Subscribe to free Email Newsletter

Library>Travel in China>Protected Sites>Class Ⅱ>Revolutionary Sites

Tomb of Song Qingling

The Tomb of Song Qingling is located in Cemetery of Song Family, a branch of the Wan Guo Cemetery, Hongqiao Road, West Part of Shanghai.

Song Qingling (1893-1981), whose family was originally from Wenchang, Guangdong Province, was born in Shanghai and studied in America in her early ages. In October 1915, She married Sun Yat-sen, who then was in exile in Tokyo, Japan. Song Qingling devoted herself to Sun Yat-sen’s revolutionary
cause and was a loyal partner of her husband during her ten years with Sun. In April 1927, Chiang Kai-shek betrayed the revolution. Thus Song Qingling broke completely from Kuomintang that had turned renegade and continued the unfinished career of Song Yat-sen. In the 1930s, she initiated the
establishment of the Chinese Alliance for the Protection of Civil Rights together with Lu Xun and Cai Yuanpei to resist the increasingly fascistic rules of Kuomintang. During the period of the Anti-Japanese War, Song Qingling took advantage of her lofty reputation and influence inside and outside
the country to organize China Defense League with celebrities at home and abroad as well. She made great contribution to the gestation, consolidation and development of the Nationwide Anti-Japanese United Battlefront and the victory of the Anti-Japanese War of China.

After the founding of new China, she was one of the important leaders of the country and contributed a lot to domestic and foreign affairs. She was elected Vice Chairman of the Central People’s Government of the PRC, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of National People’s Congress, Vice
Chairman of the National Committee of the CPPCC and Vice Chairman of the PRC. And she was honorary chairman of the National Women’s Federation of the PRC four times successively and had been Chairman of Chinese People’s National Committee for Defense of Children since she took office. On May 5,
1981, the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the CPC agreed to admit Song Qingling as a member of the CPC. On May 16, the Standing Committee of the NPC dubbed her as Honorary Chairman of the PRC. On May 29, 1981, Song Qingling died of disease in Beijing and received a State funeral
jointly offered by the Central Committee of CPC, the Standing Committee of National People’s Congress and the State Council. Her bone ashes were buried beside the tomb of her parents to her will.

The Song Family’s cemetery within the Wan Guo Cemetery in Shanghai was built in 1932, covering an area of 195 square meters. It appears quite grave with considerable pine trees and cypresses. In the middle of the cemetery, there stands a granite-made gravestone, which is the tomb of Song
Qingling’s parents. In the west of the gravestone is the tomb of Ms. Li Yan’e, who followed Song Qingling for over 50 years. The tomb of Song Qingling is in the east, the gravestone of which lies flat. The gravestone is 1.2 meters long and 0.6 meter wide with three rows of words saying 1893 to
1981; Tomb of the Honorary Chairman of The PRC Song Qingling; June 4, 1981. In the square in front of the gravestone, there is a white-marbled statue of Song Qingling.

Email to Friends
Print
Save

Learn Chinese, Learn mandarin, Learning Materials, Mandarin audio lessons, Chinese writing lessons, Chinese vocabulary lists, About chinese characters, News in Chinese, Go to China, Travel to China, Study in China, Teach in China, Dictionaries, Learn Chinese Painting, Your name in Chinese, Chinese calligraphy, Chinese songs, Chinese proverbs, Chinese poetry, Chinese tattoo, Beijing 2008 Olympics, Mandarin Phrasebook, Chinese editor, Pinyin editor, China Travel, Travel to Beijing,

Subscribe to free Email Newsletter

Library>Culture ABC>Folk Way>Festivals

Double Ninth Festival

Special Food

Chrysanthemum cakes

On Double Ninth Festival, people would like to drink chrysanthemum wine and have chrysanthemum cakes.

The chrysanthemum is a plant often used as a Chinese herbal medicine. People in ancient times believed that, in addition to detoxifcation, chrysanthemum could drive away evil spirits and prevent one from getting a chill in late autumn. So, making and drinking chrysanthemum could be traced back
many centuries, and it became the traditional food on Double Ninth Festival, to avoid evil spirits and misfortunes. Besides, the Chinese word for wine isJiu, a homonym of the Chinese word for long, symbolizing longevity.

Another special food for this festival is chrysanthemum cakes. The Chinese word for cake isGao, a homonym of the Chinese word for high, symbolizing progress and promotion at work and in daily life and improvement in life year by year. In addition, mountains are high, so eating cakes can take the
place of going for a climb — by a stretch of the imagination.

The dogwood is a plant with a strong fragrance, often used as a Chinese herbal medicine. People in ancient times believed it could drive away evil spirits and prevent one from getting a chill in late autumn. But the custom of carrying a spray of dogwood on the Double Ninth Festival is slowly dying
out and many people, especially young people in the cities, do not even know what dogwood looks like.

Since nine is the highest odd digit, people take two of them together to signify longevity. Therefore, the ninth day of the ninth month has become a special day for people to pay their respects to the elderly and a day for the elderly to enjoy themselves. It has also been declared China’s Day for
the Elderly.

A Day for Outing

Dogwood

The festival is held in the golden season of autumn, at harvest-time. The bright clear weather and the joy of bringing in the harvest make for a festive happy atmosphere. The Double Ninth Festival is usually perfect for outdoor activities. Many people go hiking and climbing in the countryside,
enjoying Mother Nature’s final burst of color before she puts on her dull winter cloak. Some will carry a spray of dogwood.

Therefore, it is now considered as the last outing of the year before the onset of winter, for people to go climbing to get some exercise as well as enjoy the autumn scenery.

1 2

1 2

Email to Friends
Print
Save

Learn Chinese, Chinese Online Class, Learning Materials, Mandarin audio lessons, Chinese writing lessons, Chinese vocabulary lists, About chinese characters, News in Chinese, Go to China, Travel to China, Study in China, Teach in China, Dictionaries, Learn Chinese Painting, Your name in Chinese, Chinese calligraphy, Chinese songs, Chinese proverbs, Chinese poetry, Chinese tattoo, Beijing 2008 Olympics, Mandarin Phrasebook, Chinese editor, Pinyin editor, China Travel, Travel to Beijing, Travel to Tibet

Subscribe to free Email Newsletter

Library>China ABC>People>Ethnic Groups

Russian Ethnic Minority

The ethnic Russians in China live in Ili, Tacheng, Altay, Urumqi in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, with a small population of 13,504 (by 1990).

The Russians use their own language (Russian) and written script, which belongs to the Slavic group of the Indo-European language family, when they communicate with each other. They also use the Chinese language and script in their social or official activities.

They began moving to China from Tsarist Russia after the 18th century. More entered various parts of Xinjiang after the 19th century. Later during the 20th century, more people moved into this region (today’s Xinjiang Autonomous Region), especially after the October Revolution in 1917. These
immigrants were called “Guihua people” and their villages “Guihua village”. With the founding of the PRC in 1949, they were renamed Russian ethnic minority.

Before the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, the Russians living in towns were mostly employed in various repairing businesses, transportation, handicrafts, horticulture, animal husbandry and bee-keeping. In rural areas, groups of several Russian families lived together in small
villages. Their customs, clothing and festivals are almost identical to those of the Russians in Russia.

Most Russians believe in the Orthodox Eastern Church. The most important festivals of the Russian people include the Easter and Christmas Day.

Balalaika, otherwise known as the Triangular Guitar (thus called because of its triangular resonating box), is a plucked string Russian instrument. Its strings can produce musical notes clear and melodious of four scales, belonging to soprano, alto, tenor and bass. Balalaika playing often goes
with mandolin, guitar and accordion.

Email to Friends
Print
Save

Learn Chinese, Chinese School, Learning Materials, Mandarin audio lessons, Chinese writing lessons, Chinese vocabulary lists, About chinese characters, News in Chinese, Go to China, Travel to China, Study in China, Teach in China, Dictionaries, Learn Chinese Painting, Your name in Chinese, Chinese calligraphy, Chinese songs, Chinese proverbs, Chinese poetry, Chinese tattoo, Beijing 2008 Olympics, Mandarin Phrasebook, Chinese editor, Pinyin editor, China Travel, Travel to Beijing, Travel to Tibet