The Chinese Culture Company
How did the swallow go from mythical progenitor of the Shang Dynasty to the symbol of Fujian? Ilina Tatiana traces its journey.
Edited by Nic Doering
Continue reading “CULTURE: The Swallow – Journey to the South”
Just thirty minutes away from Beijing by high-speed railway, Huailai (怀来) is a small town halfway between the capital and Zhangjiakou. The local government is promoting the numerous vineyards in the area, but there is also a still-hidden gem to be discovered: Jimingyi (鸡鸣驿), a walled former post station. Its name means ‘rooster’s crow post station’ and its main claim to fame is that Emperor Guangxu and his aunt Cixi sheltered there for a night as they fled the Eight Nation Alliance during the Boxer Rebellion in 1900. It makes a nice day out from Beijing, especially if you want to see an ancient town that hasn’t become a tourist trap.
Read on to find out more!
Continue reading “TRAVEL: Jimingyi, a walled town near Beijing that we bet you’ve never heard of!”
One of the many attractions for visitors to the Huizhou region of China (modern day Huangshan and Xuancheng cities in Anhui and Wuyuan County in Jiangxi) is the beautiful architecture. The white walls and dark grey tiles have become famous around the world as typically Chinese. One distinctive feature of Huizhou architecture is the stepped roof, known in Chinese as as 马头墙 (Mǎ tóu qiáng): horse head wall.
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Continue reading “Five Things to Know About… Horse Head Walls!”
Last Thursday, August 11th 2022, Cultural Keys’ founder AJ Donnelly was honoured to be amongst the five long-term Beijing residents named a Great Wall Hero by the Beijing Municipal Culture and Tourism Bureau. Having promoted the culture of Beijing and China for many years, AJ was thrilled to take part.
Read on to find out more about the event!
Continue reading “Cultural Keys’ founder AJ Donnelly is a Great Wall Hero!”
When you walk into a palace or temple in Beijing, don’t forget to look up! Ceilings were often painted in wonderful colours and designs! This is Hexi color painting (和玺彩画), also known as Yan Dayi (严大义), and it’s found on palace buildings or buildings related to the royal family. Read on to learn five fascinating facts about this beautiful style of painting!
Continue reading “Five Things to Know About… Hexi Paintings”