Monumental Architecture
Chinese monumental architecture is notable for constantly repeating cosmological themes , the most central of which can be traced right back to the Bronze Age - though the specific details of feng shui were only formulated during the Song dynasty. Four thousand years ago, cities were already laid out in a spiritually favourable rectangular pattern , typically facing south on a north-south axis and surrounded by a defensive wall . Aside from the business and residential districts, the central (though not necessarily centrally located) focus was a separately walled quarter; this later became the seat of the emperor or his local representative. As the emperor was styled "Son of Heaven", this plan - still apparent in the layout of cities such as Xi'an and Beijing - was a representation of the cosmos, with the ruler at the centre. The same general formula is also echoed in the ground plan of palaces, temples and even large family mansions, complexes of buildings whose organization in many ways represented a microcosm of city life. All these are surrounded by a wall, and all have their own central spiritual focus: a main hall in temples where statues of deities are displayed; a similar building in palaces, where the emperor or governor would hold court; or an ancestral shrine in a mansion. As far as individual buildings themselves are concerned, spiritual considerations also ensured that traditional temples and palaces (the two are virtually identical) followed a basic building structure , which can be seen in subjects as diverse as two-thousand-year-old pottery models and the halls of Beijing's Ming-Qing Forbidden City. The foundations formed a raised platform of earth, brick or stone according to the building's importance. Columns rested on separate bases with the heads of the columns linked by beams running lengthways and across. Above this, beams of diminishing length were raised one above the other on short posts set on the beam below, creating an interlocking structure which rose to the point of the roof where single posts at the centre supported the roof ridge. The arrangement produced a characteristic curved roofline with upcurled eaves, felt to confer good luck. Though scale and space were ultimately limited by a lack of arches, essential in supporting the massive walls found in European cathedrals, this structural design was solid enough to allow the use of heavy ceramic rooftiles . Introduced in the eighth century, cantilevered brackets also allowed the curving eaves to extend well beyond the main pillars and acquire an increasingly decorative value, supplemented by lines of carved animals and figures on the gable ends of the roof. Development of these features reached a peak of elegance and sophistication during the Tang and Song eras , never to be entirely recaptured. Though almost nothing survives intact from this time, later restorations of Tang edifices, such as the temples at Wudang Shan in Hubei Province, or Xi'an's central bell tower, convey something of the period's spirit. Two regional styles also developed: northern architecture was comparitavely restrained and sober, while that from the south eventually exaggerated curves and ornamentation to a high degree; Guangdong's Foshan Ancestral Temple is a classic of the latter type. Inside both, however, spaces between the columns were filled by screens providing different combinations of wall, door and latticework, which could be removed or changed to order differently the spaces within. The columns themselves were sometimes carved in stone, or otherwise painted, with different colours denoting specific religions in temples, or the rank of the occupant in palaces. Similarly, imperial buildings might be distinguished by four-sided roofs, by higher platforms reached by wide staircases and by special yellow glazed tiles for the roofs. In rare instances, buildings created their own styles without offending feng shui; Beijing's circular Temple of Heaven, for example, manages to break with convention by symbolizing the universe in its overall shape. Pagodas are another important type of monumental structure, originally introduced from India with Buddhism . Intended to house saintly relics, they have intrinsically "positive" attributes, are often used to guard cities or buildings from unlucky directions, or are built along rivers to quell (and indicate) dangerous shoals. Their general design in China was probably influenced by the shape of indigenous wooden watch towers, though the earliest surviving example, at Shendong Si in Shandong Province, is stone and more closely resembles the equivalent Indian stupa. Most, however, are polygonal, with a central stairway rising through an uneven number of storeys - anything from three to seventeen. Buddhism also gave rise to the extraordinary cave temples and grottoes, best preserved in the Northwest at Mogao.
Voyageinchina.comAdam Yin says "Chinese Visa Application
The following information is FOR YOUR REFERENCE ONLY, Please contact Chinese embassy or consulate general in your country or region for accurate and detailed information.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
According to the Law of the People's Republic of China Concerning the Administration of Foreigners Entering and Leaving the Country, foreign tourists must apply for visas at China's foreign affairs offices, consulates or other organizations authorized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A group of five tourists or more can apply for a group tourist visa. This is usually handled by a travel agency organizing groups. People coming to China from countries which have visa agreements with China (such as agreements which exempt tourist groups from visas) are treated in accordance with these agreements.
If anyone wants to go to Tibet for a visit you can apply for a visa only with the consent of the Tourism Administration of the Tibet Autonomous Region or any one of its foreign representative offices. A passport is required for visa application, the passport shall be valid for at least 6 months beyond the duration of the tour.
A Brief Introduction to Chinese Visa
Chinese visa is a permit issued to a foreigner by the Chinese visa authorities for entry into, exit from or transit through the Chinese territory. The Chinese visa authorities may issue a Diplomatic, Courtesy, Service or Ordinary Visa to a foreigner according to his/her identity, purpose of visit to China and passport type.
The Ordinary Visa consists of eight sub-categories, which are respectively marked with Chinese phonetic letters L, F, Z, X, C, G, D, J-1and J-2.
L Visa: Issued to an applicant who comes to China for tourist purposes, family visiting or other personal affairs.
F Visa: Issued to an applicant who is invited to China for visit, research, lecture, business, scientific-technological and culture exchanges or short-term advanced studies or intern practice for a period of no more than six months.
Z Visa: Issued to an applicant who is to take up a post or employment in China, and their accompanying family members.
X Visa: Issued to an applicant who comes to China for the purpose of study, advanced studies or intern practice for a period over six months.
C Visa: Issued to crewmembers on international aviation, navigation and land transportation missions and family members accompanying them.
G Visa: Issued to those who transit through China.
D Visa: Issued to applicant who is to reside permanently in China.
J-1 Visa: Issued to foreign resident correspondents in China.
J-2 Visa: Issued to foreign correspondents on temporary interview missions in China.
Validity of Visa: normally speaking, a visa is valid for 3 months from the date of issuance (date of application) and on any day within this period, the visa holder may enter China.
Duration of Stay Specified in the Visa: normally speaking, a visa holder may stay in China for 1 month which counts from the date of his/her entrance into China. To stay longer, you need to specify your request in your application form and itˇŻll be subject to the permission of the consul in charge.
Overseas Chinese Visa Authorities, include Chinese embassies, consulates, visa offices, and the consular department of the office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China. If a foreigner intends to enter into, exit from or transit through the Chinese territory, he shall apply to the above-mentioned Chinese visa authorities for a Chinese visa. For further information, please consult the nearest Chinese visa authorities.
5)Important Notes:
According to the relevant international law, any sovereign state has the exclusive rights to decide whether or not to allow the foreigners to enter its territory, and accordingly to issue visa, reject visa application and cancel an issued visa according to its national law without providing the reasons.
With its valid Chinese passport, a Chinese citizen can enter China without a visa.
" www.voyageinchina.comAdam Yin says "Emerald Tour Ltd., a registered inbound travel operator in China. providing high quality destination management services for exceptional value including: China tour packages; Shanghai, Beijing City tours; hotel reservation; and MICE service in China.
www.voyageinchina.com" a nice guide in Guilin Chinajade leo says "Do you want to pay a visit to China before 2008 Olympic Game, Do you hear about Guilin Yangshuo where has the reputation of having the most beautiful landscape under heaven. It is a dream place for many tourists who want to see the real natural landscape and touch the countryside life.
Hilltops pop up from nowhere like trees in the forest and they are shaped like buns, camels, fishes, saw-teeth, horses, etc. It is a city you must visit or you will miss those beautiful landscape there. Rivers flow around like green silk ribbons while the hills reveal themselves as jade hair-pins. Guilin embraces great landscapes like green hills, clear waters, pretty rocks and fantastic caves.
I am from Guilin, a licensed tour guide for Guilin area. A grauate from Guangxi Teacher's University, I have had more than 2 years of travel service experience in Guilin.
A tour guide with a warm heart and sincerity, I am offering tourists visiting Guilin with uptodate information and a tour guide service. You can bank on my knowledge of Guilin and my earned reputation as a reliable tour guide in the region.
Activities available:
1. Airport pick-up service
2. Photoshoot Guide
3. Ancient town tour
4. Business tour guidelines
5. Flight ticket & Hotel room reservation
6. Accompanying services to other cities of China
7. Buying houses in Guilin and Yangshuo
8. Faming Activities and Stay in farmers' houses
9. Hot Balloon
10. Li river cruise tour. Cormorant fish, fantastic caves
11. Longsheng dragon's backbone rice terraces
12. Marvelous ethnic shows, local souvenirs market and market day of town
13. Climbing the highest mountain to see the panoramic view
14. Bamboo boat rafting, white water drifting as well as taking mud bath in water cave
15. Hiking, Riding bicycle to old villages to see real farmers life and talk with them
16. Learning to cook Chinese food, Learning Chinese Qigong and Taiji
Any special requests will be considered
If you want to tour China but fail to pay a visit to Guilin, it is equal to having not toured China! If want to get the best experience out of Guilin please contact us and we will make sure you have a once in a life time experience.
Address: No. 16, Lijiang Road, Guilin, China.
Tel: 86-773-5617058 Mobile number: 86-13086737586
Email: jadeleo66@yahoo.com www.guilinprivatetours.com
" Amy style sidecar motorcycles in shanghai chinajohnson says "here has some chinese amy style sidecars
for sale for more information please email
wildwolfsidecar@yahoo.com
mobile number
13524051655
" vintage 750cc sidecar motorcycles in shanggai china the replica of BMWjohnson says "Johnson sidecar has some customzied pla style vintage sidecar motorcycles in songjiang shanghai china for sale
when you purchase sidecar johnson sidecar helps you to get the registation (the number plate)
you can also rent a sidecar during the holiday when you are in china
with good price and top quality here
more information please
email sidecarshanghai@yahoo.com
skype johnsonsidecar
mobile +8613661904350" travel by ride sidecar motorbikesjohnson says "Johnson Sidecar offers you the highest cj 750 sidecar restoration available in China . Ride
with confidence on a Vintage
CJ 750 sidecar from sidecar shanghai. Owning a highest quality Vintage People's Liberation
Army CJ 750 Sidecar is dream of many people!!!
we have all the spare parts for changjiang sidecar in stock in shanghai china
more information
we also have some changjiang sidecars for rent here. rent a sidecar when you are
traveling in shanghai china
please email sidecarshanghai@yahoo.com
website www.sidecar-shanghai.com
mobile 13661904350
" Explore China On Line (Video and Stills)David Mundstock says "My film "The Last Emperor’s Home Video” offers visits to China’s best known places, including the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Beijing’s Summer Palace, the Grand Canal, Xian, beautiful Guilin, Shanghai, Suzhou, Hangzhou, plus Hong Kong.
“The Last Emperor’s Home Video” can be seen on the web, if you have a high speed internet connection.
This is a free, non-commercial, streaming video on the Windows Media Player. No ads and no strings attached. I still sell absolutely nothing.
The gallery of still photos from China can be viewed with any modem.
There are over 30 of my other amateur travel videos on-line covering all seven continents. Visit Japan, Italy, England, Antarctica, Bali, Hawaii, Russia, Peru, Mayan Pyramids, Egypt, Greece, or Turkey; see whales, penguins, or polar bears.
The planet is yours, including my Home Page giant galaxy of still pictures.
To watch a video or view the stills, please ask a search engine for:
Intrepid Berkeley Explorer"
Your Tip for China
Help other backpackers! Write your own guides and backpacking tips to China - they will appear instantly on this page - Please only write a tip/guide to China - visit the main China forum to ask a question!
Please do not post links to your site here (they won't work) - please use the China webguide section below! Thanks.
|
