History, Arts & Traditions

History, Arts & Traditions

The Great Wall was built in chapters

The Great Wall was built and changed over many centuries. The famous brick sections are only part of a much bigger story.

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History, Arts & Traditions

Can one instrument sound like a whisper?

The seven-string guqin rewards close listening. Its quieter sounds make a very different kind of musical room.

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History, Arts & Traditions

How can a flame change a bowl?

Longquan celadon is known for its glaze. Getting that colour and surface means watching a kiln with extraordinary care.

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History, Arts & Traditions

Could you print a book with wooden letters?

In one part of Zhejiang, makers arrange reusable wooden characters to print family histories by hand.

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History, Arts & Traditions

Paper made slowly on purpose

In Anhui, traditional Xuan paper takes patience on a scale that makes a quick sketchbook page feel very different.

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History, Arts & Traditions

Why does a dragon boat need a team?

A dragon-boat race is easy to understand from the bank: one boat reaches the finish first. What happens around the race is much more varied.

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History, Arts & Traditions

The second side of a paper-cut

A paper-cut is made from the parts left behind and the spaces cut away. That simple trick can turn a window into a picture.

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History, Arts & Traditions

How many people move one shadow?

Chinese shadow puppetry can look like a simple silhouette show. Behind the screen, there may be music, singing, carving and several pairs of hands.

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History, Arts & Traditions

An emperor’s handwriting on a fizzy-drink can

A Shanghai museum put old handwriting on a fizzy-drink can. Is that a clever invitation to history or an odd souvenir?

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History, Arts & Traditions

Can an old myth walk out of a screen?

A Shanghai exhibition used huge screens and light to reimagine a creature from Chinese mythology. What changes when a story becomes a spectacle?

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History, Arts & Traditions

From Han-dynasty cat to soft toy

A cat pictured on an ancient food tray has become a soft museum souvenir. The journey from object to plush is the interesting part.

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History, Arts & Traditions

The lantern that asks a question

At Lantern Festival, the lights are only half the game. Some lanterns have questions attached, and the answer might win you a prize.

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