Feng shui is a mystical knowledge in China.

风水是中国非常神秘的一门学术。

People believe that the basic elements of things on the earth originated from air,water and land.

人们认为在地球上，万物的基础都来自于空气、水分和土地，

The improvement of feng shui will improve the relationship between humans and nature.

改善风水，就是改善人与自然的关系。

Feng shui is widely used in architecture and interior design.

风水最多的用途是在建筑和布置家居。

Chinese believe that the best houses should be integrated into nature.

中国人认为最好的房子要融在大自然里。

Water brings vitality and fish bring good luck.

有水会带来生机和活力，有鱼会带来好运。

These elements determine the quality of feng shui.

这些都是决定风水好坏的因素。

Feng shui involves medicine,architecture and philosophy.

风水包含了医学、建筑学、哲学。

Chinese put emphasis on feng shui and the harmonious relationship between humans and nature.

中国人看中风水，看中人与自然的调和与平衡。

This is feng shui complicated and mysterious.

它复杂而神秘，这就是风水。… Read the rest

Europe has 12 constellations,while China has 12 animals symbolising the 12 branches used to designate years.

欧洲人有十二星座，中国人有十二生肖

The 12 animals finish a cycle every 12 years and each of them guards one year.

十二生肖以十二年为一个周期，以十二种动物轮流当班。

Chinese believe that those who are born in a certain year would inherit the traits of the animal guarding that year.

中国人认为相应年份出生的人都有自己的特殊品质。

Rats are wise and cattle are hard-working. Tigers are courageous and rabbits are prudent. Dragons are rich and respectful,and snakes are romantic. Horses are fast and a sheep are sincere. Monkeys are smart and flexible,while chickens are endowed with beauty. Dogs are faithful and pigs are amiable.

老鼠代表智慧，牛代表勤奋，老虎代表勇猛，兔子代表谨慎，龙代表富贵，蛇代表浪漫，马代表速度，羊代表忠诚，猴子代表灵活，鸡代表美丽，狗代表忠诚，猪代表随和。

Do you know what your symbolic animal denoting the year of your birth?

你了解自己的属相吗？… Read the rest

The Dai ethnic group lives in southeastern China’s Yunnan Province. Each year they hold a grand festival called the Water-Splashing Festival(po shui jie).

在中国云南省有一个民族叫傣族，他们有一个盛大的节日叫泼水节。

People dressed in beautiful clothes sing dance and splash water on each other on the morning of the festival.

节日的一大早人们会穿上盛装，唱歌、跳舞、相互泼水。

Don’t get angry if you are drenched it represents a blessing. More water means more good luck in the coming year.

要是被泼的浑身湿透可千万不要生气，因为它代表着祝福；被泼的越多，新的一年就会越健康、幸福。

If a young man receives pouches made by a girl that means the girl has fallen in love with him.

如果是个小伙子，这一天可能会收到少女制作的荷包，那是她在向你表达爱意。

Po shui jie is regarded as the Valentine’s Day for the Dai ethnic group.

原来，这泼水节还是傣族人的情人节。

Po shui jie has become part of the culture in Yunnan Province. Nowadays,not only Dai people but also tourists participate in this exciting carnival.

现在，泼水节成了云南的一道风景，不仅是傣族人，很多游客也会特意赶来，参加这个吉祥好玩的狂欢节。

 … Read the rest

The Mid-Autumn Festival,Zhongqiujie,is a festival for families to get together in China.

在中国，中秋节是一个全家团圆的节日。

It falls on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month,when the full moon returns to the sky.

按照中国的农历，每年八月十五月圆的那天就是中秋节。

On this day,people eat a moon-shaped dessert caked a Moon Cake. All the family members sit together,eat Moon Cakes and fresh fruits,and enjoy the sight of the round and bright moon.

这一天，人们喜欢吃一种圆形的、像月亮一样的点心，叫做月饼；再配上新鲜的水果，一家人围坐在一起，欣赏天上又圆又亮的满月。Those who cannot return home look at the round moon and think of their family.

就算是那些无法回家的人，也会在中秋节那天抬头望向那一轮圆圆的明月，寄托对故乡的思念。

Chinese people all around the world share the same tradition.

这是海内外所有中国人的共同情感。

Just like an ancient Chinese poem says,the moon was rising from the sea and all the people were sharing this moment.

就像中国一首著名的诗里所说的：“海上生明月，天涯共此时。… Read the rest

The Qixi Festival,also known as the Chinese Valentine’s Day,falls on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month on the Chinese calendar.

每年的农历七月七日是中国的情人节——七夕。

There’s a romantic love story associated with Qixi.

关于七夕有一个浪漫的传说.

It says that a fairy named Zhi Nv,who lived in heaven,fell in love with a cow herder named Niu Lang during her trip to earth. Zhi Nv decided to settle down on earth and lead an ordinary life with Niu Lang.

仙女织女到人间游玩和人间的牛郎相爱了，织女决定在人间和牛郎过平凡却幸福的生活。

However,love between ordinary people and fairy gods is forbidden.

神仙和凡人之间的爱情是不被允许的。

They were punished by the heavenly gods and turned into stars located on opposite sides of the galaxy,watching each other from the impassable distance.

他们遭到天界的惩罚，被化作牵牛星和织女星分隔在银河两岸，遥遥相望。

They are permitted to meet each other only on the seventh day of the seventh month each year.

每年只有在农历七月七日这一天才能相会。

Magpies gather and make a bridge across the galaxy for them.

这天，喜鹊会飞到银河上搭起一座鹊桥，让他们团聚。

Qixi is the most romantic one among all the traditional Chinese festivals.

七夕是中国传统节日中最浪漫的节日。

Chinese recall the loyalty of love and wish for happiness on the festival.

这一天，中国人缅怀对爱情的忠贞，包含着对全家幸福的期许。… Read the rest

In ancient time,there was a great poet called Qu Yuan.

在中国有位伟大的诗人叫屈原。

He couldn’t bear the anguish when his mother land was invaded,so he drowned himself in the river.

他不忍看到祖国被侵略，投江而死。

Local residents rode boats to salvage and drop the rice balls into the river to distract fishes’ attention from Qu’body.

当地百姓划船捞救，还投米团来吸引鱼。

Later people memorialized Qu’s patriotism by rowing and making Zongzi on the Dragon Boat Festival,Duanwujie. That’s how the tradition of dragon boat racing and eating Zongzi were started.

后来，人们为了纪念他，每年端午节都会划船、包粽子，就有了赛龙舟和吃粽子的习俗。

A nation practice on Duanwujie is to put wormwood on the front door to repel evil things.

古时端午节的风俗是在门口挂药草以预防疾病，驱除不好的事情。

In some places people drink realgar wine and children wear sachet.

有些地方还喝雄黄酒（药酒），小孩子戴香包。

Now the family gets together on Duanwujie.

现在过端午节时常常是一家人团聚在一起。

Nowadays people have a variety of other activities to celebrate this traditional festival.

现在人们过端午节时还会以其他各种方式来度过这个传统节日。… Read the rest

The Qing Ming festival is a day of reverence for Chinese.

清明节是中国人的祭祀节日。

People hold ceremonies for ancestors,and sweep their tombs on April 5th every year.

在每年的四月五日左右，人们祭祖和扫墓。

According to tradition ,during the Tomb Sweeping,people put food in front of the tombs,add new soil on the tomb.

按照旧时习俗，扫墓时人们来到墓地，将食物供祭在亲人墓前，为坟墓培上新土。

Decorate the tombs with some fresh branches and knock head.

折几支嫩绿的新枝插在坟上，然后叩头拜祭。

A traditional Chinese painting named Riverside Scene on the Qing Ming festival,drawn nine hundred years ago,shows the prosperous atmosphere and activities on that day.

900 多年前的一幅中国画《清明上河图》描绘了当时人们在过清明节时的繁荣景象和节日风俗。

People returned from Tomb Sweeping with horses and packages in the picture.

人们骑着马、挑着担，从扫墓的地方归来。

Now it is a public holiday in China.

现在，清明节已经成为中国的法定假日。

Although ceremonies have changed a little with time.

虽然随着时间的推移，祭祀的习俗可能稍稍改变，

Chinese still express their grief for the deceased.

用自己的方式寄托对故人的哀思。… Read the rest

Spring Festival,Chun Jie is the first day of the Chinese lunar calendar.

春节是中国传统历法确定的一年中的第一天。

When Chun Jie is approaching people are busy purchasing good,cleaning the house,cooking traditional food,making Spring Festival couplets,and hanging spring festival pictures.

临近春节时，人们忙着采购物品，清扫房屋，做各种传统食物，贴春联，贴年画。

Having a family dinner is the main activity on Chun Jie.

春节最重要的内容是吃团圆饭。

Dumplings are essential to the dinner. Dumplings represent reunion and goodwill.

饺子是必不可少的，它代表团圆吉祥。

The whole family gathers to enjoy quality family time.

一家人围坐在一起享受亲情带来的温暖。

On Chun Jie,Lunar New Year’s Day,people in new clothes visit each other,and give money to kids to send good wishes.

春节当天，人们都换上了新衣服走亲访友，孩子们会收到长辈给的钱，保佑平安。

During Chun Jie holidays all kinds of celebrations are held,including temple fairs,performances,an Lantern exhibitions which lasts nearly half a month.

逛庙会，演节目，闹花灯庆祝活动持续半月左右。

 … Read the rest