Culture Then & Now

A country’s culture is a complex blend of values, attitudes, beliefs, traditions, social conventions, artistic expressions, innovations and intellectual pursuits – all of which may be strongly anchored in the past while evolving in the present.

To fully appreciate any culture, you must understand where it came from, where it is today, and examine the many forces that influenced its direction on the road from past to present.

Here you’ll find stories about China’s arts, history, traditions and celebrations, and transportation, all of which will help you understand how the Chinese became the people and the nation they are.

Arts

• Arts of Asia:  A Timeline of China's Dynasties
   

History

• A Tale of Three Cities
• Time for a Little History
• China’s Wonder: The Great Wall
• The Forbidden City: Preserving a National Treasure
   

Traditions and Celebrations  

• Protocol Tips for China [PDF]
• 2008 Olympics
• Chinese Footbinding: Broken Lotus
   

Transportation

• Ships, Masts, and Sails
• Push, Pedal, Pull: Some Driving Forces in China