Before 1946, the country had only 1,300 kindergartens（幼儿园yòuéryuán）, 289,000 primary schools and 4,266 secondary schools. With the adoption of the policy of reform（改革gǎigé） and opening to the outside world in 1978, basic education entered a new era of progress. 在1946年之前，中国仅有1300所幼儿园、289000所小学和4266所中学。在1978年实施改革开放政策后，基础教育进入了一个新的发展阶段。 Continue Reading

   The ‘recessed-leg’ type is closely related to traditional post-and-beam architectural construction. It is characterized by leg supports that are recessed from the corners of the top frame that splay outward toward the base and are reinforced with stretchers and/or Continue Reading

   民间小曲mínjiān xiáoqǔ:folk songs.    曲艺是各种“说唱艺术”的统称，它是由民间口头文学和歌唱艺术，经过长期发展、演变，形成的一种独特的艺术形式。 Quyi is the general name given to China’s numerous ballad arts. It is a unique art form that uses old folk literature and singing. 评书评书用普通话进行说演，节目以长篇书目为主，内容多为历史朝代更迭、英雄征战的故事。 Pingshu (Storytelling)Speaking Mandarin, performers usually tell stories from longer Continue Reading

   Popularized during the 17th century, wooden ‘bamboo-style’ furniture encapsulated the virtuous characteristics of bamboo in a more enduring form. Shaped with round members, rounded moldings, and ‘wrap-around’ detailing, such ‘bamboo-style’ works also represent another category of construction. Bamboo has Continue Reading

   With a long history in China, shadow puppets were introduced to many countries during the Yang Dynasty, attracting many foreign audiences. They call the art form Chinese shadow play.    皮影戏，又称“影子戏”，“灯影戏”，是一种用灯光照射兽皮或纸板做成的人物剪影，在音乐的伴奏中，由艺人一边操纵剪影一边演唱的民间戏剧形式。 Shadow puppet plays, also known as shadow play Continue Reading

   Benches are made 1 chi 6 cun high. The seat panels are 1 cun 3 fen thick and 3 chi 8 cun 5 fen long, with ends protruding [beyond the legs] 3 cun 8 ½ fen. The legs are Continue Reading

   变脸，原指戏曲中的情绪化妆，后来指一种瞬间多次变换脸部妆容的表演特技。这种表演许多剧种都有，以川剧最为著名。 Face Changing refers to the special performance skill of changing facial masks several times in the blink of an eye. The performance is used in a wide variety of operas but is best exemplified in Sichuan Opera. 相传”变脸”是古代人类面对凶猛的野兽，为了生存把自己脸部用不同的方式勾画出不同形态，以吓唬入侵的野兽。川剧把”变脸”搬上舞台，用绝妙的技巧使它成为一门独特的艺术。 Continue Reading

   People born in the year of the dragon are full of vitality and strength. To them, life is a colorful leaping flame. Though assuming airs of self-importance, being prejudiced, making arbitrary decisions, and indulging in some of the wildest Continue Reading

   There are quite a few traditional utensils that have been used in cooking for thousands of years in China. Some of them are still seen in most of families, some can only be seen in rural areas, or may Continue Reading

   On 11 October 2012, the Swedish Academy announced that Mo Yan had received the Nobel Prize in Literature for his perform “with hallucinatory realism merges folk tales, history and the contemporary”. At the age of 57, he was the Continue Reading