China Crate
In this Atlas Crate, you can make a dancing dragon, create a folding fan, and explore China!
"The Great Wall is just one of the great things in this amazing country!"
Explore:
- Dancing Dragons
- Making Paper Fans
- The Forbidden Kingdom
Fun Facts
photo by Hung Chung Chih/shutterstock.com
- No one is quite certain why red pandas are called pandas. Though these cat-sized creatures share China’s mountainous bamboo forest habitat with black-and-white giant pandas, the two species are not closely related. Speaking of animals that are not related, the Chinese name for red panda is hon-ho, meaning fire fox!
Wildlife: Red Pandas
photo by CHEN MIN CHUN/shutterstock.com
- Every summer, people gather to watch rowers race in amazing dragon-headed boats. A drummer on each boat pounds out a beat as the paddlers work in rhythm. Onlookers cheer, drink local wine, and eat sticky rice dumplings — called zongzi — wrapped in bamboo leaves. Because it’s held on the fifth day of the fifth month of the traditional lunar calendar, this festival is also sometimes called the Double-Fifth Festival. High five!
Festivals: Dragon Boat Festival
photo by matsiukpave/shutterstock.com
- Tai chi (say "tie jee") is a type of exercise made up of connected movements. As people practice the moves, they breathe deeply, and send their energy called qi (say "chee") flowing around themselves. How awesome is tai chi? Consider this: The sport’s full name, tai chi chuan, roughly translates to "supreme ultimate boxing." Awesome!
Awesomeness: Tai Chi
Your library
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon
written and illustrated by Grace Lin
Young Minli wants to help her impoverished parents, so she sets off to find the Old Man in the Moon, a character from one of the many stories her father tells. Thus begins an epic journey of adventure, magic, and friendship. This beautifully illustrated novel is based on characters and morals derived from traditional Chinese folk tales.
Get the book →
Moonbeams, Dumplings & Dragon Boats
written by Nina Simonds, Leslie Swartz & The Children's Museum, Boston; illustrated by Meilo So
This "Treasury of Chinese Holiday Tales & Recipes" overflows with DIY projects, festive food, and ancient legends. Brilliant watercolors bring the pages to life. From Chinese New Year to Qing Ming to the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, there is enough inspiration here to help families celebrate Chinese culture all year 'round.
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