Waking of Insects

The traditional East Asian calendars divide a year into 24 solar terms. Jīngzhé (pīnyīn) is the 3rd solar term. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 345° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 360°. It more often refers in particular to the day when the Sun is exactly at the celestial longitude of 345°. In the Gregorian calendar, it usually begins around March 5 and ends around March 20.

The word 惊蛰 has the meaning of awakening of hibernated insects. 惊 is startling, and 蛰 is hibernated (insects). The traditional Chinese farming culture said that during Jingzhe, thunderstorms will wake up the hibernated insects, which also means the weather is getting warm.

It's also referred to as Longtaitou Festival or Dragon-Head-Raising Festival. In the tradition of Chinese culture, the dragon is believed to be the king of all insects and at same time, it is also believed to be in charge of bringing rains, and both of these are important factors in ancient agricultural society.

Today, Longtaitou Festival is celebrated in various ways, most of which are still identical to those practiced in the ancient times, including eating Chinese pancakes and noodles. Perfume bags filled with the powder of ground fragrant herbs are made to be carried by women and children for good fortune, though they are no longer used as insect repellent as in ancient times.

English Chinese translation:

农历中将一年分为24个节气，惊蛰是第三个，通常指太阳位于黄经345度时的那一天，也即差不多在阳历3月5日到3月20日之间。

“惊蛰”意为“惊醒冬眠的昆虫”。惊蛰期间，雷雨增多，因此冬眠的虫类会被惊起，这也意味着天气会越来越暖。

惊蛰又被称作“龙抬头”，因为龙一抬头，就会下雨嘛。在农业社会，人们相当看重一年的降雨。

今天惊蛰日的庆祝方式多种多样，但是人们仍然保存着像吃春饼和面条这样的传统。妇女和小孩会佩戴香囊，以求好运，虽然今天的香囊已经不再像过去那样，主要是起驱虫的作用。

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Zero-Pascal Clan

The term, zero-Pascal clan, was coined by Internet users referring to those people who are always optimistic and enjoy themselves in spite of work and life pressure. The word “Pascal” is the unit of measurement for pressure in physics, zero Pascal means there is no pressure; in this sense, zero-Pascal clan can also be called pressure-free clan.

Most people in this clan are 20 to 35-year old white-collar workers and college students. Since it is impossible to live in a pressure-free society, knowing how to deal with pressure and understanding the real meaning of life are what really matters. They work hard, but not eager for a quick success; they are the master of their own life, refusing to be card slave, mortgage slave or car slave; they may advance slower in their career, but they surely have a broader view about life.

English Chinese translation:

“零帕族（zero-Pascal clan）”一词来源于网络，是指面对来自生活及工作中的各种压力、仍能保持积极乐观心态的人群。“帕”（即“帕斯卡”）是物理学中压力的衡量单位，“零帕”就是没有压力的意思，因此，“零帕族”的英文也可以写作pressure-free clan。

“零帕族”的年龄集中在20－35岁之间，多由年轻白领和大学生组成。现代社会没有压力是不可能的，因此懂得如何化解压力，明白生活真正的意义才是最重要的。“零帕族”会努力工作，但不急功近利；他们是自己的主人，拒绝做卡奴、房奴或车奴。他们在事业上可能进步比别人慢，但他们对生活的理解一定比别人宽广。

Overburdened IPOD Generation

How can a man listening to IPOD bear heavy burden? If you think so, you are wrong. The IPOD we referred here is not the Apple IPOD music palyer. You will understanding the meaning after reading this article.

The IPOD generation stands for Insecure, Pressured, Over-taxed, and Debt-ridden.

Due to diminishing returns for higher education, high-levels of taxation, and a demographic shift in welfare arrangements, people under 35 are facing serious long-term issues which many governments are ignoring. Affordability of housing in many countries has dropped in the past few years, pricing many young people out of the market. All of this has meant people under 35 now face future tax burdens and standards of living which may be inferior to their potential.

Click here to view the English Chinese translation of this article.

Milk Brain

English Chinese translation:

Milk brain can refer to feelings of disorientation and mental sluggishness reported by some mothers of newborn babies or total involvement in the care of a newborn baby, to the exclusion of almost everything else.

“牛奶大脑”可以指新生儿母亲表现出的情绪错乱和大脑反应迟钝的状态，也可以指这些妈妈们全身心投入到孩子的身上，其他事物一概不予理会的情况。

It's a casual, common slur. Even women use it to describe how disorganized they feel in the first frantic days after giving birth. Yet milk brain is just a temporary effect, brought on by sleep deprivation, plus the need to learn (or relearn) the details of child care.

其实这是一种普遍的误读。就算有女性用“牛奶大脑”这个词来形容自己产后几天慌乱无序的状态，但这也只是一个暂时现象，多数是因为睡眠不足，以及需要花时间学习育婴知识等因素导致的。

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The Lantern Festival

The Lantern Festival or Yuanxiao Jie is a traditional Chinese festival, which is on the 15th of the first month of the Chinese New Year. The festival marks the end of the celebrations of the Chinese New Year.

Chinese started to celebrate the Lantern Festival from the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 221 AD). Like most other Chinese festivals, there is also a story behind the Festival. It is also believed that the festival has Taoist origins.

This is a festival for people having fun. On the night of the festival, people go on streets with a variety of lanterns under the full moon, watching lions or dragon dancing, playing Chinese riddles and games, and lighting up firecrackers. There is really a lot of fun for the young and the old.

Yuanxiao (glutinous rice ball) or Tangyuan is the special food for the Lantern Festival. It is believed that Yuanxiao is named after a palace maid, Yuanxiao, of Emperor Wu Di of the Han Dynasty. Yuanxiao is a kind of sweet dumpling, which is made with sticky rice flour filled with sweet stuffing.

Yuanxiao is sticky, sweet and round in shape, symbolizing family unity, completeness and happiness.

Yuanxiao is made from glutinous rice flour. You can prepare glutinous rice flour in a bowl and slowly add hot water until they mix into dough. Then you can pinch off the dough and roll them into small balls.

Then you can fill Yuanxiao with either sweet or savoury fillings. Sweet fillings are often made from peanut butter, black sesame seeds or red beans. But some people prefer the savoury fillings made from meat, mushroom and green vegetables.

Then try to enwrap all the fillings into glutinous rice dough.

You can make different forms for different fillings.

Ready? Then you can drop these balls into boiling water and cook them for about 8 minutes until they float. Okay, just enjoy them!

Click here to see the English Chinese translation of this article.

English Chinese translation of the custom of Spring Festival

The Spring Festival is the most important festival for the Chinese people and is when all family members get together, just like Christmas in the West. All people living away from home go back, becoming the busiest time for transportation systems of about half a month from the Spring Festival. Airports, railway stations and long-distance bus stations are crowded with home returnees.

The Spring Festival falls on the 1st day of the 1st lunar month, often one month later than the Gregorian calendar. It originated in the Shang Dynasty (c. 1600 BC-c. 1100 BC) from the people's sacrifice to gods and ancestors at the end of an old year and the beginning of a new one.

Strictly speaking, the Spring Festival starts every year in the early days of the 12th lunar month and will last till the mid 1st lunar month of the next year. Of them, the most important days are Spring Festival Eve and the first three days. The Chinese government now stipulates people have seven days off for the Chinese Lunar New Year.

Many customs accompany the Spring Festival. Some are still followed today, but others have weakened.

On the 8th day of the 12th lunar month, many families make laba porridge, a delicious kind of porridge made with glutinous rice, millet, seeds of Job's tears, jujube berries, lotus seeds, beans, longan and gingko.

The 23rd day of the 12th lunar month is called Preliminary Eve. At this time, people offer sacrifice to the kitchen god. Now however, most families make delicious food to enjoy themselves.

After the Preliminary Eve, people begin preparing for the coming New Year. This is called "Seeing the New Year in".

Store owners are busy then as everybody goes out to purchase necessities for the New Year. Materials not only include edible oil, rice, flour, chicken, duck, fish and meat, but also fruit, candies and kinds of nuts. What's more, various decorations, new clothes and shoes for the children as well as gifts for the elderly, friends and relatives, are all on the list of purchasing.

Before the New Year comes, the people completely clean the indoors and outdoors of their homes as well as their clothes, bedclothes and all their utensils.

Then people begin decorating their clean rooms featuring an atmosphere of rejoicing and festivity. All the door panels will be pasted with Spring Festival couplets, highlighting Chinese calligraphy with black characters on red paper. The content varies from house owners' wishes for a bright future to good luck for the New Year. Also, pictures of the god of doors and wealth will be posted on front doors to ward off evil spirits and welcome peace and abundance.

The Chinese character "fu" (meaning blessing or happiness) is a must. The character put on paper can be pasted normally or upside down, for in Chinese the "reversed fu" is homophonic with "fu comes", both being pronounced as "fudaole." What's more, two big red lanterns can be raised on both sides of the front door. Red paper-cuttings can be seen on window glass and brightly colored New Year paintings with auspicious meanings may be put on the wall.

People attach great importance to Spring Festival Eve. At that time, all family members eat dinner together. The meal is more luxurious than usual. Dishes such as chicken, fish and bean curd cannot be excluded, for in Chinese, their pronunciations, respectively "ji", "yu" and "doufu," mean auspiciousness, abundance and richness. After the dinner, the whole family will sit together, chatting and watching TV. In recent years, the Spring Festival party broadcast on China Central Television Station (CCTV) is essential entertainment for the Chinese both at home and abroad. According to custom, each family will stay up to see the New Year in.

Waking up on New Year, everybody dresses up. First they extend greetings to their parents. Then each child will get money as a New Year gift, wrapped up in red paper. People in northern China will eat jiaozi, or dumplings, for breakfast, as they think "jiaozi" in sound means "bidding farewell to the old and ushering in the new". Also, the shape of the dumpling is like gold ingot from ancient China. So people eat them and wish for money and treasure.

Southern Chinese eat niangao (New Year cake made of glutinous rice flour) on this occasion, because as a homophone, niangao means "higher and higher, one year after another." The first five days after the Spring Festival are a good time for relatives, friends, and classmates as well as colleagues to exchange greetings, gifts and chat leisurely.

Burning fireworks was once the most typical custom on the Spring Festival. People thought the spluttering sound could help drive away evil spirits. However, such an activity was completely or partially forbidden in big cities once the government took security, noise and pollution factors into consideration. As a replacement, some buy tapes with firecracker sounds to listen to, some break little balloons to get the sound too, while others buy firecracker handicrafts to hang in the living room.

The lively atmosphere not only fills every household, but permeates to streets and lanes. A series of activities such as lion dancing, dragon lantern dancing, lantern festivals and temple fairs will be held for days. The Spring Festival then comes to an end when the Lantern Festival is finished.

China has 56 ethnic groups. Minorities celebrate their Spring Festival almost the same day as the Han people, and they have different customs.

Related English Chinese translation:

春节习俗

春节，是农历正月初一，又叫阴历年，俗称“过年”。这是我国民间最隆重、最热闹的一个传统节日。春节的历史很悠久，它起源于殷商时期年头岁尾的祭神祭祖活动。按照我国农历，正月初一古称元日、元辰、元正、元朔、元旦等，俗称年初一，到了民国时期，改用公历，公历的一月一日称为元旦，把农历的一月一日叫春节。

春节到了，意味着春天将要来临，万象复苏草木更新，新一轮播种和收获季节又要开始。人们刚刚度过冰天雪地草木凋零的漫漫寒冬，早就盼望着春暖花开的日子，当新春到来之际，自然要充满喜悦载歌载舞地迎接这个节日。千百年来，人们使年俗庆祝活动变得异常丰富多彩，每年从农历腊月二十三日起到年三十，民间把这段时间叫做“迎春日”，也叫“扫尘日”，在春节前扫尘搞卫生，是我国人民素有的传统习惯。

然后就是家家户户准备年货，节前十天左右，人们就开始忙于采购物品，年货包括鸡鸭鱼肉、茶酒油酱、南北炒货、糖饵果品，都要采买充足，还要准备一些过年时走亲访友时赠送的礼品，小孩子要添置新衣新帽，准备过年时穿。

在节前要在住宅的大门上粘贴红纸黄字的新年寄语，也就是用红纸写成的春联。屋里张贴色彩鲜艳寓意吉祥的年画，心灵手巧的姑娘们剪出美丽的窗花贴在窗户上，门前挂大红灯笼或贴福字及财神、门神像等，福字还可以倒贴，路人一念福倒了，也就是福气到了，所有这些活动都是要为节日增添足够的喜庆气氛。

春节的另一名称叫过年。在过去的传说中，年是一种为人们带来坏运气的想象中的动物。年一来。树木凋蔽，百草不生；年一过，万物生长，鲜花遍地。年如何才能过去呢？需用鞭炮轰 ，于是有了燃鞭炮的习俗，这其实也是烘托热闹场面的又一种方式。

春节是个欢乐祥和的节日，也是亲人团聚的日子，离家在外的孩子在过春节时都要回家欢聚。过年的前一夜，就是旧年的腊月三十夜，也叫除夕，又叫团圆夜，在这新旧交替的时候，守岁是最重要的年俗活动之一，除夕晚上，全家老小都一起熬年守岁，欢聚酣饮，共享天伦之乐，北方地区在除夕有吃饺子的习俗，饺子的作法是先和面，和字就是合；饺子的饺和交谐音，合和交有相聚之意，又取更岁交子之意。在南方有过年吃年糕的习惯，甜甜的粘粘的年糕，象征新一年生活甜蜜蜜，步步高。待第一声鸡啼响起，或是新年的钟声敲过，街上鞭炮齐鸣，响声此起彼伏，家家喜气洋洋，新的一年开始了，男女老少都穿着节日盛装，先给家族中的长者拜年祝寿，节中还有给儿童压岁钱，吃团年饭，初二、三就开始走亲戚看朋友，相互拜年，道贺祝福，说些恭贺新喜、恭喜发财、恭喜、过年好等话，祭祖等活动。

节日的热烈气氛不仅洋溢在各家各户，也充满各地的大街小巷，一些地方的街市上还有舞狮子，耍龙灯，演社火，游花市，逛庙会等习俗。这期间花灯满城，游人满街，热闹非凡，盛况空前，直要闹到正月十五元宵节过后，春节才算真正结束了。

春节是汉族最重要的节日，但是满、蒙古，瑶、壮、白、高山、赫哲、哈尼、达斡尔、侗、黎等十几个少数民族也有过春节的习俗，只是过节的形式更有自己的民族特色，更蕴味无穷。

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Valentine's Day recipes

Homemade sweets and candies are always a pleasure to make and to receive as a Valentine's Day gift.

A box of sugar-dusted, rose-scented Turkish Delight is something we often associate with Christmas but makes a perfect Valentine's Day gift packed into a box lined with waxed paper.

You could also try adding pure lemon extract and a drop of yellow food colour in place of the rosewater and pink colouring.

Turkish delight

Makes 20 pieces.

375g caster sugar

juice of 1 lemon

25g gelatine powder

100g cornflour

25g icing sugar

2–3 teaspoons rosewater

pink food-colouring paste

50g shelled unsalted pistachios, roughly chopped

sunflower oil, for brushing the tin

Tip the sugar into a medium-sized pan and add the lemon juice and 300ml of water. Stir over a low heat to dissolve the sugar, then bring gently to the boil.

Mix the gelatine with 75g of the cornflour and 200ml water and add to the pan. Stir constantly until the gelatine has dissolved, then continue to simmer very gently for 20 minutes until thickened.

Mix together the remaining cornflour and the icing sugar. Lightly oil a 20cm square baking tin to a depth of 4–5cm and line it with clingfilm. Lightly dust the clingfilm with some of the cornflour mixture, tipping out the excess.

Remove the pan from the heat and set aside to cool. Add the rosewater, food colouring and pistachios and pour the mixture into the tin. Spread level and leave to cool for at least 4 hours or until completely set before cutting into squares and dusting with the rest of the icing sugar and cornflour mixture.

Stored in an airtight container, these will keep for about a week.

English Chinese translation:

在情人节到来之际，自制糖果和甜点，或者收到这样一份礼物都是一件令人开心的事。

我们总以为表面撒糖、有玫瑰花香的土耳其软糖应该作为圣诞礼物，但用蜡纸包进盒子里后，它也是一份精美的情人节贺礼。

你也可以尝试添加纯柠檬香精和一滴黄色食用色素，而不是玫瑰水和粉色色素。

土耳其软糖

做20份。

375克细白砂糖

柠檬汁，用量为一个柠檬

25克明胶粉

100克玉米粉

25克糖粉

2至3茶匙玫瑰水

粉色食用色素

50克去壳的无盐开心果，稍微切碎

葵花籽油，用来轻抹容器

把糖放进中等大小的平底锅，加入柠檬汁和300毫升水。低温将糖溶化，然后慢慢烧开。

将明胶粉与75克玉米粉混合，加入200毫升水，放入锅中。不停搅拌，直到明胶粉溶解。之后继续小火慢炖20分钟，直到变浓。

将剩余的玉米粉和糖粉掺在一起。在20平方厘米的烘烤听罐里轻抹一层油，深度大约4至5厘米，盘内衬一层保鲜膜。在保鲜膜上撒一层玉米粉和糖粉混合物，将多余的部分擦掉。

关火，放在一旁冷却。加入玫瑰水、食用色素和开心果，将混合物倒入烘烤听罐，平摊开，冷却至少4小时，或待完全凝固。之后切成块状，抹上剩余的糖粉和玉米粉。

放入密封容器内，可保存大约一周时间。

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English Chinese Translation of A Famous Ballad--Jasmine Flower

China is a vast country with a long history and diverse nationalities, and therefore there are a great number of widespread ballads and folk songs. Among them, Jasmine Flower stands out for its beautiful and catchy tune. It's so popular that nearly everyone can hum along.

Jasmine Flower has been a hit across the country since ancient times. There may be some variations of the ballad, but the version popular in the lower reach of the south of the Yangtze River is the most typical and widely spread. The melodious, elegant and emotional tune is in praise of jasmine flowers, referring to the pure and true love between a man and a woman in an indirect way. Back in the Qianlong Period of the Qing Dynasty, the lyrics of Jasmine Flower was included in Zhuibaiqiu, an anthology of Chinese operas published at that time. This fully demonstrates its long history.

In 1804, John Barrow, the secretary of the first British ambassador to China, especially featured the score of Jasmine Flower in his work Travels in China. The ballad thus became the first Chinese folk song introduced overseas in the form of a publication. It soon got popular in Europe and South America etc.

In 1924, the world-renowned opera master and Italian composer Puccini finished the draft of opera Turandot shortly before he lost his battle with cancer. Set in the Yuan-Dynasty China, the opera created a beautiful yet obdurate princess named Turandot. Puccini made the tune of Jasmine Flower one of the main music elements of the opera and adapted it into a female chorus, giving a Chinese flavor to the Chinese story completely composed and performed by foreigners. In 1926, the debut of the opera was a great success in Italy. After that, the fragrance of Chinese Jasmine Flower drifted to a wider area along with the popularity of the classical opera.

Related English Chinese translation：

再次听到《好一朵美丽的茉莉花》的悠扬曲调，我感觉宋祖英献唱的这第一首歌，抒情、动人，富有独特的韵味。这也是晚会的主旋律，主持节目的杨澜打趣说，宋祖英就是来自中国的一朵茉莉花。舞台上方是宋的拼音“SONG”，字母O中是三个楷体汉字“茉莉花”。SONG，在英文中是歌曲的意思，一语双关，确实巧妙。

按中国民歌研究学者乔建中考证，早在18世纪中叶出版的戏曲剧本集《缀白球》中，就记载了茉莉花的歌词。英国地理学家约翰•巴罗1804年所著的《中国旅行》一书中，将《茉莉花》最早介绍给了西方。意大利作曲家普契尼在创作以中国公主为主人公的歌剧《图兰朵》时，采用了《茉莉花》，这才让这首中国民歌广为世界所知。

《茉莉花》，成了中国音乐和中国的象征。这几年中国对外文化交流中的频繁演唱，更使这首歌为外国人所知晓、吟唱。一些外国有心人也分析，中国人喜欢在国外演唱《茉莉花》，因为它旋律优美平和，符合中国人“以柔克刚”的个性，在文化交往中也显示了中国的“和平发展”、“和谐社会”的理念，是对付威胁论的一个有效手段。

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English Chinese Translation of Oldest Tree

The oldest tree in the world is China's gingko, which first appeared during the Jurassic Age some 160 million years ago.

The Ginkgo is the sole survivor of a primitive order of plants dating from more than 200 million years ago. Now, the trees shoot forth sprouts in spring, and their leaves turn glowing yellow in autumn, decorating many parks or roadsides nationwide.

Surviving about over a million years, the Ginkgo has remained basically unchanged which has been verified by 200-million-year-old fossils. Because of the trees survivability and hardiness, it was believed to increase stamina and longevity and has been called The Fountain of Youth. The wood is hard and corrosion-resistant, a good choice for furnishings.

The earliest known medicinal use dates back to 2800 BC. Gingko today seems to becoming the herb of choice. European researchers have been constantly studying ginkgo since the 1960's. In 1995, gingko was ranked 5th in popularity at U.S. health food stores.

Related English Chinese translation:

银杏为落叶乔木，5月开花，10月成熟，果实为橙黄色的种实核果。银杏是一种孑遗植物。和它同门的所有其他植物都已灭绝。银杏是现存种子植物中最古老的孑遗植物。变种及品种有：黄叶银杏、塔状银杏、裂银杏、垂枝银杏、斑叶银杏。

银杏生长较慢，寿命极长，从栽种到结果要二十多年，四十年后才能大量结果，因此又名“公孙树”，有“公种而孙得食”的含义。寿命可达千余岁，存世3500余年大树仍枝叶繁茂果实累累。是树中的老寿星。在山东日照浮来山的定林寺内有一棵大银杏树，相传是商代种植的，已有3500多年历史了。

落叶大乔木，胸径可达4米，幼树树皮近平滑，浅灰色，大树之皮灰褐色，不规则纵裂，有长枝与生长缓慢的距状短枝。叶互生，在长枝上辐射状散生，在短枝上3一5枚成簇生状，有细长的叶柄，扇形，两面淡绿色，在宽阔的顶缘多少具缺刻或2裂，宽5－8厘米，具多数叉状并歹帕细脉。雌雄异株，稀同株，球花单生于短枝的叶腋；雄球花成葇荑花序状，雄蕊多数，各有2花药；雌球花有长梗，梗端常分两叉（稀3一5叉），叉端生1具有盘状珠托的胚珠，常1个胚珠发育成发育种子。

种子核果状，具长梗，下垂，椭圆形、长圆状倒卵形、卵圆形或近球形，长2.5一3.5厘米，直径1.5一2厘米；假种皮肉质，被白粉，成熟时淡黄色或橙黄色；种皮骨质，白色，常具2（稀3）纵棱；内种皮膜质。

礤石峪隐仙观下山谷中，有两株银杏树，已达千年树龄，一雌一雄，下而盘根错节，上面枝叶相连，不能分开，经常有年轻人在树下许愿，以得到坚贞不愈的爱情。

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English Chinese Translation of Biggest Ancient Building Complex

The biggest and most complete ancient building complex is the former Imperial Palace (also known as the Forbidden City) in Beijing. It was imperial palace of both the Ming and Qing dynasties. It was first completed in 1420 and covers an area of 720,000 square meters.

The Forbidden City, now called the Palace Museum, is located in the center of Beijing. Starting in 1420, the Forbidden City was the home to 24 Chinese emperors during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911). Now, it has developed into the Palace Museum, which displays art treasures of the past dynasties and is the richest treasury of cultures and arts in China. Lofty and magnificent, the Forbidden City is acclaimed as one of the world five great palaces, ranking with Palace of Versailles in France, Buckingham Palace in Britain, White House in the United States and Kremlin in Russia, and was listed by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage Site in 1987.

Extending 750 meters east-west and 960 meters north-south, The Forbidden City covers 720,000 square meters, and is the largest palatial complex in the world and the most complete ancient architectural group extant in China. It has 9,999 buildings, and is called the Ocean of Palaces. No matter in terms of plain layout, three-dimensional effect or magnificent appearance, the complex is really an unparalleled masterpiece in the world. A central axis runs through the whole palace and the axis happens to be on the central axis of Beijing City. The Forbidden City is divided into southern and northern parts by the axis: The former served as the emperor's work area and the latter as his living quarters. The main structures are arranged along the central axis, and the buildings on both sides of it are symmetrical.

Related English Chinese translation:

故宫，即紫禁城位于北京市中心，现称为故宫，意为过去的皇宫。它是明、清两代的皇宫，也是当今世界上现存规模最大、建筑最雄伟、保存最完整的古代宫殿和古建筑群。其中太和殿最为高大、辉煌，皇帝登基、大婚、册封、命将、出征等都在此举行盛大仪式。内廷中最著名的是养心殿。明朝所建紫禁城有两座，一在北京，一在南京。

紫禁城城南北长961m，东西宽753m，占地面积达720,000㎡。有房屋980座，共计8704间。四面环有高10m的城墙和宽52m的护城河。城墙四面各设城门一座，其中南面的午门和北面的神武门现专供参观者游览出入。城内宫殿建筑布局沿中轴线向东西两侧展开。红墙黄瓦，画栋雕梁，金碧辉煌。殿宇楼台，高低错落，壮观雄伟。朝暾夕曛中，仿若人间仙境。城之南半部以太和殿、中和殿、保和殿三大殿为中心，两侧辅以文华殿、武英殿两殿，是皇帝举行朝会的地方，称为“前朝”。北半部则以乾清宫、交泰殿、坤宁宫三宫及东西六宫和御花园为中心，其外东侧有奉先、皇极等殿，西侧有养心殿、雨花阁、慈宁宫等，是皇帝和后妃们居住、举行祭祀和宗教活动以及处理日常政务的地方，称为“后寝”。此外还有斋宫、毓庆宫，重华宫等等，前后两部分宫殿建筑总面积达163,000㎡。整组宫殿建筑布局谨严，秩序井然，寸砖片瓦皆遵循着封建等级礼制，映现出帝王至高无上的权威。在封建帝制时代，普通的人民群众是不能也不敢靠近一步的。

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English Chinese translation of Chinese Traditional Kite Craft

Kites were invented by the Chinese people over 2000 years ago. About in the 12th century, Chinese kite spread to the West and oriental and Western kite culture was formed after years of development. In this process, the traditional culture integrated with the kite craft, and finally formed the kite culture with unique characteristics.

Uses of kite have been changed several times in history. According to historical record, kite was first used in military. In the mid Tang Dynasty (618-907), in which the society was stable and peaceful, the use of kites was gradually changed from military to entertainment. With the innovation of papermaking, the raw material of kite changed from silk to paper. Kite became popular among civilians with a richer variety of forms and reached the peak point in the Song Dynasty (960-1279). Participated by the literary, the making and the decoration of kites underwent great development. Kite making became a profession due to the large demand.

The Ming (1368-1644) and Qing dynasties, was the peak period of the Chinese kite. The kites underwent great development in size, design, decoration and flying skills. Literators at that time made kite by themselves, and sent to relatives and friends as a gift, regarding it a literary pursuit. In recent years, kite flying has publicized as a sports activity as well as entertainment.

To make a kite, first, the right kind of bamboo strips must be selected for the frame. It should be thick and strong for a kite of large dimensions in order to stand the wind pressure. The regular paper or sometime silk is used to cover the frame. Silk kites, especially, are more durable and generally of higher artistic value. Third, painting the kite may be done in each way. Kites could be generally divided into two categories: the Hard Wing and the Soft Wing. The Hard Wing can endure more air pressure and competitively fly higher, whilst the latter can fly farther, although it can not fly as high. In patterns, besides the traditional ones of animals, birds, worms, fishes, new patterns of human images emerged in modern times.

China has a large area of territory. As a traditional culture and folk art, kite has formed unique style of different regions during its development, among which the most famous ones are the styles of Beijing, Tianjin, Weifang in Shangdong Province, Sichuan and Guangdong Province.

Related English Chinese translation：

风筝是中国人在2000多年前发明的。大约在公元12世纪,中国风筝传到了西方,经过多年的发展，东、西方风筝文化逐渐形成。在这个过程中,传统文化和风筝工艺相结合,最终形成独特的风筝文化。

历史上，风筝的用途有几次转变。据历史记载,风筝首先是被用在军队。在唐代中期（公元618～907年），社会安定和平，风筝的使用逐渐从军事转到娱乐。随着造纸术的创新，风筝的原材料也由原来的丝绸变成了纸张。风筝的种类和形式越来越丰富，深受百姓们的喜爱，这在宋代（公元960～1279年） 达到了顶点。文学的渗入使风筝的制作和装饰得到了巨大的发展。对风筝的巨大需求使风筝制造成为一种专门的职业。

明代（公元1368～1644年）至清朝时期,是中国风筝发展的高峰期。巨大的发展主要体现在风筝在大小、设计、装饰和飞行能力。那时的文人把自己做的风筝看成对文学的追求，并且把它当成礼物,送给亲戚和朋友。近年来,体育和娱乐活动的宣传也经常采用风筝的形式。

制作一只风筝,首先是选择作为风筝框架的竹条种类。对于大型风筝来说，为了抵挡风的压力，竹条必须要粗大和坚固。然后用普通的纸来盖住框架，有时也可以用丝绸，丝绸风筝,尤其采用的是比较耐用的丝绸，通常具有更高的艺术价值。第三,给风筝的表面画画，这个可以采用各种各样的方法。总的来说，风筝可以分为两大类:硬机翼和软机翼。硬翼能承受更多的空气压力和飞得更高,而软翼却飞得更远。现代社会的风筝花样繁多,除传统的孩童、动物、鸟类和鱼虫，新新人类的图像也出现了。

中国幅员辽阔。作为一种传统文化与民间艺术,中国各个地区的风筝都有各自独特的风格，其中比较著名的款式有北京风筝、天津风筝、山东潍坊风筝、四川风筝和广东风筝。

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Chinese Chopsticks

People in different parts of the world eat different kinds of things and eat in different ways.

With Chinese food becoming more popular around the world, chopsticks, a most characteristic eating-tool at the Chinese dining table, are also largely accepted by an increasing number of people.

For Westerners who are used to using fork and knife since their early childhood, learning to use chopsticks may be challenging in the beginning. Great patience and practice are required before one can get the hang of it. Yet it can not be denied that the process is fun.

If you want to enjoy a meal of genuinely Chinese style, spending time and effort on it is certainly worthwhile.

When using chopsticks, one should be place both sticks between the thumb and forefinger, the point is to keep one stick still and move the other so as to make them work like pincers. There is no use using force. As a matter of fact, as long as one uses strength appropriately, one can pick up food effortlessly.

Chinese people manipulate chopsticks quite artistically, and each person has his own way. Generally speaking, an average Chinese can skillfully pick up a peanut, or a slippery mushroom. Many a person is able to pick up a piece of bean curd that crumbles easily.

English Chinese translation:

世界各地的人吃的东西不同，吃的方法也不一样。

随着中国食品在世界各地越来越受欢迎，筷子作为中餐桌上最具特色的用餐工具，也正为越来越多的人所接受。

对于那些从小到大就习惯了用刀叉的西方人而言，刚开始学习使用筷子也许会觉得难度很大，要想掌握其中的诀窍，需要付出许多的耐心和练习。但不可否认，学习的过程充满了乐趣。

如果你希望享受一顿真正的中国式餐宴的话，那么费时费力学习用筷子是值得的。

使用筷子时，要把筷子夹在大拇指和食指之间。要点是让其中的一根不动，活动另一根，象钳子那样夹取食物。光靠力气是无济于事的，只要力量恰到好处，就可以轻松地夹起食物。

中国人使用筷子的方法很有艺术性，并因人而异，不尽相同。一般来说，中国人都能够随心所欲地使用筷子夹起一粒花生米，或是一片滑溜溜的蘑菇。许多人还能夹起整块易碎的豆腐。

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English Chinese translation of eight famous Chinese liquors

China has a long history of liquor production, which is even longer than that of tea. There are many famous brands of Chinese liquor, which include Maotai Liquor, Fen Liquor, Five Grain Liquor, Luzhou Liquor, Jiannanchun Liquor, Xifeng Liquor, Gujinggong Liquor and Dong Liquor.

中国的酿酒历史悠久，甚至比制茶的历史更长。著名的中国白酒品牌有茅台酒，汾酒，五粮液，泸州老窖特曲，剑南春，西凤酒，古井贡酒，董酒。

Related English Chinese translation:

Maotai Liquor

Maotai Liquor is produced in Maotai town, Renhuai county in Guizhou Province. Together with Scotch Whisky and French Cognac Brandy, it is renowned as one of the Three Famous Wines in the world.

The brewage of Maotai Liquor has a long history. Its production can be traced back to the Han Dynasty (206BC–220AD). In the middle of Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), the production had reached a certain scale, with the annual yield of 170 tons, rare at that time. The products were called "Hua Mao", "Wang Mao" and "Lai Mao". "Hua Mao" is the predecessor of today's Maotai Liquor. In 1915 in the Panama World Exposition, the Maotai Liquor (Hua Mao) was rewarded the golden medal, and from then on, it became well known in the world.

Due to the fragrance, purity, sweetness and refreshment, Maotai Liquor is regarded as the national liquor in China.

茅台酒素以色清透明、醇香馥郁、入口柔绵、清冽甘爽、回香持久等特点而名闻天下，被称为中国的“国酒”。它以优质高粱为料，上等小麦制曲，每年重阳之际投料，利用茅台镇特有的气候，优良的水质和适宜的土壤，采用与众不同的高温制曲、堆积、蒸酒，轻水分入池等工艺，再经过两次投料、九次蒸馏、八次发酵、七次取酒、长期陈酿而成。酒精度多在52～54度之间，是中国酱香型白酒的典范。

Fen Liquor

The Fen Liquor is produced in Xinghua Village, Fenyang in Shanxi Province. Enjoying a history of more than 1,500 years, it is the father of Chinese famous liquors. It uses the Yibazhua sorghum produced in Jinzhong Plain in Fenyang and the mellow Gujingjia Spring as ingredients. Through the process of brewing technology, the Fen Liquor is clear, crystal, mildly aromatic and affords a lingering after-taste. Due to its best quality, it is always praised as the excellent liquor and fluid precious stone.

山西汾酒是我国清香型白酒的典型代表，工艺精湛，源远流长，素以入口绵、落口甜、饮后余香、回味悠长特色而著称，在国内外消费者中享有较高的知名度、美誉度和忠诚度。历史上，汾酒曾经过了三次辉煌：汾酒有着4000年左右的悠久历史，1500年前的南北朝时期，汾酒作为宫廷御酒受到北齐武成帝的极力推崇，被载入廿四史，使汾酒一举成名；晚唐著名诗人杜牧一首《清明》诗吟出千古绝唱：“借问酒家何处有？牧童遥指杏花村。”这是汾酒的二次成名；1915年，汾酒在巴拿马万国博览会上荣获甲等金质大奖章，为国争光，成为中国酿酒行业的佼佼者。

Five Grain Liquor

The Five Grain Liquor, produced in Yibin, Sichuan Province, gets the name from its five ingredients, including sorghum, rice, glutinous rice, corn and wheat. The water is taken from the center of Minjiang River. The wrapped starter (Baobaoqu), produced by pure wheat, is used as the raising agent. When the bottle opens, a strong fragrance scents the air.

五粮液 是中国最著名的白酒之一．是中国驰名商标，享有“名酒之乡”美称的四川省宜宾市，是宜宾五粮酒的故乡。1928年，“利川永”烤酒作坊老板邓子均，又采用红高粱、大米、糯米、麦子、玉米五种粮食为原料，酿造出了香味纯浓的“杂粮酒”，送给当地团练局文书杨惠泉品尝，他认为此酒色、香、味均佳，又是用五种粮食酿造而成，使人闻名领味。从此，这种杂粮酒便以五粮液享于世人，流芳至今。蜚声中外、誉满神州的四川宜宾五粮液酒厂所产的交杯牌、五粮液牌五粮液（由“荔枝绿”——宜宾元曲而来），在中国浓香型酒中独树一帜，为四川省的六朵金花（泸州特曲、郎酒、剑南春、全兴大曲、五粮液、沱牌曲酒）之一。它以“香气悠久，滋味醇厚，进口甘美，入喉净爽，各味谐调，恰到好处”的风格。宜宾五粮液，喷香浓郁，醇厚甘美，回味悠长，以优质糯米、大米、高粱、小麦、玉米五粮为原料酿制而得名。它是宜宾酒厂用“五粮配方，小麦制曲，人工培窖，双轮低温发酵，量质摘酒，按质拼坛，分级储存，精心勾兑”的独特技术和悠久的传统工艺精酿而成，不仅在国内驰名遐迩，而且远销国外。

Luzhou Liquor

Luzhou Liquor is produced in Luzhou, Sichuan Province. In the early Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), Wenyongsheng and Tianchensheng were the two liquor factories that produced Luzhou Liquor. The oldest cellar of Wenyongsheng has a history of more than 370 years.

Luzhou Liquor features strong aroma, sweet, raw and has a long, persistent finish. It has become the model of strong aromatic Chinese spirits.

泸州老窖特曲是我国享有盛誉的名酒之一，素以“醇香浓郁，清洌甘爽，回味悠长，饮后尤香”的独特风格，闻名古今，畅销中外。此酒无色透明，窖香浓郁，清洌甘爽，饮后尤香，回味悠长。具有浓香、醇和、味甜、回味长的四大特色，酒度有38度、52度、60度三种。华罗庚题诗：“何以解忧，唯有杜康；而今无忧，特曲是尝；产自泸州，甘洌芬芳。”泸州老窖特曲酒，所以具有独特的风格，关键在于发酵的窖龄长，是真正的老窖。老窖的特点是在建窖时有特殊的结构要求，经过长期使用，泥池出现红绿彩色，泥性成软体，并产生奇异的香气，此时，发酵醅与酒窖泥接触，蒸馏出的酒也就有了浓郁的香气，这样的窖就可称为老窖了。随着窖龄的增长，酿出的酒其品质也不断提高。百年老窖酿成的酒才被认为是合乎理想的佳品美酒。据史载，泸州曲酒厂最老的窖至今已有３００多年的窖龄，风貌依旧，令人神往，游人莫不以一睹为幸。

Jiannanchun Liquor

Jiannanchun Liquor is produced in the Mianzhu county, Sichuan Province. It is one of the famous liquors in China that enjoys a long history. In Tang Dynasty (618-907), "chun (春)" was used to name the wine, hence the name. According to the legend, the great poet Li Bai in Tang Dynasty once used the golden crown in exchange for Jiannanchun, which reflected the excellent quality of the liquor.

Jiannanchun Liquor is made from sorghum, rice, glutinous rice, corn and wheat. It is finely brewed in traditional technique and can be divided into 62 degrees and 52 degrees. Every drop is fragrant, mellow, sweet and cool with a long finish.

绵竹剑南春酒，产于四川省绵竹市，因绵竹在清代属剑南道，故称“剑南春”。四川的绵竹市素有“酒乡”之称，绵竹市因产竹产酒而得名。早在唐代就产闻名遐迩的名酒——“剑南烧春”，相传李白为喝此美酒曾在这里况把皮袄卖掉买酒痛饮，留下“士解金貂”、“解貂赎酒”的佳话。北宋苏轼称赞这种蜜酒“三日开瓮香满域”，“甘露微浊醍醐清”，其酒之引人可见一斑。

Xifeng Liquor

Being one of the oldest liquors in China and in the world, Xifeng Liquor is produced in Liulin town, Fengxiang county, Shaanxi Province. In the late Shang Dynasty (C.1600–1046BC), in order to celebrate the victory of Muye Battle, the King of Zhouwu used Qin Liquor (today's Xifeng Liquor) to reward his soldiers.

Xifeng Liquor represents the Feng-style liquor. Feng-style liquor blends the five flavors: sour, sweet, bitter, spicy and fragrant. The liquor degrees are divided into 39 degrees, 55 degrees and 65 degrees.

西凤酒以当地特产高粱为原料，用大麦、豌豆制曲。工艺采用续渣发酵法，发酵窖分为明窖与暗窖两种。工艺流程分为立窖、破窖、顶窖、圆窖、插窖和挑窖等工序，自有一套操作方法。蒸馏得酒后，再经3年以上的贮存，然后进行精心勾兑方出厂。 西凤酒中的金西凤

西凤酒无色清亮透明，醇香芬芳，清而不淡，浓而不艳，集清香、浓香之优点融于一体，幽雅、诸味谐调，回味舒畅，风格独特。被誉为“酸、甜、苦、辣、香五味俱全而各不出头”。即酸而不涩，苦而不黏，香不刺鼻，辣不呛喉，饮后回甘、味久而弥芳之妙。属凤香型大曲酒，被人们赞为它是“凤型”白酒的典型代表。西凤酒为适应各地不同消费者的需要推出33度、38度、39度、42度、45度、46度、48度、50度、52度、55度、65度等多种度数。 　　适时饮用，有活血驱寒，提神祛劳之益。

Gujinggong Liquor

Gujinggong Liquor is produced in Bozhou, Anhui Province. "Gujing" means ancient well. There is an ancient well having a history of 1,400 years in the liquor factory. The local water tastes bitter but the spring from this well is quite sweet. The liquor made from the spring of the well has a wonderful flavor. During Wanli's rule in Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), it became a tribute.

古井贡酒拥有悠久的历史，古井贡酒标准还是国家标准。古井酒以其独特的风味，赢得了海内外的一致赞誉。不仅4次蝉联全国白酒评比金奖，而且1988年在第13届巴黎国际食品博览会上荣登榜首。古井集团以古井贡酒为基点，现已发展成为拥有20多个子公司，集科工、贸、金融、房地产、酒店业为一体，跨行业、跨地区、多功能、多层次的国家大型一档企业。

Dong Liquor

Dong Liquor is produced in Dong Liquor Factory in Zunyi, Guizhou Province. It gets the name from the Donggong Temple near the factory. Dong Liquor is the most special Chinese liquor in brewing method. It is made from the best glutinous Indian millet and the underground springs from Shuikou Temple. It blends the styles of Daqu Liquor and Xiaoqu Liquor.

董酒以“酒液晶莹透明，香气幽雅舒适，入口酿和浓郁，饮后甘爽味长”为其特点，并有祛寒活络，促进敌国液循环，消除疲劳，宽胸顺气等功能。它曾四次荣获全国名酒称号（在全国第二、第三届评酒会上，都被评为全国十八大名酒之一），1984年，又获轻工部金杯奖，已经远销港澳、东南亚、日本和欧美等地，深受国内外消费者的欢迎。

董酒无色，清澈透明，香气幽雅舒适，既有大曲酒的浓郁芳香，又有小曲酒的柔绵、醇和、回甜，还有淡雅舒适的药香和爽口的微酸，入口醇和浓郁，饮后甘爽味长。由于酒质芳香奇特，被人们誉为其它香型白酒中独树一枝的“药香型”或“董香型”典型代表。

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English Chinese Translation of Chinese Traditional Clothing - Chinese Cheongsam

The cheongsam, or Qipao in Chinese, is evolved from a kind of ancient clothing of Manchu ethnic minority. In ancient times, it generally referred to long gowns worn by the people of Manchuria, Mongolia and the Eight-Banner.

In the early years of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), long gowns featured collarless, narrow cuff in the shape of a horse's hoof, buttons down the left front, four slits and a fitting waist. Wearers usually coiled up their cuff, and put it down when hunting or battling to cover the back of hand. In winter, the cuff could serve to prevent cold. The gown had four slits, with one on the left, right, front and back, which reached the knees. It was fitted to the body and rather warm. Fastened with a waistband, the long gown could hold solid food and utensils when people went out hunting. Men's long gowns were mostly blue, gray or green; and women's, white.

Another feature of Manchu cheongsam was that people generally wore it plus a waistcoat that was either with buttons down the front, a twisted front, or a front in the shape of lute, etc.

When the early Manchu rulers came to China proper, they moved their capital to Beijing and cheongsam began to spread in the Central Plains. The Qing Dynasty unified China, and unified the nationwide costume as well. At that time, men wore a long gown and a mandarin jacket over the gown, while women wore cheongsam. Although the 1911 Revolution toppled the rule of the Qing (Manchu) Dynasty, the female dress survived the political change and, with succeeding improvements, has become the traditional dress for Chinese women.

Till the 1930s, Manchu people, no matter male or female, all wore loose-fitting and straight-bottomed broad-sleeved long gowns with a wide front. The lower hem of women's cheongsam reached the calves with embroidered flower patterns on it, while that of men's cheongsam reached the ankles and had no decorative patterns.

From the 1930s, cheongsam almost became the uniform for women. Folk women, students, workers and highest-tone women all dressed themselves in cheongsam, which even became a formal suit for occasions of social intercourses or diplomatic activities. Later, cheongsam even spread to foreign countries and became the favorite of foreign females.

After the 1940s, influenced by new fashion home and abroad, Manchu men's cheongsam was phased out, while women's cheongsam became narrow-sleeved and fitted to the waist and had a relatively loose hip part, and its lower hem reached the ankles. Then there emerge various forms of cheongsams we see today that emphasize color decoration and set off the beauty of the female shape.

Why do Han people like to wear the cheongsam? The main reason is that it fits well the female Chinese figure, has simple lines and looks elegant. What's more, it is suitable for wearing in all seasons by old and young.

The cheongsam can either be long or short, unlined or interlined, woolen or made of silk floss. Besides, with different materials, the cheongsam presents different styles. Cheongsams made of silk with patterns of flowerlet, plain lattices or thin lines demonstrate charm of femininity and staidness; those made of brocade are eye-catching and magnificent and suitable for occasions of greeting guests and attending banquets.

When Chinese cheongsams were exhibited for sales in countries like Japan and France, they received warm welcome from local women, who did not hesitate to buy Chinese cheongsams especially those top-notch ones made of black velour interlined with or carved with golden flowers. Cheongsam features strong national flavor and embodies beauty of Chinese traditional costume. It not only represents Chinese female costume but also becomes a symbol of the oriental traditional costume.

Related English Chinese translation:

旗袍是从满族古老的服装演变而来的。旗袍，满语称"衣介"。古时泛指满洲、蒙古、汉军八旗男女穿的衣袍。

清初（公元1644年-公元1911年）衣袍式样有几大特点：无领、箭袖、左衽、四开衩、束腰。箭袖，是窄袖口，上加一块半圆形袖头，形似马蹄，又称"马蹄袖"。马蹄袖平日绾起，出猎作战时则放下，覆盖手背，冬季可御寒。四开衩，即袍下摆前后左右，开衩至膝．左衽和束腰，紧身保暖，腰带一束，行猎时，可将干粮，用具装进前襟。男子的长袍多是蓝，灰、青色，女子的旗装多为白色． 满族旗袍还有一个特点，就是在旗袍外套上坎肩。坎肩有对襟、捻襟、琵琶襟、一字襟等。穿上坎肩骑马驰聘显得十分精干利索。

清世祖入关，迁都北京，旗袍开始在中原流行。清统一中国，也统一全国服饰，男人穿长袍马褂，女人穿旗袍。以后，随着满汉生活的融合，统一，旗袍不仅被汉族妇女吸收，并不断进行革新。特别随着辛亥革命的风云，旗袍迅速在全国普及。

自30年代起，旗袍几乎成了中国妇女的标准服装，民间妇女、学生、工人、达官显贵的太太，无不穿着。旗袍甚至成了交际场合和外交活动的礼服。后来，旗袍还传至国外，为他国女子效仿穿着。 至20世纪30年代，满族男女都穿直统式的宽襟大袖长袍。女性旗袍下摆至（骨干）(小腿)，有绣花卉纹饰。男性旗袍下摆及踝，无纹饰。

40年代后，受国内外新式服饰新潮的冲击，满族男性旗袍已废弃，女性旗袍由宽袖变窄袖，直筒变紧身贴腰，臀部略大，下摆回收，长及踝，逐渐形成今日各色各样讲究色彩装饰和人体线条美的旗袍样式。

汉族妇女为啥喜爱穿旗袍？主要旗袍的造型与妇女的体态相适合，线条简便，优美大方，所以，有人认为旗袍是中国女人独有的福音，可起到彩云托月的作用。而且，旗袍是老少宜穿，四季相宜，雅俗共赏。 根据季节的变化和穿着者的不同需要、爱好，可长可短，可做单旗袍、夹旗袍；也可做衬绒短袍、丝棉旗袍。并且，随着选料不同，可展现出不同风格。选用小花、素格、细条丝绸制作，可显示出温和、稳重的风韵；选用织锦类衣料制作，可当迎宾、赴宴的华贵眼饰。

当中国旗袍在日本、法国等地展销时，很受当地妇女人士欢迎，她们不借重金，争购旗袍，特别是黑丝绒夹金花、篓金花的高档旗袍，最为抢手。旗袍正以浓郁的民族风格，体现了中华民族传统的服饰美。它不仅成为中国女装的代表，同时也公认为东方传统女装的象征。

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English chinese translation of Chinese Handicrafts – Jingtailan

The art of Jingtailan (Cloisonné) is a unique combination of sculpture, painting, porcelain making and copper-smithing that is said to have originated in Beijing during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). The oldest extant piece was made during the Yuan Dynasty, but Jingtailan underwent a major change during the Ming Dynasty when at about 1450 to 1456, a new blue pigment was discovered and gave Jingtailan its current name based on the Chinese word lan for blue. Ming Dynasty Jingtailan is also considered to be the most intricate. Nevertheless, Jingtailan reached its peak during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) due to great innovations in copper-melting techniques.

At present, Jingtailan is classified into two categories: Jingtailan and Flower-strip Jingtailan, each of which has several sub-varieties respectively.

The making of Jingtailan requires rather elaborate and complicated processes; base-hammering, copper-strip inlay, soldering, enamel-filling, enamel-firing, polishing and gilding. The products are featured by excellent quality. The skill and workmanship have been handed down from the Ming Dynasty. Since the founding of new China, quite a number of new varieties have been created. It enjoys a high reputation both at home and abroad with most of its products for export.

All the products are beautiful and elegant in molding, brilliant and dazzling in colors and splendid and graceful in design. It is a famous local handicraft in Beijing region.

Jingtailan can be found on large objects such as vases and other large utensils and decorative items, as well as small items like earrings, bracelets, chopsticks or jars.

Related English Chinese translation:

景泰蓝又称"铜胎掐丝珐琅"，是一种中国传统的手工艺精品。它以细扁铜丝作线条，在铜制的胎地上捏出各种图案花纹，再将五彩珐琅点填在花纹内，经烧制、磨平、镀金而成。

景泰蓝起源于元朝时（公元1271～1368年）的大都城（今北京市），盛行于明代景泰年间（公元1450～1457年）。因其釉料颜色主要以蓝色为主，所以被称为"景泰蓝"。旧时的景泰蓝制品专供皇室贵族享用、是权力和地位的象征。新中国成立后，景泰蓝工艺有了进一步发展，在工艺上更趋成熟。目前的品种主要包括景泰蓝和花丝景泰蓝两大类，其中景泰蓝产品又分为金地景泰蓝和蓝地景泰蓝两部分，花丝景泰蓝又分为金地花丝、银地花丝和蓝地花丝三类。

"景泰蓝"完全由手工制成，制作过程十分精细，需要经过制胎、掐丝、烧焊、点蓝、烧蓝、磨光、镀金等十余道工序。景泰蓝的制作工艺既运用了青铜工艺，又利用了瓷器、珐琅等工艺，同时大量引进传统绘画和雕刻技艺，堪称中国传统工艺的集大成者。景泰蓝的造型优美，图案华丽，色彩鲜艳，给人以富丽堂皇之感，具有很高的艺术价值，在国内外广受赞誉。品种除旧有的装饰性摆件外，近几年又新发展出一大批实用性品种。

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English Chinese Translation of Chinese Traditional Clothing - Costume in the Han Dynasty

Costume in the Han Dynasty

China's complete code of costume and trappings was established in the Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD). The yarn-dyeing, embroidering and metal-processing technologies developed rapidly in the period, spurring changes in costume and adornments.

The costume code of the Western Han Dynasty (206BC-8AD) followed the one established in the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC). In the Eastern Han Dynasty, people in black had to wear purple silk adornments to match their clothes. People usually wore costume with a long hat at grand ceremonies offering sacrifices to gods or ancestors. The dress of the queen in these ceremonies consisted of dark-purple frock and black trousers. The silk dress of the queen consisted of cyan frock and buff trousers.

The Western Han Dynasty implemented the Shenyi (long coat) system, which featured a cicada-shaped hat, red clothes and "田"-shaped collar. In addition, people of that time wore jade articles and red shoes. The frock and skirt were sewn together in the Shenyi system. Underpants for memorial ceremonies were decorated with black brims, and those for court dress in feudal China were decorated with red brims. All the garments were collectively called as Chanyi (unlined garment).

Costumes in the Han Dynasty fell into two categories according to Yijin (one or two pieces making up the front of a Chinese jacket or grown). There were two types of garments: the curving-front unlined garment with buttons deviously down from the collar to the axilla; the straight-front unlined garment with buttons were straightly down from the collar to the lower part. Curving-front garment originated from the Shenyi (long coat) prevalent in the Warring States Period, and was still in use in the Han Dynasty. But few people wore the Shenyi garments during the Eastern Han Dynasty.

There were specific stipulations on colors of court garments in the Han Dynasty. Officers must wear garments according to the five time periods, i.e. cyan garments in the spring, red in the first two months of the summer, yellow in the last month of the summer, white in the autumn and black in the winter.

Costumes of the Han Dynasty had 7 features:

1. Wearers must expose underpants' collar form , as the collar was big and curving;

2. Clothes must use white cloth as lining;

3. The width of sleeve was 0.4 meters;

4. The blouse had no sleeve;

5. Wearers of fur clothes should have the fur facing outside;

6. Waistband was very exquisite. Belt hook was made of gold in various lively and interesting animal figures;

7. The male kept the habitude of wearing walking sabres without blades for decoration only.

Female laborers of the Han Dynasty always wore short jackets and long skirts, and their knees were always decorated with long hanging waistbands. Male laborers often wore jackets and calf-nose trousers with aprons around the garments. Farmers, workers, businessmen and scholars were all in the same dressing style at that time.

Related English Chinese translation:

汉 服

中国完整的服装服饰制度在汉朝确立的。汉代染织工艺、剌绣工艺和金属工艺发展较快，推动了服装装饰的变化。

西汉建立时基本上沿用秦朝的服制。东汉时期穿黑色衣服必配紫色丝织的装饰物。祭祀大典上通用的是“长冠服”。皇后的祭祀服是：上衣用绀色，下裳用皂色。皇后的蚕服，上衣用青色，下裳用缥色（浅黄色）。汉文帝当政时比较俭朴，自己穿黑色丝织衣、皮鞋。一般官员要穿禅衣，又名“祗服”。在西汉时期二百年之中，服饰实行“深衣制”，它的特点是象蝉一样的头冠（帽子）、红色的衣服、象田字状的领子、戴玉　、红色的鞋。深衣形制是上衣下裳相连接缝在一起，做祭服的中衣，要缘黑色边，作为朝服的中衣，需缘红色边，当时男女服用极为普遍。服饰总称“禅衣”。禅衣是单层的外衣。禅衣里面有中衣、深衣，其形与禅衣无大区别，只是袖形有变化，都属于单层布帛衣裳。官员在上朝时都要穿黑色禅衣。

汉衣款式以衣襟分类，可以划分两种：一为“曲裾禅衣”，即开襟是从领曲斜至腋下；一为直裾禅衣，是开襟从领向下垂直，此种禅衣又称“　　”。曲裾，即为战国时期流行的深衣。汉代仍然沿用，到东汉，男子穿深衣的已经不多了，一般为直裾衣，但并不能作为正式礼服。这种服式既长又宽，从款式上官民服用基本没有差别，但从原料和颜色上，却可明显显示等级的不同。

汉代朝服的服色有具体规定，一年四季按五时着服，即春季用青色；夏季用红色；季夏用黄色；秋季用白色；冬季用黑色。

汉代着衣有七个特点：

1、穿外衣时，由于领大而且弯曲，穿衣时必需暴露中衣的领型；

2、穿衣必用白色面料做里；

3、袖宽为一尺二寸；

4、衫无袖；

5、穿皮毛服装时裘毛朝外；

6、腰带极为考究，所用带钩以金制成各种兽形，如螳螂形或琵琶形。形象十分生动有趣。一般长度在一寸半至六寸之间，是衣裳中间显要的装饰物。汉带钩从形、色和工艺上都达到了极高的水平，较比西周和战国时期，在设计和制作方面都要精美得多。因此颇受男人们的喜爱，佩戴者很多；

7、男子保持佩刀习俗，但所佩之刀有形无刃，因此失去了实际价值，主要是显示仪容。

汉代祭服延用“大　制度”，遵从古礼穿冕服佩绶、佩玉。皇帝、公卿、诸侯均用大　，只是在所系玉石的串珠或丝绳的质地上加以区别。皇太后、太后、公卿夫人等的祭服(谒庙服)、亲蚕服、朝见服和婚礼服的形式都采用深衣制。

汉时劳动女子总是上穿短襦，下穿长裙，膝上装饰长长垂下的腰带。劳动男子常服是上身穿襦，下身穿犊鼻裤，并在衣外围罩布裙；这种装束不分工奴、农奴、商贾、士人都一样。

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English Chinese Translation of Advertisement 4

English Chinese translation:

Self-development, Self-actualization. (American Spirit)

自由发展，自我实现。 (美国精神)

In Essence of Benevolence,of Nobleness for Harmony. (Chinese Spirit)

仁为本，和为贵。（中国精神）

To Protect Civilization and Inherit Classics. (British Spirit)

保守文明，传承经典。（英国精神）

To incorporate and tolerate, oriental and occidental. (Japanese Spirit)

兼收并蓄，东西大和。（日本精神）

To Change, Conservate, Incorporate, and Harmonize. (World Spirit)

动静兼和，四方融合。（国际精神）

Love makes the world go round. (Dickens)

爱使世界转动。（狄更斯）

Accuracy makes brand. (Suzuki)

精准缔造品牌 （铃木）

At the heart of the image (Nikon)

影像 从心 （尼康）

Romance in heart （Borel）

浪漫在心 （瑞士依波路表）

Time your Time.

左右你的时间。（LG液晶电视）

Everose Gold, Rolex Made. (Rolex)

永恒玫瑰金，劳力士锤炼。（劳力士）

Let'S Shine.

来次闪耀吧。（LG手机）

To spread knowledge is to spread happiness. (A .Nobel)

传播知识就是传播快乐。（诺贝尔）（瑞典）

The heaven of the earth. (USA)

地上的天堂。（美国）

CCTV 9, See Space of Mine. (CCTV9)

中央九频道，开启人生道。（英语电视）

Independence in thought, freedom in spirit（University）

独立之思想 ，自由之精神。 （大学）

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English Chinese translation of Chinese festivity Laba

English Chinese translation:

Laba is celebrated on the eighth day of the last lunar month, referring to the traditional start of celebrations for the Chinese New Year. "La" in Chinese means the 12th lunar month and "ba" means eight.

腊八在阴历最后一个月庆祝，标志着中国新年庆祝的开始。 “腊” 在汉语中意味着阴历第十二个月，“八”意思是8。

Legends about the origin of this festivity abound. One holds that over 3,000 years ago sacrificial rites called "La" were held in the twelfth lunar month when people offered their preys to the gods of heaven and earth. The Chinese characters for prey and the twelfth month were interchangeable then, and ever since "La" has been used to refer to both.

这个节日起源的传说很多。其中之一认为三千多年前名叫“腊”的献祭的仪式在阴历第十二个月举行，这天，人们对天神和地神供奉猎物。在那时汉字“猎物”和第十二个月“腊”是可以相互替代的，从那时起，“腊”一直用于指二者。

Since the festival was held on the eighth day of the Last month, people later appended the number eight ("ba" in Chinese), giving us the current Laba .

由于这个节日在最后一个月的第八天庆祝，人们后来补充了数字8（汉语“八”）。因而有了现在的“腊八”。

The majority Han Chinese have long followed the tradition of eating Laba rice porridge on the Laba Festival. The date usually falls in mid-January.

绝大多数汉族人长期遵循在腊八节吃蜡八粥的传统。这个节日通常在阳历一月中旬来临。

Laba rice porridge contains：

Glutinous rice

糯米

Red beans

红豆

Millet

小米

Chinese sorghum

高粱

Peanuts

花生

Dried lotus seeds

莲子

Dried dates

枣子

Almond

杏仁

In the north, it is a dessert with sugar added; in the south, salt is put in. Some people like to add cinnamon and other condiments to add flavor.

在北方，人们会在粥里放糖，而南方偏好咸味的腊八粥。有人还喜欢加入桂圆来增添味道。

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English Chinese Translation of Advertisement 3

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English Chinese Translation of Advertisement 2

English Chinese translation:

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