A Book About China

06.22.09

The Great Wall of China, known to the Chinese as The Long Wall of 10,000 Li (Pinyin: Wànlǐ Chángchéng) is emblematic of China. This UNESCO World Heritage Site has a history which dates back over 2500 years. It is now a major tourist attraction in China with sections of the wall being restored for this purpose - especially near Beijing. The total length of the wall is unknown. Its size, age, complexity and general state of disrepair mean that new sections of wall are still being identified and some sections my yet await discovery. In its last incarnation, during the Ming Dynasty, the wall reached its zenith in building quality and length measuring 5,650 km and crossing 17 provinces in North and Central China.

06.14.09

Ancient Building Complex in the Wudang Mountains

Ancient Buildings on Mount Wudang 武当山 (Wǔdāng Shān) near Dajiangkou City, Hubei can trace their origins to the Tang Dynasty (AD 627-649). The mountain was a site of worship for both Buddhists and Taoists and the temples here acquired some fame. The the Five Dragon Temple in Wudang dates to this time. The site became strongly associated with the legend of the Great Perfect Warrior Emperor Zhenwu Dadi 真武大帝. It was on Wudang mountain that Zhenwu meditated for 42 years before achieving immortality and ascending form Wudang into heaven. Also, it was on Wudang that Zhang Sanfeng was supposed to have created the form of inner martial arts or Kong Fu that is still taught at the temple today. Zhang Sanfeng's martial arts also resulted in the creation of Taichi 太极拳 (tàijíquán).

06.14.09

Anhui (安徽)

Ānhuī province (安徽省 Ānhuī Shěng) is located in eastern China. The province lies across the basins of the Yangtze River and the Huaihe River and covers an area of 139,400km2. The city of Hefei is the provincial capital. Anhui is landlocked with no coast.

06.14.09

Fujian (福建)

06.14.09

Hong Kong (香港)

Hong Kong Special Administration Region 香港特別行政區, is located in the south of the People's Republic of China in the Peal River delta area of the South China Sea. It consists of a number of islands and the mainland Kowloon peninsula. It has only one land border to the North with Guandong (Canton) Province It is only a short distance by sea to Macau, China's only other Special Administration Region.

Blogs

06.22.09

Total Solar Eclipse in Central China

About once each year, there is a solar eclipse somewhere in the world. However very few people ever get the chance to see one. Often they orrcur at night, the area they are visable from is usually small, and the weather must be clear of clouds. On the 22nd of July 2009, there will be a oportunity to see a total solar eclipse in central China.