Architecture
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Eaves Tiles
Eaves tiles are small accessories in classical Chinese architecture fixed at the end of rafters for decoration and for shielding the eaves from wind and rain. Eaves tiles emerged as a culture in their own light during the Zhou(c.11th century-771 B.C...
Hakka Castle Like Dwellings
The Hakka people inhabiting southeast China are known for the distinctive style of their dwellings in a variety of castle-like designs.They are round or square,and there are also those in the style of big mansions or in the shape of the Eight Diagra...
Stupas and Pagodas
Stupas appeared in China with the import of Buddhism and,during a long history of well over a thousand years,have become a valued part of the national Buddhist art. Stupa,a word from ancient Sanskrit meaning a square or round tomb or asoul shrine,wa...
Stupas and Pagodas
Stupas appeared in China with the import of Buddhism and,during a long history of well over a thousand years,have become a valued part of the national Buddhist art. Stupa,a word from ancient Sanskrit meaning a square or round tomb or asoul shrine,wa...
Beijing City Gates
In times of yore Beijing consisted of an outer city and an inner city,with the imperial city(otherwise known as Forbidden City,or the Former Imperial Palace)contained in the inner city.Altogether there were 20 city gates.Entering or exiting these ga...
Altar
The Chinese tan is an altar where ancient ruleers used to offer sacrifices to Heaven or the gods,and architechurally it refers to a special type of terrace-like building.Several ancient tan in Beijing,mostly dating from the Ming(1368-1644)and Qing(1...
Marble Boat
An ornamental structure in classical Chinese landscaping,shifang(marble boat)is also popularly known as shichuan(which means the same thing)or,in southern China,hanchuan(land boat).A marble boat usually has its underwater base and its body built of...
Archway
The pailou,also known as paifang,is an archway of a memorial or decorative nature.It could be made of wood,brick or stone,with or without glazed tiles,often carrying some inscriptions on the middle beam.The normal places where such archways stood we...
Underground Irrigation Tunnels
In the Hami and Turpan areas of Xinjiang,there is an unusual kind of irrigation system formed by underground tunnels and wells.A system worked out by the people in the light of local climate and topography,it has a history of over 2,000 years. These...
Bridge
Chinese sbridges from ancient times,highly varied in material and form,are an important legacy with national characteristies,occupying an important position in the world history of bridge-buiding. China,a country with such a long history,has inherit...