Fujian Tulou： A Building Art of Earth

＂They are inscribed as exceptional examples of a building tradition and function exemplifying a particular type of communal living and defensive organization, and, in terms of their harmonious relationship with their environment, an outstanding example of human settlement.＂     

Architecture of Buyi Ethnic Group

Buyi ethnic group, one of the most populous ethnic minorities dwelling in southwest China, evolves from Yue people in the remote past and has long lived on paddy rice farming. As they are mostly distributed in mountainous areas, many houses of Buyi people are made of rock slates. However, over the sweep of history, Buyi people have developed a variety of forms of residence besides slate-made dwellings, such as those made of thatch or rammed earth or those on stilts. Their houses are built at riverside, in mountains, caves or in the fort-like manner. And walls of their houses are made of stone, wood, earth or bamboo.[第一段]     

Chen Jin： Right Yesterday

We all must be aware of changes happening around us-some comes in a big way while others come quietly. One day when we wake up, we find ourselves wrapped up by an urban jungle of concrete buildings. Old neighborhoods as well as cultural and sentimental milieus that our parents and we have been used to is being replaced or overwhelmed bv such modern monsters as skyscrapers and expressways.[第一段]     

China''''s First Dong Ethnic Eco-Museum

Deep in the mountain ranges in southeast of Guizhou Province, there is a small village of Dong ethnic group named Tang'an. It is where China's first Dong ethnic eco-museum, co-founded by China and Norway, is located. For most people, museums usually mean grand buildings where exhibits are displayed for appreciation or memory. What they show to visitors are living states that are separated from their practitioners or no longer exist in realities. But in eco-museums, culturally valuable elem…     

Miao Ethnic Costumes：A Paragon of Bionic Application

Long before bionics emerged as an independent discipline of modern science, Chinese Miao ethnic group had consciously applied bionic methods to the designing of their costumes. Among more than 4000 pieces or sets of Miao costumes rescued through a heritage preservation program launched in Guizhou Province, there are many imitating shapes or movements of animals, such as eagle-headed hats, oxhorn-shaped combs, butterfly-shaped waistcoats and sparrow- tail-shaped shirts.     

Five-Avenue Area: Colonial Buildings of Tianjin (Ⅲ)

Most buildings in the Five-Avenue Area are properties of state ownership while there are still some owned by social sectors, churches and individuals. Up to one half of these buildings are housing units while the rest of them are used as office buildings, schools, hospitals, restaurants, shops, factory buildings or for other purposes. A majority of them were built before 1937 when the anti-Japanese     

A Mysterious Blue Box：＂Water Cube＂ for Beijing Olympics

The National Aquatics Center, or more popularly known as ＂Water Cube＂, stands on the opposite of ＂Bird＇s Nest＂ in the Olympic Green. This miraculous building features a mysterious transparent blue appearance and an innovative structure, perfectly mixing architectural concepts and cutting-edge technologies. Based on the traditions of Chinese culture and architectural design, Water Cube stands out in a simplistic and streamlined form, creating a harmonious co-existence with Bird＇s Nest while distinguishing itself from the grandeur of the latter. The building＇s design is inspired by the traditional concept of Chinese philosophy, ＂integral unity and harmony between the round heaven and the square earth＂, which are respectively represented by Bird＇s Nest and Water Cube. While meeting functional needs for international competitions, this square blue box is considered an outstanding example integrating traditional culture with modern functional facilities.     

The Internet Bar Phenonm:China''''s Double-edged Sword

High school and college students in some of China's biggest cities are spending more time online than on their schoolwork, according to a recent survey. Conducted in Beijing, Shanghai, and Wuhan, the survey showed 42 percent of the high school students questioned spend an average of 30 minutes daily surfing the Internet, while college kids may go online for up to an hour and a half. Clearly, the Internet has become an     

A School on Roof

March 23, Wednesday, Wuhan. It was a raining and cloudy day. One month passed but still more than 20 students had yet registered in Lingzhi Elementary School in Jianghan District, Wuhan, capital city of central Hubei Province. Zhu Zhongfan habitually looked out to the stairway of the building. “Whenever a new semester begins, a dozen of students will not come. They either go back to their hometowns or transfer to other school or even drop out.” Zhu, 49 years old, is the headmaster of the school. He began teaching at 19 and founded this school in 1999. Currently, there are 406 registered students, most of which are children of migrant workers from the countryside. As it is extremely hard to find a cheap place for school, Zhu had to locate his school on the roof of a vegetable fair building. Everyday, student‘s reciting of textbooks mixes with shouting of vendors, orchestrating unique symphonic melodies.     

New-Generation Filmmakers Bring Changes Movie Industry

The new generation of Chinese filmmakers, also called the "sixth generation", are much different from their predecessors in terms of the artistic motifs, aesthetic bents, and overall forms of their work. This current group lacks a leader; no single artist stands above the crowd. The sixth generation directors are mostly mavericks, independently scouting their own frontiers.Outstanding members of this group and their films are: Zhang Ming,     

Mo Mingxin Eloborotes on Snuff Bottle Collection

Every elite scholar envisions a paradise in his mind＂ For collectors, snuff bottles are their paradises. Small and delicate, snuff bottles integrate various forms of art, including poetry, calligraphy, painting, seal carving and engraving, embodying Chinese culture and craftsmanship within tiny boxes. Over the past century or so, snuff bottles have always been favored by art collectors, thanks to their unique values for appreciation and collection.     

Choir Brings Friendship and love An Interview with Beijing Hand to Hand Choir Conductor Katya Ilyakhina

In Beijing, a dynamic amateur choir is gaining a growing profile in the music circle and beyond. Twice a week, rain or shine, 38 choir members come from different corners of the city for rehearsal to the middle school at the East Second Ring Road. With a short history of less than three years, the choir has presented dozens of performances for charity or public good purposes. These music amateurs have transmitted their energy to dying old people and handicapped children with their encouragin…     

ANTIQUES FAIR OPENED TO PROMOTE BOOMING ART

The 1 st Beijing International Chinese Antiques Fairs （BICAF）was held from November 30 to December 4 at the Golden Hall in Beiiing Hotel, Most of pieces on display spent time abroad——some have only recently returned to China while others are still owned by foreign collectors. Nearly 70% of the exhibits were displayed to public for the first time. Antique masterpieces from the Capital Museum and Poly Museum, recentlv recovered from abroad, were showcased in a special area in the exhibition hall in an attempt to promote traditional culture and return of more Chinese antiques from abroad.     

Stone Buildings in Guizhou Plateau

Inhabitants in Guizhou, in particular, local Buyi and Yilao people, dwell in stone buildings, as the region is a mountainous area full of rocks. Houses of Buyi people are diverse in styles and shapes, They are built at riverside, onmountain slopes or in caves. Building materials used also vary, including stone slates, thatches, rammed earth and wood and bamboo. Traditional houses in Guizhou Plateau usually have stone foundations and wooden or bamboo structures, which are cost-saving and look beautiful and elegant, Most stilted houses of Buyi people have stone steps in the front side, The ground floor is made of thick stone.     

New-Generation Filmmakers Bring Changes to Movie Industry

The new generation of Chinese filmmakers, also called the ““sixth generation““, are much different from their predecessors in terms of the artistic motifs, aesthetic bents, and overall forms of their work. This current group lacks a leader; no single artist stands above the crowd. The sixth generation directors are mostly mavericks, independently scouting their own frontiers.     

BEIJING＇S TRAD TIONAL ARCHWAYS

The pailou, also known as paifang, is an archway of a memorial or decorative nature. It is a classical architectural style of ancient China which is supported by a single row of columns and designed to separate and coordinate architectural space. With a simplistic and exquisite appearance, the pailou has both decorative and practical functions. When erected at thoroughfare crossroads, it can serve as a direction guide and add to aesthetic and cultural richness of a town; when installed in classical gardens, it helps to screen or separate sceneries while contributing to the beauty of the landscape.     

TEMPLES OF MATSU IN GUIZHOU

Matsu, or the Goddess of Sea is widely worshipped in coastal areas of China and temples are built in these areas to enshrine statues of Matsu or Heavenly Queen. But it is quite interesting that there are quite a few Matsu temples in the inland province of Guizhou. Among these temples, the Heavenly Queen temple in Zhenyuan County is the largest, best-preserved and finest-built one and proclaimed as a site under the province-level protection.     

The Art of Bookplate in China

A bookplate is usually a small print or decorative label pasted to a book to indicate its owner. As a form of higher art, bookplates are praised as ＂gems on paper＂ or ＂pearls in print＂. First appearing in the 1 5th century, bookplates are collected as timehonored artworks. In Europe, collecting and appreciating bookplates is recognized as one of qualifications for intellectuals. In China, bookplates have gained increasing popularity among collectors thanks to the upgraded aesthetic level of Chinese people.     

Mani Stones： Mysterious Symbols of Tibetan Religion

Travelers may often see pyramid-like mounds of stones,carved with six-word mantra or Buddhist sutras, In Tibet These stone piles, usually located at holy mountains, lakes, monasteries or road Intersections, are venerated as pilgrimage sites where Tibetans show their piety to deities and Buddha＇s teachings, They are called ＂mani＂ stones.     

Hand Fans： Small in Size, Big on Value

Hand fans are almost obsolete as a way of cooling, but are quickly turning into decorations or works of art. In recent years,fans are a dark horse in the auction market, with more people interested in collecting the hand-held device. Long ignored by collectors, this form of art has grown in popularity. In particular, fan paintings by well-known artists have the greatest potential.