Chinese Shadow Art (from Wang's Shadow Museum)
The Shadow puppetry is a form of theatrical performance with over 1000 years of history. The puppets used in performance are made from animal skins. The material is usually semi- transparent and dyed in multiple colours, so they would appear colourful when casted onto the screen. From Tang dynasty to Qing dynasty, the shadow puppetry remains one of the people’s favourite forms of art as it kept reinventing itself to survive. Although it has never disappeared from Chinese people’s life, it has lost the position as the popular way of entertainment nowadays. As one of the major national intangible heritage, the shadow art has received sufficient funds and support from the government. Dedicated museums such as the Wang’s Shadow Museum has been established. Online performance and master classes are hosted on a regular basis. In 2020, the Google arts and culture started leveraging emergent technologies such as the TensorFlow to enable users to experience the art more interactively using gestures. Digital exhibition has also been curated, drawing people’s attention to the old form of art with creative communication. Videos posted on video-sharing platforms received positive feedbacks, with one being viewed by more than 1 million users.
The Yinshan Mountain, located in the western part of Inner Mongolia, was the hub of Chinese northern nomadic culture in history. Not only has it witnessed the rise and fall of different ancient nomadic groups, but it reserved the trace of their living with their petroglyphs created through 10 historical stages. Among 50,000 paintings which have been found so far, the earliest one can be dated back to 10,000 years ago. The long history and rich content made it a valuable source for historical study. However, due to vandalism, natural erosion and a lack of continued protection, a lot of paintings are in peril.
Suzhou Museum, which is a marvelous combination of the modern and ancient style of architecture, designed by one of the world's most famous architects, Ieoh Ming Pei. This cultural heritage is precious not only result from those valuable relics preserved in this museum, but also from the impressive architecture itself created by the crystal of human wisdom. Founded in 1960, originally located in the former residence of Zhong Wang, an important general during the Taiping Rebellion. In 2006 the museum moved to its present location. It is one of the most visited museums in the world, with 2,340,000 visitors in 2018.
In the past, it is regarded as the headquarters of the medieval Scottish Church, as the largest church to have been built in Scotland. The ruin of St Andrews Cathedral survived today and remained as a prominent, remarkable landmark that is still clearly visible from the sea. Visiting this miracle, you might be brought to 1560 to learn how this cathedral could dominate the Scottish religion and get up close to the imposing stories behind these medieval enclosures, relics, sculptures, and so on. This is a marvel by ancient people that the artifact done by our hand and mind could overcome natural invasion and lasts for hundreds of years and even further.
The Byodoin Temple was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage as one of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto in 1994. Being one of the World Heritage sites, the Byodoin Temple buildings and Buddha statues have a long history of about 1000 years. Phoenix Hall is the most famous building of this cultural heritage. It is a combination of paintings, architecture, artifacts, and sculpture that covers the arts and history, the design style still remains the beauty of Mogao Cave to exhibit an art style that originated in Tang Dynasty. Also, in order to commemorate the cultural significance behind this heritage, Japan displays its image on its 10 yen coin, and the 10,000 yen note also features the phoenix image.
One of the most advisable cenotes to visit is Chac Mool. It is located on Highway 307, also known as Ruta de los Cenotes, just 22 kilometers from Playa del Carmen. After having traveled through a dirt road, youe arrive at the main access of this ecological sanctuary. In addition to being one of the places of greatest natural attraction in Quintana Roo and in general in the entire Yucatan peninsula, this cenote, whose name in the Mayan language means "Jaguar's Claw" stands out for its wild beauty, its enormous potential for diving and the enigma that emerges from its deep caves. To access this cenote, one of the most popular on the region, you descend a rock staircase.
The Potala Palace, located on Mount Maburi in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, is a magnificent fortress-style Tibetan Buddhist complex built in the early 7th century by the Tubo king Songtsen Gampo for his wife, Princess Wencheng from the Tang Dynasty of ancient China.' Potala' is the translation of the Sanskrit word 'potalaka', meaning 'island of light', and is the resident dojo of Bodhisattva Kuan Shi Yin in Buddhism. Potala Palace consists of three parts, the red palace in the center, the east connected to the white palace, the west connected to the Zha Xia, the three through each other. The palace in the plane is made up of many rectangular houses put together, the structure is very complex. The main colors of the palace are red, white and yellow, symbolizing majesty, tranquility and perfection, its color and style have distinctive Tibetan Buddhist characteristics.
It is located in Gojo-cho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture in Japan. The temple was built by the Chinese monk Kanzen in the Tang Dynasty and is known as a temple of Sino-Japanese friendship. It has been listed as a national treasure of Japan, and in 1998, it was listed as a World Heritage Site as part of the "Cultural Heritage of Nara, the ancient capital.
The Great Wild Goose Pagoda, also known as the Great Cien Temple Pagoda, is located in the southern suburb of Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China, and is a masterpiece of Buddhist architecture from the Chinese Tang Dynasty. It is famous for the story of the Tang Monk (Xuan Zang) who came to India to collect the scriptures. Here he presided over the temple, led the translation of Buddhist scriptures and founded a Buddhist sect. It houses a number of Buddhist classics, including the Mahaparinirvana Sutra, as well as various precious Buddha statues and relics. The most famous and magnificent Buddhist temple in Chang'an City of the Tang Dynasty, Ci'en Temple was built by royal decree during the Tang Dynasty, and was a temple built under the auspices of the royal family, with a distinguished status and grand scale.
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This museum is a hugely important and informative museum documenting the happenings of the second world war in Singapore. It is built on the site of a Japanese prison during the Japanese occupation of Singapore. The history the museum imparts is truly both heart-breaking and fascinating as Singapore’s involvement as a British colony in the war is rarely mentioned or taught in Europe. Many Europeans and Americans as well as Singaporeans have ancestors who were in Singapore at the time, and a museum of such quality and intensity should be visited by all.
The Pyrenees mountains in the south of France are one of the most beautiful and understated regions on the planet. From when they are covered in snow in the winter to when there are only small patches in the autumn these mountains delight all those who see them. The Pyrenees have succeeded in keeping a low profile compared to the Alps, the majority of the Pyrenees fall within national park limits, the home of over 50 brown bears, bearded vultures, lynxs, wolves and over 4000 other fascinating species. Pollution remains low, technological advancement lags behind the rest of Europe, and the culture is vibrant and joy inducing.
The ancient town Xitang is located in Jiashan County, Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province, 11 kilometers away from the county seat of Jiashan. It is one of the six ancient towns south of the Yangtze River.Take the train from Shanghai to Jiashan after getting off, take the minibus to Xitang 3.5 yuan.Xitang is an ancient town with a history of one thousand years.As early as the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, it was the intersecting place of Wu and Yue, so it was known as "Yue Jiao" and "Yue Jiao People's House".The Yuan Dynasty initially formed the market.The biggest difference between Xitang and other ancient water towns lies in the fact that all the riverside streets in the ancient town have corridors-nearly a kilometer in length, just like the long corridors-in the Summer Palace.Traveling in Xitang, you don't get wet in rainy days, and you don't get sunburnt in sunny days.
The Retezat Mountains (Romanian: Munții Retezat, Hungarian: Retyezát-hegység) are one of the highest massifs in Romania, being part of the Southern Carpathians. The highest peak is Peleaga (Vârful Peleaga), at an altitude of 2,509 metres (8,232 ft). Other important peaks are Păpușa (Vârful Păpușa, "the Doll Peak") and Retezat Peak (Vârful Retezat). The name means "cut off" in Romanian.
The waters of the Danube, which flow into the Black Sea, form the largest and best preserved of Europe's deltas. The Danube delta hosts over 300 species of birds as well as 45 freshwater fish species in its numerous lakes and marshes.The 580,000 hectare delta is home to massive amounts of waterbirds of all kinds, most notably pelicans of two species, herons, storks, cormorants and terns. It is a favourite staging area for passage migrants and also wintering grounds for masses of migrating waterbirds from the steppes, the boreal forests and the tundras further north.
The waters of the Danube, which flow into the Black Sea, form the largest and best preserved of Europe's deltas. The Danube Delta hosts over 300 species of birds as well as 45 freshwater fish species in its numerous lakes and marshes. The 580,000 hectare delta is home to massive amounts of waterbirds of all kinds, most notably pelicans of two species, herons, storks, cormorants and terns. It is a favourite staging area for passage migrants and also wintering grounds for masses of migrating waterbirds from the steppes, the boreal forests and the tundras further north.
The Ceahlău Massif is one of the most famous mountains of Romania. It is part of the Bistriţa Mountains range of the Eastern Carpathians division, in Neamţ County, in the Moldavia region. The two most important peaks are Toaca (1904 m altitude) and Ocolaşul Mare (1907 m altitude).
Carcassonne Castle is a historical and architectural marvel. With a strategical positioning so great its land has served fortified villages, towns, and cities over the past 2300 years. It has seen sieges, fires, crusades, papal visits, royal visits, and has at times been the capital of the Aude region in France. Where it differs from other castles other than its huge size, is its ability to grow throughout the ages. Most castles built in the 11th century have fallen into disrepair or even ruins, Carcassonne City has not only grown, but most extraordinarily, is still inhabited. Not only does this beastly construction strike wonder into those driving by, it actively receives up to 4.5 million visitors a year, which puts it in the top 5 most visited national monuments in France. For the country that receives more tourism than any other country in the world, this is no small feat.
Yu Garden is located in the northeast of the Old Town Hall of Shanghai, bordering Fuyou Road in the north, Anren Street in the east and Shanghai Old Town God Temple in the southwest. It was built in the Jiajing Period of the Ming Dynasty and was a private garden in the Ming Dynasty.In the Ming Dynasty Wanli period covers an area of more than 30 acres.Yuyuan Garden was opened to the public in 1961 and was listed as a key cultural relic under national protection by China's State Council in 1982.There are more than 40 ancient buildings in the garden, such as the ear hall, the iron lion, the fast building, the moon building, the jade Linglong building, the jade water gallery, the listening tao pavilion, the Hanbi building, the inner garden observation hall, the ancient stage, as well as the rockery and the pond.Sansui Hall is located at the front gate of Yuyuan Garden.
Prince Gong Mansion is a first-class museum of guogaijia in China and a national AAAAAA tourist attraction. It is the largest palace complex in the Qing Dynasty, and its predecessor was the residence of Heshen, an official of the Qianlong Dynasty in the Qing Dynasty, and the residence of Yonglin, brother of Emperor Jiaqing in the Qing Dynasty. As the mansions of the princes of the Qing Dynasty, Prince Gong Mansion has neat architectural layout, excellent craftsmanship and staggered pavilions, which fully reflects the magnificent and rich style of the royal family and the simple and elegant charm of the folk Qing Dynasty. Prince Gong Mansion composed by mansion and garden two parts, north and south grow about 330 meters, thing width more than 180 meters, cover an area of an area of about 61120 square meter, among them mansion covers an area of 32260 square meter, the garden covers an area of 28860 square meter.
Culture,Immovable Culture Heritage,Tourism
The Belogradchik Rocks are a group of uniquely shaped sandstone rock formations located on the western slopes of Stara Planina (Balkan Mountains) near the town of Belogradchik. The town itself is situated in the northwest Bulgaria. The rocks have different colours varying from red to yellow and some of the bigger ones reach up to 200 meters in height. As mentioned before, the rocks have unique shapes and are often associated with interesting legends. A lot of them are named after the people or objects they resemble. The Belogradchik Rocks are a Natural Landmark in Bulgaria and are a big tourist attraction in the northwest region alongside The Magura Cave. Furthermore, they are the only habitat of the critically endangered Bulgarian endemic plant Hieracium belogradcense.
Baba Vida is a medieval fortress in the town of Vidin in the northwestern part of Bulgaria and it is the town's proudest landmark. It consists of two concentric curtain walls and about nine towers of which three are preserved to their full medieval height, including the original battlements, and is said to be the only entirely preserved medieval castle in the country. Baba Vida was Vidin's main defensive installation during the Middle Ages and was also the most important defensive point of the nortwestern Bulgaria. It withstood an eight-month-long siege by Byzantine forces in 1356. Today, Baba Vida castle functions as a museum. Being a popular tourist attraction, the fortress is being kept in repair.
﻿The Magura Cave is located in northeastern Bulgaria, 17 km from Belogradchik, in the limestone Rabisha burial mound (altitude 461 meters). It is one of the largest and most beautiful caves in Bulgaria. It consists of a main gallery and three side branches. The overall length of the cave is approximately 2500 meters. The temperature in the cave is a constant 12 degrees Centigrade, year-round. It is most visited during the summer months. According to geological studies, The Magura Cave began to take shape about 15 million years ago. In one of the caverns, prehistoric paintings have been discovered, carved into the walls and decorated with bat guano (droppings). The paintings depict the silhouettes of women, men dancing and hunting, people wearing masks, animals, stars, tools, and plants. The paintings date from different eras – the early Paleolithic, the Neolithic, the later Neolithic, and the beginning of the Bronze Age. A solar calendar from the late Neolithic found there is the earliest solar calendar discovered in Europe. It is painted on the walls of the sanctuary hall and depicts 5 festivals and 366 days. The Magura Cave was recognized as a natural landmark by Decree 666 on 3 May 1960. The cave offers one of the richest collections of geological formations, of all shapes and sizes – stalactites, stalagmites, columns, Geodesic formations, cave pearls, and flows of “cave milk”.
The Longmen Grottoes and shrines contain the largest and finest collection of Chinese art from the late Northern Wei dynasty to the Tang dynasty (316-907 AD). All these works of art reflect the religious themes of Buddhism and represent the highest peak of Chinese stone carving art. Located on both sides of Yihe, south of the ancient capital of Luoyang, Longmen Grottoes is made up of more than 2,300 caves and niches carved into a kilometer-long cliff of steep limestone. The statues include nearly 110,000 Buddhist statues, more than 60 stupas and 2,800 inscriptions on stone tablets. Luoyang was the capital of the late Northern Wei Dynasty and the early Tang dynasty. The most concentrated carving period was from the late 5th century to the middle 8th century.
As one of the most important archaeological places in South-East Asia, Angkor Archaeological Park extends over 400 km2 and includes the splendid remains of successive capitals of Khmer Empire, crossing the 9th and the 15th century. The immovable, tangible heritage is located in Cambodia’s northern province of Siem Reap, and consists of forested area, hydraulic structures, as well as well-decorated temples such as Temple of Angkor Wat and the Bayon Temple. With impressive monuments, several different ancient urban plans and large water reservoirs, the site is a unique concentration of features testifying to an exceptional civilization. Temples as exemplars of Khmer architecture, are closely linked to their geographical context as well as being imbued with symbolic significance.
The Jordan City was an important crossroads between Syria-Phoenicia, Arabia and Egypt. Being settled since prehistoric times, the archaeological site locates in a mountain-surrounded basin between the Dead Sea and the Red Sea. It was built by Nabataean caravans in approximately 5th century BC, which shows a magnificent fusion of ancient Eastern traditions and architecture of Hellenistic. The city is half exposed, half covered by rosy-coloured rock, and it is one of the most popular signature tourist attractions of Jordan. However, the collapse of old structures as well as erosion from water bring challenge to its conservation.
"Treasury" (Al Khazneh) at Petra.
Immovable Culture Heritage,Movable Cultural Heritage
Some of the small Buddha statues found at the caves
The Uros people live on floating islands in Lake Titicaca, Peru. They have been building these islands from reeds and straw since pre-Incan times. Originally, they were used as a means of defence, moving from land onto them and floating towards the middle of the lake at the sign of an attack. Lake Titicaca is the largest lake in South America, located in Peru and Bolivia, and the highest navigable lake in the world. Although most of the population now live in the town of Puno, on the mainland, some still live on the islands as their families before them. They live a traditional modest life: fishing, building boats, and creating souvenir crafts. Their aim is to preserve the culture of the Uros people and showcase it to the many tourists who visit their islands. The islands are also an opportunity for scientists and students to work on sustainability projects, such as developing filters which help remove pollutants from the water. These islands serve as an example of developing new technologies to preserve cultural heritage.
Dwelling on the floating islands of Uros, Lake Titicaca, Peru
The houses and islands are made from reeds
Traditional boat near the Uros islands, made from totora reeds, used to travel to the Peruvian mainland and for touristic purposes
The Gedi city (also written as Gede) was a trade city on the East coast of Kenya between the 11th and 16th centuries. The double-walled city supported an estimated population of 2,500 people. The ruins show that the people were Muslims, with three mosques found in the city. Pillar tombs have been found in the design of medieval Swahili coastal settlements. Surviving stone houses indicate that elite families lived within the inner wall of the city. These houses are built with coral stones from the Indian Ocean, in contrast with the thatched-roofed mud buildings which were present between the outer and inner walls. Ruins of a Palace where the city's sheikh lived are also present. Several artefacts were found that shed light on the people who lived there, including shells used as currency for trade, beads, and pottery. Chinese and Asian ceramics were also found highlighting the importance of this town as an East African trade centre.
At the junction of the Mekong and Ou rivers in Laos, near the World Heritage town of Luang Prabang, lie two cliff caves accessible by boat. Thousands of Buddha statues have been placed in these caves. For centuries, people from local towns deposited their old Buddha statues and other Buddhist relics here, making this place a very important religious site. During Laos’ New Year in April, locals visit these caves to wash in the river water and care for the statues. Most of the statues are wooden, resin, or animal bones decorated in reds, blues, and golds. This is a unique religious site as these are images of the Buddha that were once used but now have been discarded. Still, even in their final place, they create an air of worship and spirituality. The lower cave, Tham Ting, is also a place for burning offerings. The bigger and deeper upper cave, Tham Theung, is accessible from several steps along the cliffside.
Machu Picchu is a citadel built by the Inca’s during the 15th century, located on a mountain ridge approximately 2420 metres above sea level. Most archaeologists believe that the site was built as an estate for Pachacuti, the Inca emperor at the time, however it was abandoned a century later during the Spanish conquest. Because of the high status of the citadel, it was mostly home to members of Pachacuti’s lineage, religious elite, and highly specialised artisans. It was thought to have housed up to 1000 inhabitants when at its peak. In terms of farming and agriculture Machu Picchu thrived, utilising hundreds of incredibly well engineered man-made terraces, built to ensure good drainage and soil fertility.
The Cave of Altamira, located in the Spanish region of Cantabria, contains some of the oldest wall art known to man, with some of the paintings dating as far back as the Upper Palaeolithic period over 36,000 years ago. Around 13,000 years ago a rock fall sealed the cave’s entrance, preserving its contents until a nearby tree fell and disturbed the fallen rocks. Discovered in 1868, the cave was investigated further by a local nobleman that, alongside the art, unearthed a number of animal bones and stone tools. Due to its isolation from external climactic influences, the cave’s wall art is particularly well preserved in comparison to other prehistoric art that has been discovered.
Cave of Altamira and Paleolithic Cave Art of Northern Spain
Located on a plateau along the Ohio Brush Creek the Great Serpent Mound is an ancient effigy mound reaching 411 metres in length, resembling a giant snake. Archaeologists to this day still debate the origin of the mound, with some claiming that radiocarbon studies show it to be more than 2000 years old, dating back to the Adena culture in the 4th century BC. What is potentially most fascinating about the Serpent Mound is that the serpent’s open mouth perfectly aligns with the summer solstice sunset, while the tail points to the winter solstice sunrise. It is for this reason that the heritage is considered to have been of temporal significance in order to mark dates; however it may also have held spiritual significance as graves and burial sites were discovered near the mound.
Kunqu Opera is one of the oldest operas in China and a treasure of traditional Chinese culture and art. Kunqu Opera was born in Kunshan, Jiangsu Province, China in the mid-14th century. With a history of more than 600 years, Kunqu Opera has inspired and nurtured many local operas, so it is called "the mother of all operas". Kunqu Opera was listed by UNESCO as a "Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity" in 2001. The most attractive thing about Kunqu Opera is two points. First, it is highly literary. Audiences who love classical literature will easily understand the beauty and elegance of Kunqu Opera. The second point is that the performance of Kunqu Opera is comprehensive and well-rounded, combining poetry, singing, dancing and drama.
China is the hometown of Shadow Puppets. Shadow Puppet has a history of more than two thousand years. It is the crystallization of the wisdom of generations of folk artists. It combines painting, sculpture, literature, music and stage performance, and is known as the “living fossil” of Chinese folk art. In The General History of Cinema, Georges Sardur of France called Chinese Shadow Puppets the forerunner of films. In his book The People's Theater, Hun Silou declared that “the source of sound films cannot but praise Chinese shadow play as the ancestor of the mountains”. Shadow Puppets, also known as "shadow play" or "lantern play", is a traditional opera form in which stories are performed by cutting images out of animal skins or cardboard and using lights to illuminate the cut images. It is popular in a wide range and forms different types and schools due to the different sounds performed in different places. There are various theories about the origin of shadow play, among which the most popular one is that Emperor Wudi of the Han Dynasty asked a magician to conjure up spirits by illusionization because he missed the dead Mrs. Li. In fact, the origin of shadow play is closely related to the ancient shadow play, folk shadow play, ancient carving, folk paper-cut modeling, worship belief and so on. The country attaches great importance to the protection of intangible cultural heritages. On May 20, 2006, it was listed in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritages list approved by the State Council. On June 8, 2007, hubei yunmeng shadow puppetry art troupe and shandong bb0 fan zheng an shadow puppetry studio won the first cultural heritage day award issued by the national ministry of culture. In 2011, China successfully applied for the World Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Suzhou Imperial Kiln Ruins Park & Museum of Imperial Kiln Brick
Suzhou Imperial Kiln Ruins Park & Museum of Imperial Kiln Brick is the first museum in China to display the "Imperial Kiln Brics". Suzhou Imperial Kiln Ruins Park & Museum of Imperial Kiln Brick, is the ancient bricks specially made for the royal family, the Imperial Palace is built with Suzhou royal kiln gold bricks. In the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the gold bricks in the imperial kiln were the square bricks of the royal palace. Because of the complicated production process and high cost, the cost of a gold brick in the late Qing Dynasty was 9 yuan and 6 cents of silver, equivalent to 1 stone meter. The royal kiln brick is a wonderful work in the kiln brick firing industry in China. The production technology is complicated and there are more than 20 processes, among which the main processes are mud selection, mud training, billet making, kiln loading, firing, scenting water, kiln, grinding, etc. Road working procedure, ring ring closely, a substandard, all the previous efforts are wasted. With the fall of the feudal dynasty, the former royal kilns began to produce ordinary bricks and tiles, and the technology of making gold bricks was on the verge of being lost. In 2006, the State Council listed the manufacturing process of the gold bricks in the royal kiln as the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage protection list, and the ancient kiln site was listed as the provincial cultural relic protection unit. Finally, the kiln has been freed from the state of existence and has a government umbrella to protect it. Suzhou Imperial Kiln Ruins Park & Museum of Imperial Kiln Brick has become the only designated brick for the renovation of ancient royal buildings such as the Palace Museum of the Imperial Palace in Beijing and the Temple of Heaven. Tian 'anmen Square, the Hall of Prayer for Good Plains of the Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace, Beihai Park, and the Garden of King Gong's Palace all use Lu Mu Imperial Kiln Brick, and have also gone across the ocean, exports the United States New York Ming Xuan and Xichun Garden, Singapore Yunxiu Garden, Japan Ikeda City Hexagonal Pavilion and many other domestic and foreign classical architecture. My family lives near the Suzhou Imperial Kiln Ruins Park & Museum of Imperial Kiln Brick, where I often read books, just like talking with ancient masters, which is very comfortable.
The Jinsha site was accidentally discovered in 2001 during real estate construction. Ivory, jade artifacts, bronze objects, gold objects and carved stone objects were found at the site. Jinsha did not have a city wall. Jinsha culture (1200–650 BC) was a final phase of Sanxingdui culture and represents a relocation of the political center in the ancient Shu Kingdom.
Mount Qingcheng is a mountain which can be considered one of the birthplaces of Taoism and one of the most important Taoist centres in China. As a centre of the Taoist religion it became host to many temples.
The Dujiangyan is an ancient irrigation system in Dujiangyan City China. Originally constructed around 256 BC by the State of Qin as an irrigation and flood control project, it is still in use today