Heritage of Middle Kingdom, UNESCO, Contemporary Chinese Culture: News & Images
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The Panda Festival is a good idea.
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China launches Giant Panda festival to promote regional economy
By Kou Jie (People's Daily Online) 14:19, September 30, 2016
[File photo]
The first Giant Panda Festival will be held in Wenchuan, Sichuan province from Oct. 18 to 20, in an effort to promote protection of the national icon and stimulate the local economy.
“Care for panda’s homeland, advance toward joint growth” is the theme for this year’s panda festival. The festival aims to promote green development and the protection of giant pandas, as well as to create a “panda brand” for local tourism, which will advance the economic, social and cultural development of Wenchuan, the local government explained at a press release in Chengdu on Sept. 29.
During the festival, exhibitions will be held to showcase achievements in panda protection made by Wolong National Natural Reserve. Several international conferences will also be arranged to discuss the training of zoo pandas and the protection of pandas' natural habitats. Films of Wenchuan’s natural landscape, recorded by drones, will be screened, China National Radio reported.
After the major earthquake in Wenchuan in 2008, local government put a great deal of effort into the restoration of the panda protection center and habitat. Currently, there are two natural reserves and a scenic zone in Wenchuan that stretch across 148,000 hectares and house 165 wild giant pandas.
As the population of giant pandas in the wild increases, the animal was downgraded in September from “endangered” to “vulnerable” on the Red List maintained by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
========
China launches Giant Panda festival to promote regional economy
By Kou Jie (People's Daily Online) 14:19, September 30, 2016
[File photo]
The first Giant Panda Festival will be held in Wenchuan, Sichuan province from Oct. 18 to 20, in an effort to promote protection of the national icon and stimulate the local economy.
“Care for panda’s homeland, advance toward joint growth” is the theme for this year’s panda festival. The festival aims to promote green development and the protection of giant pandas, as well as to create a “panda brand” for local tourism, which will advance the economic, social and cultural development of Wenchuan, the local government explained at a press release in Chengdu on Sept. 29.
During the festival, exhibitions will be held to showcase achievements in panda protection made by Wolong National Natural Reserve. Several international conferences will also be arranged to discuss the training of zoo pandas and the protection of pandas' natural habitats. Films of Wenchuan’s natural landscape, recorded by drones, will be screened, China National Radio reported.
After the major earthquake in Wenchuan in 2008, local government put a great deal of effort into the restoration of the panda protection center and habitat. Currently, there are two natural reserves and a scenic zone in Wenchuan that stretch across 148,000 hectares and house 165 wild giant pandas.
As the population of giant pandas in the wild increases, the animal was downgraded in September from “endangered” to “vulnerable” on the Red List maintained by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
ahojunk
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Good news when old stuff are preserved.
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Qing Dynasty culture and architecture preserved
2016-10-05 11:15 | China Daily | Editor: Mo Hong'e
The high-speed railway connecting Hefei in Anhui province and Fuzhou in Fujian province is often referred to as the "Most Beautiful Rail".
Operational as of June, 2015, the railway is a part of the Beijing-Fuzhou railway and passes the mountainous regions in Anhui, Jiangxi and Fujian provinces.
Local officials in Anhui recently told me that the busiest stop along the rail is Huangshan station.
Huangshan city is best known globally for Huangshan Mountain, or the Yellow Mountain. Many people describe Huangshan Mountain by quoting Xu Xiake, a famous travel writer from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), as saying that "One doesn't want to visit other mountains after returning from Huangshan Mountain".
In 1990, the area was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list and it was also named a Global Geopark in 2004. But in a recent visit to the region, I believe that the real pleasure of traveling in Huangshan lies not only up in the clouds, but more importantly down between the mountains.
Last year, more than 3.18 million tourists visited the mountain, while 46.7 million people visited all the tourism resorts in Huangshan city, according to official data.
Recently, a group of friends and I visited some of the local villages by car. Local residences painted in white and black-a typical architectural style in the southern part of Anhui, influenced by the ancient merchant culture dating back to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911)-dot both sides of the road.
As mountainous as the region is, Huangshan city enjoys a forestry coverage rate of more than 92 percent. Where there is flat land and a river or brook, there is probably a village, and most of the villages are still formed in the ancient style.
I saw women washing clothes in the crystal streams, cattle grazing on grass land, accompanied by birds, and farmers harvesting rice in the fields.
We drove into a village in Xiuning county, just for some random sightseeing, and I was interested in howthe local villagers breed fish.
The villagers draw in the spring and stream water into the cellars beneath their houses, which are often two-floor ones made of brick, stone and wood. Thanks to the good spring water, locals don't need to do much except feed the fish vegetable leaves. They told me the fishing method traces its roots to the Song Dynasty (960-1279).
But this village is not as well known as some of the other ones, such as Yixian county's Hongcun village, which enjoys hundreds of ancient houses built in the Ming Dynasty and the Qing Dynasty, and has been listed as an AAAAA tourism spot, the highest level in the country's tourism sector.
In these villages, there are plenty of hostels in ancient residences. Ancient as the outlooks are, the inside of the hostels are mostly well decorated to make the tenants more comfortable. If they are interested in the original furnishings of the houses, they can also go to some of the most famous houses, which are listed as cultural historic relics.
========
Qing Dynasty culture and architecture preserved
2016-10-05 11:15 | China Daily | Editor: Mo Hong'e
The high-speed railway connecting Hefei in Anhui province and Fuzhou in Fujian province is often referred to as the "Most Beautiful Rail".
Operational as of June, 2015, the railway is a part of the Beijing-Fuzhou railway and passes the mountainous regions in Anhui, Jiangxi and Fujian provinces.
Local officials in Anhui recently told me that the busiest stop along the rail is Huangshan station.
Huangshan city is best known globally for Huangshan Mountain, or the Yellow Mountain. Many people describe Huangshan Mountain by quoting Xu Xiake, a famous travel writer from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), as saying that "One doesn't want to visit other mountains after returning from Huangshan Mountain".
In 1990, the area was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list and it was also named a Global Geopark in 2004. But in a recent visit to the region, I believe that the real pleasure of traveling in Huangshan lies not only up in the clouds, but more importantly down between the mountains.
Last year, more than 3.18 million tourists visited the mountain, while 46.7 million people visited all the tourism resorts in Huangshan city, according to official data.
Recently, a group of friends and I visited some of the local villages by car. Local residences painted in white and black-a typical architectural style in the southern part of Anhui, influenced by the ancient merchant culture dating back to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911)-dot both sides of the road.
As mountainous as the region is, Huangshan city enjoys a forestry coverage rate of more than 92 percent. Where there is flat land and a river or brook, there is probably a village, and most of the villages are still formed in the ancient style.
I saw women washing clothes in the crystal streams, cattle grazing on grass land, accompanied by birds, and farmers harvesting rice in the fields.
We drove into a village in Xiuning county, just for some random sightseeing, and I was interested in howthe local villagers breed fish.
The villagers draw in the spring and stream water into the cellars beneath their houses, which are often two-floor ones made of brick, stone and wood. Thanks to the good spring water, locals don't need to do much except feed the fish vegetable leaves. They told me the fishing method traces its roots to the Song Dynasty (960-1279).
But this village is not as well known as some of the other ones, such as Yixian county's Hongcun village, which enjoys hundreds of ancient houses built in the Ming Dynasty and the Qing Dynasty, and has been listed as an AAAAA tourism spot, the highest level in the country's tourism sector.
In these villages, there are plenty of hostels in ancient residences. Ancient as the outlooks are, the inside of the hostels are mostly well decorated to make the tenants more comfortable. If they are interested in the original furnishings of the houses, they can also go to some of the most famous houses, which are listed as cultural historic relics.
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Heritage in the beams of original dwellings
2016-10-05 11:12 | China Daily | Editor: Mo Hong'e
Also known as Huizhou prefecture, Huangshan is today widely associated with being the home of the picturesque Huangshan Mountain, or Yellow Mountain.
However, many people are not aware that the city is also renowned for its numerous remaining ancient buildings, which are distinctive and resemble ancient Huizhou-style buildings.
These houses are best known for the carvings on their components, be it wood, stone or brick.
"The furniture made by the local craftsmen of Huangshan have always been famous in the country," said Chen Wenyuan, an expert from the Huangshan-based Anhui Research Center of Intangible Culture Heritage.
In fact, the ancient architecture in Huangshan's old villages is so well-preserved that one may feel that he or she has traveled back in time when strolling through them.
Many of these ancient buildings were built by a group of successful businessmen called the Huizhou merchants, who made their fortune by trading tea and salt in the country. It is believed that these merchants accounted for almost half of China's wealth between the late Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and the early Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).
Becoming a businessman was a common choice in Huizhou during those times-more than 70 percent of local male residents had their own businesses-as the mountainous region had very few farmlands. Furthermore, it was one of the country's most important transportation hubs, as it connected the provinces of Anhui, Zhejiang and Jiangxi.
Chinese people are known for their affections toward their birthplaces and the Huizhou merchants were no different. Many of them started constructing buildings in their hometowns and these structures would be seen as a symbol of pride. The merchants took great care in ensuring that these buildings bore exquisite craftsmanship in the form of brick carvings at the entrances, stone carvings at various windows and wood carvings on the door frames.
The carvings seen in Huizhou include a wide range of imagery, including birds and flowers, auspicious beasts such as dragons or lions, characters from folklore and scenes of nature, as well as daily activities such as farming and reading.
These works were the most time-consuming part of building a Huizhou-style building. The construction of an ancestral temple often took generations to complete. Today, these three types of carvings have been classified as a national intangible cultural heritage.
2016-10-05 11:12 | China Daily | Editor: Mo Hong'e
Also known as Huizhou prefecture, Huangshan is today widely associated with being the home of the picturesque Huangshan Mountain, or Yellow Mountain.
However, many people are not aware that the city is also renowned for its numerous remaining ancient buildings, which are distinctive and resemble ancient Huizhou-style buildings.
These houses are best known for the carvings on their components, be it wood, stone or brick.
"The furniture made by the local craftsmen of Huangshan have always been famous in the country," said Chen Wenyuan, an expert from the Huangshan-based Anhui Research Center of Intangible Culture Heritage.
In fact, the ancient architecture in Huangshan's old villages is so well-preserved that one may feel that he or she has traveled back in time when strolling through them.
Many of these ancient buildings were built by a group of successful businessmen called the Huizhou merchants, who made their fortune by trading tea and salt in the country. It is believed that these merchants accounted for almost half of China's wealth between the late Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and the early Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).
Becoming a businessman was a common choice in Huizhou during those times-more than 70 percent of local male residents had their own businesses-as the mountainous region had very few farmlands. Furthermore, it was one of the country's most important transportation hubs, as it connected the provinces of Anhui, Zhejiang and Jiangxi.
Chinese people are known for their affections toward their birthplaces and the Huizhou merchants were no different. Many of them started constructing buildings in their hometowns and these structures would be seen as a symbol of pride. The merchants took great care in ensuring that these buildings bore exquisite craftsmanship in the form of brick carvings at the entrances, stone carvings at various windows and wood carvings on the door frames.
The carvings seen in Huizhou include a wide range of imagery, including birds and flowers, auspicious beasts such as dragons or lions, characters from folklore and scenes of nature, as well as daily activities such as farming and reading.
These works were the most time-consuming part of building a Huizhou-style building. The construction of an ancestral temple often took generations to complete. Today, these three types of carvings have been classified as a national intangible cultural heritage.
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Ancient village under private protection
2016-10-05 11:19 | China Daily | Editor: Mo Hong'e
Autumn falls on Hongcun village in Anhui province. (Photo: China Daily/Feng Mubo)
Zhang Zhengyan sits in a delicately decorated room at his hostel, surrounded by a group of reporters who are here just for a short break after looking around Pingshan village on September 20.
Zhang, in his 60s, is an experienced film producer, who has produced 12 of the most famous films directed by Zhang Yimou, one of the most celebrated directors.
Although some guests were seen enjoying their drinks in the front hall, Zhang said the seven rooms in the hostel were all vacant on the day.
"It is likely because of the high prices, apart from the fact it is a work day today", said Zhang, whose hostel is an ancient house of some 1800 square meters. Zhang said a room in the hostel that is named the Imperial Bodyguard, costs nearly 1,000 yuan ($150) for a single day. He refuses to offer any discount even when sometimes there are no guests.
Pingshan of Yixian County is an ancient rural village in Huanshan city, which is known for the Huangshan Mountain, or the Yellow Mountain, in East China's Anhui province.
Farmers in Huangshan city dry crops and fruits in the sun in their yards, which
is commonly seen in mountainous areas. (Photo: China Daily/Zhang Rongfu)
Although it was an ancient Huizhou-style building, the hostel, opened earlier this year, was not the original building on the site, but was reassembled with the components of similar ancient residences bought from the Huangshan region by Zhang in the last nine years.
Zhang said he runs the hostel not for money, "but mostly for fun, and the guests who share the same tastes with me are the most welcome".
On the site was originally a temple owned by the family of a high-level official surnamed Shu of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). "Out of restoration, the temple vanished about three decades ago", said Zhang.
The Shu family established the village in the Tang Dynasty (618-907). During the peak of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and the Qing Dynasty, there were more than 400 houses and 18 family temples, while there are only about 200 houses and seven temples left.
Three years ago, Zhang acquired the land at a cost of 800,000 yuan, while reassembling the current house cost him almost 10 million yuan. The hostel building is just a fraction of what Zhang has bought and rebuilt in the last years.
A pavilion in Pingshan village. (Photo: China Daily/Zhang Lixin)
In 2006, Zhang acquired some 66,700 square meters of land in the nearby Xiuli village of Yixian County, at a cost of 5 million yuan, to build a film base on the site. Building the base cost him tens of millions of yuan more, as he had bought more than 60 ancient buildings from the ancient Huizhou region and moved them to the place for reassembly and restoration.
In ancient times, the Huangshan region was called Huizhou Prefecture, which governed an urban area and six rural counties, including Yixian County.
"Huangshan city now has more than 8,000 ancient Huizhou-style houses, while only around 2,000 of the better-preserved ones have been listed as historic cultural relics by the government. The remainder are available for purchase, since the government is not able to protect so many ancient houses", said Wang Zefeng, party chief of Huangshan city.
Wang said it is because Huangshan is a mountainous region and was seldom disturbed by wars that the local ancient houses could be preserved much better than other areas of the country.
"This is reflected in the fact that the city enjoys a forestry coverage rate of more than 90 percent", added Wang.
Although some tycoons like Zhang choose to move the houses they buy to specific sites, most of the buyers are not able to afford the moving and reassembly process. So, they prefer to keep the building on their original sites and run their businesses after some restoration.
"The inside of most of the ancient houses is not suitable for living any more, so restoration and decoration inside the houses would be necessary", said Wang. He added that in this way the ancient house could be revived.
"The ancient buildings are only for sightseeing, but more importantly they should serve people's lives", said Wang.
Many of the buyers choose to run hostels, although only a fraction of them could match the delicacy of Zhang's.
"Take the Yixian County as an example, there are now approximately 10,000 hostels in the rural areas of the county, which has been a very popular tourism destination in the last few years", said Zhang.
Huangshan city attracts tens of millions of tourists every year, and local authorities estimate that more than 2 million of them will come from overseas this year.
Zhang sold the Xiuli film base to a capital fund company two years ago, as the value had appreciated to several times higher than his investment.
Now Zhang also owns seven ancient houses in the nearby Tachuan village, all operating as hostels, while it is the Imperial Bodyguard that he loves most.
"Maybe in the future I will close the hostel and take it as my family dwelling, since living in such a picturesque place with scattered ancient villages everywhere is pretty cool", said Zhang.
2016-10-05 11:19 | China Daily | Editor: Mo Hong'e
Autumn falls on Hongcun village in Anhui province. (Photo: China Daily/Feng Mubo)
Zhang Zhengyan sits in a delicately decorated room at his hostel, surrounded by a group of reporters who are here just for a short break after looking around Pingshan village on September 20.
Zhang, in his 60s, is an experienced film producer, who has produced 12 of the most famous films directed by Zhang Yimou, one of the most celebrated directors.
Although some guests were seen enjoying their drinks in the front hall, Zhang said the seven rooms in the hostel were all vacant on the day.
"It is likely because of the high prices, apart from the fact it is a work day today", said Zhang, whose hostel is an ancient house of some 1800 square meters. Zhang said a room in the hostel that is named the Imperial Bodyguard, costs nearly 1,000 yuan ($150) for a single day. He refuses to offer any discount even when sometimes there are no guests.
Pingshan of Yixian County is an ancient rural village in Huanshan city, which is known for the Huangshan Mountain, or the Yellow Mountain, in East China's Anhui province.
Farmers in Huangshan city dry crops and fruits in the sun in their yards, which
is commonly seen in mountainous areas. (Photo: China Daily/Zhang Rongfu)
Although it was an ancient Huizhou-style building, the hostel, opened earlier this year, was not the original building on the site, but was reassembled with the components of similar ancient residences bought from the Huangshan region by Zhang in the last nine years.
Zhang said he runs the hostel not for money, "but mostly for fun, and the guests who share the same tastes with me are the most welcome".
On the site was originally a temple owned by the family of a high-level official surnamed Shu of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). "Out of restoration, the temple vanished about three decades ago", said Zhang.
The Shu family established the village in the Tang Dynasty (618-907). During the peak of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and the Qing Dynasty, there were more than 400 houses and 18 family temples, while there are only about 200 houses and seven temples left.
Three years ago, Zhang acquired the land at a cost of 800,000 yuan, while reassembling the current house cost him almost 10 million yuan. The hostel building is just a fraction of what Zhang has bought and rebuilt in the last years.
A pavilion in Pingshan village. (Photo: China Daily/Zhang Lixin)
In 2006, Zhang acquired some 66,700 square meters of land in the nearby Xiuli village of Yixian County, at a cost of 5 million yuan, to build a film base on the site. Building the base cost him tens of millions of yuan more, as he had bought more than 60 ancient buildings from the ancient Huizhou region and moved them to the place for reassembly and restoration.
In ancient times, the Huangshan region was called Huizhou Prefecture, which governed an urban area and six rural counties, including Yixian County.
"Huangshan city now has more than 8,000 ancient Huizhou-style houses, while only around 2,000 of the better-preserved ones have been listed as historic cultural relics by the government. The remainder are available for purchase, since the government is not able to protect so many ancient houses", said Wang Zefeng, party chief of Huangshan city.
Wang said it is because Huangshan is a mountainous region and was seldom disturbed by wars that the local ancient houses could be preserved much better than other areas of the country.
"This is reflected in the fact that the city enjoys a forestry coverage rate of more than 90 percent", added Wang.
Although some tycoons like Zhang choose to move the houses they buy to specific sites, most of the buyers are not able to afford the moving and reassembly process. So, they prefer to keep the building on their original sites and run their businesses after some restoration.
"The inside of most of the ancient houses is not suitable for living any more, so restoration and decoration inside the houses would be necessary", said Wang. He added that in this way the ancient house could be revived.
"The ancient buildings are only for sightseeing, but more importantly they should serve people's lives", said Wang.
Many of the buyers choose to run hostels, although only a fraction of them could match the delicacy of Zhang's.
"Take the Yixian County as an example, there are now approximately 10,000 hostels in the rural areas of the county, which has been a very popular tourism destination in the last few years", said Zhang.
Huangshan city attracts tens of millions of tourists every year, and local authorities estimate that more than 2 million of them will come from overseas this year.
Zhang sold the Xiuli film base to a capital fund company two years ago, as the value had appreciated to several times higher than his investment.
Now Zhang also owns seven ancient houses in the nearby Tachuan village, all operating as hostels, while it is the Imperial Bodyguard that he loves most.
"Maybe in the future I will close the hostel and take it as my family dwelling, since living in such a picturesque place with scattered ancient villages everywhere is pretty cool", said Zhang.
ahojunk
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Calligraphy contest for youths and children held in Guangzhou
(Xinhua) 09:26, October 16, 2016
Some 1,000 contestants participated in the event.
A boy participates in a calligraphy contest for youths and children in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, Oct. 15, 2016. Some 1,000 contestants participated in the event. (Xinhua/Liang Xu)
Contestants in a calligraphy contest for youths and children in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, Oct. 15, 2016. Some 1,000 contestants participated in the event. (Xinhua/Liang Xu)
Contestants show their skills in a calligraphy contest for youths and children in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, Oct. 15, 2016. Some 1,000 contestants participated in the event. (Xinhua/Liang Xu)
A boy participating in a calligraphy contest for youths and children in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, Oct. 15, 2016. Some 1,000 contestants participated in the event. (Xinhua/Liang Xu)
(Xinhua) 09:26, October 16, 2016
Some 1,000 contestants participated in the event.
A boy participates in a calligraphy contest for youths and children in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, Oct. 15, 2016. Some 1,000 contestants participated in the event. (Xinhua/Liang Xu)
Contestants in a calligraphy contest for youths and children in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, Oct. 15, 2016. Some 1,000 contestants participated in the event. (Xinhua/Liang Xu)
Contestants show their skills in a calligraphy contest for youths and children in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, Oct. 15, 2016. Some 1,000 contestants participated in the event. (Xinhua/Liang Xu)
A boy participating in a calligraphy contest for youths and children in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, Oct. 15, 2016. Some 1,000 contestants participated in the event. (Xinhua/Liang Xu)
ahojunk
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Christie's opens Chinese flagship in Beijing
2016-10-16 11:19 | chinadaily.com.cn | Editor: Huang Mingrui
Christie's has opened its new central Beijing flagship, together with an exhibition on Pablo Picasso and other Chinese artists, amid a continued expansion in China.
The flagship location, Christie's second venue in China after its Shanghai branch that opened in 2014, opened today and will serve as an auction house's offices, as well as a multifunctional and interactive venue for exhibitions, art forums, lectures and other activities, the company says.
"We are proud to have found Christie's a new home in Beijing, a city that is characterized by its tremendous cultural heritage and a profound collecting tradition," said Patricia Barbizet, Chief Executive of Christie's.
"Christie's continues to grow and invest in China and our new Beijing space marks an important milestone during our 250 year mission to connect art and collectors."
"We look forward to further exchanges with the art community and contributing to the diversified Chinese cultural landscape," Barbizet said.
According to Rebecca Wei, Christie's Asia president, Christie's scope of sales in China is being limited to post 1949 work, while the company is trying to bring more Western art into the country.
Operating in the Chinese capital is beneficial to the auction house because the city is the center of the auction industry in China, she said.
China's second tier cities, such as Nanjing, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Xiamen, Fuzhou and Chengdu, are also attractive possibilities for further expansions in the coming years, according to Wei.
Jinqing Cai, chairman of Christie's China, said the company hoped the space would become an integral part of Beijing's rich cultural heritage and diverse art community.
In addition to the special exhibition of works by Pablo Picasso, the space also showcased works by other leading pioneers on Saturday, including Max Ernst, Fernando Botero, Sanyu, Chu Teh-Chun and Zeng Fanzhi.
The 800sqm, three-story flagship in the Chinese capital has replaced Christie's offices in the former CITIC Building, where it had operated since 1996.
Located at 82 Jinbao Jie, 1.8km east of the Beijing Palace Museum, and situated between the upscale Jinbao Mall and the Hong Kong Jockey Club Beijing, the new place is built in a classical style among the district with a history dating back 100 years.
Despite the fact that the value of China's domestic art market fell 23 percent in 2015 to around $11.8 billion, with art sales falling 7 percent worldwide, according to the 2016 TEFAF Art Market Report published by the Dublin-based research and consulting firm Arts Economics, the country has nonetheless experienced robust growth so far this year.
According to artsy.net, through the first two quarters of the year, China has surpassed the United States in auction turnover, rising to the top of the art auction market, and this Chinese expansion demonstrates a commitment to the region's growing collector base.
The result is impressive particularly given the turbulent economic climate in China, and Christie's new base is a demonstration that the auction house is hoping to further cultivate the wealthy collector base present in the country, which is driving the art market's growth.
********
There is a lot of money in auctions, $11.8 billion in 2015.
2016-10-16 11:19 | chinadaily.com.cn | Editor: Huang Mingrui
Christie's has opened its new central Beijing flagship, together with an exhibition on Pablo Picasso and other Chinese artists, amid a continued expansion in China.
The flagship location, Christie's second venue in China after its Shanghai branch that opened in 2014, opened today and will serve as an auction house's offices, as well as a multifunctional and interactive venue for exhibitions, art forums, lectures and other activities, the company says.
"We are proud to have found Christie's a new home in Beijing, a city that is characterized by its tremendous cultural heritage and a profound collecting tradition," said Patricia Barbizet, Chief Executive of Christie's.
"Christie's continues to grow and invest in China and our new Beijing space marks an important milestone during our 250 year mission to connect art and collectors."
"We look forward to further exchanges with the art community and contributing to the diversified Chinese cultural landscape," Barbizet said.
According to Rebecca Wei, Christie's Asia president, Christie's scope of sales in China is being limited to post 1949 work, while the company is trying to bring more Western art into the country.
Operating in the Chinese capital is beneficial to the auction house because the city is the center of the auction industry in China, she said.
China's second tier cities, such as Nanjing, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Xiamen, Fuzhou and Chengdu, are also attractive possibilities for further expansions in the coming years, according to Wei.
Jinqing Cai, chairman of Christie's China, said the company hoped the space would become an integral part of Beijing's rich cultural heritage and diverse art community.
In addition to the special exhibition of works by Pablo Picasso, the space also showcased works by other leading pioneers on Saturday, including Max Ernst, Fernando Botero, Sanyu, Chu Teh-Chun and Zeng Fanzhi.
The 800sqm, three-story flagship in the Chinese capital has replaced Christie's offices in the former CITIC Building, where it had operated since 1996.
Located at 82 Jinbao Jie, 1.8km east of the Beijing Palace Museum, and situated between the upscale Jinbao Mall and the Hong Kong Jockey Club Beijing, the new place is built in a classical style among the district with a history dating back 100 years.
Despite the fact that the value of China's domestic art market fell 23 percent in 2015 to around $11.8 billion, with art sales falling 7 percent worldwide, according to the 2016 TEFAF Art Market Report published by the Dublin-based research and consulting firm Arts Economics, the country has nonetheless experienced robust growth so far this year.
According to artsy.net, through the first two quarters of the year, China has surpassed the United States in auction turnover, rising to the top of the art auction market, and this Chinese expansion demonstrates a commitment to the region's growing collector base.
The result is impressive particularly given the turbulent economic climate in China, and Christie's new base is a demonstration that the auction house is hoping to further cultivate the wealthy collector base present in the country, which is driving the art market's growth.
********
There is a lot of money in auctions, $11.8 billion in 2015.
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Autumn worship ceremony of Genghis Khan
2016-10-13 16:42 | Ecns.cn | Editor:Yao Lan
People attend a worship ceremony for Genghis Khan at his mausoleum in Ordos City, North China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Oct. 12, 2016. The autumn worship ceremony, held on Sept. 20 on the lunar calendar, was inscribed as a state intangible cultural heritage in 2006. (Photo/CFP)
People attend a worship ceremony for Genghis Khan at his mausoleum in Ordos City, North China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Oct. 12, 2016. The autumn worship ceremony, held on Sept. 20 on the lunar calendar, was inscribed as a state intangible cultural heritage in 2006. (Photo/CFP)
People attend a worship ceremony for Genghis Khan at his mausoleum in Ordos City, North China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Oct. 12, 2016. The autumn worship ceremony, held on Sept. 20 on the lunar calendar, was inscribed as a state intangible cultural heritage in 2006. (Photo/CFP)
People attend a worship ceremony for Genghis Khan at his mausoleum in Ordos City, North China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Oct. 12, 2016. The autumn worship ceremony, held on Sept. 20 on the lunar calendar, was inscribed as a state intangible cultural heritage in 2006. (Photo/CFP)
********
I am surprised that the great Genghis Khan's mausoleum is in Ordos City, China.
.
2016-10-13 16:42 | Ecns.cn | Editor:Yao Lan
People attend a worship ceremony for Genghis Khan at his mausoleum in Ordos City, North China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Oct. 12, 2016. The autumn worship ceremony, held on Sept. 20 on the lunar calendar, was inscribed as a state intangible cultural heritage in 2006. (Photo/CFP)
People attend a worship ceremony for Genghis Khan at his mausoleum in Ordos City, North China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Oct. 12, 2016. The autumn worship ceremony, held on Sept. 20 on the lunar calendar, was inscribed as a state intangible cultural heritage in 2006. (Photo/CFP)
People attend a worship ceremony for Genghis Khan at his mausoleum in Ordos City, North China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Oct. 12, 2016. The autumn worship ceremony, held on Sept. 20 on the lunar calendar, was inscribed as a state intangible cultural heritage in 2006. (Photo/CFP)
People attend a worship ceremony for Genghis Khan at his mausoleum in Ordos City, North China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Oct. 12, 2016. The autumn worship ceremony, held on Sept. 20 on the lunar calendar, was inscribed as a state intangible cultural heritage in 2006. (Photo/CFP)
********
I am surprised that the great Genghis Khan's mausoleum is in Ordos City, China.
.
ahojunk
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Legend of Zhang Xianzhong's treasure proved true
2016-10-19 10:22 | Global Times | Editor: Li Yan
For centuries a legend persisted that a huge bountiful treasure of gold and silver sat at the bottom of the Minjiang River, where it passed through Jiangkou Township, Meishan city in Sichuan Province. The treasure supposedly once belonged to Zhang Xianzhong, the leader of a peasant uprising that occurred during the late Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).
This legend was finally accepted as fact last year, after more than a decade of locals discovering thousands of gold and silver-made relics on the river floor, including the gold seal of Zhang Xianzhong himself.
However, at the time this was not a call for celebration among historians, as a majority of the relics that had been discovered over the years had been sold illegally.
Well now the situation seems to have changed.
According to a report from the Chongqing Morning Post, on Friday police from Meishan city, Sichuan Province, announced that after two years of investigation they have solved 328 cases involving the illegal trafficking of ancient cultural relics retrieved from the river. Ten trafficking rings were broken up and 70 arrests were made during the course of the investigation, while thousands of cultural relics, including eight first-class relics, 38 second-class relics and 54 third-class relics worth more than 300 million yuan ($45 million) have been recovered.
Local secret
As the Ming Dynasty was coming to an end, Zhang rose up as the leader of a peasant uprising and attempted to establish his own Xi Dynasty.
Although the stories vary, one local legend in Jiangkou Township says that Zhang and his army passed through this area on a ship carrying vast amounts of treasure while fleeing enemy forces.
To keep his treasure out of enemy hands, Zhang ordered it dumped over the side, with the intention that he would come back for it later. Yet Zhang died before he could accomplish his goal.
Over the centuries, whether or not this story was true had been hotly debated by historians.
Eleven years ago, however, evidence came forth supporting this legend when local farmer Yang Fuhua discovered a silver ingot while working on an irrigation project. This discovery lead to locals coming down with a case of treasure-hunting fever.
Later, more gold and silver relics were discovered, some engraved with Zhang's name and title on them. This ended up catching the attention of those outside the region as well.
According to the law in China, any unearthed cultural relics must be reported to the proper authorities.
However, while some pieces were handed over to authorities over the years, an interesting phenomenon started taking place in the area.
Some people began "fishing" late at night, while some local families that were once poor, suddenly were able to afford new cars or homes.
Local farmers had basically come to a tacit understanding when it came to "sailing" on the river.
The stretch of the river where many of these historic relics were discovered was established as the Jiangkou Chenyin Historic Site in 2010.
In the beginning of 2014, local police in Meishan noticed that people were scuba diving in the river within the bounds of the protected historic site.
The Meishan police quickly formed a special investigative team to look into the matter. Not long after, the team uncovered a huge trafficking ring that was selling relics from the river to at least 10 provinces across China.
In December, 2015, a leading group of experts from organizations including the Palace Museum, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the State Administration of Cultural Heritage officially recognized that local legend was far more than just a story, but actual historic fact.
In a joint proposal, these experts applied for permission to carry out an official archeological excavation, while also calling on local authorities to increase protection for the area.
In June of this year, the State Administration of Cultural Heritage approved the request for an archaeological excavation.
2016-10-19 10:22 | Global Times | Editor: Li Yan
For centuries a legend persisted that a huge bountiful treasure of gold and silver sat at the bottom of the Minjiang River, where it passed through Jiangkou Township, Meishan city in Sichuan Province. The treasure supposedly once belonged to Zhang Xianzhong, the leader of a peasant uprising that occurred during the late Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).
This legend was finally accepted as fact last year, after more than a decade of locals discovering thousands of gold and silver-made relics on the river floor, including the gold seal of Zhang Xianzhong himself.
However, at the time this was not a call for celebration among historians, as a majority of the relics that had been discovered over the years had been sold illegally.
Well now the situation seems to have changed.
According to a report from the Chongqing Morning Post, on Friday police from Meishan city, Sichuan Province, announced that after two years of investigation they have solved 328 cases involving the illegal trafficking of ancient cultural relics retrieved from the river. Ten trafficking rings were broken up and 70 arrests were made during the course of the investigation, while thousands of cultural relics, including eight first-class relics, 38 second-class relics and 54 third-class relics worth more than 300 million yuan ($45 million) have been recovered.
Local secret
As the Ming Dynasty was coming to an end, Zhang rose up as the leader of a peasant uprising and attempted to establish his own Xi Dynasty.
Although the stories vary, one local legend in Jiangkou Township says that Zhang and his army passed through this area on a ship carrying vast amounts of treasure while fleeing enemy forces.
To keep his treasure out of enemy hands, Zhang ordered it dumped over the side, with the intention that he would come back for it later. Yet Zhang died before he could accomplish his goal.
Over the centuries, whether or not this story was true had been hotly debated by historians.
Eleven years ago, however, evidence came forth supporting this legend when local farmer Yang Fuhua discovered a silver ingot while working on an irrigation project. This discovery lead to locals coming down with a case of treasure-hunting fever.
Later, more gold and silver relics were discovered, some engraved with Zhang's name and title on them. This ended up catching the attention of those outside the region as well.
According to the law in China, any unearthed cultural relics must be reported to the proper authorities.
However, while some pieces were handed over to authorities over the years, an interesting phenomenon started taking place in the area.
Some people began "fishing" late at night, while some local families that were once poor, suddenly were able to afford new cars or homes.
Local farmers had basically come to a tacit understanding when it came to "sailing" on the river.
The stretch of the river where many of these historic relics were discovered was established as the Jiangkou Chenyin Historic Site in 2010.
In the beginning of 2014, local police in Meishan noticed that people were scuba diving in the river within the bounds of the protected historic site.
The Meishan police quickly formed a special investigative team to look into the matter. Not long after, the team uncovered a huge trafficking ring that was selling relics from the river to at least 10 provinces across China.
In December, 2015, a leading group of experts from organizations including the Palace Museum, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the State Administration of Cultural Heritage officially recognized that local legend was far more than just a story, but actual historic fact.
In a joint proposal, these experts applied for permission to carry out an official archeological excavation, while also calling on local authorities to increase protection for the area.
In June of this year, the State Administration of Cultural Heritage approved the request for an archaeological excavation.
Dawood Ibrahim
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Silk Road & Cultural Centers of China
Through this blog, I intend to share my experiences during my visit to China on a postdoctoral fellowship hosted by Peking University, Beijing and awarded to me by Confucius institute, China for six months.
The research project is focused on “The Iconography of Gandhara and its Extension in China”.
Buddhist Art of Gandhara is a parent art of the sculptural art of China and it reached beyond the borders of Gandhara through ancient Silk Road where it left its traces which are very interesting.
Buddhist Art of Gandhara is a parent art of the sculptural art of China and it reached beyond the borders of Gandhara through ancient Silk Road where it left its traces which are very interesting.
Initially, while making a research plan, I devised to visit only the Buddhist sites of Yungang Grottoes near Datong and Mogao Grottoes near Dunhuang which are known as the major sites in China representing influences from Indian and Gandhara Buddhist arts but after reaching China in May 2016, I stretched my visit plan and included few more sites in it.
So, Besides Yungang and Mogao, I traveled to Bingling near Lanzhou, Maijishan Grottoes near Tianshui and Longmen in Luoyang.
Mogao Grottoes, Dunhuang, Gansu Province, China
Although, irrelevant to my topic of research, I visited Xi’an to personally witness the site of Terracotta Army about which I had read much. I also included Xi’an because it was the starting point of the Silk Road on which I was traversing in search of Buddhist historical treasures.
Silk Road had not only been a vital trade route connecting China with Western countries via Central Asia but it also contributed in the dissemination of Buddhism and Buddhist art all over China.
an abandoned mosque in Datong, Shanxi, China
The cities located on the ancient Silk Road had been cultural centers known for their promotion of artistic activities and trade. These cities have rich histories, fascinating cultures and stunning environment which is admirable for a historian who loves to explore and travel for the sake of knowledge.
Datong (ancient: Pingcheng), although away from ancient Silk Road but a rich cultural center in ancient days, was the first city that I visited and its traditional appearance made me fall in love with it. The city was founded under the rule of Han Dynasty (207 BCE-220 CE).
The traditionalism is undoubted as it remained a capital of the Northern Wei Dynasty (386 CE- 534 CE) from 398 CE to 494 CE. While browsing the internet it was revealed to me that Hanging Monastery is a must see the attraction of Datong.
Bingling Grottoes, Lanzhou, Gansu, China.
Without any hesitation, the Hanging Monastery is a wonder of Chinawhich not only spell bounds the sightseer by the surrounding scenery but also surprises one by the fact that three religions, Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism are being practiced at the same time in China till day.
Yungang Grottoes was the next site, for which I traveled to Datong. This site is located 16 km west of the city of Datong at the foot of the Wuzhou Shan Mountains and extend about 1 km from east to west. These caves were initiated in the fifth century CE under the royal patronage of Northern Wei Dynasty. Monk Tan Yao was appointed by the emperor to supervise the Yungang project which was completed in fifty years.
A Street of Datong, Shanxi, China
There are approximately 51,000 statues installed in caves and niches representing a blend of Chinese, Greek, Indian and Gandharan impacts. The Yungang Grottoes are numbered from east to west. Over the past 1,500 years, these Grottoes have been damaged by both war and natural disasters. Yungang Grottoes were made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001.
Lanzhou was my second stop to approach the Bingling Grottoes (Ten Thousand Buddhas) which is located approximately 35 kilometers west of Yongjing County in Lanzhou City. The journey towards grottoes was an adventure itself as it was accessible through a motorboat ride in Yellow River, the third largest river in China, surrounded by eye catching sight of barren cliffs.
It is a chain of grottoes filled with Buddhist sculptures carved into natural caves along the Yellow River. Its construction started during the Western Jin Dynasty (265 CE-316 CE) and the subsequent dynasties followed to patronize it.
White Horse Pagoda, Dunhuang, Gansu, China
The next destination was Dunhuang, a city of wonders. It is a beautiful oasis city, well planned, lush and at the same time surrounded by desert. The charisma of Mogao Caves magnetized me to such a far off city. Mogao grottoes situated southeast of the Dunhuang oasis, at a strategic point along the Silk Route, at the crossroads of trade as well as religious, cultural and intellectual influences, the 492 cells and cave sanctuaries in Mogao are famous for their statues and wall paintings, spanning 1,000 years of Buddhist art. Mogao
Mogao grottoes situated southeast of the Dunhuang oasis, at a strategic point along the Silk Route, at the crossroads of trade as well as religious, cultural and intellectual influences, the 492 cells and cave sanctuaries in Mogao are famous for their statues and wall paintings, spanning 1,000 years of Buddhist art. Mogao are the largest and most precious treasure house of Buddhist art in the world. Its construction started in 366 CE and continued till fourteenth century CE signifying the evolution of Buddhist art in China.
Each Mogao Cave showcases wall paintings, painted sculptures, ancient architecture, movable cultural relics under one roof which heighten its significance attracting art lovers and tourists from all parts of the world.
The art of Mogao has assimilated the excellences of ancient Chinese art with the Indian, Gandhara, Turk and Tibetan styles earning the repute of chef-d’oeuvre of Buddhist art. All the caves are not open to the visitors which was quite disappointing for me.
Its construction started in 366 CE and continued till fourteenth century CE signifying the evolution of Buddhist art in China. Each Mogao Cave showcases wall paintings, painted sculptures, ancient architecture, movable cultural relics under one roof which heighten its significance attracting art lovers and tourists from all parts of the world. The art of Mogao has assimilated the excellences of ancient Chinese art with the Indian, Gandhara, Turk and Tibetan styles earning the repute of chef-d’oeuvre of Buddhist art. All the caves are not open to the visitors which was quite disappointing for me.
Nine Dragon Wall, Datong, Shanxi, China
Tianshui, the city of “heavenly waters” was the next stopover. Maijishan Grottoes are a chain of caves, 194 in total, cut in the side of the hill of Maijishan near Tianshui. They encompass over 7,200 Buddhist sculptures with over 1,000 square meters of murals exhibiting central Asian influence due to their location on the main routes connecting China and Central Asia. Its construction started during the late fourth century CE and its modification continued for a long time which is evident from its diversified styles. The scenic area around the caves has interesting geology which cast a spell on visitors.
I stopped at Xi’an, the oldest of the four great ancient capitals of China, to visit the Terracotta Army site and other historical buildings and souvenir shopping.
To go to witness Terracotta Army, a funerary art buried with the emperor Shi Huang Ti, the first emperor of China in 210–209 BCE to protect him in his afterlife, was my long awaited wish. I also went to the Beiyuanmen Muslim food street which was recommended by one of my friends. It was a nice experience to enjoy a variety of street food. A time well spent in Xi’an has left unforgettable memories in my mind.
Luoyang city in central China, located on the confluence of Luo River and Yi River, another ancient Chinese capital was the last city I visited before my return to Beijing. Shaolin Temple, in Dengfeng County, Henan Province is 1,500 years old. Shaolin Temple and its Pagoda Forest, a cemetery for Buddhist notables through centuries, have a superb atmosphere which echoes its rich history. Live Martial Art performance by the ninjas was the most amazing experience of my life. Longmen Grottoes, represent the zenith of Chinese Buddhist carving in stone, comprising of the largest collection of sculptural art from Northern Wei and Tang Dynasties of ancient China. The grottoes are located on both sides of river Yi encompassing 2300 caves and niches housing 110000 stone statues. These caves were completed between fifth and eighth centuries CE. Several sculptures depict a close resemblance with those of Gandhara art.
Yungang Grottoes, Datong, Shanxi, China
The visit of these historical and archaeological sites not only quenched my thirst of knowledge but I was deeply impressed by witnessing the exceptional measures taken by the government of China to preserve its heritage treasures.
Traveling through Silk Road took me to the ancient times and I started feeling myself in the past when the artist used to carve these gigantic sculptures to express their reverence for the Buddhist faith. I had studied and taught for years about Silk Road throughout my student life and my teaching career but being there and traveling on this route was like a dream come true.
To conclude, traversing along the Silk Road was a life time experience. The people of China, male and female, are incredibly energetic and hard-working and tried to help me in all possible ways. I tried to cover nearly all major significant landmarks situated on the great ancient route as my trip encompasses visit to the Shanxi, Gansu, Shaanxi and Henan provinces of China.
The people of China, whether male or female, are incredibly energetic and hard-working and tried to help me in all possible ways. I tried to cover nearly all major significant landmarks situated on the great ancient route as my trip encompasses
I tried to cover nearly all major significant landmarks situated on the great ancient route as my trip encompasses visit to the Shanxi, Gansu, Shaanxi and Henan provinces of China.
http://blogs.arynews.tv/silk-road-cultural-centers-of-china/
Through this blog, I intend to share my experiences during my visit to China on a postdoctoral fellowship hosted by Peking University, Beijing and awarded to me by Confucius institute, China for six months.
The research project is focused on “The Iconography of Gandhara and its Extension in China”.
Buddhist Art of Gandhara is a parent art of the sculptural art of China and it reached beyond the borders of Gandhara through ancient Silk Road where it left its traces which are very interesting.
Buddhist Art of Gandhara is a parent art of the sculptural art of China and it reached beyond the borders of Gandhara through ancient Silk Road where it left its traces which are very interesting.
Initially, while making a research plan, I devised to visit only the Buddhist sites of Yungang Grottoes near Datong and Mogao Grottoes near Dunhuang which are known as the major sites in China representing influences from Indian and Gandhara Buddhist arts but after reaching China in May 2016, I stretched my visit plan and included few more sites in it.
So, Besides Yungang and Mogao, I traveled to Bingling near Lanzhou, Maijishan Grottoes near Tianshui and Longmen in Luoyang.
Mogao Grottoes, Dunhuang, Gansu Province, China
Although, irrelevant to my topic of research, I visited Xi’an to personally witness the site of Terracotta Army about which I had read much. I also included Xi’an because it was the starting point of the Silk Road on which I was traversing in search of Buddhist historical treasures.
Silk Road had not only been a vital trade route connecting China with Western countries via Central Asia but it also contributed in the dissemination of Buddhism and Buddhist art all over China.
an abandoned mosque in Datong, Shanxi, China
The cities located on the ancient Silk Road had been cultural centers known for their promotion of artistic activities and trade. These cities have rich histories, fascinating cultures and stunning environment which is admirable for a historian who loves to explore and travel for the sake of knowledge.
Datong (ancient: Pingcheng), although away from ancient Silk Road but a rich cultural center in ancient days, was the first city that I visited and its traditional appearance made me fall in love with it. The city was founded under the rule of Han Dynasty (207 BCE-220 CE).
The traditionalism is undoubted as it remained a capital of the Northern Wei Dynasty (386 CE- 534 CE) from 398 CE to 494 CE. While browsing the internet it was revealed to me that Hanging Monastery is a must see the attraction of Datong.
Bingling Grottoes, Lanzhou, Gansu, China.
Without any hesitation, the Hanging Monastery is a wonder of Chinawhich not only spell bounds the sightseer by the surrounding scenery but also surprises one by the fact that three religions, Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism are being practiced at the same time in China till day.
Yungang Grottoes was the next site, for which I traveled to Datong. This site is located 16 km west of the city of Datong at the foot of the Wuzhou Shan Mountains and extend about 1 km from east to west. These caves were initiated in the fifth century CE under the royal patronage of Northern Wei Dynasty. Monk Tan Yao was appointed by the emperor to supervise the Yungang project which was completed in fifty years.
A Street of Datong, Shanxi, China
There are approximately 51,000 statues installed in caves and niches representing a blend of Chinese, Greek, Indian and Gandharan impacts. The Yungang Grottoes are numbered from east to west. Over the past 1,500 years, these Grottoes have been damaged by both war and natural disasters. Yungang Grottoes were made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001.
Lanzhou was my second stop to approach the Bingling Grottoes (Ten Thousand Buddhas) which is located approximately 35 kilometers west of Yongjing County in Lanzhou City. The journey towards grottoes was an adventure itself as it was accessible through a motorboat ride in Yellow River, the third largest river in China, surrounded by eye catching sight of barren cliffs.
It is a chain of grottoes filled with Buddhist sculptures carved into natural caves along the Yellow River. Its construction started during the Western Jin Dynasty (265 CE-316 CE) and the subsequent dynasties followed to patronize it.
White Horse Pagoda, Dunhuang, Gansu, China
The next destination was Dunhuang, a city of wonders. It is a beautiful oasis city, well planned, lush and at the same time surrounded by desert. The charisma of Mogao Caves magnetized me to such a far off city. Mogao grottoes situated southeast of the Dunhuang oasis, at a strategic point along the Silk Route, at the crossroads of trade as well as religious, cultural and intellectual influences, the 492 cells and cave sanctuaries in Mogao are famous for their statues and wall paintings, spanning 1,000 years of Buddhist art. Mogao
Mogao grottoes situated southeast of the Dunhuang oasis, at a strategic point along the Silk Route, at the crossroads of trade as well as religious, cultural and intellectual influences, the 492 cells and cave sanctuaries in Mogao are famous for their statues and wall paintings, spanning 1,000 years of Buddhist art. Mogao are the largest and most precious treasure house of Buddhist art in the world. Its construction started in 366 CE and continued till fourteenth century CE signifying the evolution of Buddhist art in China.
Each Mogao Cave showcases wall paintings, painted sculptures, ancient architecture, movable cultural relics under one roof which heighten its significance attracting art lovers and tourists from all parts of the world.
The art of Mogao has assimilated the excellences of ancient Chinese art with the Indian, Gandhara, Turk and Tibetan styles earning the repute of chef-d’oeuvre of Buddhist art. All the caves are not open to the visitors which was quite disappointing for me.
Its construction started in 366 CE and continued till fourteenth century CE signifying the evolution of Buddhist art in China. Each Mogao Cave showcases wall paintings, painted sculptures, ancient architecture, movable cultural relics under one roof which heighten its significance attracting art lovers and tourists from all parts of the world. The art of Mogao has assimilated the excellences of ancient Chinese art with the Indian, Gandhara, Turk and Tibetan styles earning the repute of chef-d’oeuvre of Buddhist art. All the caves are not open to the visitors which was quite disappointing for me.
Nine Dragon Wall, Datong, Shanxi, China
Tianshui, the city of “heavenly waters” was the next stopover. Maijishan Grottoes are a chain of caves, 194 in total, cut in the side of the hill of Maijishan near Tianshui. They encompass over 7,200 Buddhist sculptures with over 1,000 square meters of murals exhibiting central Asian influence due to their location on the main routes connecting China and Central Asia. Its construction started during the late fourth century CE and its modification continued for a long time which is evident from its diversified styles. The scenic area around the caves has interesting geology which cast a spell on visitors.
I stopped at Xi’an, the oldest of the four great ancient capitals of China, to visit the Terracotta Army site and other historical buildings and souvenir shopping.
To go to witness Terracotta Army, a funerary art buried with the emperor Shi Huang Ti, the first emperor of China in 210–209 BCE to protect him in his afterlife, was my long awaited wish. I also went to the Beiyuanmen Muslim food street which was recommended by one of my friends. It was a nice experience to enjoy a variety of street food. A time well spent in Xi’an has left unforgettable memories in my mind.
Luoyang city in central China, located on the confluence of Luo River and Yi River, another ancient Chinese capital was the last city I visited before my return to Beijing. Shaolin Temple, in Dengfeng County, Henan Province is 1,500 years old. Shaolin Temple and its Pagoda Forest, a cemetery for Buddhist notables through centuries, have a superb atmosphere which echoes its rich history. Live Martial Art performance by the ninjas was the most amazing experience of my life. Longmen Grottoes, represent the zenith of Chinese Buddhist carving in stone, comprising of the largest collection of sculptural art from Northern Wei and Tang Dynasties of ancient China. The grottoes are located on both sides of river Yi encompassing 2300 caves and niches housing 110000 stone statues. These caves were completed between fifth and eighth centuries CE. Several sculptures depict a close resemblance with those of Gandhara art.
Yungang Grottoes, Datong, Shanxi, China
The visit of these historical and archaeological sites not only quenched my thirst of knowledge but I was deeply impressed by witnessing the exceptional measures taken by the government of China to preserve its heritage treasures.
Traveling through Silk Road took me to the ancient times and I started feeling myself in the past when the artist used to carve these gigantic sculptures to express their reverence for the Buddhist faith. I had studied and taught for years about Silk Road throughout my student life and my teaching career but being there and traveling on this route was like a dream come true.
To conclude, traversing along the Silk Road was a life time experience. The people of China, male and female, are incredibly energetic and hard-working and tried to help me in all possible ways. I tried to cover nearly all major significant landmarks situated on the great ancient route as my trip encompasses visit to the Shanxi, Gansu, Shaanxi and Henan provinces of China.
The people of China, whether male or female, are incredibly energetic and hard-working and tried to help me in all possible ways. I tried to cover nearly all major significant landmarks situated on the great ancient route as my trip encompasses
I tried to cover nearly all major significant landmarks situated on the great ancient route as my trip encompasses visit to the Shanxi, Gansu, Shaanxi and Henan provinces of China.
http://blogs.arynews.tv/silk-road-cultural-centers-of-china/
beijingwalker
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Incredible images show the world's largest Buddhist settlement where thousands of tiny wooden huts line steep hillsides
By DANIEL PETERS FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA and SOLENT NEWS
PUBLISHED: 15:00 GMT, 24 October 2016 | UPDATED: 03:40 GMT, 25 October 2016
ucked away between the green rolling hills of the Larung Gar Valley in China lies a breathtaking town.
Thousands of tiny wooden huts belonging to mainly monks and nuns are packed in close together on the edge of steep hillsides. The clustered sprawl of small red homes are part of a settlement surrounding a religious institute.
Despite its secluded location it is home to the Larung Gar Buddhist Academy, the world's largest Buddhist settlement.
Photographer Sarawut Intarob captured stunning pictures of the settlement where almost 10,000 people reside.
Larung Gar Valley in China's south-west is home to a breathtaking town where an estimated 10,000 nuns and monks live
The sprawl of homes are part of Larung Gar Buddhist Academy, one of the largest Tibetan Buddhism institutes in the world
Stunning photographs taken by Sarawut Intarob capture the incredible beauty of the isolated city in Tibet
The sprawling settlement, nestled in Sertar, sits on elevations of 12,500ft, and the religious devotees battle harsh climates to study at the remote dwelling.
The wooden huts are built so closely together, they look like a red sea spreading up the hilly terrain.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ist-settlement-China-s-Larung-Gar-Valley.html
By DANIEL PETERS FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA and SOLENT NEWS
PUBLISHED: 15:00 GMT, 24 October 2016 | UPDATED: 03:40 GMT, 25 October 2016
ucked away between the green rolling hills of the Larung Gar Valley in China lies a breathtaking town.
Thousands of tiny wooden huts belonging to mainly monks and nuns are packed in close together on the edge of steep hillsides. The clustered sprawl of small red homes are part of a settlement surrounding a religious institute.
Despite its secluded location it is home to the Larung Gar Buddhist Academy, the world's largest Buddhist settlement.
Photographer Sarawut Intarob captured stunning pictures of the settlement where almost 10,000 people reside.
Larung Gar Valley in China's south-west is home to a breathtaking town where an estimated 10,000 nuns and monks live
The sprawl of homes are part of Larung Gar Buddhist Academy, one of the largest Tibetan Buddhism institutes in the world
Stunning photographs taken by Sarawut Intarob capture the incredible beauty of the isolated city in Tibet
The sprawling settlement, nestled in Sertar, sits on elevations of 12,500ft, and the religious devotees battle harsh climates to study at the remote dwelling.
The wooden huts are built so closely together, they look like a red sea spreading up the hilly terrain.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ist-settlement-China-s-Larung-Gar-Valley.html
beijingwalker
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Nuns and monks are housed near to their colleges, and separated by age and sex.
The segregation of male and female living quarters is marked by a winding road, which weaves through the dense mass of huts.
Conditions are basic, with residents having to share communal toilets, and each unheated hut ranging from one to three rooms in size.
At night-time the tiny wooden huts light up the isolated hillsides like a giant Christmas tree
The wooden huts are built so closely together, they look like a red sea spreading up the hilly terrain
An isolated religious haven, Sertar is located around 370 miles from Chengdu, and those wishing to visit have to travel by coach for a gruelling 20 hours.
TVs are prohibited at the picturesque retreat, with monks and nuns flocking to benefit from the studies, prayers and lectures ran at the academy.
Many of the Buddhists own second-hand iPhone 4s.
The incredible academy was established in 1980 in the uninhabited valley by Jigme Phuntsok, an influential lama of the Nyingma tradition.
Despite its remote situation, Larung Gar evolved from a handful of disciples to be the largest Buddhist settlement in the world.
It attracts a mix of students from ethnic Chinese students to pupils from Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Malaysia, who attend separate classes taught in Mandarin, while larger classes are taught in Tibetan.
The red and brown houses are nearly identical, with one to three rooms per hut and no heating or toilets installed
The settlement has grown from a handful of disciples in the 1980s to become one of the largest centres for the study of Tibetan Buddhism
The segregation of male and female living quarters is marked by a winding road, which weaves through the dense mass of huts.
Conditions are basic, with residents having to share communal toilets, and each unheated hut ranging from one to three rooms in size.
At night-time the tiny wooden huts light up the isolated hillsides like a giant Christmas tree
The wooden huts are built so closely together, they look like a red sea spreading up the hilly terrain
An isolated religious haven, Sertar is located around 370 miles from Chengdu, and those wishing to visit have to travel by coach for a gruelling 20 hours.
TVs are prohibited at the picturesque retreat, with monks and nuns flocking to benefit from the studies, prayers and lectures ran at the academy.
Many of the Buddhists own second-hand iPhone 4s.
The incredible academy was established in 1980 in the uninhabited valley by Jigme Phuntsok, an influential lama of the Nyingma tradition.
Despite its remote situation, Larung Gar evolved from a handful of disciples to be the largest Buddhist settlement in the world.
It attracts a mix of students from ethnic Chinese students to pupils from Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Malaysia, who attend separate classes taught in Mandarin, while larger classes are taught in Tibetan.
The red and brown houses are nearly identical, with one to three rooms per hut and no heating or toilets installed
The settlement has grown from a handful of disciples in the 1980s to become one of the largest centres for the study of Tibetan Buddhism
Last edited:
TaiShang
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China bans auction of looted cultural relics
(People's Daily Online) November 01, 2016
[File photo]
China’s cultural relics watchdog has established a regulation banning the auction of stolen, smuggled and looted cultural relics nationwide. The regulation was issued by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage.
Other types of relics that are banned from being auctioned are those that have been legally confiscated by the government, those that are owned or stored by government sectors, and those belonging to State relics shops, national enterprises, the military and private museums. The regulation also stipulates that the State Administration of Cultural Heritage retains purchasing priority and the right to set prices for artifacts that do make it to legal auction.
Cultural relics from China have been auctioned many times in recent years, upsetting both the Chinese government and the public. In 2009, two bronze sculptures, representing the heads of a rabbit and a rat, were auctioned in Paris. These relics were looted when the Old Summer Palace of Emperor Qianlong (1736-1795) was burned down by Anglo-French allied forces during the Second Opium War in 1860.
Though the new regulation has been warmly welcomed on Chinese social media, many Internet users have also expressed concern, pointing out that the regulation has no authority in overseas markets, which is where most looted cultural relics end up.
(People's Daily Online) November 01, 2016
[File photo]
China’s cultural relics watchdog has established a regulation banning the auction of stolen, smuggled and looted cultural relics nationwide. The regulation was issued by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage.
Other types of relics that are banned from being auctioned are those that have been legally confiscated by the government, those that are owned or stored by government sectors, and those belonging to State relics shops, national enterprises, the military and private museums. The regulation also stipulates that the State Administration of Cultural Heritage retains purchasing priority and the right to set prices for artifacts that do make it to legal auction.
Cultural relics from China have been auctioned many times in recent years, upsetting both the Chinese government and the public. In 2009, two bronze sculptures, representing the heads of a rabbit and a rat, were auctioned in Paris. These relics were looted when the Old Summer Palace of Emperor Qianlong (1736-1795) was burned down by Anglo-French allied forces during the Second Opium War in 1860.
Though the new regulation has been warmly welcomed on Chinese social media, many Internet users have also expressed concern, pointing out that the regulation has no authority in overseas markets, which is where most looted cultural relics end up.
TaiShang
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China reserves right to recover illegally looted cultural relics
Source: Xinhua 2016-11-05
BEIJING, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- China reserves the right to recover any Chinese cultural relics confirmed to have been illegally looted, the State Administration of Cultural Heritage (SACH) said Friday.
"We consistently oppose to and denounce sales of illegally looted cultural relics. We hope that organizations and individuals honor the spirit of international conventions, respect the feelings of the people from the relics' original countries, while avoiding sales and commercial exploration of such relics," the SACH said in a statement.
The SACH recently issued regulations to ban domestic auctions of Chinese cultural relics that were looted illegally in history.
The SACH has successfully prevented a Japanese auction of looted Chinese cultural relics, according to its statement released to Xinhua on Thursday.
The statement did not include the name of the Japanese auction house, nor details of the relics.
It said the SACH had learned from local media reports that a Japanese auction house planned to put several looted Chinese cultural relics on auction at the end of October.
The SACH immediately contacted the auction company, demanding it halt the sale. Upon investigation, the company decided to cancel the auction, according to the statement.
An unratified letter widely circulated on the Internet, purportedly sent by the SACH to the Yokohama-based Japanese auction house, said that the relics, "illegally obtained by Otani Kozui and his fellows," included a few pieces of mural and handwritten Buddhist manuscripts dated from the Tang Dynasty (618-907).
From 1902 to 1914, Otani Kozui, a Japanese Buddhist and explorer, led or financed three expeditions to northwest China, including Dunhuang, according to "Central Asian Expedition," a book by Zuicho Tachibana, who took part in the trips.
"In recent years this position has gained increasing understanding and support," the SACH statement said.
Many Chinese cultural relics were looted during the 19th and early 20th centuries and remain a pain in the memory of Chinese. Auctions of the relics overseas continue to tug at the people's heartstrings.
In 2009, Christie's put a bronze rabbit head and a bronze rat head in an auction in Paris. The heads were from a fountain clock at Yuanmingyuan, or the Old Summer Palace, the royal garden built in the 18th and 19th centuries during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). This architectural wonder of its age was plundered and destroyed by British and French forces in 1860. The auction triggered wide criticism in China as a new wound onto the old scar.
A Chinese collector won the bid for each of the heads at 14 million euros (17.92 million U.S. dollars) but announced his refusal to pay the money at a later press conference. The Pinault family in France purchased the heads and returned them to China in 2013.
**
China prevents auction of looted relics in Japan
Source: Xinhua 2016-11-04
BEIJING, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- China has successfully prevented a Japanese auction of looted Chinese cultural relics, a statement from the State Administration of Cultural Heritage (SACH) said Thursday.
The statement did not include the name of the Japanese auction house, nor details of the relics.
It said the SACH had learned from local media reports that a Japanese auction house planned to put several looted Chinese cultural relics on auction at the end of October.
The SACH immediately contacted the auction company, demanding it halt the sale. Upon investigation, the company decided to cancel the auction, according to the statement.
A letter widely circulated on the Internet, purportedly sent by the SACH to the Yokohama-based Japanese auction house, said that the relics, "illegally obtained by Otani Kozui and his fellows," included a few pieces of mural and handwritten Buddhist manuscripts dated from the Tang Dynasty (618-907).
From 1902 to 1914, Otani Kozui, a Japanese Buddhist and explorer, led or financed three expeditions to northwest China, according to "Central Asian Expedition," a book by Zuicho Tachibana, who took part in the trips.
China consistently opposes sales of illegally looted cultural relics, according to the SACH statement. "In recent years this position has gained increasing understanding and support."
Source: Xinhua 2016-11-05
BEIJING, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- China reserves the right to recover any Chinese cultural relics confirmed to have been illegally looted, the State Administration of Cultural Heritage (SACH) said Friday.
"We consistently oppose to and denounce sales of illegally looted cultural relics. We hope that organizations and individuals honor the spirit of international conventions, respect the feelings of the people from the relics' original countries, while avoiding sales and commercial exploration of such relics," the SACH said in a statement.
The SACH recently issued regulations to ban domestic auctions of Chinese cultural relics that were looted illegally in history.
The SACH has successfully prevented a Japanese auction of looted Chinese cultural relics, according to its statement released to Xinhua on Thursday.
The statement did not include the name of the Japanese auction house, nor details of the relics.
It said the SACH had learned from local media reports that a Japanese auction house planned to put several looted Chinese cultural relics on auction at the end of October.
The SACH immediately contacted the auction company, demanding it halt the sale. Upon investigation, the company decided to cancel the auction, according to the statement.
An unratified letter widely circulated on the Internet, purportedly sent by the SACH to the Yokohama-based Japanese auction house, said that the relics, "illegally obtained by Otani Kozui and his fellows," included a few pieces of mural and handwritten Buddhist manuscripts dated from the Tang Dynasty (618-907).
From 1902 to 1914, Otani Kozui, a Japanese Buddhist and explorer, led or financed three expeditions to northwest China, including Dunhuang, according to "Central Asian Expedition," a book by Zuicho Tachibana, who took part in the trips.
"In recent years this position has gained increasing understanding and support," the SACH statement said.
Many Chinese cultural relics were looted during the 19th and early 20th centuries and remain a pain in the memory of Chinese. Auctions of the relics overseas continue to tug at the people's heartstrings.
In 2009, Christie's put a bronze rabbit head and a bronze rat head in an auction in Paris. The heads were from a fountain clock at Yuanmingyuan, or the Old Summer Palace, the royal garden built in the 18th and 19th centuries during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). This architectural wonder of its age was plundered and destroyed by British and French forces in 1860. The auction triggered wide criticism in China as a new wound onto the old scar.
A Chinese collector won the bid for each of the heads at 14 million euros (17.92 million U.S. dollars) but announced his refusal to pay the money at a later press conference. The Pinault family in France purchased the heads and returned them to China in 2013.
**
China prevents auction of looted relics in Japan
Source: Xinhua 2016-11-04
BEIJING, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- China has successfully prevented a Japanese auction of looted Chinese cultural relics, a statement from the State Administration of Cultural Heritage (SACH) said Thursday.
The statement did not include the name of the Japanese auction house, nor details of the relics.
It said the SACH had learned from local media reports that a Japanese auction house planned to put several looted Chinese cultural relics on auction at the end of October.
The SACH immediately contacted the auction company, demanding it halt the sale. Upon investigation, the company decided to cancel the auction, according to the statement.
A letter widely circulated on the Internet, purportedly sent by the SACH to the Yokohama-based Japanese auction house, said that the relics, "illegally obtained by Otani Kozui and his fellows," included a few pieces of mural and handwritten Buddhist manuscripts dated from the Tang Dynasty (618-907).
From 1902 to 1914, Otani Kozui, a Japanese Buddhist and explorer, led or financed three expeditions to northwest China, according to "Central Asian Expedition," a book by Zuicho Tachibana, who took part in the trips.
China consistently opposes sales of illegally looted cultural relics, according to the SACH statement. "In recent years this position has gained increasing understanding and support."
ohmrlobalobayeh
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The Japanese imperial army looted copious amounts of relics, treasures and other stuff. Any steps taken to recover them?
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