Discover China

The China Daily website is inviting foreign readers to share their China stories with its worldwide audience. Whether you are an expat in China, once traveled around the country, or had a short stay, you are welcome to join! Find out more in Share your China stories.

This weekend marks the Qingming (Pure Brightness) Festival. Also called the Tomb Sweeping Festival, Qingming is one of the most important festivals in China with a history of over 2,000 years. During the Qingming Festival people visit the graves of their ancestors or beloved ones to clean them and leave offerings such as food and flowers to those who have passed. People will not cook on this day and only cold food is served.

To learn more about the Qingming Festival visit the China.org.cn China Wiki article Qingming Festival and see the China Daily Photos: Qingming Festival.

For some insights into how the festival is celebrated see the China Daily articles Martyrs remembered ahead of Qingming, Painting on eggs for Qingming Festival, Mountains and parks prepare for Qingming and Virtual memorial, and the Shenzhen Daily articles Celebrating a traditional day and Pak Tai Temple, Xixiang.

The ancient towns and villages of eastern Zhejiang Province and its picturesque scenery have been the location of many films, Lu Yi reports in the China Daily Travel article Just like being in a movie. Eastern Zhejiang province is one of the most romantic regions of China. The idyllic corridor between the ocean and mountains has inspired legions of movie makers, drawn to its natural beauty and picture postcard towns.

In his Shenzhen Daily article Pak Tai Temple, Xixiang James Baquet continues his series of excellent stories on the history and culture of Shenzhen with an insight into the history of Xixiang, a little-known area in Bao’an district.

In his Shenzhen Daily article Book browsing James Baquet discusses where you can find English-language books in Shenzhen.