1. These impressive decorated arches are called what in China?
siheyuan
yuemen
paifang
dougong
A decorated archway was often built as a commemoration of someone important.
2. This sacred way to Imperial tombs is unusual for having some Indian-looking figures. Which dynasty does it commemorate?
Sui
Northern Song
Tang
Qin
The Northern Song dynasty had extensive contacts with other peoples along the Silk Route.
3. This emblematic bronze figure of a flying horse was found in which province?
Guangxi
Ningxia
Henan
Gansu
The famous bronze sculpture found at the Leitai Tomb of Eastern Han Dynasty date has the horse stepping on a flying swallow to further emphasize its speed and grace.
4. In which province can you find this historic village?
Anhui
Guangdong
Hebei
Zhejiang
Many of the houses of Hongcun village, Anhui date back to the Ming and Qing dynasties.
The Ding was a sacrificial vessel, originally used as a cauldron for cooking and storing meat. Typically dates back to the Shang dynasty.
6. The great locks at the Yangzi Three Gorges Dam were completed when?
1994
2000
2006
1990
The dam is not the largest in the world, but it is the largest hydro-electric power station capable of generating 18,300MW of power.
7. White make-up of a character in Chinese Opera usually symbolizes what?
Cowardice
Gallantry
Evil intent
Bravery
Black, blue, green, red, yellow and white colored make-up help an audience distinguish the type of character in a Chinese Opera. White make-up usually identifies the bad guys.
8. The distinctive style of this bronze head is associated with ancient people of which province?
Guangxi
Gansu
Sichuan
Shaanxi
The Sanxingdui culture of ancient Sichuan is little understood. It seems the people and their culture disappeared completely.
9. This is a statue of which Buddhist deity?
Ji Gong
Mi Le Fo
Guanyin
Da Fo
The Buddhist Goddess of Mercy, Guanyin, listens to any who will seek her help. The statues often have many (sometimes a thousand) eyes and arms apparently because the order describing the desired form was misheard.
10. This building is associated with which religion?
Judhaism
Buddhism
Islam
Christianity
Some mosques in Eastern China were built in the traditional Chinese architectural style. This one in Beijing was first built about 1000CE.
11. The traditional trinity of Daoist good luck gods: Fu, Lu and who?
Shou
Mazu
Huangdi
Lao
Fu Shen; Lou (or Lu) and Shou (福禄寿 Fú Lù Shòu) form a trinity of deities giving good luck, respectively: Happiness; Prosperity and a Long life.
Daoist deities bringing happiness; prosperity and long life
12. What were these ancient objects used for?
game pieces
agriculture
sacrifice
money
Spade money was used before coins came into use in China.
13. In which province are these famous mountains?
Shandong
Anhui
Guangxi
Xinjiang
A notable attraction of Anhui is scenic Huangshan (Yellow Mountains) in the south, a very popular mountain range to climb for Chinese as well as foreign visitors.
14. This famous bridge is located in which city?
Chengdu
Changsha
Guiyang
Nanchang
The Anshun bridge over the Jin River is at the heart of Chengdu, provincial capital of Sichuan.
15. Where might you expect to see a set of golden stupas like these?
Qinghai
Inner Mongolia
Yunnan
Sichuan
The Buddhist stupas of Yunnan are similar to those of neighboring Thailand and Burma. It is in an area of the Dai minority people.
16. This heated glass cup is being prepared for doing what?
containing herbs
capture 'qi'
ancestor worship
applying to skin
Cupping is a technique where a jar is filled with heated air and then sealed tight against the skin. The cooling air causes the skin to be forced up into the cup. It is supposed to work by drawing diseases out of the body.
17. Crescent Lake is a popular visitor attraction in which province?
Tibet
Henan
Gansu
Ningxia
月牙泉 Yuè yá quán (Crescent Lake) is in an oasis just south of Dunhuang, Gansu.
18. This temple in Chengdu, Sichuan is in honor of which hero from the Three Kingdoms Period
Lu Ban
Zhuge Liang
Cao Cao
Xi Wangmu
Zhuge Liang was the strategist who masterminded the defeat of Cao Cao in 208CE.
19. These individually sculpted lions decorate which famous feature?
Anping Bridge
Luding Bridge
Lugouqiao Bridge
Anji Bridge
The 卢沟桥 Lú gōu qiáo Bridge is also called the Marco Polo Bridge because the European traveler wrote so rhapsodically about it.
20. Where can you find these curious round buildings?
Shandong
Fujian
Guangxi
Yunnan
They are ‘tulous’ the fortified dwellings of the Hakka people in the mainly tea-growing areas of Fujian province.