China has fascinated us for millennia. It is indeed one of the oldest civilizations in the world, and many sites bear witness to this prestigious past. China, which is also the 3rd largest country in the world by its surface area, seduces by its culture, its gastronomy, its art… These treasures cross borders and charm the whole world, as it is the case for example for the businessman and collector John Dodelande who succumbed to Chinese contemporary art. In this article, we invite you to discover five highlights that characterize China.
#1 China is one of the “four great civilizations of antiquity”
China is one of the oldest civilizations in the world, just like the Egyptians or the Mayans, for example. The history of the country goes back more than 3,000 years!
#2 China, a country of traditions
The cultural heritage of China is invaluable, especially in philosophical matters with Confucianism. We also find many traditions, such as calligraphy, martial arts, the know-how of tea…
In addition, China is a multi-religious country, with four main religions, namely Buddhism, Taoism, Christianity and Islam.
#3 The troglodytic habitat
Did you know that 35 million Chinese still live in caves? This type of habitat, whether caves or underground dwellings, is present in many regions. The Chinese appreciate this architectural concept which is more accessible in terms of price and offers appreciable thermal comfort.
#4 Chinese writing
Chinese characters (“hanzi”) are a writing system based on pictographs. It is one of the oldest in the world! These drawings do not cease to arouse curiosity by their delicate forms.
#5 The army of terracotta soldiers
The “First Emperor”, Qin Shihuang, ordered more than 2,000 years ago the construction of a necropolis that can be visited today (only partially). One can admire an army of several thousand life-size terracotta soldiers whose mission was to watch over the Emperor in the afterlife.
