Just as coffee in the West, tea became a part of daily life in China. You can see teahouses scattered on streets like cafes in the west. It has such a close relationship with Chinese that in recent years, a new branch of culture related to tea is rising up in China, which has a pleasant name of 'Tea Culture'. It includes the articles, poems, pictures about tea, the art of making and drinking tea, and some customs about tea.

In the Tang Dynasty (618 --- 907, Lu You, who is known as 'Tea Sage' wrote Tea Scripture, and detailedly described the process of planting, harvesting, preparing, and making tea. Other famous poets such as Li Bai, Du Fu and Bai Juyi once created large number of poems about tea. Tang Bohu and Wen Zhengming even drew many pictures about tea.

Chinese are very critical about tea. People have high requirements about tea quality, water and tea wares. Normally, the finest tea is grown at altitudes of 3,000 to 7,000 feet (910 to 2,124 meters). People often use spring water, rain and snow water to make tea, among them the spring water and the rainwater in autumn are considered to be the best, besides rainwater in rain seasons is also perfect. Usually, Chinese will emphasis on water quality and water taste. Fine water must feature pure, sweet, cool, clean and flowing.

Chinese prefer pottery wares to others. The purple clay wares made from the Yixing, Jiangsu Province and Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province are the best choices.

In China, there are customs about tea. A host will inject tea into teacup only seven tenth, and it is said the other three tenth will be filled with friendship and affection. Moreover, the teacup should be empty in three gulps. Tea plays an important role in Chinese emotional life.

Tea is always offered immediately to a guest in Chinese home. Serving a cup of tea is more than a matter of mere politeness; it is a symbol of togetherness, a sharing of something enjoyable and a way of showing respect to visitors. To not take at least a sip might be considered rude in some areas. In previous time, if the host held his teacup and said 'please have tea', the guest will take his conge upon the suggestion to leave.

Since ancient times, marriage has been regarded as one of the three most blessed events in the life of a Chinese person. The other two are passing the imperial examination and the birth of one's children. Marriage was solemnized with lots of interesting customs performed to this day.

In olden days, following feudal customs, young men and women were not allowed to choose their future partner themselves. The decision was made by their parents and a matchmaker's words. Some youths even had their mate picked out for them before they were born. When both sets of parents agreed on the union, they would exchange betrothal gifts and choose a day they believed to be auspicious to hold the marriage ceremony.

The wedding ceremony was supposed to be the highlight of the whole marriage. The bride was regarded in a high position and was the center of attention, but was expected to be obedient in her new family after the wedding day. The new couple would kneel in front of the bridegroom's parents and bow deeply to the heaven and the earth, to their parents, and to their future life together. During the wedding feast, the guests thought of intriguing games for the couple to play. Their embarrassment would bring gentle laughter from the guests.

Today, although customs have been simplified and westernized, there are some that are still observed, such as giving children pieces of money wrapped in red paper, putting peanuts and melon seeds amongst candies, the bride returning to her home three days after the wedding, and others.

The Chinese zodiac differs from the Western one. It endows 12 animals with certain features in a 12 year cycle, which was initiated by ancient Chinese astrologists of 3,000 years ago. Even now many still believe that astrology affects their fate maintaining customs to avoid demons and to provide good fortune.

The 12 animals are rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. They often symbolize or predict harvests, a person's fortune, career, friendship and marriage prospects. Here are some interesting traditional thoughts on the zodiac:

- Usually people believe that the years of horse and sheep can bring pleasant weather and a good harvest, and people born in those two years can have a happy marriage together.

- Those born in the year of tiger should not marry one born in the year of dragon, for they might fight and try to excel the other in their lives.

- Every twelfth year following a person's birth becomes his 'Benmingnian'. In each of these years he should wear a red waistband, or red coat and socks to ward off devils. For example, if a person was born in the year of the rat, then he must wear red in every succeeding year of the rat.

- People born in different years often have diverse characters. For example, one born in the year of dog is thought to be alert and faithful; another one born in the year of ox, diligent and moderate; etc.

Chinese simply choose chopsticks as their tableware rather than knife and fork since Chinese people, under cultivation of Confucianism, consider knife and fork bearing sort of violence, like cold weapons. However, chopsticks reflect gentleness and benevolence, the main moral teaching of Confucianism.

Chinese food seems to taste better eaten with chopsticks which are the special utensil Chinese use to dine. It will be an awkward experience for foreigners to use chopsticks to have a meal. Fortunately, learning to eat with chopsticks is not difficult.

The truth of using chopsticks is holding one chopstick in place while pivoting the other one to pick up a morsel. How to position the chopsticks is the course you have to learn. First, place the first chopstick so that thicker part rests at the base of your thumb and the thinner part rests on the lower side of your middle fingertip. Then, bring your thumb forward so that the stick will be firmly trapped in place. At least two or three inches of chopstick of the thinner end should extend beyond your fingertip. Next, position the other chopstick so that it is held against the side of your index finger by the end of your thumb. Check whether the ends of the chopsticks are even. If not, then tap the thinner parts on the plate to make them be even. Ok, now you are going to practice. Just place a little pressure on the upper chopstick, the one against your index finger, to make it pivot on the index finger while keep the bottom chopstick stationary. Isn't it easy?

After a little practice, you can use them to enjoy your Chinese food. Certainly in the first a few attempts, you have to take care.

Using chopsticks to eat rice is a problem to most foreigners. Generally the tip to eat rice is to bring one's rice bowl close to one's mouth and quickly scoop the rice into it with one's chopsticks. Since this is difficult for foreigners and so simply lifting portions of rice to the mouth from the bowl held in the other hand is perfectly acceptable.

There are superstitions associated with chopsticks too. If you find an uneven pair at your table setting, it means you are going to miss a boat, plane or train. Dropping chopsticks will inevitably bring bad luck. Crossed chopsticks are, however, permissible in a dim sum restaurant. The waiter will cross them to show that your bill has been settled, or you can do the same to show the waiter that you have finished and are ready to pay the bill.

In China, since people eat together, usually the host will serve you some dishes with his or her own chopsticks to show his or her hospitality. Since this is different with the Western customs, you can leave the food alone if you feel too awkward. There some other rules you are suggested to follow to make your stay in China happier, though you will be forgiven if you have no idea what they are.

Never stick your chopsticks upright in the rice bowl, since that usually appears on the funeral and is deemed extremely impolite to the host and seniors present.

Make sure the spout of the teapot is not facing anyone. The proper way is make it direct outward from the table.

Don't tap on your bowl with your chopsticks, since that will be deemed insult to the host or the chef.

Never try to turn a fish over and debone it yourself, since the separation of the fish skeleton from the lower half of the flesh will usually be performed by the host or a waiter. Superstitious people will deem bad luck will ensue and a fishing boat will capsize otherwise.

The ancient Chinese considered numbers a mystical part of the universe. As an odd number, the number "9" belongs to the "yang" category, which represents strength and masculinity. In ancient China, the number "1" represented the starting point while the number nine represented infinity and extremity. The number "9" can be seen in many aspects of life in China.

For example, "Jiu Zhou" is a poetic name referring to the nine states, which means that the country encompasses so much territory that it is beyond measure. The highest heavens were referred to as the "ninth heaven", "Jiu Quan" or "the ninth spring" where the afterlife is located beneath the deepest water. In the royal palace or a monastery, the doors, windows, stairs or fixtures existed in multiples of nine or a number that contains nine. The numbers of the gilded knobs on the double doors of the major gates of the Forbidden City is a good example.

There are nine rows of nine knobs on these doors which represents the supreme power of the emperor. The East Flowery Gate, however, is an exception beca se it has nine rows with eight knobs. The explanation lies in the fact that even numbers belong to the "ying" category, and therefore, funeral processions of the three Qing emperors passed through this only gate with even numbers of the double doors.

The Chinese tended to view life diametrically. So when a change occurred in one aspect of life, that change was a result of a change in its opposite. Therefore, as a symbol of extremity, "9" in Chinese Culture is also a warning, a turning point. In ancient Chinese Classic Yijing, or the "Book of Changes", wherever number "9" appears, it is a crucial point of change and transformation.

In traditional Chinese culture, the number nine has great significance. For example, the ninth day of the ninth month has long been a very important festival in China. This festival is known as the Double Yang Festival, which was a time for wine and poetry inspired by the beautiful autumn scenery. In the past, Chinese scholars would climb nearby mountains and look into the distance and think of their faraway friends.