Section I
Ancient Chinese civilization is famous for its technology and home to a multiplicity of cultures. China was brought together as one nation by the first Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi around 200 BC ruling from his capital Xian. Xian was the capital of China for 1100 years.
Hi! I’m Laura Rice, a 2007 alumna of the European study tour. I had a fantastic time on my trip across Europe, but I made a few mistakes that I would like you to avoid. First pack just what you need. Too much luggage will really weigh you and your entire group down plus you want to save room for the great souvenirs you can find over in Europe; pictures and key-chains, that’s just the beginning. You don’t want to wear things more than once. So one thing I do suggest is that you bring enough socks. A lot of walking, you will need them.
Today, Silk remains one of China’s finest exports. As does the exquisite ?? , or porcelain, of towns like ?? can attract huge prices from collectors. This piece alone is worth over 1 million US dollars. By the 18th century, one of China’s most prized products would create a close but uneasy relationship with the small European nation, Britain. Its tea time.
This is the largest tea market in China. Some of this tea will go on to be sold for ten thousand dollars a pound. It’s amazing to think that even when the Venetian traveller Marco Polo passed through here in the early 13th century, tea had already been a major crop in Fu Jin province, for over 800 years.