorges and small montane basins carved by the continuous erosion of the rivers flowing in the valleys. This intricate interwoven terrain created multiplex ecological environments and gave rise to the diverse plant and animal species.

The warm climate and the complex terrain of interlocking gorges and basins give rise to a broad spectrum of pristine natural ecosystems,which are highly representative of China’s central subtropical mountains. Trees,flowers,shrubs and herbs abound in marvelous variety at the park,which houses 1,815 species of vascular plants representing a mix of plants from different geographic locations.

A Sanctuary Of Prolific Wildlife:

Covering a total area of 56,527 hectares,this park contains a superb mosaic of land and water,which is the home of a remarkable array of wildlife. Best known for its birds,Wuyi boasts extraordinarily numerous birds. More than 400 species of birds take wing over the area,appear along the parkway during the spring migration,accounting for almost one third of China’s bird species,and ranking the majority of the wildlife at this park China Photographing Tours.

White-backed woodpecker and some other birds are unique to Guadun,which was given the title”A Bird Kingdom”for its abundance in bird species. Hundreds of birds flock to the ponds to feed,offering a prime bird-watching area. Famed as one of the most prolific wildlife sanctuaries in China,this park also harbors 71 species of beasts,over 100 species of amphibians,retiles and an amazing assortment of other creatures,some of which are world-rare species. The park,therefore,is regarded as an ideal base for researching into the reptiles and amphibians of Asia.

The Stunning Landscapes:

Wuyi Mountains National Park is famous for its stunning pristine natural landscapes including the beautiful river,36 peaks,72 caverns,99 rocks,13 springs and 7 ponds. Farmland and picturesque villages all add to the tranquil beauty of the park. The best known as well as the most alluring natural beauty,however,is its beautiful river,the park’s major appeal,called The Jiuqu River. Winding its peaceful way with twinking blue-green water through dozens of picturesque peaks,mountains,valleys and rocks,the river offers its diversity of sights which lie along the river,and beckons visitors to come for looking.

The Cultural And Historic Sites:

Wuyi Mountains have a long history of culture. Within the park’s territory lie an array of cultural and historical structures Holidays in China. Early since 221B.C,a great number of famous scholars had come here to give lectures;Taoists had stayed here to practice Taoism;and almost 200 templates and palaces,117 pavilions,platforms and buildings had been put up atop or beside the mountains and peaks along the river.

Unfortunately,most of them are gone;only a small number of standing structures and crumbling remains are left. One of the park’s best-kept structures is a small part of the ancient school where Zhu Xi,a famous ancient scholar,had given lectures for 10 years.

The park is accessible year-round by air, rail,bus or streamer. It is a summer resort providing lodging,dining,and store. Traditional and modern-fashioned hotels stand in the picturesque areas. A variety of local food such as fresh fish from the river and the natural springs,fresh local fruits and so on are served.

During the summertime,dramatic and musical productions are staged here,to say nothing of countless outdoor weddings. A well watered and densely forested favorite of vacationing families and increasing various tourists,the park enjoys enormous popularity.

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Wonderful travel experience to Taiping Lake

A growing number of islands or inlets on and around the lake have also been modified to serve as tourist attractions, including Deer Island China tour deals, Monkey Islang, Egret Oasis, a reptile pond for snakes and crocodiles, and the more natural scenic spots of Lingyang Hill, Taiping Bay, Gold Island, Sanmen Canyon and Wushi Ridge, all of which offer excellent views of the lake and its surroundings. To the west of the lake lie Xifeng Temple and Yongqing Nunnery, the only temples to be preserved in the area following the turbulent years of mid 20th century in China. Other similar sites around the lake include Longyao Village, a reconstructed village, and an area dedicated to explaining the mysteries of the Eight Trigrams of ‘Bagua’ used in Taoist cosmology to represent the principles of reality. All of these areas are accessible via tourist boats available from the visitor center on the south side of the lake.

The visitor center is also the bast for numerous water-based activities available on the lake, where visitors can go fishing, speed-boating, water and jet-skiing, or just relax and enjoy the scenery from the recently constructed jetty.

On its northern shore the lake China Photo Tour also boasts the recently completed and purpose-built ‘Crouching Tiger’ Golf Course and Resort. Designed by South African Golfer Gary Player the area consists of two eighteen-hole courses, a club house and integrated marina, all of which apparently employ locals from the nearby fishing villages to cut the grass and, maintain the course and its facilities.

Although the vast majority of tourists are drawn to southern Anhui by the lure of the nearby holy mountain of Huangshan (learn more via Huangshan travel guide), Taiping Lake offers visitors a welcome alternative to the crowded mountain paths and cable cars, and as a day trip or overnight stop-off point it is a destination well-worth considering.

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Travel Guide - Altun Mountain Nature Reserve

Established in 1983, the Altun Mountain Nature Reserve lies in the south part of Ruoqiang County, adjacent to Qinghai Province China vacation deals in the east and Tibet Autonomous Region in the south, covering an area of 4.5 square meters, which is the biggest comprehensive reserve nowadays in the country.

The nature reserve is situated in a closed basin surrounded by high mountains at an altitude of 4500 meters. The species and high density of wild animals can not be seen in other part of the country, including wild yak, Tibet Tibet Tours wild ass, antelope, argal, bharal, snow leopard, lynx, brown bear, golden eagle, snow cock, wild goose. With a complete and primitive ecosystem, it has a high scientific research value.

In the southern part of Altun Mountain Nature Reserve, there is mountainous region with land area of 10 thousand square meters China Photo Tour, where exist a great number of water-eroded cave, which can be called “Guilin in plateau”.

In the southern part, there is a lake called “Whale Lake” in a shape of whale. The strangest thing is water in the front part of the lake is salt water, and rear part is fresh water. 

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Get to know the general information on Tunxi Old Street

Tunxi Old Street (must-see during your Huangshan tour) starts in the eastern part of Huangshan City at its Memorial Archway, and cuts westward until it reaches Zhenhai Bridge, a stone crossing built over the Xin’an River during Ming Dynasty. Five meters wide at its narrowest point and reaching eight meters at its widest, this pedestrian road is paved with large red flagstones. The street look particularly fetching after rain, with the stones glistening and creating a fantastic mirrored surface which seems almost too pretty to tread on. However, it is when night falls on the city and the crowds start to thin out, Tunxi Old Street is at most splendie. Light from lanterns hanging on the shop-front eaves produces mesmerizing shadows on the white-washed walls of the houses, illuminating the steam coming from the pans of street food vendors and projecting reflections onto the red pavement below.



The high, ornately-decorated houses and the narrow streets combine to create a surreal aura, and it should come as no surprise that this old street has been a setting for more than a hundred feature films, as well as countless documentaries and television series. See more famous attractions near Tunxi at Huangshan Sightseeing

Well worth a visit throughout the year, Tunxi Old Street is a truly special sight during the Spring Festival, the Qingming Festival and Duanwu Festival when dragon boats race each other on the Xin’an River. On festival days the city is flooded with tourists and people from adjacent villages, so anyone planning a trip around these festivals should book their hotel well in advance and be prepared for large crowds.

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Travel Guide - The Artistic Value of Muqam

Uygur folk Flavor While Muqam is a musical form that has spread in Islamic areas throughout the world, the Twelve Muqam carries distinct Uygur characteristics.

Since its spread among the Uygurs, the Twelve Muqam China travel deals has played an inseparable role in the people's lives. They dance to the accompaniment of the Twelve Muqam and sing songs and ballads to their melodies.

Muqam is usually performed by a small ensemble of singers, led by the lead singer (the Muamchi) and accompanied by plucked or bowed lutes and a dap frame drum; they may also be played in instrumental form by kettle drum and shawm (a kind of wind instrument) bands. Playing the Muqam is not reserved to an exclusive group of professional musicians; historically it was performed in folk contexts as well as in the courts of local kings.

Men and women, beggars, and respected religious men may practice this tradition, and Muqam is often referred to in terms of both spiritual and physical need. Listening to Muqam can still serve a religious and meditative function, especially in the context of Student tours to China Xinjiang's great religious festivals.

What is significant about its compilation is that Amannisahan did not borrow material from the wealthy and fully developed Arabian and Persian repertoires. Instead, she exploited the rich resources of Uygur folk music spread out in the wide area in the north and south of the Tian Mountains. As a result, the Twelve Muqam is especially distinct due to its strong Uygur flavor.

Diversity Xinjiang Uyghur Muqam Public China Holidays is a composite of songs, dances, and folk and classical music, and is characterized by diversity of content, dance styles, musical morphology, and instruments used.

The songs vary in rhyme and meter and are performed solo as well as in groups. The lyrics contain not only folk ballads but also poems written by classical Uyghur masters. Thus, the songs reflect a wide range of styles such as poetry, proverbs, folk narrative, and popular topics such as the praise of love and contemplation on life, reflecting the history and contemporary life of the Uyghur society.

The music of Uyghur Muqam is characterized by variations and continuity of musical patterns, indicating close affinity with the musical culture of China's central plains. In Muqam ensembles, the lead instruments, called satar or aijak, are made from local materials and vary in form (they may be bowed-stringed, plucked, or wind instruments).

The dancing skills involve unique steps, rhythms, and formations as well as figures such as flower-picking-by-mouth, bowl-carrying-on-head, and imitation of animals in solo dances.


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Travel Information on the second grotto of Huangshan Grottoes

The second grotto open to the general public is called Huanxi, and spans two levels over an area of 4800 square feet, reaching depths of around 146 meters. The cave contains a stone bridge which crosses an underground stream at the entrance to the cave, and there is also a balcony which affords spectacular views of the cave’s main hall. Huanxi cave also acts as a museum for some of the ancient relics unearthed here, including carving tools and household utensils identified as having been made in the Jin Dynasty. Fossils and dinosaur footprints preserved in clay are also on display while the walls of the cave are covered in carvings and ancient cave paintings (learn them during your China travel deals).

In recent years, the caves have also become a place of pilgrimage for ufologists and scientists operating on the margins of conventional science, who share a belief in the extraterrestrial origins or cosmic significance of the caves. These beliefs are founded in part on the caves sharing their latitude of 30 degree North with a number of other great mysteries of the world such as the Pyramids and the Bermuda Triangle. Slightly more plausible theories for the origin of the caves tend to focus on the notion that caves did partly occur due to natural erosion and then were expanded for use as a secret base to station troops during a large scale peasant uprising that occurred in the area in 1120. Some of the workers involved in the excavation support this theory, and some take it even further, suggesting that all 36 caves may at some point have been interconnected, and were initially a foundation for something bigger than just a set of hidden barracks - perhaps even an underground city. You can learn more others about Huangshan via Huangshan travel guide

Whether these grottoes were part of some dilapidated ancient construction that has lost its meaning today or merely a stone quarry abandoned long ago, they are still impressive and full of mysterious charm that will leave you in a state of wonder long after your eyes have accustomed to the light outside.

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Don’t miss traveling to Tibet this summer…

Tibet comes up as one of the most amazing places to travel in the world. There is something very special about visiting the birthplace of the Dalai Lama, witnessing monks in worship, soaking in the panoramic views of the Himalayas and having your first sip of yak butter tea…

Family Adventures in Tibet Tibet tour: On the Roof of the World is a seven-day trip geared towards family travel. Depending on the ages of your group, WildChina will customized activities appropriate for the travelers. For young families, participate in a prayer flag making class and moderate biking surrounding Lhasa, while families with older children can spend a morning volunteering at Jatson Chumig, an NGO geared towards educating Tibetan youth and camping outside on the Tibetan plateau. Smores included!

Tibet’s Mt. Everest: Journey to Base Camp, a a 9 day trip in Tibet, visits Lhasa and Shigatse, the second largest town in Tibet and the seat of the Panchen Lama, but the real highlight of this journey is the visit to Mt. Everest base camp. Used by climbers of the northeast ridge of Mt. Everest, the North Base Camp is located in a sheltered spot directly below the massive north face of Mount Everest China travel deals. After visiting base camp, descend to the Nepalese border or, for a more rugged experience, traverse onward to Mt. Kailash for a challenging, 3-day pilgrimage trek.

Do you have a high school student passionate about China? Departing from San Francisco (June 30-July 21, July 14th-August 4th), students will travel with experienced WildChina tour leader Devin Corrigan to Beijing, Yunnan in Southwest China and have the opportunity to partake in +30 hours of community service. In Tibet, the group will undertake a trek they may never top: three nights of hiking and camping through the Tibetan countryside Public China Holidays to the pass of Jeshul La, stopping to explore villages and a monastery before reaching Yamdrok Lake, which, at 14,500 feet, kisses the sky above with equally blue water

Don’t see a trip that perfectly fits your travel needs? Don’t worry– we have countless ideas to customize the perfect journey for you.

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A different side of China; a different side of Everest

China. The word conjures up images of tea, the Great Wall, the lights of Shanghai Shanghai travel. But unparalleled–literally!–natural beauty? Few people know that China is home to three of the five highest peaks in the world. Located on the Tibetan-Nepali border, Everest, Lhotse, and Makalu all tower high above 8,000 meters. Approaching Everest from the south (instead of the north–the most common ascent), brings you past these two other giants of the Tibetan plateau. Unlike the bare rock face of the southward approach, going northward takes you through the soft crunch of pine needles underfoot, the thick sweet smell of recent rain, and of course the tranquil quiet of the woods. It takes you through Kartha Valley.

Kartha is located to the east of Everest, and unlike other approaches to Tibet Travel Tibet’s Holy Mother, this valley is renowned for its high cliffs, lush vegetation, and vast meadows. Mornings in the valley are like nothing else on earth. You awake and dress in the cool, early grey of dawn. By the time camp is packed and you’re on your way, the sun is already creeping down the walls of the surrounding mountains, washing their cliffs in the golden orange of sunrise. This first hour of the day passes in silence as you approach the beckoning peaks of the giants that lie ahead; and then it happens. The sun throws itself over the horizon and the entire valley is lit up in an explosion of sunshine. At first the light is blinding, but as your eyes adjust, you soak up the vibrant greens, slate greys, and the exclamation points of color in the wild flowers.

When you reach the Everest base camp, tilting your head up to see the peak Holidays in China that scratches the ceiling of the world, it is hard to believe it is real. All around you the sun reflects white and shimmering off the Himalaya’s largest glaciers. These mountains are a far cry, and a long distance, from Tiananmen Square, but they are no less a part of China’s story.

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Ancient Chinese culture - the reason for grinding your own ink

Apart from the superior of the Hui ink, there is also a spiritual aspect to preparing your own ink which generations of Chinese artists and calligraphers have experienced and promoted. As you pour water onto the grinding surface of the inkstone, then sit upright and slowly and steadily begin to grind the inkstick in a circular motion against the smooth inkstone, you start to understand the meaning behind the words of one of the most of famous Song Dynasty artist Su Dongpo’s poem, ‘the sound from grinding is like string music to my ears’. You can learn more about Chinese ink during your affordable China tours.

Most artists and calligraphers find this meditative and preparatory procedure makes them concentrate all their attention on the rhythmic and circular motion required to extract the ink from the inkstick. The stick becomes an extension of your hand, and by the time the ink has reached the required consistency all thoughts distracting you from your work have drift away. It is exactly this peaceful and focused mental state, which is thought to have resulted in the high quality of the calligraphic brush strokes produced by artists who grind their own ink.

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Breaking the Winter Cycle: Tropical Xishuangbanna

If cold weather is not your thing, head south to the subtropical region of Xishuangbanna China tour deals.

Nestled in the southernmost tip of Yunnan province, just between neighboring Myanmar and Laos, this region hosts a vibrant intermingling of cultures and landscapes. With average daily highs of 26 degrees Celsius in January, the forests and villages here are immune to the annual chill that is felt in the north. It’s no wonder Xishuangbanna was picked as Travel+Leisure’s 2012 Hottest Travel Destinations.

What better way to spend the winter than in the mountains and rainforests of Southeast Asia?

The winter months are the ideal time to visit this part of the world, as they mark the end of the wet season. Imagine finding your inner naturalist as you walk among the regional flora, keeping an ear out for the song of the elusive black-crested gibbon.

Xishuangbanna’s biodiversity Shopping in China is matched by an equally astounding cultural presence. Of more than a dozen different ethnic groups living here, the most prominent is the Dai population, which makes up nearly a third of the region’s one-million inhabitants.

Dai culture is markedly different from that of other Chinese populations. The language spoken here is more similar to that of the Thai, which draws heavily upon Theravada Buddhism and the indigenous practices that predate it. Both geographically and culturally, this is the one part of China that really belongs to Southeast Asia, and that feeling is impossible to miss.

If you are looking to get a taste of this unique cultural identity Holidays in China, your best bet is to take a trip into one of the many villages that dot this region. Here, you experience life as it has existed for centuries – something that is increasingly precious in a country that is rocketing into the 21st century. Visit the age old Buddhist pagodas, or step into a villager’s home for a cup of tea. This is, after all, the corner of the world where tea originated.

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Learn something about Fang Guantian’s residence and Si Jiandi at Qiankou

Fang Guantian’s residence is a must location on the China Photography Tours, and is a good example of the less extravagant houses belonging to wealthy farmers. This bungalow is compact and contains a main hall and two rooms occupied by the children and the farmer with his wife. An interesting feature of this house are the small pieces of wood, lodged between the supporting columns and plinths, which were supposed to absorb shock during an earthquake and were possibly one of the first examples of purpose-built earthquake-proofing.

Towards the center of Qiankou, tourists can find Si Jiandi - an ancestral worship temple built in honour of Wangshan, a supposedly incorruptible official, by his descendants. Constructed in the Hongzhi period of the Ming and containing a board inscribed for Wangshan by Emperor Yongle, this temple is one of the oldest buildings of this kind to have survived in the whole of southern China. The temple also contains traditional ponds inside the courtyard, which in this household were used to breed fish and turtles.

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Get to know general information on Guilin

Guilin is a scenic town in North Guangxi China travel deals, China and is known for its surreal landscape. It is surrounded by two rivers and four lakes. The Karst Mountains and unsurpassed beauty of the Li River charm the tourism industry which is the main business of the city. Some are making it as a subject for poems, blogs and photographing. The topography of the Li River, Longsheng Rice Terraces, Reed Flute Cave, Elephant Trunk Hill, Yangshuo county and Folded Brocade Hill are naturally unique which makes Guilin the “best scenery under heaven”.

Guilin China Holidays acquired its name from the sweet smelling Osmanthus trees found blossoming in the city. It literally means “Forest of Sweet Osmanthus”. Its fragrance diffuses in the air when autumn comes adding to its glorious clean atmosphere.

Guilin’s most famous local cuisine is the “Yangshuo beer fish” in spicy aromatic flavor. The unique taste attracts tourists from all over the world. The fresh carps that are caught from Li River are first fried in oil, seasoned in spicy flavor then braised with beer.

The city China travel video is also known for its snacks like Zongzi and Rice Noodles. Zongzi is dumpling made of glutinous rice and sweetened bean paste wrapped in either bamboo or banana leaf. Rice noodles can either be round or flat. The only thing that makes one dish different from the other rice noodles is the soup. You have the option to add vegetables, spices, seasoning and meat of your choice. The horse meat rice noodle of Huixian Lou is the most well-known.

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