Category: Chinese customs

A wedding gown of Miao bride is made in five stages.  苗族的新娘礼服制作有五个步骤：

When the sun reaches the celestial longitude of 330 degrees, the solar term of “The Rains（雨水 Yǔshuǐ ） ” arrives. “The Rains” indicates that as the weather gets warmer, the amount of rainfall increases, at the same time the form of precipitation transforms from snowfall to rainfall. It usually happens on February 18 or February 19 and ends on March 4 or March 5. When passing the day of “The Rains”, the weather sometimes can be unpredictable for a few days. One minute, it rains and another minute, it shines. When the season comes, the otter starts fishing, the wild goose flies back to north from south and grass and trees start to sprout. No matter what, rain is the most important element in this solar term. Just like the Chinese farmers often say, “ Spring rain is as precious as oil（春雨贵如油 Chūnyǔ guì rú yóu ） ”, meaning raining is a sign that crops will soon grow faster.

Its Chinese name, Xianglong Zhaoi (Zhao's flying dragon), may bring to mind a colossal bugaboo flapping its giant wings across the sky and preying on little rabbits or sheep.

The Chinese zodiac, also called the Shengxiao(生肖 Shēngxiào) in Chinese, is composed of 12 zodiacal animal signs. Unlike Western Astrology which is based on 12 months, the Chinese zodiac is based on a 12-year cycle.

A rare rock painting was recently discovered on a large stone in a country lane in the border area between Guangdong and Guangxi provinces.