Chinese Architecture

China Architecture is traced back to the Paleolithic Age. At that time, Chinese ancestors lived on fishery and hunting, and were sheltered in trees and caves. In the Neolithic Age, Chinese ancestors engaged in raising animals and farming, and settled down by digging caves and by building simple houses with twigs and lumber, thus commencing their architectural activities. During the 3,000 years of the feudalist society, Chinese ancient architecture formulated gradually its unique system, coupled with a considerable progress in urban planning, garden designing, and house construction technique. As early as 221 B.C., the First Emperor of the Qin Empire had mobilized the resources of the country to do the great construction works on a massive scale, including A' Fang Palace, the Qin Emperor's Mausoleum, the Great Wall and the Dujiangyan Water Conservancy Project. In the Later dynasties, many more massive construction works of lasting fame were carried out.

For thousands of years, the Chinese architects have built numerous outstanding buildings. They can be categorized into imperial palaces, religious temples, monasteries, ancient gardens, tombs group, bridges, canals, mausoleums, grottos, pavilions, towers, pagodas, cave dwellings and all kinds of folk residences...some are unique, some are beautiful, some are mysterious, some are magnificent, some are ethnic... the Chinese buildings make up an important part of the oriental civilization. Today, along with the development of Chinese tourism, more and more foreign visitors flock to China to see its great architectures.

Chinese Architectural Elements

    * Hall
    * Altar
    * Palace
    * Passes
    * Aobao
    * Studio
    * Bridges
    * Temples
    * Terrace
    * Pavilions
    * Archway
    * Door Studs
    * Water Vat
    * Eaves Tiles
    * Glazed Tiles
    * Stone Lions
    * Roof Crown
    * Bucket Arch
    * Screen Wall
    * Gold Bricks
    * Marble Boat
    * Lingxing Gate
    * Knocker Base
    * Taihu Rockery
    * Xinjiang Karez
    * Caisson Ceiling
    * Scenic Openings
    * Suzhou Gardens
    * Storied Building
    * Cave Dwellings
    * Covered Corridor
    * Beijing Hutongs
    * House of Retreat
    * Latticed Windows
    * Ornamental Pillar
    * Beijing City Gates
    * Patterned Footpaths
    * Stone Baluster Head
    * Stupas and Pagodas
    * Zoomorphic Ornaments
    * Chinese Quadrangle Dwellings
    * Yellow Tiles and Vermillion Walls
    * The Number"Nine" and Imperial Buildings
    * Embrasured Watchtower and Barbican Entrance