Do you know China Shadow Play?

Traditional Chinese Shadow Play

Shadow play is not a Chinese specialty, there are shadow plays in other countries as well. However, do you know the shadow play or shadow puppetry is what kind of play?

It is an ancient form of storytelling and entertainment using opaque figures in front of an illuminated backdrop to create the illusion of moving images.

In Taiwan, the shadow play was developed from the Chaochow(a county in Guangdong province, China) school of shadow puppet theatre, it was called ‘leather monkey show’ generally.

Chaochow Leather Monkey Show

Older puppeteers estimate that there were at least a hundred shadow puppet troupes in southern Taiwan in the closing years of the Qing. Traditionally, the eight to 12-inch puppet figures, and the stage scenery and props such as furniture, natural scenery, pagodas, halls, and plants are all cut from leather.

In France, although at the beginning the shadow play was spread from China in the past, but when it was added with their local characteristics, this kind of performance immediately become a type of authentic French Art.

The shadow play began to spread to Europe in the mid-18th century, when French missionaries in China took it back to France in 1767 and put on performances in Paris and Marseilles, causing quite a stir. In time, the Ombres chinoises (French for "Chinese Shadows") with local modification and embellishment, became the Ombres françaises and struck root in the country.

Silhouette Animation

Now in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Turkey, these countries all have the tradition of shadow theatre. While Germany pioneered the silhouette animation, this new type shadow play used the same puppet as traditional shadow play, and filmed it frame-by-frame.

* Original address of this China gift post: China Gift and Fine Arts & Crafts in China

Do you Know the Double Ninth Festival in China Really?

As the annual Double Ninth Festival in China is coming, as for this traditional Chinese festival, how much do you know about?

The 9th day of the 9th lunar month is the traditional Chongyang Festival, or Double Ninth Festival. It usually falls in October in the Gregorian calendar. In an ancient and mysterious book Yi Jing, or The Book of Changes, number "6" was thought to be of Yin character, meaning feminine or negative, while number "9" was thought to be Yang, meaning masculine or positive. So the number nine in both month and day create the Double Ninth Festival, or Chongyang Festival. Chong in Chinese means "double."

Also, as double ninth was pronounced the same as the word to signify "forever", both are "Jiu Jiu," the Chinese ancestors considered it an auspicious day worth celebration. That's why ancient Chinese began to celebrate this festival long time ago.

The custom of ascending a height to avoid epidemics was passed down from long time ago. Therefore, the Double Ninth Festival is also called "Height Ascending Festival". The height people will reach is usually a mountain or a tower. Ancient literary figures have left many poems depicting the activity. Even today, people still swarm to famous or little known mountains on this day.

On this day, people will eat Double Ninth Gao (or Cake). In Chinese, gao (cake) has the same pronunciation with gao (height). People do so just to hope progress in everything they are engaged in. There is no fixed ways for the Double Ninth Cake, but super cakes will have as many as nine layers, looking like a tower.

The Double Ninth Festival is also a time when chrysanthemum blooms. China boasts diversified species of chrysanthemum and people have loved them since ancient times. So enjoying the flourishing chrysanthemum also becomes a key activity on this festival. Also, people will drink chrysanthemum wine. Women used to stick such a flower into their hair or hang its branches on windows or doors to avoid evilness.

In 1989, the Chinese government decided the Double Ninth Festival as Seniors' Day. Since then, all government units, organizations and streets communities will organize an autumn trip each year for those who have retired from their posts. At the waterside or on the mountains, the seniors will find themselves merged into nature. Younger generations will bring elder ones to suburban areas or send gifts to them on this day.

* Original address of this China gift post: China Gift and Fine Arts & Crafts in China

Introduction of 2010 China World Expo Pavilions XI - China Pavilion

China Pavilion at 2010 World Expo - Chinese Wisdom in Urban Development

Theme: Chinese Wisdom in Urban Development

National Pavilion Day: October 1

Location: Within Zone A of the Expo Site

Pavilion Features:

The appearance of China pavilion to be designed with the theme of "Oriental Crown, Splendid China, Ample Barn, Rich People," thus to express the spirit and temperament of Chinese culture.

The show of China pavilion is followed the main line of "Seeking", to lead visitors to walk through three areas of "Oriental Footprint", "Seeking Tour" and "Low-carbon Activity," and to find and feel the Chinese wisdom existed in urban development during the “Seeking” course.

The pavilion is cut-in from contemporary times, reviewed China's urbanization process over three decades, highlights the scale and achievement of China’s civilization over three decades, and retrospect, explore the inside heritage and traditions of China cites. Subsequently, a stretch of the "wisdom of the trip" guide visitors into the future, to nourish the developing route of future cities based on Chinese values and development.


Highlight 1: The “Chinese Red” picked out carefully from more than one hundred of red color samples

The “Chinese Red” decorated China Pavilion was picked out from one hundred of red color samples one by one, which was combined by from 7 kinds of red colors. Colors of the pavilion is turn to shallower from top to bottom, with conditions of different sun reflections in daytime and lights projection in night and different visual levels and so on, the color of China pavilion body will formed into an uniform deep and sedate red with classic visual effect.

In addition, red plates of China pavilion is made of metal material, with corduroy-like texture, not only put a piece of more quality ‘outerwear’ on China pavilion, but also endowed more steady and generous impression to the red color which originally a little more stink and jumpy.


Highlight 2: National Treasure 'Riverside Scene During The Qingming Festival' come out again on a one hundred meter long Wall


In the core area of China National Pavilion, which is also the highest level (49 meters high) exhibition area, a 100 meters long wall is covered with the famous painting in the Song Dynasty “Riverside Scene During The Qingming Festival” wholly. At the same time, the original copy of National Treasure “Riverside Scene During The Qingming Festival” will also come out in the China Pavilion during the Expo.


Highlight 3: Try all current high-tech means, Enjoy the civilization essence of five thousand years in 45-minutes

Visitors will firstly see a huge size Ring Theater and watch an eight-minute movie, to feel and touch the wisdom of China’s urban development. Then, people will look back the history, from the earliest module-like city development relic, to view the prosperity of the Bian city in the ancient Song dynasty through the enlarged painting “Riverside Scene During The Qingming Festival'”, finally entered into a stretched space with white basic design and full of future feelings, thus to find the Chinese-type answer to the future urban development.

From modern to ancient times, then to the future, the China Pavilion will show you a wonderful presentation concentrated five thousand years of Chinese civilization, the whole tour may takes about 45 minutes.

Highlight 4: "New Jiuzhou Qing Yan” depicting the typical Chinese landscapes, inspired from the Yuanmingyuan Park

On the roof platform of district of China Pavilion, the 2.7 million square meters urban sky gardens "New Jiuzhou Qing Yan will assumed several tasks of crowds evacuation, public recreation for the China pavilion. Among the ‘New Jiuzhou Yan Qing’, there are not only enriched the traditional Chinese garden and modern landscaping techniques, but also bears the Chinese wisdom and oriental charm. On each continent there are landscape arrangements of typical Chinese topographic feature. Visitors walk shuttled in, just like stroll on the miniature country of China, watching all wonderful natural creations, and the unique Chinese culture have a long history as well as the splendid sights showed in the garden is also an important part of the theme “Chinese Wisdom in Urban Development” of China pavilion.



Highlight 5: Focus on "Low-Carbon Action."

Focus on the future urban development in China with the core element of low-carbon, showing how the Chinese people through ”modern pursuit learn from nature“ to face challenges of urbanization in the future, and provide a “Chinese-style answer” for achieving global sustainable development.

Highlight 6: Transfer Chinese Temperaments, Seal Characters Wall composed of the Twenty-Four Solar Terms

In addition to the shape of China National Pavilion integrated elements of traditional Chinese architectural culture, the design of China regional pavilion is also rich in Chinese artistical Temperaments, which used a lot of experience ancient Chinese traditional elements. On the exterior wall of China regional pavilion, the designer used the ancient Chinese text - Seal as a decoration. The architecture surface of China regional pavilion decorated with “Overlapped Seal Characters” passing human geography information of twenty-four solar terms in China.

Highlight 7: Folk Workmanship "Three-Cut Ax" which is at the Verge of Extinction Reappeared

The seemingly simple steps of China Pavilion contained countless hidden wonders, there are total of 76 steps, whose quality and craftwork level is comparable to the big stage of the Great Hall of the people. At the same time, it reused the folk skill “Thee-Cut Ax” which is at the edge of extinction, on a piece of 1 square meter stone, the ax cutting times could be counted up to ten thousands, and to the whole China pavilion big stage need 54,000 thousands cuts.

All big stages of China pavilion are made of granite “China Ash”, showing a black and white visual effect.

Previous series of 2010 World Expo: German Pavilion

* Original address of this China gift post: China Gift and Fine Arts & Crafts in China

Chinese Fine Food (1) --- La Mian

We all know that Italian pasta is Garfield's favorite food, which is also the favorite of many people, but do you know La Mian, a type of hand-made or hand-pulled Chinese noodle is also very delicious?

Lanzhou La mian

Actually, when speaking of noodle, Chinese noodles have to be mentioned, and the world's oldest noodles was discovered by an archaeologist in Qinghai China.

Today in China, maybe many foreigners are very familiar with the "Lanzhou La mian" which can be caught at streets here and there, but does anyone know how "La mian" is made of?

There are several styles of twisting the dough but they all employ the same concept: a piece of dough is repeatedly stretched and folded onto itself in order to align the glutens and warm up the dough for stretching.

This dough is then pulled to about an arm span's length. The puller then makes a loop with the dough, joining the two ends into one clump of dough, and inserts his fingers into the loop to keep the strand from sticking to itself. Doing this, the pull has doubled the length of the dough while fractioning its thickness. This process is repeated several times until the desired thickness and quantity is achieved.

Daoxiao mian

The category of Lanzhou La mian is also includes "Daoxiao mian"（a type of knife-sliced noodles), and "Pao mo" (a type of steamed bread dipped in soup) as well.

He Fen (Thick rice noodle)

At the same time, Chinese noodle is also includes thick rice noodle ("He fen" in Chinese pronunciation), rice vermicelli or thin rice noodles("Mi fen" in Chinese pronunciation), and cellophane noodles or sweet potato vermicelli ("Fen si" in Chinese pronunciation).

* Original address of this China gift post: China Gift and Fine Arts & Crafts in China

The Mid-Autumn Festival in China is Coming soon！

Every year the day on August 15 of Chinese lunar calendar is the traditional Mid-Autumn Festival in China. At that time the season comes to mid-autumn of the year, so it is called Mid-Autumn Festival.

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!

In China's Lunar Calendar, the year is divided into four seasons, each season is divided into three parts as ‘Meng’, ‘Zhong’ and “Ji”, so the Mid-Autumn is also known as Middle Autumn or ‘Zhong-Qiu’ pronounced in Chinese.

The moon on August 15th in Chinese lunar calendar is always more fuller and more bright than that in other months, so it is also known as "the Eve of Month", "August Festival". On this night, people looking up at the bright moon just like a fine jade, also like a disc in the sky, will naturally look forward to family reunion. Emigres far away from home will also used to express their thick homesick to their family members and hometown on the moon. Therefore, the Mid-Autumn Festival is also known as "Reunion Festival".

Since ancient times Chinese people has the custom of "Worshipping the goddess of the moon at the end of Autumn". In the Zhou dynasty, every year in the night of Mid-Autumn people will hold ceremonies of ‘Welcome Coldness’ and ‘Worship The Goddess of the Moon”, at the ceremony, a big size of incense table will settles, moon cakes, watermelons, apples, dates, plums, grapes and other offerings will placed on the table, among which, moon cakes and watermelons are necessary. And the watermelon should be cutted into lotus shape.

In the moon light, the statue of goddess of the moon will be placed toward the direction of the moon, with burning candles, the whole family will worship the moon one by one, then the housewife of the family will cut out the reunion moon cake into several parts. The number of divided moon cake parts always has been calculated before, which covers all members of the family, includes ones at home, and the members outside home. More or less is not allowed, and the size of parted moon cakes should be same.

Moon Cakes

As said in a legend that in ancient times there was an ugly girl named ‘Wu Yan”, who was accustomed to worship the goddess of the moon piously during her childhood, when she has grown up, she was been selected to enter the palace for her outstanding characters and virtues, but as for her ugly appearance she had not been favored by the emperor for a long time.

Later on the night of August 15 one year, when she worshipping the moon, the emperor seen her in the moon light and found her is very beautiful, then chose her as his queen, which is the origin of the custom of worshipping moon at the mid-autumn.

Fairy Chang-e, who is living in the moon, was known for her beauty, so young girls worship moon will willing to "look like the goddess of Chang’e, face as bright moon."

Fairy Chang-e - The Goddess of The Moon

During the Tang Dynasty of ancient China, the custom of admiring and enjoying the glorious full moon on the Mid-Autumn Festival is quite popular. On the night of August 15 in Chinese lunar calendar, peoples in the whole city, no matter they are poor or rich, old or young, will all wear on adult clothing, burn incenses and worship moon and tell out their wishes, and pray for blessing of the goddess of the moon.

During the South-Song dynasty in ancient China, people were accustomed to present moon cakes to each other, as to admire the auspicious connotation of reunion. In some area there will hold many activities as playing grass weaved dragon dance, building pagodas and so on.

Since the Ming and Qing dynasty in ancient China, the custom of celebrate the Mid-Autumn festival is become more popular in folk, there formed many special customs such as burning incenses, tree mid-autumn, light pagoda lights, play sky lights, walking with the moon, playing fire dragon dance and etc. in many local areas in China.

There are many customs of the Mid-Autumn Festival in China, as well as many forms, but all of them are repose trust of people’s infinite love and yearning for a better life.

Today, the custom of playing under the month has been far from popular than which ancient times in China, but the custom of host a banquet to enjoying the full moon is still very popular in China, people are still like to drinking wines to ask after the moon, celebrate the good life, or wish distant relatives good health and happy, share the moon with family members in common.



Now, as the traditional Mid-Autumn Festival in China is coming soon(will fall on September 22), I wish all lovers each other a long life so as to share the beauty of this graceful moonlight, even though miles apart.

* Original address of this China gift post: China Gift and Fine Arts & Crafts in China

Introduction of 2010 China World Expo Pavilions X - German Pavilion

German Pavilion at 2010 Shanghai World Expo - Balancity

Theme: Balancity

National Pavilion Day: May 19

Pavilion Area: Around 6,000 Square Meters

Location: Within Zone C of the Expo Site


Pavilion Features:

The theme of the pavilion is "Balancity." It demonstrates the importance of balance between modernization and preservation, innovation and tradition, community and the individual, work and leisure, and between globalization and national identity. Visitors will gradually explore various places typical of a city -- a harbor, a factory, a garden, a park and a depot where exhibits and urban projects from Germany will be on show.

Highlight 1: Metal Sphere



The highlight of the pavilion is a cone-shaped structure housing a revolving metal sphere, three meters in diameter and covered with LEDs, which will be activated by the noise and movement of spectators.

Highlight 2: Virtual Narrators

Germany Pavilion's virtual narrators Jens and Yan Yan will guide visitors to tour the pavilion. According to the plot, Jens, a male mechanics student in a German university, met female Chinese architect student Yan Yan in China. During the following parts of the exhibition, Yan Yan went to German and Jens introduced his lifestyle and the country to her. Visitor will follow the tour of the "narrators" to complete the visit of the pavilion.



Highlight 3: Performance

Visitors will be able to experience the youth culture of Germany. The hip-hop culture is so vigorous that it has gone beyond the national and language barriers, spreading around the world and coming into the Germany Pavilion. Visitors will see the street dance, and a type of "graffiti art" based on the urban culture.Another great show is the vocal percussion, relying on nothing but artists' mouths and microphones in creating wonderful rhythms.

Previous series of 2010 World Expo: Japan Pavilion
Next series of 2010 World Expo: China Pavilion

* Original address of this China gift post: China Gift and Fine Arts & Crafts in China