Naveen Marasinghe asked:


The largest museum contains ancient Chinese art, the Shanghai Museum lies in the heart of Shanghai at the People’s Square. Reflecting on ancient wisdom and philosophy, the artefacts compliments the architectural design of the building, which depicts the ancient ideology of a round heave and square land. Found in 1952, the museum was originally located in former Shanghai Racecourse Club House but later was moved to its present location in 1992.

This beautifully mastered museum is home to a total o eleven galleries as well as three exhibitions halls. The galleries are home to different classifications of Chinese Art, which include Ancient Bronze, Ancient Ceramics, Ancient Sculpture, Ancient Jade, Ming and Qing Furniture, Minority Nationalities, Paintings, Calligraphy, Seals and Coins.

The Ancient Bronze collections hail from the times of the Shang and Zhou Dynasties. These valuable artefacts, which span over 400 in number, are largely responsible for providing insight into the concept of ancient civilisation of China as well as its history in bronze art.

The treasure of the Shanghai Museum, the Ancient Ceramic collection holds over 500 pieces of intricate artwork and designs over a number of dynasties. Such artefacts include the gray and painted pottery works from the Neolithic Age, celadon work in the form of primitive pieces from the Shang & Zhou Dynasties and Warring States as well as mature works from the East Han Dynasty. Further collections include Tang Dynasty tri-coloured glazed pottery; Song, Lin and Liao Dynasty has glazed and painted porcelain artefacts; and magnificent works from Jingdezhen and Jiangxi, which were the focal point of the ceramics industry in the times of the Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties.

Another highlight of the museum is the Ancient Sculpture Gallery, which focuses purely on Buddhist artefacts depicting the tranquil nature of the philosophical religion. The Ancient Jade collection offers insight into the green hued stone, which the Chinese considers it a symbol of power and strength, at times ‘perfect morality’ as well as being a form of decoration and beauty. Furthermore, the Ming and Qing Dynasty furniture provides insight into the livelihood, culture and craft of Chinese folk. The intricate work on wood signifies the skills of the community that created it.

The remaining galleries include the Painting, Seals, Coins, Calligraphy and Minority Nationalities. These galleries offer insight into the economic, cultural as well as the literacy of the Chinese as well as other nationalities who resided in China at the time. Spanning over several dynasties, many artefacts is offered on display to allow visitors to understand the workings of a community in ancient times.

Take times to discover the vibrant history and culture of China while enjoying the comforts of a Shanghai hotel such as the Millennium Hongqiao Hotel Shanghai . This luxury hotel offers lavish and comfortable accommodation coupled with quality amenities and warm hospitality.



Stephanie

mtnlady asked:


I’ve never tried calligraphy before, but I’m interested in dabbling with it.

What might be a good pen for a not-very-serious beginner? And where could I find it? If it’s something fun for me, I might make more of an investment. But for now I’d like to keep the purchase under or around $30.

Thanks for your insight!

Lisa

Naveen Marasinghe asked:


Situated at No.10 Salisbury Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong Museum of Art is one of the important landmarks of Hong Kong. Established in 1962 at the City Hall by the urban council and moved to the present location in 1991, this museum features some of the rare pieces of Chinese cultural heritage. Presently this museum is managed by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department of Hong Kong Government.

The mission of the Hong Kong Museum of Art is to preserve the cultural heritage of China and promote the art with a local focus. The collection at the museum now exceeds 15000 art objects such as Chinese paintings and calligraphy works, antique Chinese treasures and works of the local artists.

Various exhibitions are organized from the Hong Kong Museum of Art to promote its art among the international audience. Exhibitions such as selected calligraphy works from the museum collection and Gems of the Chinese ceramics are permanent exhibitions which are open throughout the year. Special exhibitions are also organized by the museum in various seasons of the year in special themes to attract the local and foreign tourists.

The Chinese antique collection in the museum is a diverse one. It includes some of the fines pieces of traditional art such as ceramics from Guangdong and South East Asia, works of the decorative arts such as bronze, jade, glassware and carved bamboo and ivory ornaments. Historical Pictures collection in the Museum of Art depicts the life, customs and landscapes of the China centuries ago. Calligraphy collection includes the works of the Wu School, Songjiang School, The Four Monks and other significant schools of Ming and Qing Dynasties.

Hong Kong Museum of Art is also gifted with a branch museum namely The Museum of Tea Ware situated at the Cotton Tea Drive inside the Hong Kong Park. This branch museum is specialized in collection, study and display of tea ware and its collection includes fine examples of Yixing teapots other renowned traditional tea ware.

The museum is also in the process of organizing various educational programs in line with the exhibitions to educate the visitors about the aesthetic significance of China and South East Asia and to enhance the interest of artistic creations of various cultures.

Renowned as one of the premier hotels in Hong Kong, The Langham hotel, Hong Kong provides a fantastic service and fulfils each and every need of the guests who come to visit Hong Kong Museum of Art which in minutes away from this Kowloon Hotel.



Erica

huiya asked:


The Ancient Town of Lijiang, a good place to take a relax.

Lijiang has the best preserved ancient town in China – the Old Town which has been listed in the World Cultural Heritages by UNESCO in 1997. Built on the hillsides of three mountains, it is combined with nature in an organic and integral unity. Tile-roofed houses are arranged closely side by side within the brace of green mounts, where the common people’s residences, simple in shape and elegant in decoration, draw wide attention as a crystallization of the Naxi culture and techniques.

Strolling along the street of the Ancient Town of Lijiang, tourists can taste colorful ethnic culture and customs, unrivalled buildings and the breathtaking natural scenery. Most travelers stay on the streets of Lijiang’s old town for its comfortable accommodations. There are a lot of hostels, guesthouses to choose from. And many restaurants serve both western and Chinese food. It is also a good place to do some comparative shopping. There are many shops selling local handcrafts and traditional arts and crafts.

Enjoying Naxi Ancient Music to understand Mystic Dongba Culture:

The wonderful Naxi (also spelt Nakhi and Nahi) Ancient Music, the traditional Naxi classical music that is regarded as a ‘living fossil of Chinese music” and the “sound from paradise”. It originated from the music of Taoism about 500-600 years ago. This music has been added the play techniques of Naxi people, featured in playing all the rarely heard works in Tang (618-907A.D) and Song (960-1279A.D) dynasties, the over-100-year old music instruments which cannot find in elsewhere, and the old players who are about 70-80 in age from all walks of life. This is a classic music wildly popular in Naxi Nationality and one of the oldest survivors in the world. Take the opportunity to hear Naxi Ancient Music, it is guaranteed to be an unforgettable life experience. If you stay overnight in Lijiang, do not miss it!

Visiting Baisha Township-The Ancient Capital of Naxi Kingdom

Another way to check out the forgotten beauty of Lijiang is to visit the Baisha murals! Exploring the Baisha town to enjoy the ancient murals is a great experience and one that visitors should not miss. Baisha Frescos in the town of Baisha is the most famous and preserved frescos stored in Lijiang. Each painting includes at least one hundred vivid figures, who are not only Buddhas but also ordinary people, mirroring the various religious cultures and artistic forms ranging from Buddhism, Lamaism, Daoism to the Naxi Dongba religion. These frescoes are both essential to the research of Chinese painting and important cultural heritage relics too.

Cooking / Calligraphy and Painting Classes

If you are interested in Chinese culture, Calligraphy, painting and Chinese cooking classes can be arranged in Lijiang.

You have no doubt come to China to feast on the local cuisine. So wouldn’t it be great while you’re in China to learn how to cook some Chinese food on your own? Fortunately, it’s possible to enroll in a cooking class that will teach you the basics of this culinary art.

Calligraphy and painting are regarded as two of the four kills for a learned and elegant scholar to pursue in the ancient China. Wouldn’t it be fascinating to get authentic Chinese artist training?

Hiking Excursion

The Ancient City of Lijiang is girdled by a host of attractive and wondrous attractions. Hiking the captivating attractions outside the city is one of the great highlights of any visit to this region.

After experiencing the city, you should not miss the rewarding explorations below because they offer you the mind-blowing landscapes found in the world.

Recommended Hiking Tours:

Day 1:

Get up early in the morning and drive about 2 hours to Qiaotou Town, where is the upper region of Tiger Leaping Gorge. Tiger Leaping Gorge is regarded as one of the deepest gorges in the world with a depth of 3,000 meters. Here, the river twists and turns and vigorously swash against the rocks, the breakers sent up a fountain of spray. Our hiking trip begins from here. The total trekking route is 28km, and it takes approximately 6 hours.

Day 2:

Continue trekking to the Tiger Leaping Gorge in the early morning. After lunch, you walk down the steep cliff to the bank of Jinsha River. With a length of 2290km, Jinsha River is the most precipitous section of Yangtze River, which makes a sudden turn of 135 degrees to flow northeastward. Then go on climbing up the Tiger Leaping Gorge for approximately one hour.

Day 3:

Today continue trekking for 2km and cross the Jinshajiang River by boat to get to Daju Town. After lunch, then head to Lijiang. On the way, pay a visit to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, which is situated 15km north of Lijiang city, on the south bank of the Yangtze River with an altitude of 5600 meters above sea level.

china tour-China Wonder Tours provide china tour packages with tailor made services. We also present marvelous Yunnan tour packages and story here for you to read. Come and have a look, share with us and travel with us together.



Tyler

kimkim567711 asked:


.what are the instructions of calligraphy???? please help and FAST!!! thx! and wheres a web site to make one?

Eugene

Tania E asked:


I’m writing an essay about chinese calligraphy/art. So far, my subtopics are: chinese calligraphy, chinese painting, seals, and the materials used. what is another subtopic I can write about?

June

Mariam Ma asked:


As the world waits in anticipation for the greatest sports spectacle on earth, here are some fun facts to wet your appetite for the upcoming 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Beijing China was awarded the Games of the XXIX Olympiad on July 13, 2001 beating out stiff competition from Toronto Canada, Paris France, Istanbul Turkey and Osaka Japan. Even though the Olympics are viewed as a sporting event, it is tinged with political overtones. It has been proposed that the awarding of the Olympic Games to Beijing was an acknowledgment by the International Olympic Committee of China’s new superpower status on the world stage. This is despite the fact there have been numerous criticisms opposing the appointment due to concerns of human rights issues, a chaotic transportation system, and a serious air pollution problem.

With the eyes of the world on Beijing, the host city has tried to answer the pollution and transportation issues with a reduction of vehicles going into the city and limiting drivers the use of their cars to alternating days. As for the human rights violations, it is hoped that with worldwide scrutiny and inviting China to host the Games, better relations and dialogue will follow.

The Beijing Olympics will officially start on August 8, 2008 at 8:08:08 pm China Standard Time. The number eight holds special significance for the Chinese as a number of good fortune. The Chinese superstitious theme is also carried in its Olympic mascots. The Beijing Olympic mascots are known collectively as the FUWA, or good luck dolls in Chinese. However, not only do the FUWA dolls serve as heralds of good wishes from China, they also each represent a color in the Olympic rings. These Olympic mascots are stylized versions of popular animals in China and have the names of Beibei, Jingjing Huanhuan, Yingying, Nini. If you take the first syllables of their names, it spells Bei Jing Huan Ying Ni, or “Welcome to Beijing” in Chinese.

Another creative marketing idea to come out of the Beijing Olympic Games is the artistic representation of its official logo. Brush calligraphy is an ancient art form for the Chinese. Using a stamp seal and writing the Jing character in stylized calligraphy, the Beijing logo is known as the “Dancing Beijing” for its appearance of grace and fluidity.

Given the controversies and the fact that China is an emerging power with a very rich culture and history, the Beijing Olympic Games will surely be an interesting event to watch!



Alan

Sarah Beldo asked:


Your wedding invitations can help set the tone for your nuptials and create a style or theme that may be carried through in everything from the decorations to the wedding photo album.

 Formal or informal?

 Are you tying the knot in your own backyard or at a church? Let the formality of your ceremony be your guide when selecting invitations.

 Traditionally, formal invitations have a white or ivory background and are engraved with centered type. However, you need not stick to these constraints. Contemporary couples have as many choices for invitations as they do for designing the wedding albums.

 Printing styles

Traditional engraving is one of the most popular printing styles for wedding invitations, but it is also one of the most expensive because it requires a copper plate.

Many bargain-hunting couples opt for thermography instead, which can create a similar look for roughly one-third the price of engraving. Thermography mixes wet ink with a powder compound and then applies heat so the design rises off the paper.

Letterpress invitations, in which a design is pressed into paper, have been recently experiencing a revival. These invitations are often custom-made by a shop that specializes in the relief printing technique.

Offset printing is another low-cost option, while some brides and grooms opt for the hand-drawn elegance of calligraphy.

Colors

A formal wedding invitation might stick to an ivory background with black lettering, while many contemporary couples choose to incorporate their wedding colors into their invite style.

You may also consider letting the season or theme of the wedding inspire color choices – with spring/summer nuptials calling for warmer hues and cool tones suiting fall/winter events. A sunset ceremony on the beach may suggest orange or red to evoke the striking pictures in the wedding album. Meanwhile, an elegant hotel wedding may suggest deep purple or blue.

Your personal style may also influence color choices. Many people choose a light-colored background with a single shade for the design, but if you want to be bold, why not experiment with a darker background or an unusual color combination?



Duane

DeppOsbourneFan asked:


I got a ‘how to do calligraphy’ pack for a xmas present, but, I’m confused as to how to assemble the pen. I comes with the part you hold, and two metal pointy writing pieces in diff. sizes. Does both of the points go on or just one? [oh, and so funny that the kit doesn't tell you how to assemble the pen! they teach you the art of calligraphy, yet expect you to know how to assmble it!]

Thanks!

Nathaniel

Deegee asked:


The calligraphy pen is a simple tool that takes considerable application to master. Some pens come with little added extras which may also take some time getting used to.

Some calligraphy pens come with a detachable reservoir and some are permanently fixed. A calligraphy pen reservoir is a little piece of metal fitted to the calligraphy pen nib that increases the amount of ink it holds. You’ll find that it will give you a more even flow of ink. It will also reduce the frequency with which you will have to recharge your pen while working.

The calligraphy pen reservoir might be a detachable piece that can be removed for refilling or cleaning while other pens come with the reservoir permanently attached. Both have their pluses and minuses, but using them is just a matter of trial and error and becoming accustomed to the new tool.

Although a detachable reservoir gives you an easier pen to clean, you also have the responsibility of reassembling the pen carefully. Allowing the reservoir to protrude from the nib will reduce the quality of the ink flow and your work will suffer.

A top-mounted reservoir can prove to be a distraction for some people because it can obscure the vision to the writing edge. There are options available to over come this, such as the Mitchell Roundhand Series pens which have the reservoir permanently mounted to the holder sitting underneath the nib.

Care must also be taken when recharging the reservoir that is permanently attached to the pen. Turn your pen upside down and, either with a paintbrush that has been dipped in ink or with an eyedropper , add the ink to the widest part of the nib. This will allow the ink to fill the space between the nib and the reservoir. Make sure the upper side of the pen nib is ink-free.

Careful application of ink to the nib and reservoir will ensure you maintain a smooth, even flow when lettering and you reduce the risk of leaving large ink blots around your work surface – your lines will be consistently wide.

To clean the reservoir, slide it off and simply rinse it under running water. Soak the nib in a special solvent (such as Higgins Pen Cleaner) overnight and then take an old toothbrush to it to get it clean. Take the soaking nib the next morning and rinse it in cold running water before drying it thoroughly with a towel.

When buying a calligraphy pen with an attached reservoir make sure that you have a close look at the nib and reservoir settings to ensure that the tip of the reservoir hasn’t been bent away from the nib. The flange of the reservoir should sit lightly on top of the pen with little excess air space visible.

As with all important tools, the more care you take with maintenance of your pen, the longer it will remain in good working order.



Clyde