Ru Ware - An Invention Born From 'A Dream' (Song Dynasty)

Short but good read on Ru ware. It's interesting how an invention born from 'a dream' during the Song Dynasty survived all the through to the Qing dynasty through imitations. Wasn't aware that Emperor Yongzheng was a fan of this 'jade-like gloss' ware too :p

http://www.chinatoday.com.cn/ctenglish/2018/cs/201802/t20180224_800118330.html

4 Interesting Facts about The Great Wall of China

Despite having climbed the Great Wall of China 3 times in the past, I must admit I still don't know much about it, apart from it being built to fend off enemies. Some interesting facts I recently uncovered from watching this short, informative TedEx video: 1. It originally stretched from Lintao to Liaodong. 2. It was initially called The Long Wall. 3. It was made longer during the Han dynasty and stretched from Dunhuang to Bohai Sea. 4. In WW2, certain sections were even used as defense against Japanese invasion. Enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23oHqNEqRyo&list=PLJicmE8fK0Eh7yolyPIVhJdPzLuTYC9In&index=34

An Amazing Virtual Tour Of The Old Summer Palace (Beijing)!

Delighted to have found this brief documentary (presented in the form of a virtual tour) highlighting the former glory of the old Summer Palace! My favourite section was the Zodiac Fountain, which featured 12 bronze Chinese zodiac statues. What's amazing about these statues is that they act as a water clock fountain by spouting water every 2 hours! I must admit I had no idea such technology even existed back in the 18th century :p Which section of this amazing wonder is your personal favourite?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAeVYL3ywYA

Amazing Emperor's Winter Retreat (Qianlong)

Enjoyed this brief, virtual tour of Qianlong's private paradise. Given its expansive decoration, spacious architecture and multiple function rooms, it's no surprise he could spend the winter months in this amazing private retreat!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlkPuwak2dE

What Were The Song Dynasty's 3 Biggest Contributions To The World?

A brief and informative documentary about the Song Dynasty. Their 3 biggest contributions:
1. Printing of paper money 2. The compass 3. Gunpowder Enjoy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QO7NHZJ-eE4

Longquan Celadon's Fascinating History and Traditional Firing Technology

Short, informative documentary highlighting the history of Longquan celadon and its traditional firing technology. Enjoy!

https://youtu.be/1U9coxtCLy4

Wow! A 350 year old Chinese 'Dragon' Kiln from the Ming dynasty!

I must admit I had no idea such old kilns were still churning out beautiful ceramic pieces today. Some interesting facts about the Qianshu Dragon Kiln:
1. Temperatures can reach up to 1400C (2552F). 2. The interior is covered with a layer of oil-like substance. 3. The fire burns for 3 days. 4. The cable outside the kiln is the only source of electricity used to pull goods from the bottom of the hill. 5. It is the only preserved ancient Dragon kiln in Yixing. Enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mavD3fT1eI