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My Romantic Travel   →  Shanghai
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Yuyuan Garden

by pushpitha Posted on

Shanghai, the largest city in China is a maze of modern high rises navigated by about a million people moving fast towards the future. But the heart of the city that is nearly a thousand years old is preserved for posterity in the buildings and lifestyles in old Shanghai. Taking people back to the times of the emperors, the Yuyuan gardens offer a serene escape from the chaos of the city.

Established in 1559 during the Ming Dynasty by Pan Yunduan, it was built to give his old father a place of rest. Passed on from generation to generation, it eventually fell into the hands of other owners, who maintained the costly grounds with the help of local merchants. The wars that ravaged the city in the late 19th and early 20th century took a heavy toll on the garden and nearly all the structures have been destroyed. After recovering it from the Japanese at the end of the World War II, it was given an intensive overhaul before being declared a national monument.

Covering the garden and the city in the background, the flora of the region provides a rich green backdrop for the many traditional temples and pavilions in the garden. Rock and water play an important role in creating the tranquil environment around. A gigantic boulder of 5 tons called Exquisite Jade Rock was meant for Beijing, but was saved from the sinking boat. Water poured on top of the rock will pass through small tunnels and pour out of several openings. It was so admired that a hall was built opposite to allow the visitors to absorb its beauty. The layout of the rockery and landscaping traditions that were practiced 500 years ago follows the Suzhou style. Among the waters and rocks are the pavilions and temples rise up with their red walls and curved grey roofs. Intricate carvings give these buildings a delicate feel.

The location is easily reached by various means of transport available in the city. Whether you are there for leisure or business a Luxury Hotel Shanghai ensures the best stay. Enjoy the modern comforts and chic atmosphere of The Langham Xintiandi Shanghai. Roam around this metropolis created hundreds of years ago to come and relax at some of the most modern Shanghai 5 Star Hotel.

Categories Travel

Weddings in China

by Pushpitha Wijesinghe Posted on

Rich in history, China boasts a wealth of cultural traditions and beliefs that can be seen even today. Weddings in China are an example of a cultural event that provides fascinating insights into the traditional practices.

A traditional Chinese wedding begins with the proposal, usually facilitated by a matchmaker who acts on behalf of the families of both the potential bride and groom. The main parties in these negotiations are the parents rather than the couple. Once the prospective parties are in agreement, the betrothal process begins. When an agreement is reached and engagement tokens have been presented, the families would then decide on the most favourable auspicious day for the wedding ceremony.

Two important rituals take place on the wedding day and they are both symbols of the bride and groom’s progression into adulthood. The ‘hair dressing’ ritual concerns the bride who on the dawn of her wedding bathes with water that has been mixed with pumelo that is believed to purify her from evil influences. This is followed by the bride being attended to by a person referred to as the ‘good luck woman’, who styles her hair in a traditional manner while speaking words believed to bring about good fortune. The ‘capping’ ritual involves the groom who puts on a red sash and a pair of red shoes before going and kneeling at the altar of his family. The groom’s father then places a cap adorned with cypress leaves on his son’s head. Since red is symbolic of joy, the bride and groom usually have a lot of red in their attire.

The wedding itself is a simple ceremony which centres on paying homage to family ancestors, ‘Heaven and Earth’ and ‘Tsao-Chun’, the Kitchen God. The ceremony also includes the offering of tea with two lotus seeds or red dates to the parents of the groom. An important element of the wedding is the subsequent banquet where family and friends join together to celebrate the union.

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