The Compass: China

Beneath the glittering skyscrapers and expanding skylines, the ancient heart of China endures, a living testament to a long and colorful history. With the second most UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world, China is full of natural wonders and cultural treasures, including palaces perched on mountaintops, giant panda sanctuaries, and traditional villages that transport back in time.  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌    ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  

 

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Your navigation into the weekend China

Beneath the glittering skyscrapers and expanding skylines, the ancient heart of China endures, a living testament to a long and colorful history. With the second most UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world, China is full of natural wonders and cultural treasures, including palaces perched on mountaintops, giant panda sanctuaries, and traditional villages that transport back in time. Join us this week as we unearth the hidden origins of the terra-cotta warriors, learn about China’s new panda park that is planned to be three times bigger than Yellowstone, and discover the birthplace of tea. Let’s explore China.

HISTORY & CULTURE

PHOTOGRAPH BY BEN SHERLOCK, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Mysterious carvings and evidence of human sacrifice uncovered in ancient city Discoveries at the sprawling site have archaeologists rethinking the roots of Chinese civilization. READ MORE SHARE

ILLUSTRATION BY CHRISTOPHEL FINE ART, UIG VIA GETTY Who was Confucius? Confucius believed that all people–and the society they live in—benefit from a lifetime of learning and a moral outlook. READ MORE PHOTOGRAPH BY TOMMY HEINRICH, NAT GEO IMAGE COLLECTION Archaeologists discover first evidence for polo—on donkeys Bones from a 1,150-year-old tomb in China show that the animals served as much more than beasts of burden. READ MORE

PHOTOGRAPH BY IRA BLOCK, NAT GEO IMAGE COLLECTION Ancient advanced weapon technology theory debunked by new research For four decades, researchers believed the 2,200-year-old bronze weapons of the terra-cotta warriors were amazingly preserved because they were chrome plated. Not so, according to new research. READ MORE SHARE RELATED: WHO WAS THE CHINESE EMPEROR BEHIND THE TERRA-COTTA WARRIORS? +

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PHOTOGRAPH BY KIM WALTER/FOTOTECA 9X12 The Great Wall of China's long legacy The Ming dynasty built a giant wall stretching 5,000 miles to keep invaders out of China, but how effective was it against the enemy? READ MORE SHARE RELATED: SEE CHINA'S ICONIC GREAT WALL FROM ABOVE +

PHOTOGRAPH BY GEORGE STEINMETZ How China plans to feed 1.4 billion growing appetites As more Chinese crave Western-style diets, the booming nation rushes to industrialize an agricultural economy long built around small farms. READ MORE SKAMAN/GETTY IMAGES Trading silk for horses: The surprisingly simple origins of the Silk Road Trade linked China and the Roman world along the Silk Road, fostering not only commerce but a robust exchange of wisdom and beliefs. READ MORE

PHOTOGRAPH BY FRITZ HOFFMANN How ancient remedies are changing modern medicine Long overlooked by Western science, traditional Chinese treatments are yielding cutting-edge cures. READ MORE SHARE RELATED: SEE THE DIVERSE INGREDIENTS IN TRADITIONAL CHINESE APOTHECARIES +

ANIMALS

PHOTOGRAPH BY AMI VITALE, NAT GEO IMAGE COLLECTION China’s new panda park will be three times bigger than Yellowstone Its creators say the expanded refuge will protect the panda bear and many other species—but one expert says major roadblocks remain. READ MORE SHARE RELATED: THE UNUSUAL DIFFICULTY OF PHOTOGRAPHING PANDAS +

PHOTOGRAPH BY QIWEI WEI The Chinese paddlefish, one of world's largest fish, has gone extinct Native to China’s Yangtze River, these fish grew 23 feet in length, but haven’t been spotted since 2003. READ MORE PHOTOGRAPH BY JOEL SARTORE, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC PHOTO ARK World’s largest amphibian identified as a unique species Chinese giant salamanders are three separate species; this new finding should help guide efforts to save the critically endangered animal. READ MORE

PHOTOGRAPH BY KYLE OBERMANN China forges ahead with ambitious national park plan The new system aims to benefit wildlife and people alike, but balancing conservation with the development of a tourism industry can be tricky. READ MORE SHARE

TRAVEL

DREAM NOW, GO LATER

PHOTOGRAPH BY TUUL AND BRUNO MORANDI In search of the perfect cup of tea Savoring China’s divine drink at its source. READ MORE SHARE

PHOTOGRAPH BY FRANÇOIS PROST Photos of the Chinese town that duplicated Paris Tianducheng isn’t the only city in China with an uncanny familiarity. READ MORE PHOTOGRAPH BY GAVIN HELLIER, ALAMY STOCK PHOTO Watch this ice city come alive with colorful lights Brave the sub-zero temperatures at the Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival in China. READ MORE

PHOTO FEATURE 21 photos of China’s best UNESCO World Heritage Sites SEE THE PHOTOS

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