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Things to Do in China
With its fascinating and artistic music, singing and costumes, the Beijing Opera (Peking opera) is China's national opera. Full of Chinese cultural traditions and tidbits, the opera presents the audience with touching stories, beautiful paintings, exquisite costumes, graceful gestures and martial arts as well as combining stylized action, singing, dialogue, acrobatic fighting and dancing to explain ancient Chinese myths and historical stories or depict various different characters, good or bad. Nowadays, appreciting an authentic Beijing Opera Show in famous Liyuan Theater is a must-do when you are traveling in Beijing.
It is believed that Beijing Opera gradually came into being after 1790 when the four famous Anhui opera troupes came to Beijing. Beijing Opera underwent fast development during the reign of Emperor Qianlong and the notorious Empress Dowager Cixi and eventually became more accessible to the common people. Although it is called Peking Opera, its main melodies primarily originated from Xipi, Anhui and Erhuang, Hubei. The dialogue used for the opera is an archaic dialect that also has roots from those regions. Over time, various music and arias from other musical art forms were absorbed. It was partly this process of taking the cream of the crop of musical styles that contributed to Peking Opera 's success.
2008 Chinese earthquake in Wenchuan county heavily devastated the HOME of Giant Panda. Countless rocks, crashing down from nearby mountains, loomed over the panda living areas and destroyed hundreds of patchs of bamboos. Great efforts have been made to rescue this endangered species, and at present only approximately 1,600 pandas are existing in Chengdu Province. While saving this lovely creature truly needs more perseverance. Bifengxia Panda Base, a new base relocated from world-famous Wolong Panda Base, now calls for volunteers from home and abroad to take a part in safeguarding the lives of its pandas.
Spending several days with panda in Bifengxia Base provides you, your family and your children with unique experience, and that will be so special and memorable in your life. You will work together with the staff in the base in same uniform during their working hours. Commonly volunteers activities include preparing the food for the pandas (such as apples, panda bread, carrots, bamboo), cleaning their enclosures and accompany them when needed. Volunteers can gain comprehensive knowledges about the giant panda and unique breeding experience. Occasionally volunteers are asked to help in providing medical care for the pandas and do some related research.
Kung Fu and Wu Shu, as Chinese national treasure, are popular terms that have become synonymous with Chinese martial arts. The origins of Chinese martial arts can be traced to self-defense needs, hunting activities, and military training in ancient China. Hand to hand combat and weapons practice were important components in the training of Chinese soldiers. It reigns as one of the most traditional and popular national sports in China, practiced by the young and old alike. Eventually, Chinese martial arts have developed into an important element of Chinese culture.
It includes hundreds of different styles and is undoubtedly the most versatile martial art in the world. Some of the Chinese martial arts styles still practiced today are in the Kung Fu family and include Bagua, Drunken Boxing, Eagle Claw, Lau Gar, Monkey, Praying Mantis, White Crane, and Tai Chi Chuan, etc. Some styles are copied from the movements of animals, while others are inspired by Chinese philosophical thoughts, myths, and legends.
Get to know China from its Mother River! Taking a Yangtze River Cruise trip is without doubt among top choice for visitors to experience the natural and cultural charms of China. The splendid Yangtze River offers us a lot to experience: sceneries of grandeur, serenity or danger along way of the Three Gorges, Lesser Three Gorges, Shennong Stream, and cultural sites like Fengdu Ghost City, White Emperor City, and also the most attractive – the imposing Three Gorges Dam.
Most Yangtze River cruise ships are built in standards like international star-level hotels, ensuring a comfortable relaxing place for travelers. Free activities like Tai Chi Learning, Sichuan Opera (Face Changing), Music Salon, etc. are also arranged during the trip for more cultural immersions, more fun and more relaxation.
Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show is developed as a blend of ancient melodious music and inspiring dances, along with various Chinese instruments, and it features presenting lots of interesting historical stories to audiences. Before the show, it traditionally prepares a wonderful Chinese dumpling banquet to entertain the audiences.
Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show is dedicated to re-appear the lifestyle and the marvelous legends that took place during Tang dynasty, the most thriving city in the world then, to modern people.
Greeting Ambassadors from other countries located along the Silk Road, White Sleeve folk Dance, Monk Xuanzang who spent his life going to India alone and translating the Buddhist Scriptures he brought back into China, A Beautiful Dream that tells the love story of Emperor Xuanzong and his favourite concubine Yang, etc.
Shanghai Acrobatic Show is honored as the No.1 Chinese acrobatic performance. There are two famous Shanghai Acrobatic Theatres: Shanghai Circus World and Shanghai Acrobatic Troupe. Performances are held almost each night and last for about 1.5 - 2 hours and a foremost nightlife option for travelers to Shanghai. Performed by Shanghai Acrobatic Troupe, it has long been the most popular. Varieties of exciting programs with countless near-impossible feats of flexibility, strength, endurance, and sheer will-power are performed on stage that will leave you completely astounded.
Huangpu River Sensation, a production with strong Shanghai features, was presented by Shanghai Acrobatic Troupe in 2005 at Shanghai Center Theater. "Juggler in the Bar" reflects the charm of today; "Hoop Diving" and "Magic Illusion" predicts the development of tomorrow. Some acts such as "Play Dooly", 'silk Stripes" and "Pyramid of Chairs" are the "Gold Lion Award" winners at China National Acrobatic Competitions.
Li River Cruise offers you a rare opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the incredible landscape, and to have a close touch with the remote country life in China. Cruising down the river, you will be surrounded by the fantastic peaks of all shapes and sizes, green hills, and bamboo groves. Even better, you can see these awesome sights reflected from the crystal clear water. The distinctive scenes along the river are world-renowned as the backdrop for Chinese scrolls.
The cruise will feast you with fairytale scenery. Water buffalos patrol the fields; ducks paddle along in the water; peasants reap crops from the rice paddies near their village homes; fishermen use cormorants to catch fish; and children walk along the river singing songs. With its spectacular scenery and vivid country scenery, the cruise offers a refreshing taste of life removed from grey concrete of urban areas.
Taking a short Pearl River Night Cruise allows visitors to soak in the glorious sight of Guangzhou in 60 minutes. Along the Pearl River, the views are magnificent. You can appreciate numerous historical sites and like European-toned Shamian Island European characteristics, Xinghai Concert Hall, Aiqun Hotel built in 1934 and became the highest building in China then.
Also you can marvel at the newest landmark of Guangzhou such as Canton Tower, West Tower, Liede Bridge. With sparkling lights on both banks of the river, modern buildings and several old bridges reflect themselves on the water surface, Pearl River Cruise creates a romantic atmosphere and leaves unforgetable impression to every visitor.
Impression Liu Sanjie is an outdoor performance set in real mountains and rivers in Yangshuo County of Guilin. The stage is a 2km (1.25 miles) stretch along Li River with 12 mountain peaks and the clear sky as the background, located in Shanshui Theatre. It is a masterpiece combining an awesome natural stage with excellence in theatrical production.
Here you get a show with natural
background. This picturesque scenery has remained almost unchanged for
millennia, but now is part of a program not only to entertain you, but also
appreciate nature with its entire splendor. Indistinct mountain peaks,
reflections in the clear water, misty rain, and bamboo forests along with the
sound of animals in their natural environment all vie for our attention and
serve as peaceful interludes to the performance itself. You can sit back and
relax to enjoy the show and peaceful surroundings while the director and actors
bring you an unforgettable night.
Huangpu River Night Cruise, is the best way to appreciate the skyline and landscape of downtown Shanghai at night.
The Huangpu River is a tributary of the Yangtze. You'll see the magnificent building skylines on both the historic west side (the Bund), and the modern east side (Pudong) . With the 1-hour cruise you will travel past a 43-kilometer-long section of the river (from Wusongkou to Xupu Bridge) and taking in the amazing night view of Shanghai.
Along the Huangpu River, the views are magnificent. You can appreciate numerous historical sites and unique architectures with sparkling lights on both banks of the river.
Taking a Victoria Harbour Cruise around would surely be a worthwhile choice for justifying your journey, which feasts your eyes on the glory sunset, the amazing lasers show “A Symphony of Lights,” fabulous cityscape on both sides of the Harbour.
Operated by the Hong Kong Ferry Group, “Harbour Cruise – Bauhinia” is a unique sightseeing and dining cruise. The cruise will sail past Central, Admiralty, Wanchai, Causeway Bay, Eastern Hong Kong Island, Eastern Kowloon, and Tsim Sha Tsui. If time’s right, you can appreciate the the annual fireworks in festival and the more wonderful shows.
Impression West Lake is one of the outdoor folk musical shows of light, music, dance and theatrics under the title "Impression", co-directed by Zhang Yimou, Wang Chaoge and Fan Yue. First initiated in 2007, the show combines both the natural and cultural beauty of West Lake. it deploys the lake and its surroundings as props to create a life-like charming background. Through the vividly performed folklores and myths of Hangzhou, Impression West Lake highly exhibits the deep-rooted culture and natural beauty of Hangzhou.
Yuehu Lake Scenic Area is the venue of Impression West Lake. There is a retractable and moveable platform to hold 1800 audiences at the south of Yuehu Lake Tower. With the combination of live environment and high-end technologies, Impression West Lake extends varied marvelous visual appeal to audience in accordance with the natural changes.
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