Explore China Heritage

 The Chinese film Nanjing Photo Studio has taken the mainland box office by storm. Set in December 1937, when Japanese forces captured Nanjing, the story follows a 15-year-old apprentice, Luo Jin, who works at a local photo studio. One day, a Japanese officer brings in two rolls of film for development. As Luo works in the darkroom, he makes a horrifying discovery—photographs documenting Japanese soldiers committing atrocities: massacres, sexual assaults, and looting. According to Xinhua News Agency , Luo risked his life to secretly keep dozens of these images, ultimately selecting 16 and binding them into an album. In February 1946, this album became key evidence at the Nanjing Trials, helping bring Japanese war criminals to justice. Today, the album is preserved in China’s Second Historical Archives in Nanjing. Yet, during the film’s theatrical run, a disturbing real-world event occurred: a Japanese mother and her child were attacked in China—a grim reminder that historical h...

 In the heart of China’s rich geological and cultural heritage lies a hidden gem that seamlessly blends natural beauty with profound artistic meaning—the Yuhua Stone (雨花石). Known as a symbol of luck, elegance, and spiritual refinement, Yuhua Stone is far more than just a colorful pebble; it is a reflection of China’s deep-rooted aesthetic philosophy and cultural identity. What Is Yuhua Stone? Yuhua Stone, also known as “literary stone” or “lucky stone,” is a naturally polished agate or chalcedony stone featuring intricate patterns, flowing lines, and vibrant colors. These artistic stones are often regarded as "natural paintings" or "images within stone," giving viewers a sense of poetic atmosphere—what Chinese call “意境” (yìjìng) , or artistic conception . Narrowly speaking, true Yuhua Stones are found in areas surrounding Nanjing , including Yuhuatai, Jiangning, and Liuhe. They originate from the Yuhuatai Conglomerate Formation , composed of agate, jasper, qua...

 Located along the north bank of the Qinhuai River in Nanjing’s Qinhuai District, the Nanjing Confucius Temple—commonly known as Fuzimiao —is one of the four great Confucian temples in China. Once the cultural and educational center of Jiangnan during the Ming and Q ing dynasties, it now serves as both a historical monument and a vibrant urban attraction. 1. Architectural Grandeur and Sacred Layout The Nanjing Confucius Temple is part of a massive architectural complex that includes: The Confucian Temple (孔庙) for rituals and worship, The Xuegong (学宫) or Imperial Academy for Confucian education, The Jiangnan Examination Hall (江南贡院) for civil service examinations. The layout follows the traditional pattern of “temple in front, school at the back.” The complex begins with a magnificent screen wall (照壁) carved with "dragons chasing pearls," stretching 110 meters long and 10 meters high—often dubbed “the First Wall Under Heaven.” One of its most unique features i...