Transcript Document

Fauna
Gardens
Landscapes
Flora
China is one of the countries with the most
abundant plant life In the world. There are more
than 32,000 species of higher plants, and almost
all the major plants that grow in the northern
hemisphere’s frigid, temperate and tropical zones
are represented in China.
In addition, there are more than 7,000species of
woody plants, including 2,800-odd tree species.
China is also the home to more than 2,000 species
of edible plants, 3,000 species of medicinal
plants, and a wide variety of flowering plants.
more ...
The lotus flower is one of the most ancient and deepest
symbols of our planet.
The lotus flower grows in muddy water and rises above
the surface to bloom with remarkable beauty. At night the
flower closes and sinks underwater, at dawn it rises and
opens again. Untouched by the impurity, lotus symbolizes
the purity, of heart and mind. The lotus flower represents
long life, health, honor and good luck.
Tea Terraced Fields
Cotton Plantations
Rice Terraces
Loess Soils
Methods of growing differ
greatly in different localities,
but in most Asian countries
the traditional hand methods
of cultivating and harvesting
rice are still practiced. The
fields are prepared by plowing
(typically with simple plows
drawn by water buffalo),
fertilizing (usually with dung
or sewage), and smoothing (by
dragging a log over them).
RICE
GROWING
The seedlings are started in seedling beds
and, after 30 to 50 days, are transplanted by
hand to the fields, which have been flooded
by rain or river water. During the growing
season, irrigation is maintained by dikecontrolled canals or by hand watering. The
fields are allowed to drain before cutting.
When the rice is ready to harvest, they drain
the water into lakes.
In some parts of the world they grow dry rice,
usually in hills and mountains where there is
not a lot of water.
ginkgo
ginkgo
The oldest tree in the world which
first appeared during the Jurassic
age some million years ago.
bonsai
b
a
m
b
o
o
Bamboo is one of the four favorite plants along with
Chinese plum, orchid and chrysanthemum, the socalled
Four Men of Honor by the Chinese. The characters of
the four plants are highly admired by the Chinese so
they want to be just like the four plants. In turn, the
plants have possessed some human nature.
This is an example of the harmony between nature
and human being. There are 400 types of bamboo used
to make many goods: chopsticks, flute, paintbrushes
or carvings.
Love Tree
Classical Chinese Gardens are full of fish ponds,
artificial lakes, pavillions and arched-bridges.
They are not very large but fascinating in their
delicate design, demonstrating various styles
depending on the tastes of dynasty emperors.
Nevertheless, they have one thing in common.
Their design is based on Zen concept which refers
to human’s life.
Zen Concept reads as follows:
“The arrangement of rocks (representing mountains), sand (representing
a stream of water – the flow of life) and sparse vegetation is symbolic
of an individual’s journey through life. A rock symbolizing Mount
stands in the northeastern corner. A stream of imaginary water flows
rapidly from the rock, representing youth. Then various obstacles
present themselves, with the “tigerhead stone” representing tragedy. The
flow of water is checked and slowed by the stones and a rocky wall,
meaning doubt and contradiction, and the water swirls as if lost and
confused. Once the stream moves past this point, it becomes faster and
wider, having learned from hard experience. In the middle of this
section of the stream, a turtle is observed trying to swim against the
flow, demonstrating the pointlessness of trying to return to the past.
The southern end of the garden is empty, composed only of white sand,
which symbolizes the mind freed from thoughts and emotions”.
Japanese Garden
China is one of the countries with the greatest diversity of
wildlife in the world. There are more than 4,400 species of
vertebrates in China, which accounts for more than10 per cent
of the world’s total. Wildlife peculiar to China includes such
well-known animals as the giant panda, snub-nosed monkey,
South China tiger, brown-eared pheasant, white-flag dolphin,
Chinese alligator and red-crowned crane, totaling more than
100 species
sheep
wild duck
yak
Water buffalo
In wild
An adult panda weighs approximately 250 kg
and eats about 30 kilograms of bamboo daily. It
lives in captivity for 35 years, while in wild 27
on average. When it’s 1 year old, it starts eating
bamboo, half a year later has the first teeth. At
the age of 5, it can deliver own baby; usually
each panda has 1 to 3 offsprings, artificially
inseminated.
The Giant Panda Breeding Base near Czengdu
provides very good conditions for their survival,
similar to their natural habitat. About 100
pandas live on the area of 20, 000 hectares,
enjoying freedom in wild.
Trained cormorants on leashes are used to fish for
small trout. To prevent them swallowing the fish
they catch, the birds are fitted with small rings
around their necks. The boats that carry the birds
work at night so a bright lamp is suspended from
the bow to attract the fish.
China abounds in rivers. More than 1,500 rivers each drain
1,000 square kms or larger areas. Major large rivers rise from
Tibet Plateau, and most rivers in China flow east and empty
into the Pacific Ocean.
The Yangtze, 6,300 kilometers in length, is the largest river
in China , and the third longest in the world. The 5,464kilometre-long Yellow River , the second longest in China, is
reputed as one of the “Cradles of the Chinese Civilisation”.
Dongting
Yamdrok
Rakas
Kuku-nor
Few countries boast such majestic and
intriguing landscape as China. The vast
country has both the imposing mountains
and graceful rivers, and the picturesque
water-towns (like Venice of East); both
the snow-covered scenery in the north
and luxuriant vegetation in the south; as
well as vast Gobi, boundless deserts and
endless grasslands.
China’s topography is varied and complicated. The splendid land of the country is
glorified by far-reaching mountain chains, mountain-rimmed basins, magnificent
and undulate highlands as well as boundless plains.
The terrain gradually descends like a four-step staircase:
1 step – Tibet Plateau called the Roof of the World at 4,000 m above the sea
level;
2 step – Inner Mongolia and Sichuan Basins – an elevation of 1,000 to 2,000 m
a.s.l
3 step – the North China Plain and others – 500 to 1,000 m a.s.l
4 step – the land extends out into the ocean – the water is less than 200 metres
deep. Turpan lies in depression – 154 m
below sea level – and is the hottest
place on the Earth. It’s a typical
oasis town to which water is routed
from distant glaciers through the
irrigation channel system called
“Karez” .
The highlands and mountain regions account for
two-thirds of the country’s total land mass. Chinese
chose 9 mountains and hailed them sacred – 4
Buddhists and 5 Taoist; the heighest being Mount
Emei which lies at 3,099 metres in Sichuan basin.
It’s known as the place of Buddhist Rites of
Bodhisattva who gained the highest level of
enlightenment but gave up entering the state of
“Nirvana” to help all beings on the Earth.
The Rock is treated as a Tower of Strength,
something stable , giving us support in need and the
feeling of security. That’s why in nearly every
town, park or any public place there is a rock in its
centre. The rock could be also a symbol epitomizing
a mountain which is considered sacred by the
Chinese or Japanese. Consequently, Far East Asian
like taking photos of themselves next to the rocks.
Maijishan
Grottoes
Longmen
Grottoes
Yungang
Grottoes
Reed
Flute
Cave
JUIZHAIGOU – VALLEY OF NINE VILLAGES
Tourists come here to relish breathtaking
sights – snow-capped peaks, foaming
waterfalls, hypnotizing lakes of wide colour
spectrum, especially: jade , emerald and
sapphire or turquoise. This enchanting view is
thanks to algae, short-wave radiation and
light dispersion
It consists of 3 sections: the forest
park, Tianzi mountain and Suoxi
valley, but can also boast of two
unique attractions:
the biggest external lift, with entry in
the Guinness Record Book because
reaches the height of 326 metres within
118 seconds;
the highest natural bridge in the world
over the precipice of 300 metres in the
form of 40 metre long ridge (rock arch).
China’s long and winding coastline is indented by many fine harbours
and beaches ,cut out for the joy and relaxation of holidaymakers.
Hajnan Island called also Hawaii of Orient or Hell Gates because of
scorching hot is a paradise for vacationers owing to sandy beaches, exotic
palm trees and luxurious hotels. However, the biggest attraction of this
area, specially in November, are beautiful girls who come here every year as
100 candidates for the Beauty Contest” Miss of the World”.
Most of China territory lies in the Temperate Zone, with a small
part extending south into the Tropical and Subtropical Zones and
the northernmost tip close to the Frigid Zone. China has a marked
continental monsoon climate characterized by great variety.
Northerly winds prevail in winter, while southerly winds reign in
summer.
The four seasons are quite
distinct. The rainy season
coincides with the hot
season. The warm and
moist summer monsoons
from the oceans bring
abundant rainfall and high
temperatures.
4 SEASONS
OF THE
YEAR
USEFUL PHRASES:
To abound in sth/abundant
To relish breathtaking views
To live in captivity
To live in wild/ at large
Artificially inseminated
Boundless/ endless plains
Edible plants
Impurity = contamination
It rises at dawn
Be peculiar to sth = specific for
Flowers bloom or are in blossom
It accounts for 10%
To hail sth sacred
To epitomize sth
Offsprings
A pheasant and a crane
To prevail in winter
To coincide sth with sth
80-odd woody plants
– obfitować w coś
– rozkoszować się
– żyć w niewoli
– na wolnosci
– sztucznie zapłodniony
– bezkresne równiny
-- jadalne
– zanieczyszczenie
– budzi się do życia o świcie
– rozkwitaja
- to stanowi 10%
– okrzyknać coś/kogoś świętym
– być uosobieniem czegoś
– potomstwo
- bażant i żuraw
– dominować zimą
– zbiegać się w czasie
– osiemdziesiąt kilka
AUTHORS:
Karolina Dudek & Danuta Mirońska
European School Club
Liceum Ogólnokształcące 1
39-300 Mielec
Poland
Source: Best Scenery & Sights in China, Internet, personal photos