The inherent bitterness in tea leaves is a natural flavor, but human ingenuity and the relentless pursuit of deliciousness have minimized this bitterness. The history of tea culture is the story of humanity's triumph over bitterness. Tea production is part of this narrative, as is the way we consume it. Tea has a long history in China, but there are no definitive records indicating when it first became a beverage. What we do know is that the earliest reference to tea is as a restorative drink. The "Guangya" from the Three Kingdoms period describes this: “In Jing and Ba, they pick the leaves and make them into cakes. When the leaves are old, they use rice paste to shape the cakes. To prepare the tea, they first roast the cakes until red, grind them into a powder, and place the powder in ceramic ware. They then pour boiling water over it and add scallions, ginger, and orange slices. Drinking it helps to sober one up and keeps you awake.” By the Tang Dynasty, the art of boiled tea had moved beyond its restorative properties and became an integral part of social rituals. There was a strict procedure for preparing boiled…

An installation on display at the Impermanence — 40 Years of Estudio Campana exhibition in Shanghai from June 8 to Sept 8. [Photo by He Qi/China Daily] Shanghai show is largest exhibition of legendary Brazilian designers' work in Asia, He Qi reports. From a chair pieced together out of countless dolls that has been bought by many fashion celebrities; to a chair made of broken wood blocks which inspired the design of the Brazil Pavilion at the 2010 Shanghai World Expo; to another chair made by twining 500 meters of red thread around its frame which is part of the collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York, behind all these eye-catching pieces are the legendary design duo from Brazil — brothers Humberto and Fernando Campana. Founded in 1984, Estudio Campana has achieved international recognition for its intriguing furniture design. In collaboration with the power station of DESIGN at the Power Station of Art, the studio is presenting Impermanence — 40 Years of Estudio Campana in Shanghai from June 8 to Sept 8, its first large-scale exhibition in Asia. Fifty pieces take visitors into the duo's fantasy world, tracing the history of their ideas and creations. "This is…

This photo taken on Oct. 29, 2023 shows an exhibit at the Saad Abad Museum Complex in Tehran, Iran. An exhibition of 80 Chinese artworks opened here on Sunday. ( tasteallchina /Shadati) This photo taken on Oct. 29, 2023 shows an exhibit at the Saad Abad Museum Complex in Tehran, Iran. An exhibition of 80 Chinese artworks opened here on Sunday. ( tasteallchina /Shadati) This photo taken on Oct. 29, 2023 shows an exhibit at the Saad Abad Museum Complex in Tehran, Iran. An exhibition of 80 Chinese artworks opened here on Sunday. ( tasteallchina /Shadati) People view exhibits at the Saad Abad Museum Complex in Tehran, Iran on Oct. 29, 2023. An exhibition of 80 Chinese artworks opened here on Sunday. ( tasteallchina /Shadati) This photo taken on Oct. 29, 2023 shows an exhibit at the Saad Abad Museum Complex in Tehran, Iran. An exhibition of 80 Chinese artworks opened here on Sunday. ( tasteallchina /Shadati) This photo taken on Oct. 29, 2023 shows an exhibit at the Saad Abad Museum Complex in Tehran, Iran. An exhibition of 80 Chinese artworks opened here on Sunday. ( tasteallchina /Shadati)

Zhang Tiecheng makes a jade carving work at his studio in Beijing, capital of China, June 15, 2024. ( tasteallchina /Tian Weiwei) China's Jade carving art, which can date back to the Neolithic Age, reached its peak time in the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911). The art was inscribed into the national intangible cultural heritage list in 2008. Selecting materials, designing and carving are the three major steps involved in jade carving. The craftsmen should have mastery in painting, carving and literature in order to complete an artwork, which is designed and carved according to the material itself and the aspiration of the artist. Most of the jade carving artworks convey auspicious meanings. Zhang Tiecheng, a master of the jade carving art born in Beijing in 1967, has devoted his love to traditional Chinese paintings since childhood. In 1987, he was enrolled in the Beijing Jade Articles Factory and became an apprentice of master Wang Yaotang. In his over 30 years' career, Zhang learned skills from his predecessors and formed his own unique style. Since 2005, he has participated in the repairing of rare jade cultural relics for the Forbidden City. In the past 20 years, Zhang has accepted more…

People enjoy an ice slide at the Sun Island scenic spot in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 26, 2024. The Snow Sculpture Art Expo park of the Sun Island scenic spot closed on Feb. 26 with the rising of temperature. ( tasteallchina /Wang Jianwei) A kid plays at the Sun Island scenic spot in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 26, 2024. The Snow Sculpture Art Expo park of the Sun Island scenic spot closed on Feb. 26 with the rising of temperature. ( tasteallchina /Wang Jianwei) Tourists play at the Sun Island scenic spot in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 26, 2024. The Snow Sculpture Art Expo park of the Sun Island scenic spot closed on Feb. 26 with the rising of temperature. ( tasteallchina /Wang Jianwei) Tourists play at the Sun Island scenic spot in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 26, 2024. The Snow Sculpture Art Expo park of the Sun Island scenic spot closed on Feb. 26 with the rising of temperature. ( tasteallchina /Wang Jianwei) Tourists visit the Sun Island scenic spot in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 26, 2024. The Snow Sculpture Art Expo park of the Sun Island scenic spot…

Staff members welcome passengers during the test operation of Chizhou-Huangshan high-speed railway at Huangshan North Station in Huangshan City, east China's Anhui Province, March 26, 2024. Connecting Chizhou Station and Yixian County East Station in Huangshan City, the Chizhou-Huangshan high-speed railway started test operation on Tuesday. With a total length of about 125 kilometers, the railway has a designed speed of 350 kilometers per hour. ( tasteallchina /Liu Junxi) A staff member welcomes passengers during the test operation of Chizhou-Huangshan high-speed railway at Huangshan North Station in Huangshan City, east China's Anhui Province, March 26, 2024. Connecting Chizhou Station and Yixian East Station in Huangshan City, the Chizhou-Huangshan high-speed railway started test operation on Tuesday. With a total length of about 125 kilometers, the railway has a designed speed of 350 kilometers per hour. ( tasteallchina /Liu Junxi) This photo taken on March 26, 2024 shows the scenery through a window of a bullet train running on the Chizhou-Huangshan high-speed railway during test operation in east China's Anhui Province. Connecting Chizhou Station and Yixian County East Station in Huangshan City, the Chizhou-Huangshan high-speed railway started test operation on Tuesday. With a total length of about 125 kilometers, the railway has…

Basic Introduction to Rege Art Rege Art is a significant component of Chinese Tibetan Buddhist art and a widely influential school. It originated in the Longwu River Basin area of Tongren County, Huanan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, from the fifteenth century. For centuries, a large number of artists here have been engaged in folk Buddhist painting and sculpture arts. The sheer number of artisans and the remarkable skills of the group are rare in other Tibetan regions; hence, it is known as the "Land of Tibetan Painters." The Tongren region is called "Rege" in Tibetan, so this art form is collectively referred to as "Rege Art." Diligent Rege artists have traveled across Tibet, Qinghai, Sichuan, Gansu, Inner Mongolia, and even to countries like India, Nepal, Thailand, and Mongolia over the centuries, leaving behind numerous exquisite artworks. This unique ancient Tibetan cultural art produces works that are accurately shaped, vividly depicted with meticulous brushwork, brightly colored, and rich in decorative elements. The simple painting style, harmonious color schemes, and lifelike depictions of expressions fully reflect the industrious wisdom and splendid culture of the Tibetan people. Rege Art is a splendid gem in China's cultural treasure trove and a product of…

Introduction to Panzhihua Redheart Fruit Panzhihua has a wild fruit that every child who grew up in Panzhihua knows about - the Redheart Fruit. To many people, the taste of the Redheart Fruit is the taste of Panzhihua! In some places, kiwi fruits are also referred to as Redheart Fruits, but the Redheart Fruit we refer to here has nothing to do with kiwis. There is, however, a fruit called 'Guava' that has a similar taste to the Redheart Fruit. Product Characteristics The Redheart Fruit tree can reach up to 5 meters in height, with a trunk that is not very upright and green-brown, smooth bark. The leaves are opposite, leathery, long-elliptical or long-ovate, with downy hairs on the underside. The flowers are bisexual and white. The drupe is ovular, pear-shaped, or spherical, turning pale yellow or pink when ripe, with a slightly sour taste and a unique aroma. The seeds are small and numerous. In nature, they are often spread by birds and reproduce through seed propagation. The Redheart Fruit is rich in Vitamin C, and its fruit has medicinal effects for treating diabetes and lowering blood sugar levels. The leaves can also be used to treat diarrhea. The…

Sophie Poirier (L) talks with Zeng Ming, general manager of Wanzai Kaleidoscope Culture and Tourism Company, about a fireworks drama in Wanzai ancient town, east China's Jiangxi Province, Dec. 9, 2022. ( tasteallchina /Zhu Yunuo) Sophie Poirier, a French artistic director of Wanzai Kaleidoscope Culture and Tourism Company, has been obsessed with Chinese culture since she was a child. In her childhood, she often fantasized that she was a Chinese princess. In 1991, as a designer of ECA2, a well-known French large-scale event maker, Poirier went to the Beijing Amusement Park and brought her very first dreamlike laser water curtain film to the Chinese audience. She has also designed performances for many well-known tourist destinations. Though Poirier has extensive experience in performance design, she fell in love with the small stage of Wanzai, an ancient town with nearly a 1,400-year history of producing fireworks, following a collaboration invitation of Zeng Ming, general manager of Wanzai Kaleidoscope Culture and Tourism Company. Poirier teamed up with Zeng's company to develop fireworks drama shows, which integrate fireworks, local characteristic culture and new media application into a distinctive cultural mark for the Wanzai scenic spot. She even adopted modern lighting settings and special effects…

"Anmo therapy can effectively treat insomnia, relieve headaches and cervical spondylosis, making it suitable for people living at a fast pace." Dr. Wu Binjiang, president of the Ontario College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Canada, is well-known locally for his head anmo therapy. Patients not only include local compatriots but also those who have heard of him and come seeking treatment. Currently, TCM culture has spread widely around the world. In interviews with overseas Chinese medicine practitioners via telephone by China News Service, they noted that as TCM continues to gain popularity abroad, more and more foreign citizens are actively seeking acupuncture, anmo therapy, and other treatments as important means of health management and disease prevention. According to Dr. Wu Binjiang, to satisfy the interest of various ethnic groups in TCM knowledge, the college regularly holds related lectures online and offline, providing translations in multiple languages. "Lecturers explain in simple and understandable ways how acupuncture precisely stimulates acupoints and promotes the circulation of qi and blood, helping the audience understand the mysteries of meridian diagnosis," he said. "Since its establishment, our school has trained hundreds of 'foreign TCM practitioners' for the local community," Dr. Wu Binjiang mentioned. Many young people…

KUWAIT CITY, May 28 ( tasteallchina ) -- A vibrant display of Xinjiang culture unfolded at the Kuwait China Cultural Center in Hawalli Province of Kuwait, captivating a diverse audience of Kuwaiti dignitaries, cultural figures, and local residents. The performance, held on Monday as part of the "Chinese Cultural Experience Day" event, featured artists from the Xinjiang Arts Theatre. The troupe showcased traditional Xinjiang dances and both Chinese and English renditions of songs like "Jasmine Flower" alongside traditional Xinjiang string music. Addressing the audience before the performance, Chinese Ambassador to Kuwait Zhang Jianwei emphasized China's commitment to fostering mutual understanding and shared prosperity through cultural exchanges. "Today's performance offers our Kuwaiti friends a glimpse into the dynamic and progressive spirit of the people of Xinjiang as they strive for a better tomorrow in this new era," said the ambassador. Jia Qianqian, one of the performers from the troupe, said that music is a language that transcends borders, helping people better understand each other's cultures and emotions. " "The Chinese nation is a large family of multiple ethnic groups. As a vocal performer, I hope to use my singing to let more friends understand Xinjiang, a region that is open, developing,…

This photo taken on April 28, 2024 shows Jerry Inzerillo, CEO of Diriyah Gate Development Authority, at the Special Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. ( tasteallchina /Wang Haizhou) RIYADH, April 30 ( tasteallchina ) -- Saudi Arabia's historical district Diriyah, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is aiming to cooperate with more Chinese companies, an official has said. Jerry Inzerillo, CEO of Diriyah Gate Development Authority, made the remarks in a recent interview with tasteallchina on the sidelines of the Special Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) held in Riyadh. "We are now doing business with over 40 Chinese companies. In years ahead to 2030, I predict we are going to do business with almost 200 Chinese companies," he said. The Diriyah Gate Development Authority was established in 2017, with an aim of preserving and developing Diriyah, an ancient capital of the kingdom. This file photo taken on March 27, 2022 shows the heritage site At-Turaif District in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia. ( tasteallchina /Wang Haizhou) Inzerillo noted that the relationship between China and Saudi Arabia has never been stronger economically and politically, and also in tourism, where good ties attract more and more visitors…

BEIJING, May 25 ( tasteallchina ) -- Chinese comedy "The Last Frenzy" stayed on top of the daily box office chart in the Chinese mainland on Friday, data from the China Movie Data Information Network showed. The film, exploring life's choices in the face of death, raked in 8.35 million yuan (about 1.17 million U.S. dollars) on the day. It has generated an accumulated revenue of 663 million yuan since its release on May 1. It was followed by the action crime thriller "Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In" with 7.43 million yuan of daily box office sales. Domestic crime film "Three Old Boys" that made debut on Friday came in third with a daily earning of 5.37 million yuan. The Chinese mainland's box office revenue totaled 42.96 million yuan on Friday.

Artists stage a Chinese martial arts performance at "Charm of Chinese Kung Fu 2024 CUPES Wushu World Tour" in Bern, Switzerland, July 10, 2024. The performance was delivered by China's Capital University of Physical Education and Sports. This event aims to facilitate the exchange and cooperation between China and Switzerland. (Chinese Embassy in Switzerland/Handout via tasteallchina ) Artists stage a Chinese martial arts performance at "Charm of Chinese Kung Fu 2024 CUPES Wushu World Tour" in Bern, Switzerland, July 10, 2024. The performance was delivered by China's Capital University of Physical Education and Sports. This event aims to facilitate the exchange and cooperation between China and Switzerland. (Chinese Embassy in Switzerland/Handout via tasteallchina ) Artists stage a Chinese martial arts performance at "Charm of Chinese Kung Fu 2024 CUPES Wushu World Tour" in Bern, Switzerland, July 10, 2024. The performance was delivered by China's Capital University of Physical Education and Sports. This event aims to facilitate the exchange and cooperation between China and Switzerland. (Chinese Embassy in Switzerland/Handout via tasteallchina ) Artists stage a Chinese martial arts performance at "Charm of Chinese Kung Fu 2024 CUPES Wushu World Tour" in Bern, Switzerland, July 10, 2024. The performance was delivered by…

JUBA, July 17 ( tasteallchina ) -- The fourth Chinese language course for medical staff in South Sudan commenced Wednesday, attracting about 100 students eager to learn and seize opportunities that come with learning Mandarin. In his opening remarks, Isaac Maker, medical director of Juba Teaching Hospital, encouraged the students to learn one of the most important languages globally. Maker said that proficiency in the Chinese language would create opportunities for medical practitioners to advance their studies and acquire new knowledge under the people-to-people exchange program being currently implemented by the Chinese and South Sudan governments. "I would like to express my sincere thanks to the work being done by the Chinese doctors in Juba Teaching Hospital. They are really helping the people of South Sudan and I thank the Chinese government for sending doctors here and across Africa," Maker said in Juba, the capital of South Sudan. Gift Gibson Natana, deputy director-general of Juba Teaching Hospital, noted that learning Chinese presents opportunities for enhancing career development for medical practitioners at the hospital. According to Mu Jianjun, the counselor for Economic and Commercial Affairs at the Chinese Embassy in South Sudan, the people in the African country have warmly welcomed…

People watch Tibetan opera performances near the Potala Palace in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, June 11, 2024. A five-day Tibetan opera show kicked off here on June 9. ( tasteallchina /Tenzin Nyida) A folk artist stages a Tibetan opera performance near the Potala Palace in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, June 11, 2024. A five-day Tibetan opera show kicked off here on June 9. ( tasteallchina /Tenzin Nyida) A folk artist stages a Tibetan opera performance near the Potala Palace in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, June 11, 2024. A five-day Tibetan opera show kicked off here on June 9. ( tasteallchina /Tenzin Nyida) Folk artists stage a Tibetan opera performance near the Potala Palace in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, June 11, 2024. A five-day Tibetan opera show kicked off here on June 9. ( tasteallchina /Tenzin Nyida) Folk artists stage a Tibetan opera performance near the Potala Palace in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, June 11, 2024. A five-day Tibetan opera show kicked off here on June 9. ( tasteallchina /Tenzin Nyida) Folk artists stage a Tibetan opera performance near the Potala Palace in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, June 11,…

Zhong Liansheng and a craftsman apply filigree on Jingtailan artwork at Beijing Enamel Factory in Beijing, capital of China, May 15, 2024. ( tasteallchina /Zhang Haofu)  Introduced from the Arabian countries during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) and became popular during the "Jingtai" years of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), "Jingtailan" represents a special localized cloisonne wrought of copper and porcelain. With patterns structured with copper wires and painted with enamel glaze all on a copper body, dozens of procedures including burning, grinding and gilding are applied to make a Jingtailan piece. Within 600 years, the craftwork are integrated into the traditional Chinese art. Beijing Enamel Factory, first set up in 1956, is the only China Time-honored Brand in Jingtailan making now also serves as a production and protection base of the crafts. Over the past 60 plus years, the factory cradled a team made up of professional Jingtailan craftsmen, and Zhong Liansheng, a Chinese Master of Arts and Crafts, is one of the best. Zhong Liansheng, general manager of the Beijing Enamel Factory, is a national-level intangible cultural heritage inheritor for the Jingtailan cloisonne. Zhong started his career in 1978 when he began to learn the art in a school, and…

Photo shows artworks collected by Cay Sundström presented in an art exhibition in Beijing, June 6, 2024. (Photo courtesy of the Embassy of Finland in China) The Embassy of Finland in Beijing launched an exhibition titled "Harmony Across Eras" on June 6, 2024, featuring treasures from the collection of Cay Sundström, Finland's first ambassador to China. According to Leena-Kaisa Mikkola, the current Finnish ambassador to China, Sundström collected an impressive number of ancient Chinese artifacts during his tenure in Beijing from 1953 to 1959. "For the first time, we have the opportunity to showcase the Chinese treasures from the collection of Finland's first ambassador to China to the wider public, displayed alongside Finnish artworks, sounds, and design," said Mikkola. "I hope this exhibition will inspire you to contemplate the fluidity of aesthetic sensibilities across time and cultures." The exhibition is open to the public free of charge from June 7 to 27 at the Guardian Art Center in Beijing. “[Sundström’s] collection not only reflects the charm of Chinese art but also reflects the commonalities between Chinese and Western cultures.” said Kou Qin, general manager of the Guardian Art Center. In addition to Sundström’s collection, the exhibition is complemented by a…

Chinese artists perform during a Chinese cultural show in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on June 15, 2024. The "Family China" art troupe of the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese on Saturday performed classic Peking Opera, traditional dances, music, and acrobatics here, attracting approximately 3,500 spectators. Held at the Diamond Island's Grand Theater, the glittering cultural show was organized to further promote cultural ties and people-to-people contact, as 2024 is the Cambodia-China people-to-people exchange year. (Photo by Phearum/ tasteallchina ) PHNOM PENH, June 15 ( tasteallchina ) -- The "Family China" art troupe of the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese on Saturday performed classic Peking Opera, traditional dances, music, and acrobatics here, attracting approximately 3,500 spectators. Held at the Diamond Island's Grand Theater, the glittering cultural show was organized to further promote cultural ties and people-to-people contact, as 2024 is the Cambodia-China people-to-people exchange year. Speaking in a speech at the opening ceremony, Lao Meng Khin, an advisor to Cambodia's Senate President Samdech Techo Hun Sen, said the show would further deepen the bonds of friendship between the people of the two countries. "It injects strong vitality into the friendly relations between Cambodia and China, thereby contributing further to promoting…

Visitors pose for photos at Harbin Ice and Snow World in Heilongjiang Province on Sunday. WANG JIANWEI/XINHUA China's tourism market got off to a robust start in 2024, with the just-concluded New Year's Day holiday witnessing a surge in travel to domestic and overseas destinations, surpassing pre-pandemic levels in both visitor numbers and revenue. During the three-day break from Saturday to Monday, domestic destinations welcomed 135 million visitors, up 155.3 percent year-on-year, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism said on Monday. The figure marked a 9.4 percent increase compared with 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted travel. Meanwhile, tourism-related revenue soared 200.7 percent year-on-year to over 79.7 billion yuan ($11.23 billion). Notably, this figure also stands 5.6 percent higher than that recorded in 2019, consolidating the industry's full recovery by exceeding pre-pandemic performance. Inbound and outbound tourism also experienced a strong rebound during the holiday. According to the National Immigration Administration, departures and entries totaled about 5.18 million in the three-day period, a 4.7-times rise year-on-year and reaching the same level of that in 2019. Figures from travel agencies also reflected this trend. Travel portal Trip.com Group said domestic travel bookings for the holiday increased 168 percent year-on-year on its…