Discover China

Archeologists in northwest China’s Shaanxi Province are about to open an ancient tomb in a southern suburb of Xi’an that dates back some 2,000 years. Find out more in the CNTV story 2000-Year-Old West Han Tomb Opened.

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.

Experience both the classics and new-age marvels of Pearl River city Guangzhou, capital of southern China’s Guangdong Province, in Li Jing’s China Daily Travel article Guangzhou old and new.

The 28th Luoyang Peony Festival is set to be held in Luoyang City in central China’s Henan Province from 1 April to 5 May 2010. The peony is a traditional flora symbol of China, with very beautiful color and fragrance, and during the festival Luoyang will be turned into a sea of flowers. Read more in the Confucius Institute Online article Luoyang Peony Festival Opens Next Month.

While in Luoyang make sure to visit the extraordinary World Heritage listed Longmen Grottoes, and the White Horse Temple which is described as the cradle of Buddhism in China. I had the pleasure of visiting both on my trip to Henan Province in 2008. These are among the many cultural and natural attractions of China’s Henan Province – to find out more visit the Henan Province Tourism Administration’s “Amazing Henan” website.