Luoyang Peonies: Why China's 'King of Flowers' Has Ruled Since the Tang Dynasty
Luoyang peonies rule as China's king of flowers since the Tang dynasty. Discover the legend, Yang Guifei, and how to plan your spring visit to the festival.
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Chinese Culture
213 articles
Lü Buwei and the Lushi Chunqiu: How a Merchant Built a Dynasty and an Encyclopedia That Shaped China
Lü Buwei rose from a Yangxin merchant to Qin chancellor, then hired 3,000 scholars to write an encyclopedia that outlived his political fall from power.
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Tibetan Culture: Life on the Roof of the World
Tibetan culture spans 6+ million people on the roof of the world. From Buddhist monasteries to yak herding, butter tea to Mount Kailash — an accessible introduction.
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The Yi Minority of China: Ancient Script, Torch Festival, and the Second-Largest Ethnic Minority
With 9.8 million people, the Yi are China's second-largest ethnic minority. Discover their ancient pictographic script, the spectacular Torch Festival, and their tiger-based cosmology.
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The Grand Canal of China: The World's Longest Man-Made Waterway
The Grand Canal of China spans 1,776 km, connecting Beijing to Hangzhou. Discover its 2,500-year engineering legacy and how it shaped imperial China.
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Chinese Lion Dance: A 1,500-Year Guide to the Art, History, and Spirit
From Buddhist monks to Chinatowns worldwide, the Chinese Lion Dance has 1,500 years of history. Learn the Northern vs Southern styles, the music, the training, and where to see it.
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Wuzhen Water Town — China's Most Famous Ancient Canal Town (Complete Guide)
Wuzhen is China's most complete ancient water town — 1,300 years of canals, stone bridges, and Ming Dynasty architecture. Here's everything Americans need to know before visiting.
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Wuyuan — China's Most Beautiful Countryside (A Complete Travel Guide)
Wuyuan in spring looks like someone spilled watercolors across the countryside. Here's why this hidden corner of Jiangxi is China's most photogenic rural escape.
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Sanxingdui — The Bronze Age Discovery That Rewrote Chinese History
The Sanxingdui archaeological discoveries revealed a mysterious ancient civilization in Sichuan that predates the Shang Dynasty. Here's what Americans need to know about China's most astonishing archaeological find.
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Mount Huangshan — China's Most Mystical Mountain (A Complete Travel Guide)
Mount Huangshan — China's sacred Yellow Mountains — offer some of the most otherworldly scenery on Earth. Here's what every traveler needs to know before visiting.
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