China holds some of the world’s oldest, and some may say most intriguing, cultural beliefs and traditions. The culture does vary from city to city, so Chinese culture is often discussed in a very general matter.

Chinese culture greatly bases itself on the belief that a spiritual world exists, which is evident in the ancestral worship, where the dead are honored and respected as if they were still alive; in the belief of the three realms, where Heaven, the living and the deceased exist side by side; and in the mythological stories of the country.

In the Chinese culture it is quite common for the unexplainable to be “explained” thorough mythology, which comes in the form of folklores, cultural history and religion. Many of the Chinese holidays evolved from the stories that were told from generation to generation for thousands of years. Another ancient cultural influence is the practice of martial arts.

Chinese martial arts started out as a component of self-defense, hunting, and training of military and is now such an integral part of the Chinese culture that it is commonly seen in poetry, fiction and film. In China there are hundreds of different styles of martial arts that have been developed over the past two to four thousand years.

The culture is evident in the day-to-day lives of the Chinese, including the way they worship, the way they interact with one another, the food they eat, the activities they choose to partake in, and they practice of alternative medicine. The country itself helps the culture come alive through temples, architecture, and beautiful artwork throughout.

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