Art Tour of Dunhuang

The Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, Gansu Province, are a treasure house of ancient Chinese culture. In fact, a new academic discipline called "Dunhuangology" has emerged worldwide to cover studies of the paintings, sculptures and documents preserved in the grottoes.

A Tour of the Silk Road Grottoes

The Silk Road once played an important role in the economic and cultural exchanges between the east and the west, and bequeathed a wealth of cultural relics. Grotto art is a magnificent part of this legacy. China's grottoes are mainly scattered along the Silk Road in Gansu Province. The Silk Road started at Van, capital of Shaanxi Province. The South Grottoes, North Grottoes, Wangmugong Grottoes...

Shanxi Folk Papercuts

The papercuts of Shanxi feature a wide variety of themes, including flowers, human figures, animals, legends, folk tales and stories from operatic works, and showing a bold and unrestrained style, simple and unsophisticated presentation and strong local characteristics. There are two types-colored and monochrome。

Huishan Clay Figurines

The Huishan clay figurines made in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province emerged in the Ming Dynasty and have a history of over 400 years. Thanks to their unique art style, these colored figurines have been well received by the Chinese people throughout the country and have been sold to 50 countries and regions. Masters of the art have given demonstrations in Japan, the U.S., Australia and other countries. Hen...

Tongliang Dragon Lantern

Tongliang County in Chongqing Municipality has a long history of making dragon lanterns and performing the local dragon dance. The Tongliang Dragon Dance uses large stage properties and exaggerated movements, and is accompanied by folk wind and percussion instruments. In the first Beijing International Tour Year Dragon Lantern Dance Contest, held in 1998, the Tongliang Dragon Lantern won the Gol...

Folk Embroidery of Southern Shanxi Province

The folk embroidery of southern Shanxi Province features popular motifs, such as a peacock spreading its tail, a magpie on the branch of a plum tree, pines and cranes as symbols of long life, two dragons playing with a ball, and a phoenix and a peony. These embroidery items have varied themes: Some are romantic, some are exaggerative and the others reflect the reality. Vivid and true to life, th...

Rongchang Folding Fans

The folding fan is a folk handicraft for use in cooling oneself in summer, and is also used as a decoration or a stage prop in traditional Chinese operas. Due to their fine workmanship, the folding fans produced in Rongchang, Chongqing, are prized both at home and abroad. Since ancient times, Rongchang folding fans have been sold well throughout the country, as well as to India, Myanmar and othe...

Four Distinguished Embroidery Styles of China

Embroidery is a traditional Chinese handicraft art, which is divided into the Suzhou, Sichuan, Guangdong and Hunan schools. Suzhou Embroidery is celebrated for its sophisticated stitching, vivid pictures, beautiful patterns and elegant colors. Sichuan Embroidery is noted for neatness, bright colors and rich local flavor. Guangdong Embroidery is famous for its splendid colors. Hunan Embroidery em...

Yuju Opera

Also named "Henan Wooden Clapper Opera" and "Henan Lofty Tone," this is the main opera in Henan Province, but it has spread widely in China. The music of Henan Opera is divided into four types: Xiangfu Tune, East Henan Tune, West Henan Tune and Shahe Tune. Yuju Opera is noted for easy and smooth voices, and distinct tunes. There are over 600 pieces in the repertoire of Henan Opera. Because of it...

Sichuan Opera

This local opera is popular in the southwest region of China. The language of Sichuan Opera is vivid and humorous. Thirty percent of its performance is singing, and the other 70 percent is acrobatics, accompanied by gongs and drums. Fascinating grimacing technique is a performance skill unique to Sichuan Opera, by which the character can be changed right on stage.