China Travel Guide

There are many traditional musical instruments in China. They are well-known for their long history, the beautiful tones they make, and the rich emotions expressed. Here is a list of the top ten traditional Chinese instruments.  1.Drum The drum is a traditional Chinese percussion instrument . It has a great resonance that can be carried far away, making the drum an excellent tool to boost the soldiers' morale. It’s said that Huang Di used to make drums out of animal skins and cheer for his army in the war against Chi You.  According to the Book of Rites, clay drum appeared in ancient times. However, it was primary used as a sacrificial instrument to connect the human world and heaven. Later, animal skins were used to make a drum. In the Zhou Dynasty, there was special personnel set to manage the drum making and beating. Different kinds of drums were created for various occasions. For example, Thunder Drum was made for sacrificial rituals. Jin Drum was made for musical performa...

Phoenix (Feng Huang) is the King of the Birds in ancient legends. The male phoenix is called “Feng," and the female phoenix is called “Huang." Feng and Huang flying together symbolize harmony and auspiciousness . Like the Chinese dragon, the Chinese phoenix is an imaginary divine animal and an important totem of Chinese nationality. Since the Qin Dynasty, the dragon became the token for the emperor, and the phoenix became a sign of the empress .  What does a phoenix look like? The image of the phoenix is complicated. It has a body of 2-3m with beautiful feathers , a soft and slim neck , a ridgy back , Phoenix a chicken’s beak , a swallow’s jaw , a cercus like that of fish, and a pair of long legs . It’s said that phoenix has a complacent gait, and it was good at dancing. It also has a unique voice that can attract the sounds of many other birds. Therefore, the phoenix is considered the King of the Birds. A Chinese scholar named He Xin did some research and listed a series o...

Grotto refers to the temples that are built on mountainside or cliffs. It originated in India, where the practice of Buddhist doctrines are affected by the damp and hot climate in the South Asian subcontinent. Therefore, the ancient Indians built their temples and meditation rooms in caves where the summer was cool, and spring was warm. Later, the practice was introduced to China together with Buddhism; Chinese Buddhist disciples learned from the master and continued to build grottoes and caves everywhere. The excavation of the Chinese Buddhist grottoes started around the 3rd century (the Han Dynasty), became popular from the 5th to 8th centuries, and peaked in the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907). In the following times, the chiseling of caves continued but slowly until the 16th century (Ming Dynasty). It’s a process of learning, localization, and reforming a foreign art. The current grottoes are mainly scattered in Xinjiang (ancient western regions), western Gansu, Yellow River areas, and s...

The 24 Solar Terms refer to a supplementary calendar that ancient Chinese established to guide their agricultural activities in a year. Besides the initial function of guiding farming production, these solar terms also reflect rich Chinese customs, seasonal festivals, seasonal foods, and even healthy living tips.  Spring Start of Spring (Feb. 3, 2021 ) Start of Spring lifts the curtain to spring. The climate is becoming warm, the daytime is longer, spring shower begins, and everything is waking. The crops and plants are growing fast, requiring more irrigation and fertilizer. Therefore, the Start of Spring is a solar term to remind farmers to start taking care of the crops in the new year. Traditional Customs: One of the most important customs of the Spring of Spring is called “biting the spring," which involves eating special food like spring pancakes, spring rolls, and carrots.  Rain Water (Feb. 18, 2021) Rain Water signals the increase in rainfall and the rise of the temper...