January 28
Chinese New Year - Spring Festival (Chūnjié 春节)
New Year is the main annual festival in China determined by the old Chinese calendar. It falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice, so it is held towards the end of January or early February. For at least 2,000 years it has been a time for all families to get together, often traveling long distances. Brightly colored red papers and paper cut designs are displayed everywhere frequently carrying the character ‘fu’ for good fortune. The traditional lion dance is seen in public festivities. The festival lasts a whole week of public holiday (Feb 1st to Feb 6th in 2022) and during this time everyone tries to be on their best behavior to set the tone for the whole year. It is considered not just the start of a new year but everybody's birthday too.
There are large firework displays in the cities. The ancestors are given due reverence at the festival. When guests arrive they should bring along food or a gift; these can take the form of packets of ‘lucky paper money’ in red envelopes. Fish and Jiaozi (dumplings) are often eaten, the character for fish yu 鱼 sounds the same as the character yu 余 meaning ‘surplus; abundance’ so a dish of fish has a lucky connotation. The entrance to a house is often decorated with couplets written in large calligraphy on red paper on either side of the entrance. Traditional fairs are held outside temples selling all sorts of small gifts and decorations during the holiday.
January 29
Lantern Festival (Yuánxiāojié 元宵节)
The Lantern festival also known as (上元节 Shàng yuán jié) is on the first full moon after the New Year and marks the very end of the Spring Festival. Lanterns are lit and in places very long paper dragons parade the streets. The tradition is that lanterns light the way for the ancestral spirits to go back to their tombs after joining the family for the festivities. Great creativity is used in lantern design, they come in all shapes and sizes (globes, dragons, lamps) and can include moving parts. Before electric light was available this was widely considered the most attractive and brilliant festival of the year. Many lanterns are made of lucky red paper and some lanterns have entertaining riddles painted on them. Tangyuan (glutinous rice balls) or yuanxiao are eaten and fir branches placed above doors. Taro (Colocasia esculenta) is a vegetable often eaten at the festival. The traditional lion dance was originally tied to only this festival but now are seen more generally throughout the year. In the countryside it was believed that disease could be removed by a long procession out of the village, with many firecrackers scaring away and taking the illness with it. Children, often in scary masks, used to put on little stage shows and pantomimes.
January 30
Bright and Clear Festival (Qīngmíng 清明)
Traditionally the family's tombs in the ancestral graveyard are cleaned and swept on Qing Ming day with fresh offerings laid out for the ancestors. Candles are lit and incense burned. Paper images of various goods including money may also be burned. When the extended family leaves the graveyard fire-crackers are often set off. It is the time to sow and plant crops and so is anchored to the solar year rather than the lunar year; this makes it falls between April 4th and April 6th. It marks the start of Spring and is associated with kite flying and a good day for a picnic in the countryside. It has similarities to the Christian Easter Spring festival in that eggs are prepared and eaten. In some areas boys wore willow wreathes on their heads to summon rain for the growing season.
January 31
Dragon Boat Festival (Duānwǔjié 端午节)
The highpoint of the sun's journey at the Summer Solstice marks the start of the warmest season, but also the gradual reduction in length of days. It is celebrated as the Dragon Boat Festival on the fifth day of the fifth month which often falls near the summer solstice. As well as procuring rain from the water controlling dragons for the summer crops, it commemorates the life of Qu Yuan (340-278 BCE), an incorruptible public official and famous poet who drowned himself in defiance of false accusations maliciously made against him. Many boats went out in search for his body and from this legend, dragon boat races take place throughout the world. Pyramid-shaped rice cakes 粽子 zòng zi and garlic 蒜 suàn are associated with this festival, some are fed to the fish on the basis that they would then leave Qu Yuan's body alone. Two teams of 15-30 people race each other in boats (around 66 feet [20 meters] long) with a decorated dragon prow. One person stands and beats the drum to set the rhythm for the rowers. Sometimes the races are held in the evening with the boats lit by red lanterns. It is only recently (2008) that this has once again become an official public holiday. Hong Kong is well known for the large number of races that take place each year. The fifth month is generally regarded as the most unlucky month and charms were used to keep the bad influence at bay, for example with pictures of Zhong Kui or putting iris flowers over the door. Stems and leaves of the herb mugwort or calamus were made into figure shapes and hung from the lintel to keep away pests and diseases. Traditionally Realgar ➚ wine (containing Arsenic sulfide) was drunk to kill off internal parasites and infections. It was also one of the few days of financial settlement in a year - debts were paid off and accounts settled.
February 01
Mid-Autumn Festival (Zhōngqiūjié 中秋节)
The Autumn Moon Festival takes place at full moon in the 8th lunar month (15th day), it marks the end of harvest. Lanterns are lit and round moon cakes are cooked and consumed in large numbers - these are usually filled with soybean paste, lotus seeds and egg yolk and covered in pastry. As there is a tradition that a rabbit lived on the moon, rabbits or hares are a popular image. Another tradition is to layout peaches, melon or grapes in a circle of thirteen as there are 13 lunar months in a year. It was also one of the few days of financial settlement in a year - debts were paid off and accounts settled. Ancient pagodas were decorated with lanterns to shine at night. It celebrates Chang'e, the goddess of the moon, and particularly her romance with the archer god Houyi. Traditionally, spirits of the dead came forth to feast on the fruits of summer harvest. People would climb hills and mountains to watch the rising of the full moon with the greeting 看月亮 Kàn yuè liang ‘Look at the bright moon!’
February 02
National day (Guó qìng jié 国庆节)
National day marks the founding of the Peoples Republic on 1st October 1949. There are often three days of public holiday in all, shifted to give a continuous five day holiday when combined with a weekend. It is called the ‘Golden Week’ and as the weather is often good many go away for a short holiday.
February 03
China is not called China
The reason why we use the name China in the West for the country is quite surprising. Like many English names for countries it is not the name used within the country itself. This is not uncommon as ‘Greece’ ➚ is known as ‘Hellas’ to the Greeks while ‘Egypt’ ➚ is ‘Misr’ to its people. The name China has been in use for thousands of years and is not easy to trace to its origin. It probably derives from the Sanskrit word ‘Chinasthana’ (meaning country to the East of India) or it might be possibly connected to the Qin (pronounced ‘Chin’) kingdom. The name was in use long before the First Qin Emperor (259 - 210 BCE) came to unify China. The Qin kingdom was the most westerly of the many smaller kingdoms that became China and so would have been the first kingdom reached when traveling overland from India and Central Asia. From ‘Chin’ the Greeks and Romans probably derived the term ‘Sinae’ which you find in words like ‘sinophile’ (someone who likes China) and ‘sinologist’ (someone studying China). In Roman times another name used was ‘Serica’, the land where silk came from. Serica is believed to be derived from the Chinese word for silk 丝 sī pronounced 'ser'.
Other countries use different names for China following their history of contacts with the country. So ‘Cathay’ (as in Cathay Pacific Airline ➚) is in use in Russia and Central Asia derives from the name of ‘Qidan’ people who ruled northern China in the 11th century.
February 04
Name for the Chinese Language
Just as varied are the words used to refer to the language of the Chinese people. First of all there are several languages and many dialects spoken in China, there is no universal ‘Chinese’. The official and most widely used dialect of the Chinese language is that used in Beijing. Its historical association with the Imperial court has led to the term ‘Mandarin’ being used for the language, after the officials who spoke it. ‘Mandarin’ was a term used by the Portuguese for the officials, it is now believed to be derived from a Malay word for ‘counselor’ or ‘minister’ (reflecting early contacts in the spice trade) which in turn shares its root with that of ‘mantra’.
In China the official name for the language is 普通话 Pǔ Tōng Huà common speech. Reflecting the historical origin of the language of the Han people it is also known as 汉语 hàn yǔ. Other names include the name for China, so you will also hear 中文 zhōng wén where wen refers to the common written script rather than the spoken tongue which is 中国话 zhōng guó huà.
February 05
46 Interesting Facts About China (Introduction, 1 to 4)
1. Have you ever wondered where toilet paper came from? Well, you guessed right, it came from China.
2. About the toilet paper, it was not for everybody; only the emperor was allowed to use it.
3. Do you want to see crickets fight? Well, in China, cricket fighting is a popular amusement sport.
4. However big it is, all of China uses one time zone, something that is not expected for a country that big.
February 06
5. For soccer or football fans, depending where you come from, this one will interest you. Historians believe that the Chinese invented this favorite sport for many in 1000 B.C.
6. Apart from toilet papers, the Chinese invented paper, gunpowder, which is a well-known fact, the compass, and the art of printing.
7. For those history lovers who love knowing what the names of places mean, this one might be a nice fact for you. The word China is believed to have originated from Qin, which was the dynasty that ruled over the land from 221 B.C., to A.D. 1912.
8. For a linguist, this fact will be fascinating to you. The Chinese language is the longest language still in use in writing in the world.
9. So what is your hobby? Before you answer that, for a majority of the Chinese, their hobby is stamp collecting!
February 07
10. By the way, if you thought that stamp collecting is a lame hobby, you will be shocked to learn that in China, this lame hobby is viewed as a symbol of status. Interesting it is.
11. Can you believe that a two legged goat born in Yunnan province in China in 2015 learned to walk on its feet in a week’s time after it was born? The goat dubbed the “strong-willed goat” has two front legs.
12. Have you ever wondered how chopsticks came to be? Well, because of the need to conserve fuel during cooking, the Chinese chopped their food into small pieces eliminating the need for knives and thus the chopsticks were born.
13. One on the list of interesting China facts for kids revolves around their play toy, the kite. The Chinese invented the kite over 3,000 years ago, and they used it to frighten their enemies during the war!
14. We can safely say that the Chinese were the first people to fly. If you doubt it, then you should know that by the fourth century A.D., the Chinese were using man-carrying tethered kites for flight.
February 08
15. Another on the list of interesting China facts for kids is the invention of ice cream. The Chinese invented it by simply mixing milk, rice, and snow.
16. By A.D. 130, the Chinese could detect earthquakes. This was through a device invented by an astronomer cum literary scholar named Zhang Heng.
17. The Chinese are just amazing. They started drilling for natural gas before the 4th Century, 2,300 years before the Westerners.
18. The Chinese also invented some math concepts. They started using the decimal system in 14th century B.C., 2,300 years before the Europeans.
19. Do you know that tea was discovered by accident? A tea leaf accidentally fell into the emperor’s pot and voilà, the beautiful relationship between the Chinese and tea was born.
February 09
20. Do you know that cuteness can ward off evil? Well, this is according to the Chinese. In the early days, the Chinese emperors kept Giant Pandas as evil-warding charms.
21. The Chinese invented the water wheel in A.D. 31 and the Iron plow way long before the Europeans did it.
22. Have you ever wondered where those breathtaking martial arts moves come from? Well, it is rumored that they were developed from hunting farming moves, and by the way, martial arts is practiced throughout China, so beware.
23. The Chinese love red. This color to them symbolizes happiness, and that is why it is commonly used in their festivals and most functions expressing Chinese culture.
24. By A.D. 1092, the Chinese already had a mechanical clock, which could tell time accurately.
February 10
25. Grow the nail of your small finger; it is a sign of rank. This was true in ancient China as wealthy men and women grew these nails and decorated them with gold for protection.
26. The Three Gorges Dam is the largest man-made dam in the world. It spans the Yangtze River.
27. In the ancient days, the easiest and surest way to die in China is to smuggle the secret of making silk. If you were caught doing this, you would be put to death.
28. By the way, the discovery of silk shares a similar story with tea. It is said that a silkworm cocoon fell into the emperor’s wife cup of hot tea and thus formed fine threads of silk.
29. The Chinese were the first to discover how blood circulates in the body in the 2nd century B.C. This is way long before the Europeans.
February 11
30. For archaeologists, the remains of Peking Man or Homo Erectus were discovered in China.
31. China has the longest canal in the world. This canal is the Grand Canal of China.
32. Can you imagine wearing paper for clothing or light body armor? Well, this is how strong and durable ancient Chinese paper was.
33. The Chinese too have been to space. This happened on 27th September 2008 when the first Chinese named Zhi Zhigang walked in space.
34. And here is one of the interesting Chinese New Year facts. Do you know that all Chinese share a birthday? Well, according to them, on the New Year, every Chinese turns one year older thus their birthday celebration. This is why the Chinese New Year is the most important holiday in China.
February 12
35. The Shanghai port of China played a major role in saving Jews during the Second World War. The reason being it was the first and only port to accept the entry of Jews without asking for a visa.
36. The Chinese were also the first to utilize the disastrous effects of gas in war. They did this 2000 years before its first use in the WWI.
37. Archery lovers know that your favorite toy; the crossbow was invented and first used by the Chinese.
38. Fortune cookies may sound Chinese, but they are not part of their culture. In fact, they were invented in 1920 in the USA.
39. For a long time, lanterns were a symbol of life and the family’s wealth. It is said that the wealthiest families had humongous lanterns that required a couple of people to lift up.
February 13
40. If you thought we were through with Chinese first, then you are wrong. The Chinese invented the suspension bridge in 25 B.C. Compared to when the westerners built the first one; the Chinese were ahead by 1,800 years.
41. Keep on fearing bats, but for the Chinese, the bat is a symbol of good luck.
42. The Chinese might have also been the first to ride a horse.
43. The Chinese list of olds and first is not yet through. The Lunar Calendar is the oldest calendar in the world dating back to 2600 B.C. It also takes 60 years to complete.
44. You had to be a poet during the Tang Dynasty. This only applied to those who are educated. It was required that educated people greet each other with a poem that has been composed on the spot!
45. The tomb of Qin, the first emperor who is accredited for uniting China, was discovered in 1974. His tomb contained poems, thousands of life-sized soldiers, chariots, and horses.
46. When you wear black as a sign of mourning, in China, they mourn in white.
February 15
Location and Territory
The People's Republic of China is situated in the eastern part of the Asian Continent on the western coast of the Pacific. With a total land area of around 9.6 million square km, China is the largest country in Asia and the third largest in the world, next to Russia and Canada.
The Chinese territory is around 5,500 km from the middle of the Heilongjiang River north of Mohe, Heilongjiang Province, in the north to Zengmu Ansha of the Nansha Islands in the south, and stretches for some 5,000 km from the confluence of the Heilongjiang and Wusulijiang rivers in the east to the Pamirs Plateau in the west. The land boundary extends for 22,800 km.
China boasts vast adjacent seas, with its mainland facing the Bohai Sea (nearly 80,000 square km), the Yellow Sea (380,000 square km), the East China Sea (770,000 square km) and the South China Sea (3.5 million square km) on the east and south. The area of China's territorial seas stands at 380,000 square km. According to the latest Comprehensive Survey of China's Isle Resources, China has under its jurisdiction 6,961 islands, each having an area of over 500 square meters, with 433 of them being inhabited and the rest remaining uninhabited. In line with the principle of "one country, two systems," another 411 islands are now under the jurisdiction of Taiwan and Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions. The mainland coastline is 18,000 km and that of the islands 14,000 km, giving China a total coastline distance of 32,000 km, the eighth longest in the world.
China is adjacent to 14 countries—the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Russia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Laos and Viet Nam, sharing common land borders with them. It also has six neighbors across the sea—the Republic of Korea, Japan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Indonesia.
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