Spring Festival
The Chinese New Year, a time of family reunion. Inscribed on UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage in 2024.
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Chinese Culture
Five thousand years of unbroken civilisation — fine traditional culture is the root and soul of the Chinese nation.
POETRY
Love of country, carried through the centuries in verse
Original Chinese text with English translations.
死去元知万事空，
但悲不见九州同。
王师北定中原日，
家祭无忘告乃翁。
但悲不见九州同。
王师北定中原日，
家祭无忘告乃翁。
Lu You (Southern Song) · To My Son
In death I know all things turn to nothing, yet I grieve not to see the land united. When our armies recover the Central Plains, do not forget to tell your father at the family altar.
山河破碎风飘絮，
身世浮沉雨打萍。
人生自古谁无死，
留取丹心照汗青。
身世浮沉雨打萍。
人生自古谁无死，
留取丹心照汗青。
Wen Tianxiang (Southern Song) · Crossing the Lonely Sea
Our land is shattered like catkins in the wind; my fate rises and sinks like duckweed in the rain. Since ancient times, who has not died? Let my loyal heart shine in history.
千锤万凿出深山，
烈火焚烧若等闲。
粉骨碎身浑不怕，
要留清白在人间。
烈火焚烧若等闲。
粉骨碎身浑不怕，
要留清白在人间。
Yu Qian (Ming) · Ode to Lime
Hewn from deep mountains by a thousand blows, it treats the fiercest fire as nothing. Unafraid of being crushed to powder, it leaves its purity in the world.
力微任重久神疲，
再竭衰庸定不支。
苟利国家生死以，
岂因祸福避趋之。
再竭衰庸定不支。
苟利国家生死以，
岂因祸福避趋之。
Lin Zexu (Qing) · To My Family, on Setting Out for Exile
My strength is small, my burden heavy, and I am long weary. Yet if it serves my country, I will give my life — how could I shun it for my own fortune?
国破山河在，
城春草木深。
感时花溅泪，
恨别鸟惊心。
城春草木深。
感时花溅泪，
恨别鸟惊心。
Du Fu (Tang) · Spring View
The nation is broken, yet mountains and rivers remain; spring comes to the city, deep in grass and trees. Grieving the times, flowers draw my tears; birds startle my parted heart.
秦时明月汉时关，
万里长征人未还。
但使龙城飞将在，
不教胡马度阴山。
万里长征人未还。
但使龙城飞将在，
不教胡马度阴山。
Wang Changling (Tang) · Beyond the Frontier
The moon of Qin, the passes of Han — men marched ten thousand li and never returned. Were the Flying General still here, no raider's horse would cross the Yin Mountains.
长风破浪会有时，
直挂云帆济沧海。
直挂云帆济沧海。
Li Bai (Tang) · Hard Is the Road
A time will come to ride the wind and break the waves; I will hoist my sail and cross the vast sea.
捐躯赴国难，
视死忽如归。
视死忽如归。
Cao Zhi (Wei, Three Kingdoms) · The White Horse
I give my life to my country's need, and face death as if going home.
FESTIVALS
Festivals of reunion and remembrance
Lantern Festival
Lanterns, sweet dumplings and riddles bring the New Year celebrations to a close.
Qingming Festival
A day to tend ancestors' graves and honour martyrs. Pictured: the Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery.
Dragon Boat Festival
Dragon boat races and zongzi in memory of the patriotic poet Qu Yuan. Inscribed by UNESCO in 2009.
Qixi Festival
The cowherd and the weaver girl meet on a bridge of magpies — Chinese Valentine's Day.
Mid-Autumn Festival
A full moon and a family reunited: “May we share the beauty of the moon, though a thousand miles apart.”
Double Ninth Festival
Climbing heights and honouring the elderly; also known as Seniors' Day.
Winter Solstice
“Winter Solstice is as big as New Year” — dumplings in the north, sweet rice balls in the south.
INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE
Treasures passed down through the ages
China has more elements on UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage lists than any other country.
2001Kunqu Opera
The “mother of all Chinese operas”, among the first masterpieces proclaimed by UNESCO.
2009Chinese Calligraphy
The art of writing Chinese characters with brush and ink, embodying the aesthetics and spirit of the nation.
2009Chinese Paper-Cut
A pair of scissors and red paper cut out the joy and good fortune of everyday life.
2010Peking Opera
China's national opera, combining singing, recitation, acting and acrobatics.
2010Acupuncture and Moxibustion
A unique tradition of Chinese medicine now practised in many countries.
2013Zhusuan (Abacus Calculation)
Knowledge and practice of mathematical calculation with the abacus.
2016The Twenty-Four Solar Terms
A system of time knowledge based on the sun's annual motion, still guiding farming today.
2020Taijiquan
Rooted in traditional Chinese philosophy, combining hardness with softness, inner and outer cultivation.
2022Traditional Tea Processing and Customs
From a single leaf to a fine cup, tea culture connects China with the world.
56 ETHNIC GROUPS
One big family of 56 peoples
Like the seeds of a pomegranate, all ethnic groups hold tightly together in a unified, multi-ethnic country.
HanMongolHuiTibetanUyghurMiaoYiZhuangBouyeiKoreanManchuDongYaoBaiTujiaHaniKazakhDaiLiLisuVaSheGaoshanLahuShuiDongxiangNaxiJingpoKyrgyzTuDaurMulaoQiangBlangSalarMaonanGelaoXibeAchangPumiTajikNuUzbekRussianEvenkiDe'angBonanYugurGinTatarDerungOroqenHezhenMonbaLhobaJino