Hiking Precious Stone Hill or Baoshi Mountain (Hangzhou's West Lake - Day 2)
Precious Stone Hill / 宝石山 is over 200 meters (656 feet) high. Its scenic feature are the many red rocks spreading all over the slopes of the hill, which sparkle like diamonds inlaid in the rosy morning or evening sunlight (Ten Scenes of The West Lake - Precious Stone Hill Floating in Rosy Clouds).
The Baochu Pagoda / 保俶塔 is a pagoda located just north of the lake on top of Precious Stone Hill. Its small base supports seven stories (45 meters) and gives it a distinctively slender and elegant appearance.
The name Baochu, translated directly, means protect Chu, who, legend has it, refers to Qian Chu, the last king of Wuyue. As the story goes, one of King Chu's ministers had the temple constructed for prayers to be said for his safe return from a trip he had taken to Kaifeng, in central China. He had been summoned there by the Emperor and had been gone many days with no news of his return.
It was originally constructed in 963 and stood nine storeys tall. Its most recent reconstruction, in 1933, left it slightly shorter, seven storeys, and it has most recently had its lantern replaced on its top, though its previous one is on display near the pagoda. It is constructed of brick and stone and contains no internal staircase. The tower lies next to a path that runs the length of West Lake's northern mountain range and is accessible by both dirt paths and cement stairs from nearly every side of the mountain.
CRAZY SPICY Chinese HOT POT at Hai Di Lao on Nanjing Road | Shanghai, China
Back in April of 2019, I took my second trip to the country of China. I headed to Shanghai to do a one-day job with an awesome company and built a three-city itinerary around it to give me ten whole days to explore! I hit up Shanghai as well as the cities of Suzhou and Hangzhou. I can’t wait to share my latest Chinese adventures with you!
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After arriving in Shanghai earlier in the day, I headed out on my first evening with my friend Nea to eat some spicy Szechwan hot pot on Nanjing Road, the most famous road in the city. Come along with us on our fiery Chinese food adventure!
We arrived at Hai Di Lao, which is next to the metro exit. It’s on the fifth floor of a huge shopping mall. I thought the restaurant looked packed, but Nea didn’t think so!
We had an hour-long wait ahead of us, so we sat in their waiting area and had some sour plum juice and popcorn while we waited. The popcorn was really good and reminded me of cereal. I also ordered a strong Chinese amber lager. It was really good and only 10 yen, so around $1.40 U.S.
We waited about 15 minutes and were taken to our booth. You can order up to four different dishes, which cook over the grill set into your table. They even gave me an apron. We chose our hot pot soups from the menu since this branch didn’t have a buffet. There are lots of meat options including beef, pork, lamb, and more. I was so excited!
Our soups and meats came, along with lots of veggies. We still had noodles coming, too. Each soup had a different level of spice. I couldn’t wait to try them all. The meats cook in only two minutes!
I went for a spicy one, which wasn’t too spicy. Next was the crazy spicy one, which was super hot. My tongue felt like it exploded! Then I tried some mushrooms, which almost felt like tofu. It was so good! There were so many different flavors to choose from with the different meats, vegetables, and soups. The lightest one had no spice, while the hottest was like an inferno!
The tomato one was also spicy. I tried some delicious lamb and more mushrooms, which I loved. Then I tried the beef, which was super tender, and more spicy sauce. But now everything was spicy!
The mini cabbage was a little hot with a tomato base. Then I went with crunchy mushrooms with the least spicy sauce, as well as fermented bamboo. The tomato one was the spiciest! It was so hot! It makes your lips tingle!
The spice was so intense, I had to go back for some more beer!
Then we watched the noodle master pull noodles right in front of us. He whipped them around in huge arcs and yet they never touched the floor! It was so cool! They take two minutes to cook.
Then it was time to try the noodles! They were so hot, so I had to let them cool off a bit. The tomato base absorbed into the noodles and made it taste so good!
I avoided the ultimate spice and went for some meat and veggies in the rest of the sauces. It was super delicious and a little fatty. The best thing about hot pot is the way everything absorbs the sauce. And the best thing is, it only cost about $50 U.S.
After overeating, Nea and I headed back out onto Nanjing Road to explore this amazing pedestrian street. There are massive shopping malls, lots of skyscrapers, and restaurants. I even spotted a display for Avengers: Endgame that featured Lego faces and a huge Thanos statue with his sword!
The lights were slowly turning off as I explored the area after Nea headed off, but I’d see her again the next day. The language barrier here is real, so I suggest hiring a guide or finding an English-speaking friend when you come to China.
I hope you loved coming along with me and Nea on our spicy Chinese hot pot dinner! If you did, please give it a thumbs up and leave me a comment. Also, please subscribe to my channel if you haven’t already so you don’t miss out on any of my upcoming travel/food content!
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CRAZY SPICY Chinese HOT POT at Hai Di Lao on Nanjing Road | Shanghai, China
CHINA: BEIJING: ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU VISIT
English/Nat
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is on his first official visit to China since he became prime minister in 1996.
Netanyahu met his Chinese counterpart Zhu Rongji on Tuesday morning and is scheduled to hold talks with President Jiang Zemin and Vice-Premier Qian Qichen during his four day visit.
China and Israel are now seeking to forge stronger political and commercial ties having only established formal relations in 1992.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is leading a 100-strong delegation of officials and business executives on his first official visit to China since he became Prime Minister in 1996.
China and Israel are now seeking to forge stronger political and commercial ties particularly in the field of agriculture high-technology.
They only established formal relations only in 1992.
Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji escorted Netanyahu on Tuesday at an honour guard parade on Beijing's Tiananmen Square.
China staunchly supported the Palestinian cause during the Cold War but ties with Israel have developed quickly since their rapprochement in 1992.
A permanent member of the U-N Security Council, China has shown increasing interest in the Middle East peace process.
Netanyahu visited Beijing last August on a brief stopover at the capital airport.
He and another Vice Premier Li Lanqing agreed to set up four committees to promote exchanges in electronics, agriculture, health and communications.
At a meeting after the ceremony, Zhu welcomed Netanyahu, telling the Israeli leader he has greater exposure on Chinese television than Mr. Clinton.
Netanyahu is also expected to tour the Great Wall and the Forbidden City, the palace of Chinese emperors for 500 years, and visit Shanghai, China's financial capital.
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A&B《宮鎖心玉: Palace》15 ENG SUB
Drinking AMAZING Chai in Clay Cups - Traveling from Jorhat to Kolkata | Indian Travel Vlog
The two-week trip I took to the states of Assam and Meghalaya in northeast India was one of my favorite travel experiences I’ve ever had. I got to revisit a country I love while exploring a region that is so different from other areas that it feels like a whole new world. The diversity in the food, culture, history, landscapes, and people was such a highlight and I’m so glad I get to showcase it all in this northeast India vlog series.
Follow Rishi on Instagram: instagram.com/collosal_appetite
After two weeks in northeast India, my time in the country was quickly coming to an end. After arriving back in Jorhat following breakfast and my exploration of the nearby gibbon sanctuary, it was time for me to head to the airport and fly to Kolkata.
My journey began with my Uber ride to the airport with my boy Rishi, who made my four days in Jorhat such a fun and incredible experience. I loved Upper Assam. The food is so different, with lots of pork and fish. The people are also super friendly. You need to hire a driver to get around there, though.
They closed a road on us and we had to take an alternate path through a tea garden to get to the airport, so I was running behind. I encountered a subscriber who gave me a gamosa, but I didn’t record it by accident. I arrived at the airport and took some quick photos with my new friends from Jorhat, who helped bring my bags inside.
I’d be flying Indigo Airlines, who I’d flown with before, to Kolkata. It’s a great airline and is affordable. My ticket only cost $60 U.S. My flight would be about 90 minutes and would allow me to connect in Kolkata on my way to Qatar. There’s only one flight per day to Kolkata, so it was a good thing I got a seat. The alternative would have been driving 5 hours back to Guwahati to catch a flight there.
My bag was overweight for Indigo Airlines at 23 kilos (I bought lots of souvenirs), so I had to pay another 2800 rupees, or about $40 U.S. Luckily, 23 kilos is standard from Qatar to Miami. I couldn’t wait to get to Kolkata and eat!
I boarded my flight and got my window seat. I had some leg room and slept for an hour. It was super smooth! I had 12 hours in Kolkata after I landed, so I braved the 95-degree heat, boarded the bus to the terminal. After another selfie with another fan, I grabbed my bags and requested my Uber Premium. It takes 48 minutes to get into the city!
Kolkata is the capital of West Bengal and is located on the Hooghly River. It’s the cultural capital of India and is now the principal cultural, commercial, and educational center in East India. The city is so beautiful and there are lots of remnants of the British Raj there. Bengali food is so fire! I couldn’t wait to get some!
Kolkata is also different from northeast India because it’s super busy, very bustling, and loud. On the way to the hotel, I saw temples and vendors selling street food and chai. Eventually we found some chai, which is a tea-based drink that contains milk, ginger, and cardamom. It was served in a mud cup and was super creamy and milky. I loved it! It only cost 5 rupees!
Then we continued on toward my hotel. I love how easy it is to get food in India. It’s available everywhere and it’s very affordable. My hotel was the Galaxy Hotel in the New Market area, a bustling area I’d visited just 4 months earlier in November of 2018. It’s super hectic with lots of vendors. The hotel is owned by my friend Navpreet from Fun On Streets, who I worked with in November.
I arrived at my hotel and checked in. I got a small studio room, which is all I needed for my layover. It has a bed, a small closet, and a super clean bathroom and is really nice! I couldn’t wait to lay down for a bit before heading out to eat at New Market!
I hope you enjoyed coming along on my travel journey from Jorhat to Kolkata! If you did, please give it a thumbs up, leave me a comment, and subscribe to my channel so you don’t miss any of my upcoming travel/food adventures!
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Drinking AMAZING Chai in Clay Cups - Traveling from Jorhat to Kolkata | Indian Travel Vlog
Dance at Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall in Taiwan november 2006
Dance at Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall in Taiwan november 2006
Pamiątka z Chin / Souvenir from China
English description below.
Pamiątka z Chin jest zapisem podróży do ChRL, jaką odbyłem w czerwcu 2015. Dla ułatwienia nawigacji spis części wraz z czasem początku.
Lot (0:00:00)
Hangzhou
Wstęp (0:01:01)
Ludzie nad Jeziorem (0:03:58)
Qian Wang Ci (0:06:05)
Herbata Longjing (0:09:23)
Parzenie herbaty (0:10:39)
Park Mokradeł Xixi (0:13:27)
Jaskinia Żółtego Smoka (0:16:35)
Jezioro Zachodnie (0:18:39)
Ulica Qinghefang (0:19:32)
Pawilon Boga Miasta (0:20:30)
Impression West Lake (0:26:21)
Szanghaj
Pudong (0:35:27)
Oriental Pearl Tower (0:38:00)
Akwarium (0:40:15)
Bund (0:42:30)
Szanghaj nocą (0:45:30)
Tunel (0:49:17)
Ulica Nankińska (0:53:18)
Pekin
Wstęp (0:54:44)
Park Olimpijski (0:56:07)
Zakazane Miasto (1:04:35)
Świątynia Nieba (1:09:37)
Pałac letni (1:11:54)
Tian An Men (1:14:40)
Wielki Mur (1:18:34)
Panda (1:24:28)
Świątynia Lamy (1:25:46)
Świątynia Konfucjusza (1:33:08)
Wieża Bębnów (1:35:33)
Hutong (1:42:23)
Park Beihai (1:46:06)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Video commentary in Polish with English subtitles.
Souvenir from China is the record of my travel to PRC made in June 2015. To make navigation more comfortable, below is scene list with time of start.
Flight(0:00:00)
Hangzhou
Intro (0:01:01)
The Lake, the people (0:03:58)
Qian Wang Ci (0:06:05)
Longjing Tea (0:09:23)
Teamaking rite (0:10:39)
Xixi Wetland Park (0:13:27)
Yellow Dragon Cave (0:16:35)
Westlake (0:18:39)
Qinghefang ancient street (0:19:32)
Chenghuang Pavillon (0:20:30)
Impression West Lake (0:26:21)
Shanghai
Pudong (0:35:27)
Oriental Pearl Tower (0:38:00)
Aquarium (0:40:15)
The Bund (0:42:30)
Shanghai by night (0:45:30)
Pedestrian Tunnel (0:49:17)
Nanjing Road (0:53:18)
Beijing
Intro (0:54:44)
Olympic Park (0:56:07)
Forbidden City (1:04:35)
Temple of Heaven (1:09:37)
Summer Palace (1:11:54)
Tian An Men (1:14:40)
The Great Wall (1:18:34)
Giant Panda (1:24:28)
Lama Temple (1:25:46)
Confucius Temple (1:33:08)
Drum Tower (1:35:33)
Hutong (1:42:23)
Beihai Park (1:46:06)
Three Kingdoms | Wikipedia audio article
This is an audio version of the Wikipedia Article:
Three Kingdoms
Listening is a more natural way of learning, when compared to reading. Written language only began at around 3200 BC, but spoken language has existed long ago.
Learning by listening is a great way to:
- increases imagination and understanding
- improves your listening skills
- improves your own spoken accent
- learn while on the move
- reduce eye strain
Now learn the vast amount of general knowledge available on Wikipedia through audio (audio article). You could even learn subconsciously by playing the audio while you are sleeping! If you are planning to listen a lot, you could try using a bone conduction headphone, or a standard speaker instead of an earphone.
You can find other Wikipedia audio articles too at:
You can upload your own Wikipedia articles through:
The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.
- Socrates
SUMMARY
=======
The Three Kingdoms (220–280) was the tripartite division of China between the states of Wei (魏), Shu (蜀), and Wu (吳). It started with the end of the Han dynasty and was followed by the Jin dynasty. The term Three Kingdoms is something of a misnomer, since each state was eventually headed not by a king, but by an emperor who claimed suzerainty over all China. Nevertheless, the term Three Kingdoms has become standard among sinologists. To further distinguish the three states from other historical Chinese states of similar names, historians have added a relevant character: Wei is also known as Cao Wei (曹魏), Shu is also known as Shu Han (蜀漢), and Wu is also known as Dong (or Eastern) Wu (東吳).
Academically, the period of the Three Kingdoms refers to the period between the foundation of the state of Wei in AD 220 and the conquest of the state of Wu by the Jin dynasty in 280. The earlier, unofficial part of the period, from 184 to 220, was marked by chaotic infighting between warlords in various parts of China. The middle part of the period, from 220 to 263, was marked by a more militarily stable arrangement between three rival states of Wei, Shu, and Wu. The later part of the era was marked by the conquest of Shu by Wei (263), the usurpation of Wei by the Jin dynasty (266), and the conquest of Wu by the Jin (280).
The Three Kingdoms period is one of the bloodiest in Chinese history. A nationwide census taken in AD 280, following the reunification of the Three Kingdoms under the Jin shows a total of 2,459,840 households and 16,163,863 individuals which was only a fraction of the 10,677,960 households, and 56,486,856 individuals reported during the Han era. While the census may not have been particularly accurate due to a multitude of factors of the times, the Jin in AD 280 did make an attempt to account for all individuals where they could.Technology advanced significantly during this period. Shu chancellor Zhuge Liang invented the wooden ox, suggested to be an early form of the wheelbarrow, and improved on the repeating crossbow. Wei mechanical engineer Ma Jun is considered by many to be the equal of his predecessor Zhang Heng. He invented a hydraulic-powered, mechanical puppet theatre designed for Emperor Ming of Wei, square-pallet chain pumps for irrigation of gardens in Luoyang, and the ingenious design of the south-pointing chariot, a non-magnetic directional compass operated by differential gears.Although relatively short, this historical period has been greatly romanticized in the cultures of China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. It has been celebrated and popularized in operas, folk stories, novels and in more recent times, films, television, and video games. The best known of these is Luo Guanzhong's Romance of the Three Kingdoms, a Ming dynasty historical novel based on events in the Three Kingdoms period. The authoritative historical record of the era is Chen Shou's Records of the Three Kingdoms, along with Pei Songzhi's later annotations of the text.
Three Kingdoms | Wikipedia audio article
This is an audio version of the Wikipedia Article:
Three Kingdoms
Listening is a more natural way of learning, when compared to reading. Written language only began at around 3200 BC, but spoken language has existed long ago.
Learning by listening is a great way to:
- increases imagination and understanding
- improves your listening skills
- improves your own spoken accent
- learn while on the move
- reduce eye strain
Now learn the vast amount of general knowledge available on Wikipedia through audio (audio article). You could even learn subconsciously by playing the audio while you are sleeping! If you are planning to listen a lot, you could try using a bone conduction headphone, or a standard speaker instead of an earphone.
You can find other Wikipedia audio articles too at:
You can upload your own Wikipedia articles through:
The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.
- Socrates
SUMMARY
=======
The Three Kingdoms (220–280) was the tripartite division of China between the states of Wei (魏), Shu (蜀), and Wu (吳). It started with the end of the Han dynasty and was followed by the Jin dynasty. The term Three Kingdoms is something of a misnomer, since each state was eventually headed not by a king, but by an emperor who claimed suzerainty over all China. Nevertheless, the term Three Kingdoms has become standard among sinologists. To further distinguish the three states from other historical Chinese states of similar names, historians have added a relevant character: Wei is also known as Cao Wei (曹魏), Shu is also known as Shu Han (蜀漢), and Wu is also known as Dong (or Eastern) Wu (東吳).
Academically, the period of the Three Kingdoms refers to the period between the foundation of the state of Wei in AD 220 and the conquest of the state of Wu by the Jin dynasty in 280. The earlier, unofficial part of the period, from 184 to 220, was marked by chaotic infighting between warlords in various parts of China. The middle part of the period, from 220 to 263, was marked by a more militarily stable arrangement between three rival states of Wei, Shu, and Wu. The later part of the era was marked by the conquest of Shu by Wei (263), the usurpation of Wei by the Jin dynasty (266), and the conquest of Wu by the Jin (280).
The Three Kingdoms period is one of the bloodiest in Chinese history. A nationwide census taken in AD 280, following the reunification of the Three Kingdoms under the Jin shows a total of 2,459,840 households and 16,163,863 individuals which was only a fraction of the 10,677,960 households, and 56,486,856 individuals reported during the Han era. While the census may not have been particularly accurate due to a multitude of factors of the times, the Jin in AD 280 did make an attempt to account for all individuals where they could.Technology advanced significantly during this period. Shu chancellor Zhuge Liang invented the wooden ox, suggested to be an early form of the wheelbarrow, and improved on the repeating crossbow. Wei mechanical engineer Ma Jun is considered by many to be the equal of his predecessor Zhang Heng. He invented a hydraulic-powered, mechanical puppet theatre designed for Emperor Ming of Wei, square-pallet chain pumps for irrigation of gardens in Luoyang, and the ingenious design of the south-pointing chariot, a non-magnetic directional compass operated by differential gears.Although relatively short, this historical period has been greatly romanticized in the cultures of China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. It has been celebrated and popularized in operas, folk stories, novels and in more recent times, films, television, and video games. The best known of these is Luo Guanzhong's Romance of the Three Kingdoms, a Ming dynasty historical novel based on events in the Three Kingdoms period. The authoritative historical record of the era is Chen Shou's Records of the Three Kingdoms, along with Pei Songzhi's later annotations of the text.
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the cradle of Chinese civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest civilizations. The written history of China can be found as early as the Shang dynasty , although ancient historical texts such as the Records of the Grand Historian and Bamboo Annals assert the existence of a Xia dynasty before the Shang. Much of Chinese culture, literature and philosophy further developed during the Zhou dynasty .
This video targeted to blind users.
Attribution:
Article text available under CC-BY-SA
Creative Commons image source in video
History of China | Wikipedia audio article
This is an audio version of the Wikipedia Article:
History of China
Listening is a more natural way of learning, when compared to reading. Written language only began at around 3200 BC, but spoken language has existed long ago.
Learning by listening is a great way to:
- increases imagination and understanding
- improves your listening skills
- improves your own spoken accent
- learn while on the move
- reduce eye strain
Now learn the vast amount of general knowledge available on Wikipedia through audio (audio article). You could even learn subconsciously by playing the audio while you are sleeping! If you are planning to listen a lot, you could try using a bone conduction headphone, or a standard speaker instead of an earphone.
You can find other Wikipedia audio articles too at:
You can upload your own Wikipedia articles through:
The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.
- Socrates
SUMMARY
=======
The earliest known written records of the history of China date from as early as 1250 BC, from the Shang dynasty (c. 1600–1046 BC). Ancient historical texts such as the Records of the Grand Historian (c. 100 BC) and the Bamboo Annals (296 BC) describe a Xia dynasty (c. 2070–1600 BC) before the Shang, but no writing is known from the period, and Shang writings do not indicate the existence of the Xia. The Shang ruled in the Yellow River valley, which is commonly held to be the cradle of Chinese civilization. However, Neolithic civilizations originated at various cultural centers along both the Yellow River and Yangtze River. These Yellow River and Yangtze civilizations arose millennia before the Shang. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest civilizations, and is regarded as one of the cradles of civilization.The Zhou dynasty (1046–256 BC) supplanted the Shang, and introduced the concept of the Mandate of Heaven to justify their rule. The central Zhou government began to weaken due to external and internal pressures in the 8th century BC, and the country eventually splintered into smaller states during the Spring and Autumn period. These states became independent and warred with one another in the following Warring States period. Much of traditional Chinese culture, literature and philosophy first developed during those troubled times.
In 221 BC Qin Shi Huang conquered the various warring states and created for himself the title of Huangdi or emperor of the Qin, marking the beginning of imperial China. However, the oppressive government fell soon after his death, and was supplanted by the longer lived Han dynasty (206 BC–220 AD). Successive dynasties developed bureaucratic systems that enabled the emperor to control vast territories directly. In the 21 centuries from 206 BC until AD 1912, routine administrative tasks were handled by a special elite of scholar-officials. Young men, well-versed in calligraphy, history, literature, and philosophy, were carefully selected through difficult government examinations. China's last dynasty was the Qing (1644–1912), which was replaced by the Republic of China in 1912, and in the mainland by the People's Republic of China in 1949, resulting in two de facto states claiming to be the legitimate government of all China.
Chinese history has alternated between periods of political unity and peace, and periods of war and failed statehood – the most recent being the Chinese Civil War (1927–1949). China was occasionally dominated by steppe peoples, most of whom were eventually assimilated into the Han Chinese culture and population. Between eras of multiple kingdoms and warlordism, Chinese dynasties have ruled parts or all of China; in some eras control stretched as far as Xinjiang and Tibet, as at present. Traditional culture, and influences from other parts of Asia and the Western world (carried by waves of immigration, cultural assimilation, expansion, and foreign contact), form the basis of the modern culture of China.
History of China | Wikipedia audio article
This is an audio version of the Wikipedia Article:
History of China
Listening is a more natural way of learning, when compared to reading. Written language only began at around 3200 BC, but spoken language has existed long ago.
Learning by listening is a great way to:
- increases imagination and understanding
- improves your listening skills
- improves your own spoken accent
- learn while on the move
- reduce eye strain
Now learn the vast amount of general knowledge available on Wikipedia through audio (audio article). You could even learn subconsciously by playing the audio while you are sleeping! If you are planning to listen a lot, you could try using a bone conduction headphone, or a standard speaker instead of an earphone.
You can find other Wikipedia audio articles too at:
You can upload your own Wikipedia articles through:
The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.
- Socrates
SUMMARY
=======
The earliest known written records of the history of China date from as early as 1250 BC, from the Shang dynasty (c. 1600–1046 BC). Ancient historical texts such as the Records of the Grand Historian (c. 100 BC) and the Bamboo Annals (296 BC) describe a Xia dynasty (c. 2070–1600 BC) before the Shang, but no writing is known from the period, and Shang writings do not indicate the existence of the Xia. The Shang ruled in the Yellow River valley, which is commonly held to be the cradle of Chinese civilization. However, Neolithic civilizations originated at various cultural centers along both the Yellow River and Yangtze River. These Yellow River and Yangtze civilizations arose millennia before the Shang. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest civilizations, and is regarded as one of the cradles of civilization.The Zhou dynasty (1046–256 BC) supplanted the Shang, and introduced the concept of the Mandate of Heaven to justify their rule. The central Zhou government began to weaken due to external and internal pressures in the 8th century BC, and the country eventually splintered into smaller states during the Spring and Autumn period. These states became independent and warred with one another in the following Warring States period. Much of traditional Chinese culture, literature and philosophy first developed during those troubled times.
In 221 BC Qin Shi Huang conquered the various warring states and created for himself the title of Huangdi or emperor of the Qin, marking the beginning of imperial China. However, the oppressive government fell soon after his death, and was supplanted by the longer lived Han dynasty (206 BC–220 AD). Successive dynasties developed bureaucratic systems that enabled the emperor to control vast territories directly. In the 21 centuries from 206 BC until AD 1912, routine administrative tasks were handled by a special elite of scholar-officials. Young men, well-versed in calligraphy, history, literature, and philosophy, were carefully selected through difficult government examinations. China's last dynasty was the Qing (1644–1912), which was replaced by the Republic of China in 1912, and in the mainland by the People's Republic of China in 1949, resulting in two de facto states claiming to be the legitimate government of all China.
Chinese history has alternated between periods of political unity and peace, and periods of war and failed statehood – the most recent being the Chinese Civil War (1927–1949). China was occasionally dominated by steppe peoples, most of whom were eventually assimilated into the Han Chinese culture and population. Between eras of multiple kingdoms and warlordism, Chinese dynasties have ruled parts or all of China; in some eras control stretched as far as Xinjiang and Tibet, as at present. Traditional culture, and influences from other parts of Asia and the Western world (carried by waves of immigration, cultural assimilation, expansion, and foreign contact), form the basis of the modern culture of China.
Ancient China | Wikipedia audio article
This is an audio version of the Wikipedia Article:
00:03:01 1 Prehistory
00:03:09 1.1 Paleolithic (3.3 Ma ~ 12 ka)
00:04:07 1.2 Neolithic
00:06:02 1.3 Bronze Age
00:07:26 2 Ancient China
00:07:35 2.1 Xia dynasty (2070–1600 BC)
00:08:34 2.2 Shang dynasty (1600–1046 BC)
00:10:38 2.3 Zhou dynasty (1046–256 BC)
00:12:07 2.4 Spring and Autumn period (722–476 BC)
00:14:14 2.5 Warring States period (476–221 BC)
00:15:45 3 Imperial China
00:16:22 3.1 Qin dynasty (221–207 BC)
00:19:43 3.2 Han dynasty (202 BC – AD 220)
00:19:55 3.2.1 Western Han
00:22:56 3.2.2 Xin dynasty
00:23:46 3.2.3 Eastern Han
00:24:52 3.3 Three Kingdoms (AD 220–280)
00:25:57 3.4 Jin dynasty (AD 266–420)
00:27:08 3.5 Northern and Southern dynasties (AD 420–589)
00:28:33 3.6 Sui dynasty (581–618)
00:29:59 3.7 Tang dynasty (AD 618–907)
00:34:46 3.8 Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms (AD 907–960)
00:36:19 3.9 Song, Liao, Jin, and Western Xia dynasties (AD 960–1234)
00:42:11 3.10 Yuan dynasty (AD 1271–1368)
00:47:11 3.11 Ming dynasty (AD 1368–1644)
00:53:13 3.12 Qing dynasty (AD 1644–1911)
00:59:47 4 Modern China
00:59:56 4.1 Republic of China (since 1912)
01:06:02 4.2 People's Republic of China (since 1949)
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Speaking Rate: 0.9386504742492704
Voice name: en-AU-Wavenet-D
I cannot teach anybody anything, I can only make them think.
- Socrates
SUMMARY
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The earliest known written records of the history of China date from as early as 1250 BC, from the Shang dynasty (c. 1600–1046 BC), during the king Wu Ding's reign, who was mentioned as the twenty-first Shang king by the same. Ancient historical texts such as the Records of the Grand Historian (c. 100 BC) and the Bamboo Annals (296 BC) describe a Xia dynasty (c. 2070–1600 BC) before the Shang, but no writing is known from the period, and Shang writings do not indicate the existence of the Xia. The Shang ruled in the Yellow River valley, which is commonly held to be the cradle of Chinese civilization. However, Neolithic civilizations originated at various cultural centers along both the Yellow River and Yangtze River. These Yellow River and Yangtze civilizations arose millennia before the Shang. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest civilizations, and is regarded as one of the cradles of civilization.The Zhou dynasty (1046–256 BC) supplanted the Shang, and introduced the concept of the Mandate of Heaven to justify their rule. The central Zhou government began to weaken due to external and internal pressures in the 8th century BC, and the country eventually splintered into smaller states during the Spring and Autumn period. These states became independent and warred with one another in the following Warring States period. Much of traditional Chinese culture, literature and philosophy first developed during those troubled times.
In 221 BC, Qin Shi Huang conquered the various warring states and created for himself the title of Huangdi or emperor of the Qin, marking the beginning of imperial China. However, the oppressive government fell soon after his death, and was supplanted by the longer-lived Han dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD). Successive dynasties developed bureaucratic systems that enabled the emperor to control vast territories directly. In the 21 centuries from 206 BC until AD 1912, routine administrative tasks were handled by a special elite of scholar-officials. Young men, well-versed in calligraphy, history, literature, and philosophy, were carefully selected through difficult government examinations. China's last dynasty was the Qing (1644–1912), which was replaced by the Republic of China in 1912, and in the mainland by the People's Republic of China in 1949, resulting in two de facto states claiming to be the legitimate government of all China.
Chinese history has alternated between periods of political unity and peace, and periods of war and failed statehood—the mos ...