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Learn the history about the Great Wall of China. How it was built and why, including the length and the dynasties that built it.

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Kids learn about Chinese New Year. The history and facts about this holiday celebrating the start of the year in China.

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Kids learn about the Terracotta Army of Ancient China. An army of life sized clay soldiers that were buried with the tomb of the first Emperor Qin.

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Kids learn about the Silk Road trade route from Ancient China to Europe. Goods such as silk, porcelain, and salt make China rich.

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Kids History: Daily Life in Ancient China

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Kids learn about the daily life in Ancient China including jobs, food, life in the city, family, and school.

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Ancient China for Kids: Inventions and Technology

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Kids learn about the inventions and technology of Ancient China to Europe such as paper, the compass, printing, and gunpowder.

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Kids learn about the legend of silk in Ancient Chinese history. How silk is made and the story behind who invented the cloth from a silkworm cocoon.

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Kids learn about the clothing of Ancient China. Materials used like silk and hemp to make robes and belts. Hairpins and other jewelry.

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Kids learn about the Festivals of Ancient China including the Chinese New Year and Spring, Lantern, Qingming, Dragon Boat, and the Night of Sevens.

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Kids learn about the entertainment and games of Ancient China including music, dance, opera, kites, board games, cards, and fun facts.

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Giant Panda: Learn about the cuddly looking bear.

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Learn about giant panda bears from China. They eat bamboo in the mountains and are an endangered species.

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GHOST CATS

These endangered cats are nearly impossible to see-they've even earned the nickname "ghost of the mountains." Their spotted coats act as cloaks of invisibility by blending into the rocky mountains of the 12 Central Asian countries where the cats live: Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Their range spans about two million square miles, which is about half the size of Greenland.

The mountains the snow leopards call home are rugged and extremely cold in the winter. But these cats have some amazing body parts that make living in the area no big deal. In addition to camouflaging them, a snow leopard's soft, dense fur keeps it warm in the bitter cold. Their large paws work like snowshoes, letting the cat walk on snow without sinking. And their long, heavy tail helps them keep their balance while they're chasing prey. At night, the cats curl their tails around their bodies like a cozy scarf to keep warm-and to stay hidden while sleeping. (Find out 5 reasons why you'll leap for snow leopards.)

SEARCHING FOR SNOW LEOPARDS

Few humans have seen snow leopards in real life, but hunting scenes like the one above have been captured on video by researchers who spend countless hours searching the mountains of Central Asia for snow leopards. Researchers think only 3,500 to 7,000 snow leopards exist in the wild, but no one knows for sure.

Snow leopard experts need to gather more information about the secretive cats' lives to help protect them. To do that, researchers use high-tech tools to spy on the shy animals. They gently trap the wild cats to examine them and put on satellite radio collars to track where the cats roam. Motion-activated digital cameras capture images of snow leopards, exposing many new details about how many there are, how they live, and what threatens their survival.

THE REAL THREAT

Even though snow leopards live in some of the most rugged mountain terrain on Earth, people pose the biggest threat to their survival. Poachers can sell a snow leopard's hide and bones for thousands of dollars. Herders often kill any snow leopard that attacks their livestock. Hunters target ibex, wild sheep, and other animals for food and trophies-removing important snow leopard prey. The more scientists can learn about snow leopards, the better they can protect these rarely seen cats from humans who harm them.

* The snow leopard's wide nose warms cold air before it enters its lungs.

* Snow leopards can mew, growl, and puff ... but they can't roar.

* Adult snow leopards are solitary, but young siblings will cuddle and play.

* Snow leopards have powerful legs and can jump as far as 50 feet.

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A snow leopard peers down from a craggy rock ledge high in the peaks of Mongolia, a country in Asia. She's on the lookout for a snack. The animal's spotted beige fur allows her to blend in almost completely with the rocks, making the cat a nearly invisible hunter.

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Great Wall of China Facts for Kids | Architecture, Geography & Size

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The large series of forts built along the northern border of Ancient China is called the Great Wall of China. Click for more facts.

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The ancient Chinese invented many, many things - things we still use today. Their inventions include paper, silk, matches, gunpowder, porcelain, lacquer ware, fireworks, medicines, kites, tea, the umbrella, jump ropes, tangrams, dominoes, musical instruments, ink, the crossbow, decimals, the compass, tangrams, folding screens, and my personal favorite - ice cream!

What the ancient Chinese did not do was make many advances in labor saving devices. There were so many people in ancient China that they had no need of labor saving devices. They had lots of labor. So, there was no need for the development of factories. Instead, the ancient Chinese people concentrated on making handmade individual items.

Hear Ancient Chinese Musical Instruments

Interactive Abacus Game

Mahjong game (interactive)

Make your own paper
Acupuncture & Medicines Art - Performing Arts, Paper, Paintings, Statues Chinese Kites Calligraphy Folding Screens & Mahogany Furniture Chinese Lanterns Play Around with Decimals Ancient Inventions Ancient Chinese Stories
Ancient Chinese Hand Made Items

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The ancient Chinese invented many, many things - things we still use today. Their inventions include paper, silk, matches, gunpowder, porcelain, lacquer ware, fireworks, medicines, kites, tea, the umbrella, jump ropes, tangrams, dominoes, musical instruments, ink, the crossbow, decimals, the compass, tangrams, folding screens, and my personal favorite - ice cream!

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In ancient times, China's geography included natural barriers of fierce deserts and the Himalayan Mountains.

The Himalayans are not located in modern day China. China's borders have changed over the years. Today, the Himalayans run along near the border of modern day southern China. Just as in ancient imes, the Himalayans are very high mountains. Ten of the highest mountain peaks in the world are found in the Himalayans, one of which is Mount Everest, the very highest peak in the world.

It has always been very difficult to climb over the Himalayan Mountains. In ancient times, since people could not climb over them, they had to find a way through them, and that was tough. So the Himalayans helped to protect the early people who settled in the interior of China from invasion.

For many thousands of years, China was isolated from the rest of world, in great part due to her natural barriers.

Ancient China's Natural Barriers

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In ancient times, China's geography included natural barriers of fierce deserts and the Himalayan Mountains. The Himalayans are not located in modern day China. China's borders have changed over the years. Today, the Himalayans run along near the border of modern day southern China. Just as in ancient imes, the Himalayans are very high mountains.

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The History of the Great Wall of China for Kids - FreeSchool

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See China’s Iconic Great Wall From Above | National Geographic

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The Forbidden City - Ancient China for Kids

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Construction of the Forbidden City began during the middle ages in China, in the year 1406. The construction only took 14 years to build, but it took an estimated one million workers 14 years to build. Inside the complex, there are hundreds of perfect and beautiful buildings. Th…

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Terra Cotta Army - Ancient China for Kids

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Can you imagine digging a well on your land one day, seeking a source of fresh water to water your crops, and discovering instead a life-sized terracotta soldier made completely out of clay? That’s what happened to a farmer in China in 1974! At first, the farmer and the other men from his tiny…

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The Story of the Terra Cotta Warriors | The Children's Museum of Indianapolis

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Fortune Tales | The Story of Lunar New Year

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When you think of ancient China, you might think of tea.

Legend says ... Around 2737 BCE, a Chinese Emperor was sitting his garden. He had a pot of drinking water at his elbow. A leaf fell off a nearby bush and drifted into the pot of water. And tea-drinking was born!

Word of this new beverage spread very slowly. Tea did not really become popular in China until T'ang times.

Tea drinking in ancient China never had all the customs attached to it that became part of the Japanese tea drinking ceremony, but tea was enjoyed.

The selection of the right teapot used to brew the tea was just as important as the selection of the type of tea itself.

Little packets of tea were given as gifts by Chinese Emperors.

The word t'e comes from the ancient Chinese.

The History of Tea (cartoon video for kids)
Chopsticks - Ancient Superstitions & Etiquette Other Foods

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Tea - A legend and a drink in ancient China, for Kids - Ancient China for Kids

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When you think of ancient China, you might think of tea. Legend says ... Around 2737 BCE, a Chinese Emperor was sitting his garden. He had a pot of drinking water at his elbow. A leaf fell off a nearby bush and drifted into the pot of water. And tea-drinking was born!

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Chinese food is a term that talks about the food that comes from all over China and the cuisine of China. It is an important part of Chinese culture. This food comes from the very different parts of China and also the food made by Overseas Chinese that live in other parts of the world. Because there are a lot of Chinese immigrants around the world, and because China was very important in the past, many food from other countries in Asia have been affected by Chinese food. Important parts of Chinese food are rice, soy sauce, noodles, tea, and tofu. Tools like chopsticks and the wok are also very important.

The four most important types of Chinese food are Sichuan food (Chuan), Shandong food (Lu), Guangdong food (Yue), and Huaiyang food. They each represent the food made in the western, northern, southern, and eastern parts of the country.

Images for kids

A Quanjude cook is slicing Peking roast duck. Peking duck is eaten by rolling together with scallion, cucumber and sweet bean sauce using steamed pancakes.

Dàzhǔ gānsī is a typical soup dish of Huaiyang cuisine. It is made of finely sliced dried tofu, chicken, ham and bamboo shoot, and ingredients need to be braised with shrimp in chicken soup. It was highly praised by the Qianlong emperor.

Steamed whole perch with roe inside. Sliced ginger and spring onion is usually spread on top.

Map showing major regional cuisines of China

Several kinds of soybean products are sold in a farmer's market in Haikou, China.

Dōngguā xiārén fěnsī tāng (winter melon, shrimp and cellophane noodle soup)

Longjing tea, also known as Dragon Well tea, is a variety of roasted green tea from Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China, where it is produced mostly by hand and has been renowned for its high quality, earning the China Famous Tea title.

Zhájiàng Miàn (noodles with bean paste) is a traditional northern Chinese dish. It has spread to South Korea where it is known as Jajangmyeon.

Silverware from the Song dynasty (10th - 13th centuries): Chopsticks, bowl and spoon

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Chinese food is a term that talks about the food that comes from all over China and the cuisine of China. It is an important part of Chinese culture. This food comes from the very different parts of China and also the food made by Overseas Chinese that live in other parts of the world.

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Learn Different Foods in Mandarin Chinese for Toddlers, Kids & Beginners | 食物

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It was during the Shang Dynasty that many important things were invented. Two of the most important was the use of bronze weapons and a system of writing called calligraphy. Chopsticks were invented as well.

Calligraphy was an art form (and still is.) In ancient China, calligraphy was a means of communication, a way to write things down. It was also a way to express yourself. Noble and royal children had to learn calligraphy. Even emperors practiced until they good at writing calligraphy. Of course emperors could appoint someone to write for them, but the ability to write in calligraphy showed control and inner peace. It was a sign of status. The emperor had the highest status of all.

In Search of Dragon Bones (interactive)
See your name in Chinese Ancient Chinese Inventions

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It was during the Shang Dynasty that many important things were invented. Two of the most important was the use of bronze weapons and a system of writing called calligraphy. Chopsticks were invented as well. Calligraphy was an art form (and still is.)

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How to start? | Chinese Calligraphy Tutorial

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Interesting Facts about Daily Life in Ancient China

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Interesting Facts about Daily Life in Ancient China

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About two weeks after the start of each new year, the ancient Chinese celebrated a holiday named the Lantern Festival. This holiday celebrated the way to a bright and happy future. To celebrate, people would light lanterns and sit out and enjoy the moon.

Today, people still celebrate the Lantern Festival. Lanterns are hung in home and school and shopping malls and food markets. Children make paper lanterns at school. The idea of the Lantern Festival has remained the same - the light the way to a safe and happy new year.

How to draw a Chinese lantern
Free China Games Ancient Chinese Stories

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Lantern Festival - Ancient China for Kids

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About two weeks after the start of each new year, the ancient Chinese celebrated a holiday named the Lantern Festival. This holiday celebrated the way to a bright and happy future. To celebrate, people would light lanterns and sit out and enjoy the moon. Today, people still celebrate the Lantern Festival.

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Miss Panda Chinese - Mandarin Chinese for Children

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Chinese Culture for Kids: Chinese Lantern Festival Lanterns and Tradition

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Chinese Lantern Festival - Yuán xiāo jié - 元宵節 is on February 11 this year (2017). It is the fifteenth day of the lunar new year and it is time to carry the lanterns and celebrate the last day of the Lunar New Year festivities.

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The Spring Lantern Festival marks the end of the Chinese New Year Festivities with the first full moon of the year. On this brightly lit night, thousands of lanterns line the streets, hung from homes and storefronts, hotels and businesses, markets and schools... setting the stage for the processions and colorful performances to end the festivities.

Besides the fantastic lantern displays, this festival is celebrated with an array of carnivals throughout the cities. There is a variety of cultural performances including martial arts and kung fu demonstrations, sometimes floats and parades with clowns, stilt walkers, acrobats... lots of music and drumming and of course the Chinese Lion and Dragon Dances and firecrackers!

Right before the holidays, people have already stocked up with lanterns which are found everywhere at the colorful lunar new year flower fairs.

At home, children carry their lanterns around the village and families come together to eat sweet rice balls for good fortune and family unity.

Although the red balloon lanterns are the most common and almost a symbol of Chinese culture, the stunning lantern displays nowadays can take all sorts of shapes, colors and forms.

Sometimes the displays pay homage to that particular year Chinese Zodiac animal...

... in some cases a "theme" is chosen for that year's displays, i.e. the environment, children, particular animals...

Thematic Lantern Exhibition in Hong Kong
"Glittering Peacocks in Full Moon"

At any rate, regardless of the theme for the year, the displays never disappoint!

Check out the Lantern Festival and faboulous displays in Kunming, Yunnan Province:

There are many legends as to the origins of the Lantern Festival and many popular traditional practices have evolved through the years.

One particular celebration in the mountain area of PingXi right outside Taipei is particularly stunning. Known as the"Festival of the Sky Lanterns", hundreds of lanterns decorated with pictures and calligraphy with "lucky sayings" are lit and released into the sky in unison.

Click on the arrow and take a look at this delightful video:

More Chinese Lantern Festivals

Besides the Spring Lantern Festival that takes place on the 1st full moon of Chinese New Year, there is also the Mid-Autumn Festival or Moon Festival when Lanterns are also front and center during the celebrations.

As the name implies, it takes place during the Autumn and celebrates the culmination of the harvesting season on the 8th Full Moon in the Lunar Calendar.

More on the Moon Festival or Mid-Autumn Festival here.

About Chinese Lanterns

Chinese Lanterns are more than just decorations. Through the years, they have had different functions and served as a means of communication.

Red Lanterns have traditionally been a sign of joy and vitality, when placed on the doorways, it was a way of participating a birth or impending marriage.

A White Lantern, on the other hand, meant a death in the family.

Nowadays, the most common lantern is the Red Balloon which is found all over during main Chinese celebrations and throughout Chinatowns around the world, it has become a symbol of Chinese Culture.

Red Lanterns make beautiful decorations, give a festive mood to any setting and can be found easily at your local Chinese goods store or even better you can make your own!

Chinese Lanterns were traditionally made of silk, paper and even glass.

Although the most common is the typical red balloon lantern, nowadays Chinese Lanterns come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors.

There are lanterns in shapes of boxes, lotus flowers, dragons, butterflies and all sorts of animals.

They range from the small lanterns carried by hand made of paper by school children to gigantic floats shaped in the Chinese Zodiac animal for that year made by teams of craftsmen, like this huge Dragon Lantern made for the Year of the Dragon:

Make Your Own Chinese Paper Lantern

Making your own Chinese paper lantern is easy. All you need is some paper, scissors and glue, we show you how here.

Lantern Festivals Around the World

It is quite possible to catch one of these wonderful displays which tour around cities all over the world throughout the year. Keep an eye out for them, we have seen them in London and Miami. The gorgeous lantern displays are set up for about 6 weeks, the lanterns are handmade by Chinese artisans and some of the gigantic displays can reach over 30 feet high and 300 feet long.

Check out the Lantern Light Festival Tour Schedule here.

And check out our Pinterest board for more Lantern Festivals around the world!

Chinese New Year Celebrations Around The World

More Chinese New Year Traditions and Celebrations

Most Popular Excursions

Book with confidence! Free cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund

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During the Lantern Festival in the spring, thousands of brightly lit lanterns line the streets, setting the stage for the parades and colorful performances to mark the end of the Chinese New Year celebrations.

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Learn Foods in Chinese - Mandarin for kids

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Learn Foods in Mandarin. Learn Chinese vocabulary for kids.

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Cute US kids living in China share their favorite foods and places to visit

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Mount Everest Facts and  History - Fun Facts for Kids | Educational Videos by Mocomi

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Looking to learn more about Chinese paper making? Improve your knowledge on Chinese bamboo paper and find out more about Ancient China with DK Find Out for kids

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DK Find Out! | Fun Facts for Kids on Animals, Earth, History and more!

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Visit DK Find Out! to learn about dinosaurs, space, animals, nature & more. Fun learning activities for kids with videos, quizzes & galleries at DKFindOut.com

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DK Find Out! | Fun Facts for Kids on Animals, Earth, History and more!

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Visit DK Find Out! to learn about dinosaurs, space, animals, nature & more. Fun learning activities for kids with videos, quizzes & galleries at DKFindOut.com

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Get information about Chinese dress from the DK Find Out website for kids. Improve your knowledge on traditional Chinese clothing and more with DK Find Out.

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DK Find Out! | Fun Facts for Kids on Animals, Earth, History and more!

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Visit DK Find Out! to learn about dinosaurs, space, animals, nature & more. Fun learning activities for kids with videos, quizzes & galleries at DKFindOut.com

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Find out more about the terracotta army with fun facts. Get information about the terracotta army and Ancient China with DK Find Out, to help kids learn.

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DK Find Out! | Fun Facts for Kids on Animals, Earth, History and more!

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Visit DK Find Out! to learn about dinosaurs, space, animals, nature & more. Fun learning activities for kids with videos, quizzes & galleries at DKFindOut.com

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DK Find Out! | Fun Facts for Kids on Animals, Earth, History and more!

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Visit DK Find Out! to learn about dinosaurs, space, animals, nature & more. Fun learning activities for kids with videos, quizzes & galleries at DKFindOut.com

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DK Find Out! | Fun Facts for Kids on Animals, Earth, History and more!

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Visit DK Find Out! to learn about dinosaurs, space, animals, nature & more. Fun learning activities for kids with videos, quizzes & galleries at DKFindOut.com

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DK Find Out! | Fun Facts for Kids on Animals, Earth, History and more!

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Visit DK Find Out! to learn about dinosaurs, space, animals, nature & more. Fun learning activities for kids with videos, quizzes & galleries at DKFindOut.com

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Invention Of Silk | The Dr. Binocs Show | Best Learning Video for Kids | Preschool Learning

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Invention Of PAPER | The Dr. Binocs Show | Best Learning Video for Kids | Fun Preschool Learning

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Paper | Chinese inventions (Hello China #11)

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Gunpowder | An explosive Chinese invention (Hello China #10)

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Calligraphy | The ancient art of expression (Hello China #20)

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A selection of 100 Chinese words that represent the essence of traditional Chinese culture, reflect its extensive and profound nature from different angles, and help people overseas better understand China and Chinese culture.

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A selection of 100 Chinese words that represent the essence of traditional Chinese culture, reflect its extensive and profound nature from different angles, and help people overseas better understand China and Chinese culture.

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Spring Festival and its colourful traditions (Hello China #31)

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Dragon Boat Festival and its tragic origins (Hello China #33)

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Qixi Festival | Chinese Valentine's Day (Hello China #34)

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Mid-Autumn Festival | An introduction (Hello China #35)

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Chinese Lion Dance | An introduction (Hello China #39)

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Great Wall of China | An introduction (Hello China #47)

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Forbidden City | Chinese imperial palace (Hello China #48)

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Dumplings and the Chinese family (Hello China #60)

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Beijing Roast Duck | A culinary experience (Hello China #61)

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Tanghulu | A traditional Chinese snack (Hello China #62)

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Tanghulu is a typical winter snack food in north China. It is mainly made from Chinese hawthorn fruits. The fruits are dipped into sugar syrup and then pierced on bamboo skewers.

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Tofu | Vegetarian meat (Hello China #64)

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Noodles | Chinese food (Hello China #66)

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Fish | A Chinese cultural symbol (Hello China #67)

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A selection of 100 Chinese words that represent the essence of traditional Chinese culture, reflect its extensive and profound nature from different angles, and help people overseas better understand China and Chinese culture.

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Chopsticks | Chinese food (Hello China #75)

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Chinese silk and its ancient beauty (Hello China #77)

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One Chinese saying claims that if you want to identify a beauty then you should look at her appearance in a cheongsam, a classic dress for women also known as a Qipao in China.

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Tang Suit | Chinese fashion (Hello China #87)