4 . The Water-Splashing Festival is a traditional festival for the Dai people in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province in the southwest of China. It is the New Year for the Dai, a festival to send off the old and greet the new. Usually, the festival takes place from April 13th to15th, about ten days after the Qingming Festival.

During the festival, the door of every house is decorated with multicolored pieces of paper. All the villagers dress up in their best clothes. Sheep and cows are killed for feasting, plus delicious glutinous rice cakes, rice noodles, and rice wine. The occasion is marked by all kinds of entertainment, including singing and dancing, fireworks displays, boat racing, etc. But the most popular event is water-splashing.

On the eve of the festival, activities include fireworks displays and dragon boat racing. The second day is known as Neuter Day, which belongs to neither the old year nor the new year. On this day, according to custom, people usually stay at home.

The third day means a lot to the Dai people, because it’s their New Year’s Day. In the morning, people dress up and go to the temple to show their respect for Buddha. They sit around the pagodas to listen respectfully to scripture and historical legends, and pray for good weather. In the afternoon, every woman will carry fresh water to clean the Buddha statue so she might get his blessing. People then splash water on each other, which symbolizes the blessing, rinsing(冲洗) away sickness and disaster with holy water for a happy life.

Water-splashing is central to all because water, the symbol of holiness, goodness and purity, is the most valuable thing to the Dai. During the festival, people gather by the roadside and in public parks and squares armed with buckets and basins of water, to drench each other in wishes for good luck and a happy new year.

The Water-Splashing Festival is an important event to show the traditional culture of Dai and it provides an opportunity to study the history of Dai, which has high academic value. At the same time, the festival is an important link to strengthening the unity of all ethnic groups in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, which plays a positive role in the friendly cooperation and contact between the area and southeast Asian countries.

5 . Differences between people within any given nation or culture are much greater than differences between groups. Education, social standing, religion, personality, belief structure, past experience, affection shown in the home, and a myriad (大量) of other factors will affect human behavior and culture.

Sure there are differences in approach as to what is considered polite and appropriate behavior both on and off the job. In some cultures “yes” means, “I hear you” more than “I agree”. Length of pleasantries and greetings before getting down to business; level of tolerance for being around someone speaking a foreign (not-understood) language; politeness measured in terms of gallantry (殷勤) or etiquette(e.g., standing up for a woman who approaches a table, yielding a seat on the bus to an older person, etc.); and manner of expected dress are all examples of possible cultural differences and traditions.

In México it is customary for the arriving person to greet the others. For instance, someone who walks into a group of persons eating would say prove Cho (enjoy your meal). In Chile, women often greet both other women and men with a kiss on the cheek. In Russia women often walk arm in arm with their female friends. Paying attention to customs and cultural differences can give someone outside that culture a better chance of assimilation (同化) or acceptance. Ignoring these can get an unsuspecting person into trouble.

There are cultural and ideological differences and it is good to have an understanding about a culture’s customs and ways. Aaron Pun, a Canadian ODC net correspondent, wrote: “In studying cross cultural differences, we are not looking at individuals but a comparison of one ethnic group against others. Hence, we are comparing two bell curves and generalization cannot be avoided.” Another correspondent explained the human need to categorize. True and true, but the danger comes when we act on some of these generalizations, especially when they are based on faulty observation. Acting on generalizations about such matters as eye contact, personal space, touch, and interest in participation can have serious negative consequences.

6 . Mexico is an ideal destination for you to broaden horizons. Its diverse culture and impressive Maya heritage sites will offer you a unique vacation. Taking a private guided Mexico tour is an excellent way to enjoy some amazing places.

Day 1

After breakfast, our guide will take you to Teotihuacan to visit the world famous Pyramid (金字塔) of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon. You can also climb the Pyramid of the Sun to see the entire ancient city of Teotihuacan. Later, return to Mexico City and head to Plaza de la Constitución, a landmark in the center of the old city. Also, we will visit the capital’s cathedral (大教堂) and the National Palace there.

Day 2

Today, we will drive to Puebla, a famous ancient city in central Mexico. It was listed on the World Heritage List by UNESCO in 1987 as a cultural heritage site. Full of colorful houses, it is a typical Spanish style city. Here we will visit the oldest library in America—the Biblioteca Palafoxiana, and the church—Capilla del Rosario.

Day 3

After breakfast, we will depart from Puebla to the beautiful Oaxaca City. Upon arrival, we plan to go first to Square of Zocalo to start today’s Mexico vacation packages, then to the beautiful Templo de Santo Domingo, a 16th-century Baroque church. The two 35-metre-high bell towers next to the church are some of Oaxaca’s most beautiful buildings. The local cuisine is also well worth a try, and our guide will be happy to recommend some must-have snacks for you.

Day 4

On the 4th day of Mexico vacation packages, we are going to Chichen Itza, one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. This world-famous Mayan ruins have long been a sacred place for the Mayans. The most famous must-see is the Great Pyramid of Kukulkan.

9 . Qingming Shang He Tu

No doubt, one of the most admired Chinese paintings of all time is the Qingming Shang He Tu, or Along the River During the Qingming Festival.The painting is on a silk scroll that is 24.8 cm wide and 528.7 cm long, bearing Emperor Huizong’s name.It was painted by Zhang Zeduan, who was a court painter during the Northern Song Dynasty.

This amazingly detailed painting quickly became a national treasure. Over the centuries that follow hundreds of copies of it were made, many of which became national treasures themselves. Although the original painting was lost for some time, it is now proudly placed in the Palace Museum in Beijing.

The painting is exhibited for only brief periods every few years. However using computer animation, the painting has been remade into an animated digital version for all to enjoy. It contains moving characters and objects, showing life along the Bian River during the Qingming Festival, a time when Chinese people visit their ancestors’ graves.

Flowing from right to left, the painting begins by showing the countryside outside Bianjing City, the capital of China at that time. There are a few houses and a few people traveling back to Bianiing. The scene soon becomes more crowded. The road beside the river becomes packed with restaurants, and the river becomes full of boats. Then we see the Rainbow Bridge arching over the river. On both sides of the bridge are people selling food nd drink, while travellers pass by. Soon, the city begins to emerge. We see temples, inns, and large houses. The roads are now filled with people travelling on foot, and in carts and sedan chairs. Then we come to the first city. Then we come to the first city gate.Through the gate is passing a line of camels carrying goods. In the city, there are butcher shops, doctor’s clinics, hotels, inns, houses, and fabric shops. The streets are still crowded with people,but most of them are relaxing and taking it easy.

The painting ends here, but the scroll does not. About half of the scroll has the seals of its previous owners, along with poems praising the painting’s beauty. There is also a note which gives a short biography of Zhang Zeduan. These seals and poems,along with the note,are the reasons why many experts claim this to be the original painting.

The Qingming Shang He Tu is not only a true work of art, but it also gives us a rare insight into daily life in ancient China. So often, history only contains the stories of emperors, generals, and important events. This painting’s great appeal is that it provides us with a look into ordinary people’s lives in the Song Dynasty.