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Some of the oldest elements of Chinese culture are mythology and symbolism. To the uninitiated, the symbols are merely artistic features. But once you understand the meanings behind each item in art or architecture, you realize a very ancient and symbolic world of good luck symbols and talismans.

Traditional Chinese culture was steeped in superstition and myth. Although the communist revolution has purged some of that, there remains a strong core of folklore that Chinese people share.

Another part of traditional Chinese culture lies in its traditional philosophies laid out by great thinkers such as Lao Zi, Kong Zi (Confucius), and Mencius. The martial arts have their own philosophies that are tied to traditional Chinese medicine. To understand China, one must know a bit about each philosophy.

From the infamous Tiananmen Square to the stately Great Wall, China's famous spots are truly awe inspiring. But there are thousands of visit-worthy spots in China -- bustling cities, rural villages, ancient monuments, natural wonders. Visit a few virtually by clicking on these lenses.

With four thousand years of recorded history, it is not surprising that China has over 2,300 museums. The top ten museums are scattered mostly over the eastern part of the nation.

As of 2006, there was one museum for every 600,000 Chinese people. That number is surely higher now. In most developed countries, the number is one museum for every 100,000 to 200,000 people. Of course more modern and prosperous cities such as Beijing and Shanghai do near those percentages. Visitors to China's museums are estimated to be 160 million people, a mixture of foreign and Chinese tourists.

From the humorous to the sublime, from gritty cities to simple countryside, China offers a panoramic vision of bliss to the photographer. Revel in the sights through this collection of photography lenses.

For tips visit these helpful links:
5 Tips for Travel Photography in China
Photography in China

These lenses are especially for homeschooling parents or teachers wanting to expose their children to China. Asia in general is often neglected in American education in favor of a more Western-centric curriculum. Although it is understandable to study the roots of Western civilization, there is much to be learned from the history of China.

Currently the most populated nation on the planet, China has no lack of people. And with a history spanning four thousand years, there are plenty of intriguing characters among the various eras. From warlords to poets, China offers biographies galore for the history buff.

The traditional Chinese holidays revolved around seasonal celebrations -- harvest and new year -- as well as religious rites -- burning incense for ancestors and scaring demons with noisy firecrackers.

The most important holiday is New Year (commonly called Spring Festival in modern China). This is the lunar not solar new year, so it occurs after the January first date that the Western world knows of as a new year.

Other important holidays are Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, and Tomb Sweeping Day.

Many of the handicrafts and folk arts of China are the domain of the 56 officially recognized ethnicities. Of course, the majority Han people have their own traditional crafts as well.

Here is an analogy for you:
Apple Pie is to America AS Tea is to China.

Tea is a large part of Chinese culture. No matter how large the city you visit, you will find tea shops everywhere. These tea shops are not just for purchasing tea leaves but also for sitting and drinking tea at ornate tea tables, made just for that purpose. Another clue to the importance of tea is the Chinese (Mandarin) word for coffee table. Literally it is tea table.

The official language of China is Mandarin (or Pu tong hua), but almost every city in China has its own language. That means that most Chinese people are essentially bilingual, knowing Mandarin plus a local tongue.

Rudyard Kipling said, "Oh, East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet." In many ways, he is right. But reading books about China are a step towards understanding more of the Eastern worldview.