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Letter from China: Dunhuang: An ancient city with a modern allure
LANZHOU, July 18 ( tasteallchina ) -- I had come to Dunhuang expecting to marvel at the millennium-old Mogao Grottoes and the crescent-shaped oasis nestled between towering dunes. Little did I knew that I was about to become part of a unique concert under the starry desert sky. During my recent trip to Dunhuang City, northwestern China's Gansu Province, I visited the Mingshashan and the Crescent Lake, an oasis scenic spot in the Gobi Desert. As twilight settled, I joined throngs of visitors climbing the soft, warm sands, reaching a vantage point overlooking the shimmering Crescent Spring. As night fell, the desert came alive with music played by a DJ at the foot of the dune. Thousands of voices joined together in song, with a delightful mix of soulful melodies and upbeat tunes. Cell phone flashlights waved in unison, creating a sea of twinkling lights across the dunes. Javier Garcia, a journalist from Spain, was surrounded by dozens of young students from Renmin University of China who had travelled from Beijing to Dunhuang on a school trip. "Even though I couldn't understand the lyrics, I found myself swept up in the joyous atmosphere," Garcia said as he joined the students… -
What are the 360 Professions?
The term "360 professions" refers to all trades and occupations in society. As the saying goes, "Everyone has their own line of work, whether it's beating a gong or selling candy." The concept of professions has been recorded since the Tang Dynasty, with 36 professions documented. In the Song Dynasty, Zhou Hui's "Qingbo Zazhi" lists various professions such as butchers, seafood sellers, condiment makers, fruit and flower vendors, fresh fish sellers, cosmetic sellers, tailors, herbal medicine shops, basket weavers, coffin makers, antique dealers, potters, forensic experts, musicians, acrobats, leather workers, etc. How did the number evolve from 36 to 360? According to Xu Ke's "Qing Pai Leicao - Agriculture and Commerce Section," "36 professions refer to various vocations. When you roughly estimate based on their division of labor, it is said to be 36 professions; doubled, it becomes 72; multiplied by ten, it becomes 360." It is evident that "360 professions" is just an approximate number, and since ancient times, the number of occupational categories far exceeded 360, even 3,600 would not cover them. However, "360 professions" is merely a general figure. Over time, people have gotten used to this collective term for all professions, as it is convenient to…
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