Culture and Traditions of China

Ancient Chinese clothing incorporated symbolism into the garments. Every embroidered symbol and color presented a message. In general, traditional clothing used darker, heavier colors highlighted with bright tapestry or accents. Clothing colors changed depending on the time of year, with each color matching the natural environment. For example, green was worn in the spring, while red was worn in the summer. Today, the average Chinese individual wears contemporary, Western-styled clothing. Traditional clothes may still be worn for ceremonies, parades and other special occasions.

Chinese food incorporates various local ingredients and flavors for tastes that are distinctly regional. Chinese cultural food and cooking practices can typically be separated into the Northern style and the Southern style. Southern cooking is what many Americans associate with Chinese food, using cooking styles such as Szechwan to prepare meats, noodles and rice products. Northern-style cooking incorporates heavier use of oil, vinegar and garlic, with lots of noodles and dumplings. All Chinese food shares common elements, such as a focus on flavorful spices, contrasting textures and a mixture of meat and colorful vegetables.

The Chinese have an exhaustive list of world-renowned artists, poets and writers. Some of China's earliest forms of art were sculpted from rare jade. Over the years, each Chinese dynasty expanded on its predecessor's art. For example, the art of Chinese pottery was refined until it became the thin, translucent dishes that are known today as fine china. Calligraphy was also a common form of art, with calligraphists expressing the country's thousands of symbols in flowing script. Meanwhile, music grew in both popularity and complexity. Early Chinese music incorporated percussion and woodwinds. Later, China became known for its intricate opera performances. Today, opera remains popular, as well as modern Western music.

Chinese are driven toward excellence and perfection, and this idealism is expressed in its education system. Students strive to be perfect in their projects and grades, and are wary of not being measured at par with their colleagues. School is seen as a stepping stone toward become an active, positive contributor to the greater society. This differs from practices in the West, where school is often seen as a stepping stone toward personal success. Regardless of the motivation, the Chinese government provides state-run education at every level and in most industry sectors. However, many Chinese students study abroad to learn skills from other countries that they can then take home to share.