Confucius Institute at Queen Mary University of London

Beautiful autumn in Chinese painting.

# Travel to Chinese cities online #
Zhengzhou (郑州), abbreviated as “郑zhèng” and also known as Shangdu (商都) in ancient times, is the capital of Henan Province, a megacity, and the core city of Central Plains Urban Agglomeration. It is an important central city in central China and a national important comprehensive transportation hub approved by the State Council.
Zhengzhou people like to eat noodles so much. There are many kinds of noodles, noodles with soup, noodles with soybean paste, braised noodles, fried noodles, beef and mutton stewed noodles, Lo mein, chow mein and so on. Besides, Zhengzhou is an excellent tourist city in China. It has numerous historical and cultural attractions and is rich in natural landscape resources. Welcome to Zhengzhou!

Today is Cold Dew(寒露 HanLu), the 17th of the 24 traditional Chinese solar terms.
The dew is bigger and colder and there will be less rain. Autumn crops will be ripe.
Temperatures drop significantly in October. When the cold air encounters autumn rain, the abundant water v***r in the air soon reaches saturation, and then it turns into misty rain or fog. When the humidity rises, foggy weather appears in many areas of China.

# Travel to Chinese cities online #
Hefei (合肥), abbreviated as “庐lú” and “合hé”, also known as Luzhou (庐州) and Luyang (庐阳) in ancient times, is the capital of Anhui province, a vice-central city in the Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomerations approved by the State Council, a national important scientific research and education base, a modern manufacturing base and a comprehensive transportation hub.
Changfeng strawberry is one of the specialties in Anhui. Changfeng county, located in the north of Hefei city, is the national pollution-free strawberry production demonstration base, which produces strawberries with bright color and rich juice. Besides, Hefei is an ancient city with a history of more than 2,000 years. There are many scenic spots, historical sites and intangible cultural heritage resources in Hefei. Welcome to Hefei!

Online talk: Consumption in the early Song dynasty

The Moon over the River on a Spring Night(1)

许渊冲 译

春江潮水连海平，

海上明月共潮生。

滟滟随波千万里，

何处春江无月明！

In spring the river rises as high as the sea;

And with the river’s tide uprises the moon bright.

She follows the rolling waves for ten thousand li;

Wherever the river flows, there overflows her light.

The 2571 anniversary of Confucius birthday.🌹

Confucius, literally Master Kong (孔子 Kong Zi), was a great thinker, educator and social philosopher of Chinese Spring and Autumn Period. Confucius’s thoughts have been developed into a system of philosophy known as Confucianism. He was the author of the Spring and Autumn Annals, the first historical annals in China, and his teachings and wisdoms may be found in the Analects of Confucius.

It is the Autumn Equinox (秋分 Qiu Fen) -- the 16th Chinese traditional solar terms
It is on the day that the Yin and Yang are in a balance of power. Thus the day and night are of equal length, and so are the cold and hot weather."

What a cool autumn 天凉好个秋

# Travel to Chinese cities online #
Tianjin (天津), abbreviated as “津Jīn”, also known as Jingu(津沽) and Jinmen (津门), is a provincial-level administrative region and municipality directly under the central government of the People's Republic of China, also a national central city, a megacity, and the economic center of the Bohai Rim Region approved by the State Council.
Tianjin is the place where many Chinese folk art forms originated, flourished and developed. Comic Dialogue and Peking Opera are important representatives of Tianjin folk arts. Besides, drama is the most prominent representative under the collision and integration of Chinese and Western cultures in Tianjin. Tianjin is also the hometown of folk art in northern China, with a full range of arts categories.
What’s more, Tianjin is a famous historical and cultural city with unique urban architectures, including painted and carved beams buildings, elegant and simple ancient buildings, as well as numerous novel and unique Western buildings. Welcome to Tianjin!

If you’re concerned with the nature and knowledge of things,study the world in its most general sense in the course“New Horizons in Chinese Philosophy”. Learn about the works of Chinese philosophers such as .For more: https://t.co/Nvio4y4gZW https://t.co/gDb74O9MlS

2020年汉语桥全英大区赛出席邀请：请扫码或使用以下链接注册观赛:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/9415996332470/WN_ow3O3lrjTmiXDVxFPTEEGg

# Travel to Chinese cities online #
Jinan (济南), also known as Quancheng (泉城), is the provincial capital of Shandong Province, the core city of Jinan metropolitan area and the central city in the south wing of Bohai Rim approved by the State Council. It is also the political, economic, cultural, scientific, technological, educational, financial center and an important transportation hub of Shandong Province.
Jinan is a famous tourist city with unique features of “mountains, springs, lakes, rivers and cities”. It is also a famous national historical and cultural city with “seventy-two springs” in its territory. Besides, it is one of the first outstanding tourist cities in China, and one of the birthplaces of the prehistoric culture -- Longshan Culture.
What’s more, many ancient and modern outstanding writers and scholars have studied, travelled, or lived in Jinan, so it has the reputation of “many famous people in Jinan”. And Jinan is the birthplace of Shandong Cuisine (also known as Confucian Cuisine), which is one of the famous Eight Cuisines in China. Welcome to Jinan!

Today is White Dew(白露 bai lu), the 15th solar term, the start point of deep autumn.

# Travel to Chinese cities online #
Haikou (海口), also known as Yecheng (椰城), is the provincial capital of Hainan Province, the pivot city of national “The Belt And Road” strategy, and the core city of Hainan Free Trade Port. It is the political, economic, technological and cultural center and the largest transportation hub in Hainan Province.
Hainan Island has a long history and unique culture. From ancient times to modern times, Hainan Island is an important branch of Chinese civilization, also a part of the essence of Chinese history and culture. As the political, economic, cultural and transportation center of Hainan Province, the migration of population, the fusion of nationalities and languages make Haikou a unique multi-culture city. Besides, Haikou is a southern coastal city with beautiful natural scenery and a variety of tropical resources. Welcome to Haikou!

今天英国时间下午2点，北京时间今晚8点，观看水立方杯歌手大赛英国赛区比赛的新Zoom链接，敬请关注，谢谢！[Rose][Rose]
Water Cube is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Watercube Song Contest 2020
Time: Aug 30, 2020 14:00pm London
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81573056462?pwd=NkwvdCtQV01TWjQwUngyWlp2Rkt5QT09
Meeting ID: 815 7305 6462
Passcode: 533575

# Travel to Chinese cities online #
Fuzhou (福州), referred to as “榕róng”, also known as Rongcheng (榕城), is the provincial capital of Fujian Province, one of the central cities of the economic zone on the west side of the straits of China and a coastal ecological garden city approved by the State Council.
Fuzhou is one of the cities with the most active exchanges with Taiwan and has always had very close relations. It is the provincial capital city closest to Taiwan in Chinese mainland. Besides, Fuzhou is also a famous hometown of overseas Chinese in China. Fuzhou people can be found almost everywhere in the world where there is close to sea.
Fuzhou cuisine is the representative of Fujian cuisine with sweet and sour tastes. It is rich in religious culture and is known as the “Country of Buddhism”. Fuzhou is selected as the city with the most key Buddhist temples in China by China World Record Association. Welcome to Fuzhou!

今日七夕（Qi Xi）

鹊桥仙 秦观
云弄巧，飞星传恨，银汉迢迢暗度。金风玉露一相逢，便胜却人间无数。

柔情似水，佳期如梦，忍顾鹊桥归路！两情若是久长时，又岂在朝朝暮暮！

Immortals on the Magpie Bridge
Qin Guan

Clouds float like works of art；

Stars shoot with grief at heart.

Across the Milky Way the Cowherd meets the Maid

When Autumn’s Golden wind embraces Dew of Jades，

All the love scenes on earth，however many fade

Their tender love flows like a stream；

This happy date seems but a dream.

Can they bear a separate homeward way?

If love between both sides can last for aye，

Why need they stay together night and day?

The Limit of Heat(处暑Chǔshǔ), is the 14th solar term of the 24 solar terms. It means “the end of heat” or “out of heat”. As the sun continues to lower the altitude, its heat becomes less intense. The Limit of Heat marks the end of hot weather, when the heat gradually subsides from hot to cool.
The customs around the Limit of Heat are mostly related to ancestor worship and welcoming autumn. When the Limit of Heat is over, the heat is over, and even the clouds in the sky appear to be dispersed and relaxed, unlike the thick clouds on the Great Heat in summer.
There are many folk activities during these days, such as eating ducks, releasing river lanterns, opening fishing festival, brewing medicine tea, worshiping the Earth God, splashing water to cool down and so on. And then after the Limit of Heat, it is a good time for people to enjoy the countryside in Autumn.

# Travel to Chinese cities online #
Nanjing (南京), referred to as “宁níng”, also known as Jinling (金陵) and Jiankang (建康) in ancient times, is the provincial capital of Jiangsu Province, a vice-provincial city, a megacity, and the core city of Nanjing Metropolitan area. It has been approved by the State Council as an important central city in eastern China, an important national scientific research and education base and a comprehensive transportation hub.
The civic spirit of Nanjing is “open, honest, philanthropic and innovative”. Nanjing has always been an important hub of literary exchange between China and foreign countries, as well as a bridgehead of introducing traditional Chinese literary classics to the world. Besides, Nanjing is also an important city for Chinese painting and calligraphy. Nanjing also has lots of beautiful spots such as Confucius Temple, Xuanwu Lake, Olympic Sports Centre and so on. Welcome to Nanjing!

山居秋暝（唐 王维）
空山新雨后，天气晚来秋。
明月松间照，清泉石上流。
竹喧归浣女，莲动下渔舟。
随意春芳歇，王孙自可留。

Autumn Evening in the Mountains (Wangwei)(Translator: Xu Yuanchong)
After fresh rain in mountains bare
Autumn permeates evening air.
Among pine-trees bright moonbeams peer;
Over crystal stones flows water clear.
Bamboos whisper of washer-maids;
Lotus stirs when fishing boat wades.
Though fragrant spring may pass away,
Still here's the place you to stay.

# Travel to Chinese cities online #
Hangzhou (杭州), referred to as “杭háng”, also known as Lin’an (临安) and Qiantang (钱塘) in ancient times, is the provincial capital of Zhejiang Province, a vice-provincial city, also the core city of Hangzhou metropolitan area, and the economic, cultural, scientific and educational center of Zhejiang Province, as well as one of the central cities of Yangtze River Delta approved by the State Council.
The West Lake is a very famous tourist attraction in China with a total area of 49 square kilometers, which is located in the west of Hangzhou city. It is famous for its beautiful sceneries and numerous scenic spots and historical sites. There are over 60 Chinese national, provincial and municipal cultural relic protection sites and over 100 scenic areas. The main attractions include: Ten scenes of the West Lake, Ten New Scenes of the West Lake; Lingyin Temple, Yue Fei’s Temple, Six harmonies Pagoda and so on.
The famous Italian traveler Marco Polo was so impressed by the beauty of Hangzhou that he described it as “the most fascinating city in the world where one feels that one is in paradise.” Welcome to Hangzhou!

☀️The Beginning of Autumn (立秋 Li Qiu), is the 13th solar term of the 24 solar terms. It is the turning point from warm weather to coldness.

# Travel to Chinese cities online #
Guangzhou(广州), referred to as “穗suì”, also known as Yangcheng(羊城) and Huacheng(花城), is the capital of Guangdong Province, a vice-provincial city, also an important national central city, a megacity, an international business center and a comprehensive transportation hub in China approved by the State Council.
Guangzhou is one of the top ten food cities in China, and people in China have the reputation of "Eating in Guangzhou". Guangzhou cuisine is the main part and representative of Cantonese cuisine, with extensive materials, fine selections, sophisticated techniques to make dishes light but not bland, fresh but not common, tender but not raw, oil but not greasy. With pursuit of the original and fresh flavor, it not only conforms to the climate characteristics of Guangdong, but also meets the requirements of modern nutrition. It is a kind of scientific diet culture.
What’s more, Guangzhou is rich in tourism resources that has numerous cultural relics and historic sites. People in Guangzhou are hospitable and they have a long history of painting, music, technology, and opera culture. Welcome to Guangzhou.

# Travel to Chinese cities online #
Beijing(北京), referred to as “京jīng”, known as Yanjing and Peking in ancient times, is the capital of the People's Republic of China, a provincial-level administrative region and municipality directly under the central government, also a national central city, a megacity, and the center of China's politics, culture, international communication and scientific and technological innovation approved by the State Council.
Beijing was the capital of six dynasties in history. In the more than 2000 years from the state of Yan, many palace buildings were built, making Beijing the city with the largest number of imperial palaces, gardens, temples and tombs in China. The Palace Museum (故宫Gùgōng) in Beijing, which was called the Imperial Palace in the Ming Dynasty and the Forbidden City in the Qing Dynasty, used to be the imperial palace in the Ming and Qing dynasties and has lived 24 emperors. It is a magnificent building that embodies the traditional classical style and oriental style of China. The Temple of Heaven (天坛Tiāntán) is famous both at home and abroad for its reasonable layout and exquisite construction. It was the place where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties “worshipped heaven”.
And Beijing is the eighth "gourmet city" in the world, ranking first in the mainland. Beijing's flavor snacks have a long history and is praised for its wide variety of materials and exquisite production.
Peking Opera, also known as Ping Opera and Beijing Opera, is the most influential type of opera in China, centers around Beijing and spreads all over the country. It has a set of standardized forms of artistic expression in literature, performance, music, stage art and other aspects.
What’s more, Beijing has the most world heritages in the world, and is the first capital city in the world to have a world geopark. Welcome to Beijing!

# Travel to Chinese cities online #
Shanghai (上海), referred to as “沪hù”, is a provincial-level administrative region and municipality directly under the central government of the People's Republic of China, also a national central city, a megacity, a national logistics hub and the center of China's international economic, financial, trade, shipping, scientific and technological innovation.
Benbang Cuisine(本帮菜Běnbāngcài), as Shanghailander call it, refers to the local flavor of Shanghai cuisine, which can be characterized by thick red sauce (rich in oil, heavy in sugar and bright in color). Commonly used cooking methods are braised, simmered and sugar based, savoring salty with sweet, oil but not greasy.
Shanghai Opera (formerly also known as Shenqu“申曲”) is a local opera sung in Shanghainese. Shanghai Rap and Pudong Story-telling are also the characteristic of Shanghai folk arts. Besides, Suzhou Pingtan and Shaoxing Opera and other folk arts performed in the south of Jiangsu and the north of Zhejiang have a large audience in Shanghai due to their close language and culture.
In addition, there are many famous historic buildings, modern buildings, natural scenery and human heritage in Shanghai. Welcome to Shanghai!

☀️The Great Heat (大暑Dàshǔ), one of the 24 solar terms, is the last solar term in summer. "Heat" means hot, and "great heat" means extreme heat. The Great Heat is hotter than the Slight Heat. It is the hottest solar term of the year. We can always experience high temperature, frequent thunderstorms and typhoons at this time.⚡️💨
三伏天(sān fú tiān) is the period between early July and early September when the hot sultry weather of summer usually occurs in the northern hemisphere. We often call it “dog days” or “canicular days”. The Great Heat is around the middle of the Dog Days. Since ancient times, there has been a folk custom of drinking 伏茶(fú chá)🍵during these days. As its name implies, it is a tea drunk on the Dog Days and is made of honeysuckle, prunella spike, liquorice and other Chinese herbs which has a cooling and dispelling-effect.🌿 In addition, there are burning incense, drying gingers under the sun and other customs.

Chinese medicine, one of the four quintessence of China🇨🇳 #
As an important part of China's splendid culture and one of the four quintessence of the Chinese nation, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has gained increasing international influence and is deeply loved and welcomed by Chinese and people around the world. Over the past 50 years, TCM has made great achievements in all aspects.
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) was born in the primitive society. TCM theory was basically formed in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. In addition, it has a profound influence on countries in the cultural circle of Chinese characters. For example, Kampo Medicine in Japan, Korean Oriental Medicine in South Korea, Eastern Medicine in Vietnam and so on. Those are all developed on the basis of traditional Chinese medicine.
TCM bears the experience and theoretical knowledge of the ancient Chinese people's struggle against diseases. It is a medical theoretical system gradually formed and developed through long-term medical practice under the guidance of ancient naive materialism and spontaneous dialectics.

Kungfu, one of the four quintessence of China🇨🇳 #
Chinese Kungfu, created and developed by the Chinese nation, is the technique of stopping fighting based on traditional Chinese culture and the technology of stopping wars and maintaining peace. Also, it is the guarantee and guidance of material civilization that leads the learners to the traditional cultivation way of understanding the objective laws of man, nature and society. It is known as one of the four quintessence of China and is popular among people of all ethnic groups.
Chinese Kungfu has a long history, which can be traced back to the Shang and Zhou dynasties. It has a very broad mass basis and it’s a valuable cultural heritage accumulated and enriched by the working people in the long-term social practice.
What’s more, Chinese Kungfu is one of the important collective memories of Chinese society, which often appears in various literature, films and dramas and has profound and irreplaceable humanistic significance to Chinese society. In addition, due to globalization, Chinese Kungfu is often seen in films and TV programs in Europe and the United States, which is regarded as important protagonists of Chinese culture.