Jade Buddha Temple, Shanghai
West Garden Temple, Suzhou
Lingyin Temple, Hangzhou
Temple of Six Banyans, Guangzhou
Po Lin Monastery, Lantau Island, Hong Kong
Wong Tai Sin Temple, Hong Kong
A-Ma Temple, Macau
Pond resident, Po Lin Monastery
Beliefs & Superstitions
The Chinese are inherently superstitious and this manifests itself in everything from religious interpretation to modern business practice. In Chinese certain numbers sound the same as other words and these are then taken to be lucky, or unlucky. Six, eight (which brings money) and nine (longevity) are good numbers, while four (which sounds like death) is a bad number. The importance placed on these numbers cannot be overstated and telephone numbers or addresses with favorable digits command high prices. Equally, few Chinese will want to live on the fourth floor of a building. Many Chinese believe that, although your destiny is ordained, a little luck can help you skip a few reincarnations. Gambling here can be obsessive, with people betting all they own and more (see Macau, Gambling). The lunar calendar also plays a significant role in modern life, and weddings, business meetings and holidays are planned accordingly.
The Chinese Zodiac
The Chinese Zodiac is based on the lunar calendar and gives each of its 12 years an animal name. If you are born within this year you are said to possess the qualities of that animal. Note that the Chinese New Year usually falls a month or two after the Western version, so if you were born in January 1973, as I was, you are actually a rat, not an ox!
Below is a brief description of each of the animal years, but if you're interested in further exploration head to an astrologer. Astrologers can be found in markets and parks throughout China and, if you give them your time and date of birth, they should be able to give you a precise rundown of who you are, what days are lucky for you and what lies in your future – take a translator!
What's Your Sign?
Rat – Usually clever, giving and diligent, but can be prone to laziness.
Ox – Independent, cool and stubborn, an ox will always finish a task.
Tiger – Self-assured and adventurous, tigers live up to their name.
Rabbit – Quiet, shy and family-loving, rabbits need reassurance and love.
Dragon – Dragons are confident and able leaders and usually gracious.
Snake – Often selfish, charismatic and hard-nosed; you wouldn't want to upset a snake.
Horse – Horses are usually witty and well motivated, but emotional.
Goat – Money-loving goats are charmers but don't often turn up on time.
Monkey – Monkeys are daring and love a challenge but, despite their intelligence, they can be erratic.
Rooster – Diligence and punctuality are important to roosters, although they can speak a little too freely and are prone to feeling emotional.
Dog – Defensive, loyal and kind, they really do make best friends.
Pig – Calm and helpful, pigs may not be very intelligent but they are sincere.
Fengshui
Fengshui (wind and water), or geomancy, is the art of alignment to create the best flow of energy and can operate on a room, building or city scale. Fengshui is based on certain precepts, such as having a mountain or hill behind the property and water flowing toward the front. Hong Kong's HSBC Tower is famous for its fengshui – the unobstructed view to the water allows money to flow freely in! In a room, certain objects, such as a correctly placed fishbowl, can improve the energy flow, while a bagua, mirror, will repel evil spirits. You'll see geomancy in practice throughout the country and can even arrange fengshui tours in Hong Kong and Yangshuo
Culture
Architecture
Since the onset of dynastic times, architectural design has been of key significance as an indicator of status within the imperial structure. Buildings have been added to, altered or destroyed according to the mood of the dynasty. Outside influences have also had their part to play and there are prominent examples of Mongolian, Tibetan, British, French and German architecture found in China. In the last hundred years, wars, the Cultural Revolution and most recently the country's spectacular economic growth have eliminated much historic architecture. Despite this, a number of outstanding buildings, such as the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven, have survived and underwent face-lifts for the Olympics, while amazing modern structures were also built for the event.
Palaces & Temples
Palaces and temples were mapped out in accordance with the principles of fengshui and were usually walled complexes containing square or rectangular buildings, with a few notable exceptions such as the circular Temple of Heaven in Beijing. Inside the city walls, an inner central walled quarter was used for the emperor and was always built on a number of rising platforms. The highest point seated the great emperor, as this brought him closer to heaven and no other building was allowed to exceed this in the city.
Traditional Architecture
Cities and the traditional buildings within them were designed using a standard set of principles. Harmony was of key importance, as was creating a balance with the environment. Fengshuiwas essential (see above) and architectural designs were chosen so as not to disrupt the cosmos. Buildings were usually constructed horizontally rather than vertically, in contrast to today's skyscrapers. Together, low-rise buildings formed a network of narrow streets known as hutong, including everything from homes to shops. The grid-like rows provided shelter from the elements and were also believed to afford spiritual protection. Solid insulated brick was used in the north while open eaves with internal courtyards were prevalent in the south. To see some of China's best preserved hutong, head for Beijing.
Rural Architecture
Although the principal architectural aspects remain the same from north to south, a number of variations can been seen throughout China today. The Dong and Miao of the southwest use local cedar wood, building their houses vertically and it's not uncommon to see two- or three-story houses. They are also famous for their unique Wind and Rain Bridges (see Longji), built to prevent evil spirits from crossing the river and entering the town. In the southeast the Hakka constructed vast encampments containing huge circular stone mansions.These roundhouses sometimes contained up to 600 people and provided perfect defense from both invaders and the harsh climate; a few are still inhabited today. Some outstanding examples of traditional architecture remain in the Huizhou-style houses of Shexian and Yixian, near Huangshan (see Huizhou Architecture).
Foreign Influences
Over the ages many foreign communities have settled in China, bringing outside architectural styles and techniques with them. Islamic architecture retains some of its typical features, but also incorporates Chinese themes – look no further than Xi'an's Great Mosque where the minaret resembles a pagoda. The 19th century saw the arrival of the Europeans. Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Macau, Shanghai and Xiamen still have well-preserved examples of colonial architecture and the juxtaposition of Eastern and Western styles gives a very different feel to parts of these cities. For the best of the British, head to the Bund in Shanghai, which is more akin to Liverpool (UK) than the Orient. Today, it houses some of the most expensive properties in Shanghai and boasts a range of architectural styles from Neo-Classical to Art Deco.