你好

To travel to China, we will have to fly from Raleigh, North Carolina to Toronto, Ontario and then on to Beijing, China. The trip is 7,099 miles and will take 20 hours and 50 minutes.

Here we are at the airport. Let’s get ready to go.

We have arrived at the airport in Toronto, Ontario. Let’s get on the next plane to Beijing, China.

Fasten your seat belt. We are ready to land at the airport in Beijing, China.

Welcome to China! Come along as we discover the people and places of China through:

THE ABC’ S OF CHINA

Aa A is for abacas.The abacus was first used in China about 500 B.C. The abacus is used to do math such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. The beads on the abacus are used for numbers. You can slide the beads up and down to show the

numbers. The abacus is still used today by shopkeepers in China.

Bb B is for Beijing.Beijing, capital of the People's Republic of China, is the nation's political, economic, cultural, educational and international trade and communication center. It is located in northern China. Beijing serves as the most important transportation hub and port of entry in China. It is also one of the six ancient

cities of China.

Cc C is for chopsticks.Chopsticks are utensils used for eating. No one knows when chopsticks were first used, but they were first invented in China. Chopsticks can be traced back as far as the third century B.C. Chopsticks are used in Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and China. Chopsticks are most often made of bamboo, but the chopsticks of the Emperor and Emperoress are made of ivory, because ivory turns colors if the food has poison in it.

Dd D is for dragon. Dragons are made from different kinds of animals. The body is of a snake, scales like a fish, head like a camel, horns like a deer, eyes like a rabbit, ears like a bull, neck like an iguana, belly of a frog, paws like a tiger, and claws like an eagle. The five toed dragons are Chinese. The five toed dragon is called the "Imperial Dragon." They can be blue, black, white, red, or yellow. Dragons are an important part of many Chinese festivals, including Chinese New Year. In ancient China, dragons did not breathe fire. Dragons were wise and caring. They guarded the wind, the rain, the rivers, precious metals and gems. In China, dragons are considered good luck.

Ee E is for erhu.

The erhu, sometimes known in the West as the "Chinese violin" or "Chinese two-string fiddle," is a two-stringed bowed musical instrument, used as a solo instrument as well as in small ensembles and large orchestras.

Ff F is for flag.China's national flag was adopted in September, 1949. This flag was first flown in Tiananmen Square on October 1, 1949 - the day of the founding of the People's Republic of China. The rectangular flag has a red field with five golden-yellow stars (each with five points) in the upper left corner. The star on the left is larger than the other four. The red color of the flag symbolizes revolution. The large star symbolizes the Communist Party (which rules China) and the smaller stars represent the people of China.

Gg G is for Great Wall.The Great Wall can be found northwest of Beijing, China.  The Great Wall is more than 1,500 miles long.   Construction of it began in the 7th century B.C.  It is said that it can be seen from the moon.  It is 25 feet high and has 40 foot towers.  The Great Wall took hundreds of years to complete. 

Hh H is for Huns. During the thirtieth century B.C. segments of the Great Wall of China were connected to keep out a fierce group of  people from Mongolia from the north. These tribes were called Hsiung-nu. In the west their names were know as the Huns. Huns built a large empire of their own in Central Europe. They were enemies of Chinese warriors.

Ii I is for inventions.There are four great inventions that came from the Chinese. They are how to make paper, block printing, the compass, and gunpowder. The Chinese have invented many other things including kite making, making ink, boat building, and the abacus. They are all important but the four most famous inventions have made the greatest contribution to modern civilization.

Kk K is for kite. Kites were invented by Han Sin for use in Chinese wars in 206 B.C. Kite flying is also an ancient sport in China. Kites are pieces of cloth that cover wooden sticks. Some kites are so large that it takes several men to launch and fly them. Today kites are flown in competitive sports, for military or scientific purposes, and as a relaxing hobby or pastime.

Ll L is for Lion Dance.The Lion Dance is a form of traditional dance in Chinese culture, in which performers mimic a lion's movements in a lion costume. The lion dance is often mistaken as dragon dance. An easy way to tell the difference is that a lion is operated by two people, while a dragon needs many people. Also, in a lion dance, the performers' faces are covered, since they are inside the lion. In a dragon dance, the performers can be seen since the dragon is held upon poles. Basic lion dance fundamental movements can be found in most Chinese martial arts

Mm M is for Mt. Everest.

Sir George Everest was the first person to record the height and location of Mt. Everest, this is where Mt."Everest" got its name from in the English language.

Nn N is for noodles.Grains are the most important food in China. Rice is grown and eaten in the south. Wheat is grown in the north. They grind the wheat into flour and use it to make bread and noodles. A Chinese main dish would be vegetables with bits of meat or seafood with rice or noodles.

Oo O is for opera. The most popular form of drama in China is Chinese Opera. Chinese Opera began during the Yuan dynasty (1279-1368). Beijing Opera uses spoken words, songs, and dance to tell a story. They use symbolic movements to tell stories of Chinese history and folk tales. The opera is very colorful with fancy scenery and detailed costumes. Traditional instruments are used for the music.

Pp P is for pi pa.The pipa (pronounced "pee-paa") was originally used as a generic term for all pluck string lutes. It is commonly referred to as the "Chinese guitar“. It is an ancient four-stringed moon-shaped lute with long and straight neck and various number of frets. It dates back to around 200 BC. The ruan used to be called "p'i-p'a" or qin-pipa. Through the "silk-road" (around 5th century), a new type of "pipa" with pear-shaped body and bent neck has been developed. Since the Tang Dynasty (618-917AD), and the name pipa, has been specifically given to this newly-developed version, whereas the old form of pipa with straight-neck and round body got the name "Ruan", after the name of the grand master of this instrument, Ruan Xian.

Qq Q is for Qin Shi Huang.The Qin Dynasty began with the first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, in 221 B.C.  He unified China and made writing, weights and measurements all the same. This included all schools teaching the same philosophy. The best known accomplishment from the First Emperor was the Great Wall of China.

Rr R is for ribbon dance.The ribbon dance is a part of the Chinese traditional dance and it is performed during cultural occasions. It has its origin during the "Han dynasty“ (206 BC – 220 AD) and reaches its peak in the "Tang dynasty“ (618 AD – 907 AD). The ribbon dance was performed only for the royal people. Today, the dance has its popularity among the common people for its beauty and grace. The ribbon dance is known as "Cai Dai Wu Dao" in Chinese culture. It is performed in almost all the cultural festivals of China.

Ss S is for silk.Silk fabric was first developed in ancient China with some of the earliest examples found as early as 3500 BC. Silk is a natural fiber obtained from the cocoons of silkworms. Legend gives credit for developing silk to a Chinese empress, Lei Zu. Silks were originally reserved for the Kings of China for their own use and gifts to others, but spread gradually through Chinese culture and then to many regions of Asia through trade routes known as the Silk Road.

Tt T is for tea.The practice of drinking tea originated in China. The Chinese drink tea during many parts of the day such as during meals for good health or for simple pleasure.

Uu U is for umbrella.The Chinese introduced the umbrella to the Japanese almost 2,000 years ago. The umbrella was made out of oiled paper and bamboo.  The Chinese called the umbrella "karakasas".  They are still handmade. They were used to keep the rain off their silk robes and to keep the sun off their faces.

Vv V is for village. Most rural Chinese have traditionally lived in villages in the plains and river valleys. In places, such as the mountains and dry plains, villages rarely have more than a 100 households. In places where the land is productive and agriculture is practiced, there are large villages with 500 or more households.

Ww W is for water buffalo.Asia is the native home of the water buffalo with 95% of the world population of water buffalo. China depends on the water buffalo for meat and milk, as well as the labor it performs. The fat content of buffalo milk is the highest amongst farm animals.

Xx X is for Xin Nian Jie.This means the Chinese New Year. It is also known as the Spring Festival which celebrates the beginning of spring. The holiday is somewhere between January 30 and February 20. The Chinese New Year is the biggest holiday celebrated in China. The word Nian means "year" and was a mythical beast that swallowed people on the eve of the new year. Legend has it that the beast was tricked by an old man into swallowing other animals that were enemies to people. The beast did swallow the other animals. The old man was really a god in disguise and he captured Nian and rode off on his back. With all the harmful beasts gone, the people could live peacefully once again. The Chinese celebrate this legend each year by placing red paper decorations on their windows and doors to scare Nian away from their homes.

Yy Y is for yuan.

The official currency of China is the yuan. 1 yuan is worth about 15 cents in

U.S. dollars. Or $1.00 is about 7 yuan.

Zz Z is for zodiac.Each year the Chinese calendar is named for a different animal. There are 12 years in the repeated cycle. The animals are the rat, ox, tiger,hare or rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, ram, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. The Chinese believe that people born in the year of a certain animal they will take on certain characteristics of that animal.

TIGER

1998, 2010

RABBIT

1999, 2011

DRAGON

2000, 2012

SNAKE

2001

HORSE

2002

RAM

2003

MONKEY

2004

ROOSTER

2005

DOG

2006

PIG

2007

RAT

2008

OX

2009

THE TIGER: People born under the tiger are brave. They are powerful and intelligent and they do well in life.  They could be agile. The tiger is loyal.

THE RABBIT: People born under the rabbit are lucky, happy, good at what they do, shy, a gambler, independent, humble, and aloof. They might have many children.

THE DRAGON: People born under the dragon are usually full of energy.  They are healthy and like to do things.  They are also very honest. They may be quick to anger. The dragon likes the night time. They are big hearted. Red is a good luck color.

THE SNAKE: The snake is said to be blessed with three virtues. People born under the snake are usually wise and firm.   They can often become rich, because a person born during this year should be able to make sound judgments and keep to the job until the work is finished.

THE HORSE: People born under the horse are said to be popular, cheerful and quick-witted. On the other-hand, someone born in these years can be stubborn and impulsive. They are supposed to be kind to strangers. But, he is not good working with relatives. The horse is strong and friendly.

THE RAM: The ram is said to be proud and a bossy animal.  People born under the ram should be a good doctor. The ram is known for gentleness and kindness. They also worry.

THE MONKEY: The monkey is quick. The monkey is funny. It is not likely for a monkey to mind his own business. They would be a loving parent. They tend to be quick witted, clever, and creative. They learn quickly and are good at solving problems.

THE ROOSTER: We know the rooster is an early riser. People born under the rooster would likely be very industrious. They tend to be proud, up right and alert. They are also often precise and very direct. They also like to express themselves in speech, writing or music.

THE DOG: A dog can be a loyal friend. People born under the dog would be loyal and quick to learn. They are usually honest and loyal and help people. They play fair and they are very important.

THE PIG: People born under the pig are likely to be a good parents. They may be easy to anger, but they are intelligent, honest, courageous, completes projects, gallant, and sincere. They are honest and straightforward. They can be relied on to see things through. They tend to be popular and make lasting friendship and are good neighbors.

THE RAT: People born under the rat are usually cheerful and kind. If they were born during the day, they are most likely to have a rich easy life. If they were born during the night, they may have a life of hard work. Rats tend to sleep all day and hunt all night.

THE OX: The ox is a powerful and hard working animal. He is a sturdy worker. People born under the ox are usually strong, quiet, and good at using their hands. They are strong and dependable. They tend to keep to themselves and may be stubborn.

Chinese Calligraphy(written Chinese)

• Fu - the Chinese word for 'luck‘

• Spring

Fortune, Prosperity, Longevity, Happinessfu lu shou xi

Chinese New Year• The Lunar New Year, also called the

Spring Festival, is the most important holiday for the Chinese.

• New Year's Day usually falls on the day of the second new moon after the winter solstice (first day of winter).

• The New Year is celebrated with firecrackers, dragon dances and visits to friends and family. It lasts for 15 days and ends with the Lantern Festival.

• The entire house should be cleaned before New Year's Day. Sweeping or dusting should not be done on New Year's Day for fear that good fortune will be swept away.

• Shooting off firecrackers on New Year's Eve is the Chinese way of sending out the old year and welcoming in the New Year. On the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve, every door in the house, and even windows, have to be open to allow the old year to go out.

• Red clothing is preferred on New Year’s Day. Red is considered a bright, happy color, sure to bring the wearer a sunny and bright future.

Customs

Information and images from the following websites were used in the creation of this powerpoint presentation:

• Scholastic lesson plan and resources: http://teacher.scholastic.com/products/instructor/Jan05_china.htm

• Images and music from: http://www.nancymusic.com/Gunghayplay.htm• Image of tiger: http://www.dl4all.com/search/chinese+new+year++tiger.html• China the beautiful: http://www.chinapage.com/china.html• Lion and dragon dancer images:

http://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/interactive/wallpapers/ig_wall_fest.jhtml#• Lion dance information: http://www.chinese-culture.net/html/lion_dance.html• Lion dance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7m-SEdOKrE4&feature=player_embedded#at=36• Dragon dance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WUnWPpRslM• Activity Village Chinese New Year links:

http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/chinese_new_year_links.htm• Map: http://www.chinatour.com/maps/maps.htm• Chinese money: http://www.chinatour.com/currency/currency.htm• Chinese New Year: http://www.educ.uvic.ca/faculty/mroth/438/CHINA/chinese_new_year.html• Wallpaper: http://www.123chinesenewyear.com/chinesenewyear/wallpapers/index2.html

Bibliography

Some Sights

To See

In China

THE GRAND BUDDHAThe Grand Buddha, also known as Da Fo, is the tallest stone Buddha statue in the world. The Buddha is found near Leshan city, in the Sichuan province. It took workers more than 90 years to carve the massive 233-foot-tall statue into the face of a cliff. The Buddha's ears are 23 feet long, each eyebrow is 18 feet long and there are more than 1,021 stone coiled buns on its head.

THE GREAT WALLThe Chinese began working on this 4,000-mile long wall in the 770 B.C. It was built to protect China's borders from nomadic tribes and to keep invaders out. The Wall is the longest man-made structure in the world. Its five stone sections include forts and towers, where soldiers used to keep watch. Considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Great Wall is visited by an estimated 13 million people a year.

THE FORBIDDEN CITYThe Forbidden City sits exactly in the center of the ancient city of Beijing. It took 14 years to complete the city's construction. For 500 years, it served as home for 24 Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties. A 26-foot high wall and a 20-foot deep moat surround it. Today, the Forbidden City, now officially known as the Palace Museum, holds the largest collection of preserved ancient wooden sculptures in the world. Until 1949, the city was officially off-limits to the public.

SHANGHAIShanghai has been the center of trade in China for 1,000 years. Once a booming fishing town, it is now China's biggest city. Shanghai's location on the East China Sea helped it become one of the largest seaports in the world. In the late 1990s, Shanghai underwent a major renovation to become a city packed with high-rise buildings, extensive freeways and people. More than 18 million people live there.

How much did you learn during your virtual voyage through China? Find out by taking our quiz below.

1. China is on the continent of:A.) North AmericaB.) EuropeC.) Asia

2. The capital of China is:A.) BeijingB.) ShanghiaC.) Washington D. C.

3. What is the ruling party of China called?A.) the Democratic PartyB.) the Communist PartyC.) the Republican Party

4. Silk is made from:A.) CocoonsB.) CottonC.) Wool

5. The Chinese invented:A.) PaperB.) PlasticC.) Ping-pong

6. In the Chinese zodiac, 2012 is the year of the:A.) RabbitB.) MonkeyC.) Dragon

7. How long is the Great Wall?A.) 4,000 milesB.) 6,500 milesC.) 7,000 miles

8. The most important holiday for the Chinese is:A.) EasterB.) ChristmasC.) New Year