Here are some of my favorite websites for the study and enjoyment of Chinese language and culture. The sites will be updated frequently so be sure to check back often!

Cool Chinese Stuff
Link - description Rating
Chinasprout
Want to buy a Beijing Olympics t-shirt, Chinese DVDs,a Monkey King mask, a name chop, Chinese lantern or The Sorcerer's Stone translated into Chinese? This is THE site for buying anything and all things Chinese.
 
Chinese character cartoons
Link - description Rating
Kanji Cartoons
These short but fascinating cartoons will give you insights into how Chinese characters evolved throughout the ages.
 
Chinese family titles
Link - description Rating
Chinese family relationship titles
The system of family titles in China is extremely complex. This chart will tell you exactly how you should be addressing your Chinese paternal great uncle's wife or your maternal younger female cousin's husband...
 
Chinese Painting
Link - description Rating
Bamboo Painting
Here is my own website which features a gallery of some Chinese paintings that I did. Included is a step-by-step lesson on how to do a bamboo painting, and also a description of the four treasures of Chinese painting. Enjoy!
Moon River Silks
This is another website of mine. These are all paintings that I did using dyes. All were painted on silk which is another one of China's great inventions.
Paintings from China
A very large collection of beautiful traditional Chinese paintings. Click on any of the small images to see them larger.
Along the River during the Ching Ming Festival
Here is a magnificent painting on silk from China executed in the 19th century. Click on the painting at various sections to see a virtual media glimpse of daily life in ancient China.
 
Chinese Food
Link - description Rating
How to Order Chinese Food
Never be shy again about ordering food at a Chinese restaurant. Tons of vocabulary galore related to Chinese dishes, dumplings, Chinese breakfast, cooking styles, regional cuisines, drinks, spice and seasonings, etc.
Great Things to Eat in Flushing, Queens
This interactive graphic from the NY Times includes not only a map showing some excellent Chinese food places in Flushing, Queens, but also an audio pronunciation guide to 20 of the most delicious foods you can sample at those places.
A Chinese Imperial Feast
The foods mentioned in this story on NPR will fascinate and surprise you.
Symbolism in Chinese Foods
Why is it important to eat dumplings, lotus seeds and bamboo shoots during Chinese New year? Find out the symbolism behind these foods and others at this site.
McDonalds Chinese website
Have a look at the McDonald's Chinese website. How many of your favorite foods can you say in Chinese?
 
Chinese Poetry
Link - description Rating
300 Poems of the Tang Dynasty
These are the most famous, most beautiful and most often recited Chinese poems in the world. Here they are in English translation.
 
Chinese History
Link - description Rating
Chinese History for kids
This very informative site has tons of information on such topics as Chinese history, religion, philosophy, science, people, food, architecture etc.
 
Character Reading
Link - description Rating
popjisyo
This is a fantastic tool for reading practice! Copy blocks of Chinese text onto the page or enter the url. Then put your cursor over the Chinese characters.You will be able to see the pinyin and the meaning of the character at the same time.
 
Listening to Chinese
Link - description Rating
Video Clips of Survival Chinese
See if you can understand the conversations in each of these video clips.
Languages Online
Practice your listening skills with this little skit about meeting a family. Great for 7th graders.
One World Classrooms
Watch video clips of students from elementary and middle schools in China speaking about everyday topics. The Chinese is spoken slowly enough for you to understand most of it.
Chinese Songs
Here is a collection of some contemporary Chinese pop songs. You can hear and see the songs on Youtube and read the accompanying lyrics.
Mandarintube
Practice your Chinese by watching short video clips in Chinese on a variety of topics. There are interesting news broadcasts and audio vocabulary lists as well. You must sign up and become a member.
Talking Dictionary
The multimedia dictionary created by middle students at the Shuren School outside Beijing includes 60 slides. Each slide includes a photograph depicting the word, along with the word written in Chinese and English and then used in a sentence. An audio track accompanies each slide, with Shuren students taking turns saying the words and sentences in both languages.
what kids can do
Listen to Beijing middle school students as they discuss school, school pressures, lunchtime, friendship, arts, sports and studying English. A wonderful site with audio slideshows in both English and Mandarin Chinese. A great way to practice your Chinese listening skills.
Mandarin Radio
This online radio station features nonstop Mandarin popular music from Taiwan, Singapore and Hong Kong.
Clappertales (Shulaibao)
Did you know the Chinese were the first to perform raps? Watch and listen to Dr. Jan Walls perform his marvelous "bamboo clappertales" (also known as shulaibao) at this site. They are performed in both Chinese and English. (You must give the Quicktime movie a few minutes to load).
Chinesepod
This site was rated by Times Magazine as one of the top ten sites of the year. Learn Chinese through very interesting and humorous dialogs that you can listen to and download to your own ipod. You must sign up and become a member.
Chinese radio
A wide variety of both classical and contemporary Chinese music broadcast from Columbia University. This radio broadcast airs every Saturday morning from 10:00 am till 12 noon. You can also listen on your radio on 89.9 FM.
 
Pinyin practice
Link - description Rating
pinyin practice
You can practice your four tones and pinyin on this site and test yourself on your listening skills. Lots of fun! (requires flash)
 
Mrs. Yu's favorite Chinese Songs and Music
Link - description Rating
Kang Ding Qing Ge
A very popular Chinese folk song from Sichuan province.
Mei Hua
"Mei Hua" means Plum Blossom. This song is performed by Taiwanese singer Teresa Teng.
Mo Li Hua
"Mo Li Hua" means jasmine flower.
Gao Shan Qing
This song is about the Alishan Mountains in Taiwan. It is sung by Teresa Teng.
Lang Lang at Carnegie Hall
Lang Lang and his father performing a piano and "erhu" duet at Carnegie Hall.
Dui Mian de Nu Hai
A very funny youtube clip accompanies this pop song.
Tian Mi Mi
Another Teresa Teng classic. "Tian Mi Mi" means sweet as honey.
Long de Chuan Ren
"Long de Chuan Ren" means "descendants of the dragon", referring to the Chinese people.
Purple Bamboo
Very beautiful melody played on the Chinese bamboo flute.
Wo jia zai nali
"Wo jia zai nali" means "My home is there"
Xiao Cheng Gushi- Small Town Story
Another favorite song by my favorite singer
Heart Beside the Misty River
This beautiful piece is performed on the Chinese zither. It is a very peaceful piece and good to listen to while practicing Chinese calligraphy or painting.
Tall Mountains, Flowing Waters
Another peaceful meditative piece performed on the guzheng (Chinese zither).
Chinese instrumental
Another beautiful relaxing piece with singing by Zhang Ziyi. From "House of Flying Daggers."
Midnight Bell on Cold Mountain
Yet another beautiful piece for listening to while doing calligraphy. This Buddhist chant was adapted from a Tang Dynasty poem.
Beijing Huanying Ni
Here is the famous song from the Beijing 2008 Olympics. This version has the pinyin and English subtitles so you can learn all the words.
Alishan
Another version of Gao Shan Qing. This is accompanied by the traditional aborigine dance and yodeling.
 
Miscellaneous
Link - description Rating
Mola Art
These felt "molas" were created by my sixth grade Art/Spanish students in 2009/9.
Self Portrait Postage Stamps
These self portrait postage stamps done were created by my sixth grade Art/Spanish students in 2008/9
Chinese signs
A very comprehensive collection of authentic Chinese signs. Be sure you can read and understand these if you plan to visit China.
 


HERRICKS PUBLIC SCHOOLS   |   Phone : 516-305-8900   |   999B Herricks Road, New Hyde Park NY 11040-1355