Chinese New Year vibes | Sweeping away the dust

Chinese New Year vibes | Sweeping away the dust

Embracing Cultures: Spring Festival beyond China

Spring Festival is not only a grand festival for the Chinese people but also a UNESCO-recognized Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. What are the traditional customs that make this festival so special? What fascinating stories lie behind your Chinese zodiac sign? And how is this festival celebrated around the world?

Beijing's Intangible Culture Heritage

If history is a password door, intangible cultural heritage would be the keypad. China's Intangible Cultural Heritage is like a priceless pearl, shining brightly in the treasure house of human civilization.

Discover the Charm of Chinese Craftsmanship During 'Minor Cold'

"After Minor Cold and Major Cold, prepare for the New Year." Minor Cold is observed on January 5 this year. The traditions associated with this solar term include eating Laba porridge and pickled Laba garlic, and admiring plum blossoms, all of these adding a touch of winter charm.

Modern-Day Marco Polo - Apprenticeship in Traditional Chinese Crafts: Alessandro Martini, a young man from Milan, Italy, traces the legacy of Xiangshan Guild in Suzhou.

Modern-Day Marco Polo - Apprenticeship in Traditional Chinese Crafts: Alessandro Martini, a young man from Milan, Italy, traces the legacy of Xiangshan Guild in Suzhou.

Heavy Snow

The Twelve Animal Signs

In traditional China, dating methods were cyclical means something that is repeated time after time according to a pattern. A popular folk method which reflected this cyclical method of recording years are the Twelve Animal Signs. Every year is assigned an animal name or “sign” according to a repeating cycle: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Boar. Therefore, every twelve years the same animal name or “sign” would reappear.

The Tea Culture

Longjing tea is from Longjing, West Lake, Hangzhou. It is a top-grade green tea. It is recorded that tea was produced in Longjing in the Tang Dynasty. In the Qing Dynasty Longjing tea was the favourite one of Emperor Qianlong. It is made of tea shoots. They are green, fragrant, sweet and beautiful — four unique characteristics of Longjing tea.

Alcoholic Culture

Many famous Chinese wines of the present day developed from ancient times — mainly from the Ming and the Qing dynasties. On the 1st National Wine Appraisal Conference of 1952, eight brands of famous Chinese wine were awarded a prize: Guizhou Maotai, Shanxi Fenjiu, Shaanxi Xifeng, Luzhou Laojiao, Shaoxing Jiafan, Red Rose Wine, Weimeisi, and Special Fine Brandy.

The 24 Solar Terms

The 24 solar terms is a gross name of the system that comprises of 12 major solar terms and 12 minor solar terms interlaced with each other.Each lunar month in the Agricultural Calendar contains a major solar term. A lunar month that does not include a major solar term is taken as the leap month of the preceding month. In 19 tropical years there will be 228 major solar terms and 235 synodic months. So 7 lunar months will not contain major solar terms and they are classified as leap months.

Chinese Paper Cutting, a valuable cultural heritage

Chinese paper cutting is a traditional folk art that holds a significant place in Chinese culture. With a history spanning over 1,500 years, this intricate craft involves the meticulous cutting of paper into various designs and patterns. It is a meticulous process where skilled artisans use scissors or knives to cut out shapes, symbols, and motifs from a single piece of paper. The resulting paper cutouts are often symmetrical and visually stunning.

China's four major state gifts

In daily life, people often give gifts, and so do countries in international exchanges, which is known as state gifts. Learning about what China offers as state gifts may give you some inspiration for your future gift-giving.China's four major state gifts are: Ejiao, porcelain, silk, and tea.

Xiaoxue Minor Snow

Xiaoxue is the 20th solar term and the second of winter. Due to the cold, precipitation changes from rain to snow, but the amount of snow is relatively small. The weather is set to get a lot colder, and minor snow will soon turn major. Winter, clad in silver frost, then kicks off.

Lidong The Beginning of Winter

Lidong, the beginning of winter, is the nineteenth solar term. There is still a little heat left on the surface of the earth, so it is generally not too cold yet. Around this day, animals start to seek places to hibernate. In Chinese culture, it is just a time to hide.

Shuangjiang(霜降)-Chinese Solar Terms in autumn

Before the Chinese people adopted the Gregorian calendar, they used their own lunar calendar to mark the days and hours and keep track of their agricultural year.The ancient Chinese people divided a year into 24 parts marked with 24 solar term days, also called jieqi（节气） in Chinese. The solar terms are strictly based on the position of the sun and are used to give instructions and directions for all different aspects of life.