All posts by Cassidy Tse

Cantonese Cuisine, Most Popular Chinese Cuisine

By inFood & Drinks Tag , , ,

Cantonese cuisine, also known as cantonese cuisine, is one of the eight major Chinese cuisines with a history of more than 2,000 years. It is characterized by a wide range of ingredients, rich cooking methods. Cantonese food is light, fresh and natural. The most famous are white cut chicken, cantonese roast goose and roast Suckling pig.

Most Chinese restaurants abroad are cantonese restaurants, which makes it the most popular Chinese food in the world and the representative of Chinese food in the world. It consists of Guangzhou cuisine, chaozhou cuisine and dongjiang cuisine, each with its own characteristics.

Cantonese cuisine has a long history, with its origins dating back 2,000 years to the early han dynasty. Chefs at the time had become adept at cooking different ingredients in a particular way. After the southern song dynasty (1127-1279) moved the capital, many highly skilled chefs gathered in Guangzhou, which promoted the development of cantonese cuisine. The cooking skills of cantonese cuisine became mature and formed some of its own characteristics. During the Ming dynasty (1368-1644 AD) and qing dynasty (1644-1911 AD), cantonese cuisine became systematic, and Guangzhou was full of teahouses, hotels, restaurants and fast food restaurants. In the early 19th century, a group of cantonese came to North America and opened many restaurants serving cantonese food, which gradually became the most popular Chinese food in the world. Now, it’s also the most popular Chinese dish overseas.

Cantonese chefs pay attention to the quality of ingredients and the natural taste. Most cantonese food tastes fresh, natural and light. In order to show the original flavor of the main ingredients, guangdong chefs are very particular about seasoning. Seasonings are made to highlight or highlight the authenticity of the ingredients, not to be used as ingredients. Less spicy ingredients such as chilli, red pepper, ginger and garlic are also used. With the change of seasons, summer and autumn dishes are light, winter and spring dishes are slightly heavier.

Canton Fair, China Import and Export Fair

By inOthers Tag , ,

The China import and export commodities fair (CIEF), also known as the Canton fair, originated in the spring of 1957 and is held in Guangzhou every spring and autumn. In the history of the 125th session, it ranks among the best among the international comprehensive trade fairs with the longest history, the highest level, the largest scale, the largest number of participants, the most complete varieties and the highest turnover.

The Canton fair is composed of 48 trade delegations, including thousands of foreign trade companies, factories, scientific research institutions, foreign-invested enterprises, wholly foreign-owned enterprises, private enterprises and so on.

Business elites come to Guangzhou through various means for trade and exchange, providing a lot of business opportunities. In addition to the traditional sample-to-sample negotiations, the fair also adds an online approach. Mainly engaged in export trade, and also engaged in import trade, economic and technical cooperation and exchange, commodity inspection, insurance, transportation, advertising, consulting and other businesses.

The exhibition area of the 125th China international economic forum in 2019 is 118 hectares (1.18 million square meters), with 60,651 booths, attracting 25,496 domestic and foreign enterprises. The total export volume is about 28.08 billion us dollars, which will certainly make a great contribution to the development of China’s foreign trade. The 126th Canton fair in autumn 2019 will be even more exciting.

International flights should be the most convenient way. If there is no direct flight from your region, you can choose to fly to Beijing, Shanghai or Hong Kong first. Beijing and Shanghai offer half-hour flights to Guangzhou. If Hong Kong is your entry city, you can easily get to Guangzhou by air, train, or bus.

Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family in Guangzhou

By inArchitectures Tag , ,

The Chen ancestral hall, also known as the Chen clan academy or the Chen clan ancestral hall, is a place in Guangzhou where people worship their ancestors and learn from them. It is now the Guangzhou folk art museum, displaying the most distinctive buildings in Guangzhou. The Chen ancestral hall in liwan district, guangzhou, the ancestral hall of ancestors in foshan, the former residence of sun yat-sen in zhongshan city and the opium war memorial hall in dongguan city have been listed as four cultural tourist attractions in Guangzhou province.

At the end of the qing dynasty (1644-1911), a man named Chen won the third place in the imperial examination and was given a prominent official position, which made the Chen family known to all. It was later suggested that all Chen’s families raise funds to build a temple to worship their ancestors and encourage their descendants to study hard as well. So in 1894, the Chen family built the temple with donations from 72 counties in Guangzhou province and some overseas members of the Chen family.

The ancestral temple is a complex of nine halls, six quadrangles and nineteen corridors. A pair of stone drums in front of the gate, 2.55 meters (about 8.36 feet) high, and two four-meter (about 13 feet) high painted door gods are said to be the best in Guangzhou.

The Chen academy was built in a symmetrical manner in accordance with the Chinese tradition. The main hall, juxian hall, is located in the center of the temple. Before the temple was built, juxian hall was once a gathering place for clansmen. Now it is used as an ancestral hall. In front of the hall is a stone pavilion surrounded by a stone railing. There is a beautifully carved screen in the hall, which is a model of wood carving.

White Horse Temple, Which Has Remained Intact for Over 1,900 Years

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White horse temple is a magnificent ancient architecture, has a history of more than 1900 years.

It was commanded by the emperor Ming of the han dynasty. In the year 64 of the eastern Han dynasty, the emperor sent people to study Buddhism in the western world. Three years later, two eminent Indian monks, she muten and Zhu Faran, came with the group. They brought a white horse with buddhist sutras and buddhas on its back. This is the first time Buddhism has appeared in China.

To express his gratitude to the two monks and their white horse, the emperor ordered a monastery to be built the following year and named it the white horse temple. During this time, the two monks were busy translating buddhist sutras in the temple, until they finished the Chinese sutras of the forty-second chapters, which attracted many monks, meaning that the temple became the center of buddhist activity in China. Because of this, the temple is known as the “home of the founders” and “the cradle of Chinese Buddhism”.

White horse temple ancient trees towering, solemn and solemn. Outside the gate, there is a pond with a fence around it. There are lovely fish in the water. Releasing animals is a matter for believers. Cross a stone bridge and you can enter the temple. On the east and west sides of the gate are the tombs of she and zhu falan, one of the six most famous attractions here. There is a tablet pavilion in the east corner. The Chinese characters on the tablet are the work of Chinese calligrapher and abbot shaman wencai, designed during the yuan dynasty (1271-368). Written in his familiar free and easy style, they describe the history of the white horse temple.

The temple of the heavenly king, the hall of the great Buddha, the hall of the great Buddha, the hall of the great Buddha, the hall of the guiding path and the cool terraced fields are all lined up in the temple, just as they were when they were first built.

The hall dates back to the yuan dynasty. In the middle of the hall sat a laughing Buddha, maitreya Buddha. It is said that the Buddha once incarnated as a beggar monk with a wallet containing all the treasures of the world. The shrine, made of wood and carved with more than 50 lifelike dragons, is a typical example of qing dynasty (1644-1911) culture. Maitreya is flanked by four solemn “heavenly Kings”. Each has a different weapon, four of which are clay sculptures cast in the qing dynasty.

White Cloud Mountain National Forest Park

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Baiyun mountain national forest park was established in September 1992. It is located in the southern song county seat of luoyang, the hinterland of foulu mountain ridge, with a total area of 168 square kilometers (64.9 square miles). It invites visitors to refresh themselves in its natural beauty.

The forest coverage rate is 98.5%, which is in the transitional zone between warm temperate zone and subtropical zone. The vegetation of north and south China coexists here. In baiyun mountain national forest park, 204 species of animals, 1991 species of plants, 3000 species of insects. For example, there are ancient and rare plants: dendrobium and alpine rhododendron, as well as some rare animals: giant salamanders, leopards and golden eagles. It is a good place to appreciate the original beauty of nature. Water curtain cave, folding waterfall and fairy pool are all here. The scenery is beautiful beyond description.
At 2,150 meters (7,054 feet) above sea level, baiyun peak is one of the main peaks of funiu mountain. It is shrouded in clouds all year round, just like a fairyland on earth. There are folk songs and proverbs that say mountains can indicate changes in weather through the position of the surrounding clouds. Dazzling and fascinating, it’s the perfect place for climbers to find something new.
This is the highest point of the funiu mountain ridge, considered the highest point in central China, rising 2,216 meters (7,270 feet) above sea level. The mountain peak is shaped like a crown and seems to reach straight into the sky. From the top of the mountain, visitors can enjoy magnificent panoramic views of the vertical distribution of vegetation, as well as the fascinating sunrise and sea of clouds.
Small huangshan is called small huangshan because it reminds people of the famous huangshan in anhui province, which is famous for its strange rocks. The beauty and strangeness of small huangshan are fascinating. Various rocks have been given strange names, such as the sea fairy, the twin stone and the bird’s nest stone.
These waterfalls are formed by the white river, which rises from the peak of the jade emperor. It has a constant supply of water, rushing down, washing out the scattered waterfalls and deep pools. The jiulong waterfall, qinglong waterfall and the amur pool are the most attractive attractions in the area. In addition, there is an 814-foot bungee jump, considered the highest in Asia, offering visitors a chance to challenge their metter.
The park’s average summer temperature is below 18 degrees Celsius (64.4 degrees Fahrenheit), with the highest temperature below 26 degrees Celsius (78.8 degrees Fahrenheit). It is a magnificent summer resort, but the blooming flowers in spring, the clear sea of water and clouds in summer, the deep red leaves in autumn and the majestic baiyi mountains in winter make baiyun mountain national forest park a year-round Chinese resort.

Detian Waterfall, Which Makes a Very Deep Impression on You

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The detian waterfall scenic spot is located in daxin town, chongzuo city, guangxi zhuang autonomous region, about 145 kilometers (90 miles) from downtown nanning and surrounding Vietnam. This scenic spot has more than 40 tourist attractions. Among them, the most striking is Ban gioco-detian falls.

The waterfall crosses the border between China and Vietnam and is connected to banjuk falls in Vietnam. It has the reputation of being the second largest transnational waterfall in the world. Perhaps you have seen the famous Niagara Falls. You are impressed by its majesty. Similarly, the majestic tokuda waterfall gives a sense of breathtaking magnificence.

Below the tokuda falls is a deep pool more than 200 meters (0.12 miles) wide and more than 30 meters (0.02 miles) deep. There are many big fish in the pond and the fish are delicious. So the villagers who live there often come to the pond to catch fish. They usually sing folk songs while casting nets. The wild songs echoed in the mountains, a joyous, carefree, lively atmosphere.

Besides the detian waterfall, there are many other attractions waiting for you to visit, including heishui river, qiaomiao lake, guichun boundary river, shadun waterfall, no. 53 waterfall, as well as numerous cultural relics and rare animals. Abundant rainfall and moderate temperatures have brought evergreen to the picturesque landscape.

The blackwater river, as it is called in English, is dotted with verdant plants and strange hills. Of course, the water is not black. It gets its name from the black reflections of trees and hills. When you row on the heishui river, you can see the rotating water wheels, the houses of the minority zhuang people, the terraces and the laboring farmers.

Qiaomiao lake covers an area of about 5000 mu, surrounded by green mountains. The lake was as calm as a mirror. The mountains, trees and clouds reflected on the lake like a picture. Boating on miaomiao lake, listening to folk songs, enjoying the bright moon, enjoying the peace granted by heaven in the earth.

Guichun river originated in jingxi, baise city, guangxi. It flows into Vietnam and then back to China. The two countries are bordered by this river. On one side are zhuang-style buildings, on the other side is the face of another country. It’s interesting to think about the difference.

Shatun waterfall is another famous waterfall in the scenic area. The waterfall runs down seven terraces. Compared with the tokuda falls, the sandun falls are not so magnificent. It looks like a gentle woman who associates herself with the fascinating nature.

Chinese Lanterns, to Celebrate Their Peaceful Life

By inArts & Crafts Tag , , ,

Paper lanterns originated in the eastern han dynasty (25-220) and were mainly used as lamps in ancient China. They use a variety of materials, such as bamboo, wood, wheat straw and metal. Paper and silk are the main materials.

Originally, monks used lanterns to worship Buddha on the 12th day of the first lunar month. During the eastern han dynasty, emperor liu zhuang was a buddhist and ordered the residents and citizens of his palace to light lanterns and worship Buddha like monks. Later, this custom gradually became a grand festival for the common people. In the tang dynasty (618-907), people made lanterns to celebrate their peaceful life, while bright colorful lanterns symbolised and celebrated the prosperity, strength and strength of the country. Since then, lighting has become popular in this country.

Before the use of gas and electricity, lanterns were once used for lighting, but now they are merely decorative or, more importantly, used during the Lantern Festival each year.

It was mainly used in palaces in ancient times. It is famous for its exquisite craftsmanship, elegant and dignified pictures and court features. When making palace lanterns, window frames are made of fine wood and covered with silk or glass. Various patterns are painted on the cover. These dragon and phoenix lanterns were not only used as lamps, but also as decorations for the palace. They come in many shapes, such as octagon, hexagon, and even diameter.

The lamp shade was covered with gauze. Bamboo used to be the frame, but now it’s made of wire, and candles are made of light bulbs. Of these lanterns, the red ones are believed to be the most in the world. It was made with red gauze. In Chinese culture, red lanterns are a symbol of booming life and prosperous career, so they are always hung on important festivals such as Lantern Festival, Chinese New Year and National Day in parks or main streets. In some famous chinatowns abroad, you can see red lanterns all year round. They have become the symbol of Chinese culture all over the world.

Chinese Lacquer Ware, an Exquisite Chinese Craft

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Lacquer ware is a kind of exquisite Chinese handicraft, it sends out a kind of peaceful burnish. As the earliest users, the Chinese began to appreciate its beauty from the neolithic age. In the past few hundred years, it has played an important role in the development of Chinese arts and crafts and has had a great influence on world art. Between 6,000 and 7,000 years ago, a wooden red bowl unveiled the history of lacquerware technology.

Ancient Chinese lacquer ware was made of natural lacquer from sumac. Sumac should be 10 years old. Liquid paint should be condensation in humid conditions, and then hardened, heat, acid, alkali resistance. In general, the manufacturing process is very complicated.

In 1978, a red lacquered wooden bowl and a red lacquered vase were unearthed at the hemudu cultural site in yuzhao, zhejiang province, evidence that the Chinese began making lacquerware during the neolithic period. The porcelain turned out to be made of natural lacquer. Early works were simple red and black. During the xia dynasty (21-17 BC) and the warring states period (476-221 BC), the variety increased greatly and industry continued for about five centuries. At the time, it was used for furniture, such as containers, Musical Instruments and funeral utensils.

During the han dynasty (206bc-220bc), the main lacquerware was also red and black. However, it is more widely used in plates, coffins, earrings, crates, board games and other necessities of life or decorative accessories. In addition, the manufacturing process has become more sophisticated, such as the use of color paint, needle engraving, inlay process, gold ring decoration. During the warring states period (475-221bc), this kind of pottery was popular for its exquisite craftsmanship and vivid pictures of animals and clouds. The lacquerware relics unearthed at mawangdui’s han tomb are more than 2, 000 years old. The yuan, Ming and qing dynasties were also prosperous periods, with more than 400 varieties used as common tools and decorations.

Nowadays, Chinese lacquerware has become more refined and spread in Beijing, yangzhou, Shanghai, fujian and other places. All kinds of lacquerware reflect distinctive characteristics: Beijing made lacquerware style luxury; Fujian is light, high temperature, corrosion resistance and waterproof; Sichuan is famous for its fine carving patterns. In addition, yangzhou artifacts are known for their elegant, delicate and unique creation techniques: shells are used as materials, processed into wafer-thin pieces, and then carefully attached to lacquerware. In the process, people will even inlay treasures such as crystals, jade, pearls and coral on lacquer furniture, tea sets and brush pens. Lacquerware made in the ancient city of pingyao, shanxi, shows luster after being polished by the hands of craftsmen. This is considered the most exquisite because of its simplicity, but radiating artwork.

Chinese Cloisonne, a Unique Art Form in China

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Cloisonne is a unique art form that originated in Beijing during the yuan dynasty (1271-1368). During the “jingtai” period of the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), the emperor was very interested in bronze casting technology and improved the color processing to create a bright blue color with an Oriental aesthetic. After making a breakthrough in technology, his daily necessities were mostly cloisonne. Later, it became popular among the general public; Their favorite is cloisonne.

During the reign of emperor kangqian of the qing dynasty (1644-1911), cloisonne craftsmanship was improved and reached its artistic peak. The colors were more subtle, the threads more flexible and fluid, and the scope expanded beyond sacrificial objects into snuff bottles, screens, censers, tables, chairs, chopsticks, and bowls.

Cloisonne is made in a comprehensive and delicate way, combining the techniques of bronze and porcelain with the techniques of traditional painting and sculpture:

Model hammer: hammer the copper pieces into various shapes according to the design and connect them at high temperature.

Tinsel welding: in tinsel welding, the artist bends the copper wire into a delicate flower pattern and sticks it to the copper mold. Heating to 900 degrees Celsius is probably the most challenging step in the whole process. It solidifies the metal.

Enamel filling: through this interesting process, cloisonne wears a coat of color. The craftsman filled the glaze into a grid of filaments. One filling is not enough – filaments are squeezed and the surface is dull. They must melt the powder glaze in a melting furnace at 800 degrees Celsius, then remove the object and repeat the process three or four times until the surface becomes smooth.

China National Flower Garden in Henan Province

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Established in 2001, the national park of China is located on the south bank of luojiang, luoyang city, henan province. Covering 255 acres, it is the largest peony park in China. China’s national parks have bred about half a million 9-color peonies and two million peonies of more than 1,000 different species. Among them, a 100-year old, 2-meter (7-foot) tall giant peony known as the “flower goddess” has caught people’s attention. April to early may is the best time to see peonies in full bloom in China’s national parks. Visitors can enjoy peonies, pavilions, lakes and mountains, as well as distinctive architecture. In the history of the sui and tang dynasties (581-907), traditional imperial garden art and peony flowers were perfectly combined in China’s national gardens. Here are the main sightseeing areas.

The place consists of burnt peonies and a huge gourd with three golden balls. There is a legend that the peony was brought up by the Taoist god taishang lao-jun who used fire to create golden jade, so it is called burnt peony.

The pavilion was inspired by a story about qiuweng and peonies. Qiu weng is a farmer who likes to plant peonies. He takes care of them as his family. The attraction consists of five pavilions, one on two floors and one on four. Visitors can see all kinds of rare peonies here.

The two pavilions here merge into one, like two qiao peonies, a treasure flower with two different colors. The tree was known as “big Joe” and “little Joe” during The Three Kingdoms period (AD 220-265) in China.

The lake covers more than five acres. Weeping willows flaunted on the Banks of the river, and countless fish swam in the river. Visitors can lie on the grass by the lake and feel the smell of spring. The mountain is man-made and has many jagged caves. The waterfalls flow down, creating a breathtaking landscape that brings the park to life.

This particular garden covers an area of more than 2,000 square kilometers (2,400 square yards). The aim of the design was to integrate butterfly elements into the landscape. During the peony cultural festival from April to early may, visitors can see more than 20,000 butterflies dancing around the peonies, which is a fascinating sight.

This is the first and only private writing museum in luoyang. Founded by the two brothers in 2012, it aims to preserve, protect and display cultural relics from different regions and dynasties. There are now more than 2,000 written artifacts and samples.