Chinaisveryold.Ithasfivethousandyearsofhistory.Thecultureisdeepandrich.Itislikeabigtreewithmanyroots.Therootsgodeepintotheearth.Thebranchesreachhighintothesky.ThiscultureshapeshowChinesepeoplelive.Itshapeshowtheythink.Itshapeshowtheyseetheworld.

Familyisthecenterofeverything.InChina,familycomesfirst.Thisideaiscalled"filialpiety".Itmeansrespectforparentsandelders.Childrenmusthonortheirparents.Theymustcareforthemwhentheyareold.Grandparents,uncles,aunts,allareimportant.Familymealsareabigevent.Everyonesitstogether.Theysharefoodandtalk.Theroundtableisacommonsight.Itsymbolizesunityandcompleteness.Theelderlysitintheseatsofhonor.Youngpeopleservetea.Thisshowsrespect.Holidaysareforfamilyreunion.TheSpringFestivalisthemostimportant.Peopletravellongdistancestogohome.Theyeatdumplingsandfish.Theygiveredenvelopeswithmoney.Thisbringsgoodluck.Familyisthefoundationofsociety.Astrongfamilymeansastrongcountry.

Chinesewritingisspecial.Itusescharacters,notletters.Eachcharacterisapicture.Itrepresentsanideaorathing.Thecharacterfor"mountain"lookslikeamountain.Thecharacterfor"river"lookslikeflowingwater.Learningcharacterstakestime.Childrenpracticeformanyyears.Writingisanartform.Thisiscalledcalligraphy.Peopleusebrushesandink.Goodcalligraphyisbeautiful.Itshowsdisciplineandskill.Writingconnectsthepasttothepresent.Ancientpoemsarestillreadtoday.Peoplelearnsayingsfromoldbooks.Thesesayingsteachgoodbehavior.Theyteachaboutlife.Writingisathreadthroughhistory.

Foodisakeypartoftheculture.Chinesepeoplesay"foodisheaven".Mealsarecarefullyprepared.Balanceisveryimportant.Foodhasfiveflavors.Thesearesour,sweet,bitter,spicy,andsalty.Agoodmealbalancestheseflavors.Colorandsmellarealsoimportant.Foodmustlookgoodandsmellgood.Riceandnoodlesarestaplefoods.Theyarethebaseofeverymeal.Differentregionshavedifferentfood.Sichuanfoodisveryspicy.Shanghaifoodisalittlesweet.Cantonesefoodisfreshandlight.Sharingfoodisawaytoshowlove.Whenguestscome,hostspreparemuchfood.Thisshowshospitality.Eatingtogetherbuildsrelationships.

Traditionalphilosophyguideslife.Confucianismisamajorphilosophy.Itteachesaboutrelationships.Itteachesaboutduty.Arulermustbejust.Asubjectmustbeloyal.Afathermustbekind.Asonmustberespectful.Friendsmustbetrustworthy.Thiscreatesaharmonioussociety.Taoismisanotherphilosophy.Ittalksaboutlivingwithnature.The"Tao"isthewayoftheuniverse.Peopleshouldnotfightnature.Theyshouldgowiththeflow.Balanceiskey.Theconceptof"yinandyang"isfamous.Yinisdark,soft,female.Yangisbright,hard,male.Theyareopposites.Buttheyneedeachother.Theyexisttogether.Thisideaisinmanypartsoflife.Itisinmedicine.Itisinfood.Itisinexercise.

Artandcraftshowbeauty.Chineseporcelainisfamousworldwide.Itisthinandstrong.Ithasaclear,ringingsound.Theblueandwhitepatternsareclassic.Silkisanothertreasure.Forcenturies,Chinamadethebestsilk.TheSilkRoadcarriedsilktofarlands.Silkissmoothandshiny.Itisusedforclothesandpaintings.Papercuttingisafolkart.Peoplecutredpaperintoshapes.Theycutflowers,animals,andcharacters.Theypastethemonwindowsforgoodluck.KungFuisaphysicalart.Itisnotjustfighting.Ittrainsthebodyandthemind.Itteachespatienceandcontrol.TaiChiisaslow,movingexercise.Peoplepracticeitinparkseverymorning.Itlookslikeadance.Itimproveshealthandcalmness.

Festivalsmarktheyear.Eachfestivalhasameaning.TheSpringFestivalwelcomesthenewyear.Peoplecleanhousestosweepawaybadluck.Theyputupreddecorations.Theysetofffirecrackers.TheDragonBoatFestivalisinsummer.Peopleracelong,narrowboats.Theyeatstickyricedumplings.Thisremembersaloyalpoetfromlongago.TheMid-AutumnFestivalisinautumn.Themoonisfullandbright.Familieseatmooncakes.Theylookatthemoonandthinkoffarawayrelatives.TheLanternFestivalendstheSpringFestival.Peoplelightlanternsandsolveriddleswrittenonthem.Thesefestivalskeeptraditionsalive.Theyconnectpeopletotheseasons.Theyconnectpeopletohistory.

Respectforlearningisdeep.Inoldtimes,scholarswerehighlyrespected.Passingtheimperialexamcouldchangeafamily'slife.Educationisstillveryimportanttoday.Parentsworkhardfortheirchildren'sschooling.Theybelieveknowledgeleadstoabetterfuture.Classicbooksarestillvalued.Bookslike"TheArtofWar"arereadforstrategy.PoemsfromtheTangDynastyarelovedfortheirbeauty.Theyareshortbutfulloffeeling.Peoplememorizethem.Theloveforlearningisanationalvalue.

Thecultureisbotholdandnew.Citieshavetallskyscrapers.Peopleusesmartphonesandhigh-speedtrains.Yettraditionalvaluesremain.Youngpeoplewearmodernclothes.ButtheystillgohomefortheSpringFestival.Theydrinkbubbletea.Buttheyalsoappreciateteaceremonies.Theywatchonlinevideos.Buttheystillknowstoriesfromancienttimes.Oldtemplesstandnexttonewbuildings.Thismixisnormal.Thepastisnotforgotten.Itispartofthepresent.Itguidesthefuture.

Chinesecultureispractical.Itisaboutlivingwellwithothers.Itisaboutfindingbalance.Itisabouthonoringthepastwhilemovingforward.Itisnotjustinmuseums.Itisineverydayactions.Itisinafamilymeal.Itisinastudentpracticingcharacters.ItisinamorningTaiChisession.Thecultureisvast.Itislikeadeepriver.Itkeepsflowing.Itnourishestheland.Itgiveslifetothepeople.ThiscultureistheheartofChina.Itbeatsthroughthousandsofyears.Itcontinuestoday.