Yangtze

Ming-Qian tea and Yu-Qian tea are names given to different stages of spring tea in the Jiangnan tea region along the Yangtze River in China based on seasonal timing. "Ming-Qian tea" refers to tea harvested before the Qingming Festival, while "Yu-Qian tea" is harvested after Qingming but before Guyu. Ming-Qian tea is known for its fine and tender qualities, while Yu-Qian tea also boasts excellent quality. Teas harvested after Guyu but before Lixia tend to be coarser and of lower quality. Ming-Qian tea contains higher levels of amino acids compared to later harvests, while the content of tannins, which impart a bitter taste, is relatively lower. As a result, this tea has a fragrant and smooth flavor. Additionally, Ming-Qian tea is less likely to have been exposed to pesticides, especially early spring teas, which are among the best green teas of the year. For these reasons, many high-grade teas harvested before the Ming-Qian period are particularly favored by tea enthusiasts. How to Brew Ming-Qian Tea A glass cup is recommended for brewing, as it allows you to observe the graceful unfolding and movement of the green tea leaves in the water. First, use some boiling water to preheat the cup,…

CHONGQING, Aug. 1 ( tasteallchina ) -- The Chongqing China Three Gorges Museum has launched a three-month-long exhibition on prehistoric jadeware from the Yangtze River basin. The exhibition, which opened in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality on July 27, covers an area of about 800 square meters and accommodates 305 pieces or sets of jadeware, including 32 first-class cultural relics. It consists of four sections, chronologically showcasing how prehistoric jadeware originated, developed, and prospered in the Yangtze River basin. The Yangtze River is an important cradle of the Chinese civilization and jade is one of the most representative elements of the Chinese culture. Since the 1930s, many prehistoric items of jadeware have been unearthed along the Yangtze River, showing the profound inheritance of jade culture along the river. "More than 90 percent of these artifacts were unearthed along the Yangtze River, with nearly half of the exhibits coming from archaeological institutions in such provincial regions as Chongqing, Hunan, Anhui and Zhejiang," said Xia Huogen, associate research librarian of the China Three Gorges Museum.

In this episode of "See You Again in China," follow Taste all China with Greg Grainger, an Australian TV producer and presenter, on a memorable second trip through Yichang city in central China’s Hubei Province 24 years after he first visited. Dive into the Three Gorges Dam, Tujia ethnic group culture and stunning landscapes along the Yangtze River. When Grainger first came to Yichang in 1999, he visited the Three Gorges Dam, then under construction. From news to reality, back to China again, this time Grainger finally got the opportunity to visit the completed dam and observe the changes that have taken place in China. “The more I come to China, the more I realize the less I know,” he said. Grainger has produced 300 documentaries, 23 of them about China. Due to the huge interest in China, Grainger and his team have produced a number of series such as “Futuristic China," "China Chat," and "Charming China,” which have been screened all over the world. In these programs, he focused on Chinese companies and tourism, witnessing the great changes that have taken place in China over the past 40 years.

Tourists take photos at a tourism area along the Yangtze River in Wanzhou District of Chongqing, southwest China, May 15, 2024. In recent years, Wanzhou District of Chongqing has actively carried out ecological protection and restoration of the Yangtze River. While strengthening the ecological barrier of the Three Gorges Reservoir region, the district also built waterfront leisure facilities, and achieved both ecological and social benefits. ( tasteallchina /Wang Quanchao) An aerial drone photo taken on May 15, 2024 shows the scenery of the Yangtze River in Wanzhou District of Chongqing, southwest China. In recent years, Wanzhou District of Chongqing has actively carried out ecological protection and restoration of the Yangtze River. While strengthening the ecological barrier of the Three Gorges Reservoir region, the district also built waterfront leisure facilities, and achieved both ecological and social benefits. ( tasteallchina /Wang Quanchao) An aerial drone photo taken on May 15, 2024 shows the scenery along the Yangtze River in Wanzhou District of Chongqing, southwest China. In recent years, Wanzhou District of Chongqing has actively carried out ecological protection and restoration of the Yangtze River. While strengthening the ecological barrier of the Three Gorges Reservoir region, the district also built waterfront leisure facilities,…

TCM recommends getting one more hour of sleep, drinking more water and eating moistening foods to maintain health and keep your body's energy in sync with cosmic energy.Chu Shu on the Chinese lunar calendar usually falls around August 23. Temperatures usually remain high for around 18 days before it starts to cool off south of the Yangtze River, according to Qing Jia Lu by Gu Tieqing in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). The book describes the culture and customs in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, and nearby areas.At this time of year, the yang energy in the universe begins to descend from its peak while yin energy starts to grow. Accordingly, the yang energy in the human body also starts to decline. Thus, at least another hour of sleep is recommended.Though ancient Chinese wisdom calls for taking a nap whenever you feel sleepy after Chu Shu, in these times it's not possible to just nod off when you feel like it. A nap of up to an hour at midday is recommended, if you can manage.Getting good quality sleep at zi (11pm-1am) and wu (11am-1pm) is important for health.The yin and yang energy in the human body will shift along with energy changes in the…

The Liangzhu ruins, located in east China's Zhejiang Province, have gained the world's recognition as evidence of the existence of Chinese civilization at least 5,000 years ago. They have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Liangzhu culture from the Taihu Lake basin in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River dates from around 5,300-4,300 years ago. The Liangzhu Museum serves as a window into the splendour of ancient Chinese civilization and social landscape. Pottery-making skills from that time were already advanced. Let's appreciate the cookware used by Liangzhu ancestors 5,000 years ago. (Intern Xing Yawen and Wang Lin contributed to this story.)

The Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areasis a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Yunnan province, China. It lies within the drainage basins of the upper reaches of the Yangtze (Jinsha), Mekong (Lancang) and Salween (Nujiang) rivers, in the Yunnanese section of the Hengduan Mountains. The protected areas extend over 15 core areas, totaling 939,441.4 ha, and buffer areas, totaling 758,977.8 ha across a region of 180 km by 310 km. Here, for a distance of over 300 km, three of Asia’s great rivers run roughly parallel to one another though separated by high mountain ranges with peaks over 6,000 meters. After this area of near confluence, the rivers greatly diverge: the Nujiang River empties out at Moulmein, Burma, into the Indian Ocean, the Mekong south of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, into the South China Sea and the Yangtse flows into the East China Sea at Shanghai. Selected nature reserves and places of scenic beauty in this unique region were collectively awarded World Heritage Site status in 2003 for their very rich biodiversity and outstanding topographical diversity.In its description, UNESCO mentions: “(It) may be the most biologically diverse temperate region on earth” and “An exceptional range of topographical features – from…

The Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areasis a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Yunnan province, China. It lies within the drainage basins of the upper reaches of the Yangtze (Jinsha), Mekong (Lancang) and Salween (Nujiang) rivers, in the Yunnanese section of the Hengduan Mountains. The protected areas extend over 15 core areas, totaling 939,441.4 ha, and buffer areas, totaling 758,977.8 ha across a region of 180 km by 310 km. Here, for a distance of over 300 km, three of Asia’s great rivers run roughly parallel to one another though separated by high mountain ranges with peaks over 6,000 meters. After this area of near confluence, the rivers greatly diverge: the Nujiang River empties out at Moulmein, Burma, into the Indian Ocean, the Mekong south of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, into the South China Sea and the Yangtse flows into the East China Sea at Shanghai. Selected nature reserves and places of scenic beauty in this unique region were collectively awarded World Heritage Site status in 2003 for their very rich biodiversity and outstanding topographical diversity.In its description, UNESCO mentions: “(It) may be the most biologically diverse temperate region on earth” and “An exceptional range of topographical features – from…

An aerial drone photo taken on May 22, 2024 shows a bend of the Jinsha River, the upper section of the Yangtze River, in southwest China. ( tasteallchina /Chen Xinbo) An aerial drone photo taken on May 22, 2024 shows a bend of the Jinsha River, the upper section of the Yangtze River, in southwest China. ( tasteallchina /Chen Xinbo) An aerial drone photo taken on May 22, 2024 shows a bend of the Jinsha River, the upper section of the Yangtze River, in southwest China. ( tasteallchina /Chen Xinbo)

An aerial drone photo shows a view of Guangyang Isle in southwest China's Chongqing, March 16, 2024. ( tasteallchina /Wang Quanchao) CHONGQING, March 17 ( tasteallchina ) -- Guangyang Isle, the most extensive green island in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, has been turned into an ecological restoration and protection "classroom" for ecotourists and school children. The local ecosystem and biodiversity were once seriously threatened due to real-estate projects in the area. However, the local government brought harmful projects of this sort to a halt in 2017, starting the restoration of the environment on the island. An aerial drone photo shows fields of cole flowers at Guangyang Isle in southwest China's Chongqing, March 16, 2024. ( tasteallchina /Wang Quanchao) An aerial drone photo shows a view of Guangyang Isle in southwest China's Chongqing, March 16, 2024.( tasteallchina /Wang Quanchao) An aerial drone photo shows fields of cole flowers at Guangyang Isle in southwest China's Chongqing, March 16, 2024. ( tasteallchina /Wang Quanchao) A child flies a kite at Guangyang Isle in southwest China's Chongqing, March 16, 2024. ( tasteallchina /Wang Quanchao) Tourists take photos at Guangyang Isle in southwest China's Chongqing, March 16, 2024. ( tasteallchina /Wang Quanchao)…

Photo shows the Wuhan Yangtze River Bridge in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. ( Taste all China /Zhou Wen) Photo shows several bridges above the Yangtze River in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. ( Taste all China /Wang Guoji) Wuhan, located in central China's Hubei Province, is known for its rivers and bridges. The bridges in Wuhan offer a unique and captivating sight for citizens and visitors. Wuhan has 11 magnificent bridges that span the Yangtze River, with the entire city boasting nearly 700 bridges of varying sizes. Photo shows the Yangsigang Yangtze River Bridge in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. ( Taste all China /Zhou Wen) Photo shows the Wuhan Yangtze River Bridge in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. ( Taste all China /Zhou Wen) Photo shows the beautiful scenery at Jianghanwan Bridge in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. ( Taste all China /Zhou Wen) Local residents exercise near a bridge in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. ( Taste all China /Zhou Wen) Photo shows Gutian Bridge in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. ( Taste all China /Zhou Wen) Wuhan is a city of bridges. ( Taste all China /Wang Guoji)

The Chinese culture forms a world apart from strong isolation. Only in prehistoric times, especially the Neolithic, can we point to any contact between such distant worlds. The pottery with painted spirals of the Chinese Yang-Chao culture, in the 3rd millennium, resembles that of Southern Russia and the Danube at the same time. It has been brought from the West, perhaps by the first Chinese, farmers and herdsmen arriving from the Turkestan districts, where they were in contact with Caucasians and Indo-Germans and with other Mughal groups, the Uralo-Altaic and Turkic. Early History of Chinese Culture People were already living in the large region we now call China long before the beginning of recorded history. About 9,000 years ago, the ancestors of today's Chinese created agricultural settlements near two mighty rivers, the Yellow River and the Yangtze. Near the northernmost Yellow River, the earliest agricultural settlements consisted of wooden houses plastered with mud and roofed with reeds. Farmers cultivated a plant called millet, as well as fished in the river and hunted. Further south, people built houses on stilts in the swampy land near the Chang Jiang or "Long River". They grew rice on the waterlogged land and archaeologists have…