People work hard in China. On every side there is evidence that they have done so for thousands of years. The fruit vendor rearranging his produce after each sale to make an attractive display, the chatter of bargaining in the free markets, the groaning loads of coal, pipe, brick, and recycled cardboard in every sort of conveyance from the semi-trailer to the horse cart to the back of a man, all add to the background din of large machinery and hammers creating new towers to add to the Beijing sky. These are the sounds of today and they were the sounds of Beijing when the Ming dynasty rebuilt the city in its own image.
- BEIJING
The city of the Ming Dynasty, it is a city of ceremony and the history of power. Includes the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, and other places around Beijing and a bit of history about each. Includes text links to further pictures.- BEIJING IN PICTURES
- ACTIVE BEIJING
The streets are full of life: markets, shops, and people. We were given presentations on art and calligraphy and a demonstration of acupuncture. Includes text links to further pictures.- PICTURES OF ACTIVITIES IN BEIJING
- THE GREAT WALL
The earth moving equipment included buckets and wheeled carts; intelligence created monuments to last the ages. A short history of the Great Wall and the Ming Tombs. Includes text links to further pictures.- THE GREAT WALL IN PICTURES
- XI'AN
Ancient Chang'an, the city of the Silk Road. A city whose history begins over 7,000 years ago. The Banpo village, Little and Big Goose Pagodas, Terra-cotta Soldiers, a wonderful bazaar, and the countryside. Includes text links to further pictures.- XI'AN IN PICTURES
- SHANGHAI
Shanghai exploded from a small port in the 1800's, the early 1900's, and again today into one of busiest and largest ports in the world. The old city, the Jade Buddha, bird market, modern Shanghai. Includes text links to further pictures.- SHANGHAI IN PICTURES
Bibliographies
- BIBLIOGRAPHY OF CHINESE HISTORY
A selection of recent titles (since the early 1980's), most are in English. Topical bibliographies of science, Hong Kong, economics, and others.ART
- THE POETRY OF BEI DAO
A reading by Bei Dao, March 1996. English translations provided in the Flash movies. You will need Flash 6 or better to view the Flash movies and Real Movie Player to see the video.- CALLIGRAPHY DENG JING REN
Stone Carving by Deng Jing Ren combines the arts of calligraphy, painting, sculpture, and miniaturization.
The art of miniature calligraphy carved into stone goes back centuries. Calligraphers also used ivory, bone, and other soft materials to achieve even smaller characters. Stone carving is difficult because the stone has brittle layer characteristics.- CHINESE BRONZES
Chinese bronzes from Yunnan Province dating to the Warring States through the Han periods.- CHINESE PAINTING
Selected Chinese paintings from the Tang through Qing Dynasties.- CHINESE CALLIGRAPHY
Selected Chinese calligraphy from the Shang through Qing Dynasties. Examples of oracle bone, seal, official or clerical, cursive or grass and regular scripts from over 30 different artists.- MING FURNITURE
The prosperity of the Ming dynasty allowed a new focus on the home and on home decorating. Furniture rose to an art form.MANDARIN CHINESE -- SPOKEN LANGUAGE
- TING - THE CHINESE EXPERIENCE
TING - THE CHINESE EXPERIENCE - TEXT INDEX
Learning Chinese? Learning English? Just want to say a few words? Native speakers will help you listen and learn. Create an account, study the words you want to learn, play some games, listen to some stories...- TING - TOPICS IN CHINESE ENGLISH
Listen to Mandarin Chinese, practice speaking, learn new sentences. Topics include computers, weather, money, the four tones, practice with pinyin... then go to review pages for English, Chinese, Pinyin, and Sound.- SEARCH THE DATABASE
Ting is a database of basic vocabulary and sentences. You can search the database in English, Chinese characters, or pinyin. If you can't type Chinese characters, you can copy them from the pages of Ting and enter them into the search box. You don't need to login to look things up, but you will need to have an account if you want to save your search results.- LOGIN
Login or open a new account in Ting. With an account, you can choose sentences and words to study, get review sheets, flash cards and quizzes based on your words.
If you want to try it out type demo in both the username and password boxes.
- INSTRUCTIONS FOR TING - THE CHINESE EXPERIENCE
Instructions for listening to mpeg Layer 3 sound files, reading Chinese on the Internet, and suggestions for studying Chinese.- MANDARIN CHINESE - ENGLISH DATABASE
A downloadable database of the vocabulary from the Reader Series (Beijing Language Institute) built with Paradox.Information
- ABOUT MONEY
What are the monetary units in the United States and China -- how are they used?- LEARN TO COUNT IN CHINESE
Count from 1 to Quadrillion in Chinese. Multiply, count by two, three, and then play a game to see how fast you can count. You will need Flash 6 or better to view the Flash Movies.- CONVERSION TABLES FOR CHINESE RMB AND US DOLLARS
Several conversion tables are given to help the traveler.- THE EXCHANGE PROGRAM BETWEEN UMF AND BEIJING POYTECHNIC
Over thirteen years of faculty and student exchanges during the semester and as part of the summer exploration program.- TEACH AT BEIJING POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY
An opportunity to teach English in China.- MAP OF CHINA
Move your mouse over the provinces, click on a province to get more information and links to sound files at the top of the page.- TABLE OF PROVINCES
- MAP OF THE UNITED STATES
Move your mouse over the states, click on a state to get more information and links to sound files at the top of the page.- TABLE OF STATES
- Notes
Some information about the China Experience.- Guest Book
Come in, make yourselves at home. Relax, leave a message, talk with one another, exchange information.Outside Resources
- If you want to jump, try these. . .
Links to other pages.
- UMF Online
The University of Maine at Farmington
Comments to: Marilyn Shea, Department of Psychology
University of Maine at Farmington, Farmington, ME 04938
mshea@maine.edu
http://hua.umf.maine.edu/China/china.html
Last update: FEBRUARY 2006
© Marilyn Shea 1996, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006