Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
GLOSSARY
Arhat
Buddhist saint.
Bei
North.
Binguan
Hotel; generally a large one, for tourists.
Bodhisattva
A follower of Buddhism who has attained enlightenment, but has chosen to stay on earth to teach rather
than enter nirvana; Buddhist god or goddess.
Boxers
The name given to an anti-foreign organization that originated in Shandong in 1898. Encouraged by the Qing
Empress Dowager Cixi, they roamed China attacking westernized Chinese and foreigners in what became known as
the Boxer movement.
Canting
Restaurant.
Cheongsam
Another word for a
qipao.
CITS
China International Travel Service. Tourist organization primarily interested in selling
tours
, though they can
help with obtaining train tickets.
CulturalRevolution
Ten-year period beginning in 1966 and characterized by destruction, persecution and fanatical
devotion to Mao.
Dagoba
Another name for a stupa.
Dong
East.
Fandian
Restaurant or hotel.
Fen
Smallest denomination of Chinese currency - there are one hundred fen to the yuan.
Feng
Peak.
Feng shui
A system of geomancy used to determine the positioning of buildings.
Gong
Palace.
Guanxi
Literally “connections”: the reciprocal favours inherent in the process of official appointments and transac-
tions.
Guanyin
The ubiquitous Buddhist Goddess of Mercy, who postponed her entry into paradise in order to help ease
human misery. Derived from the Indian deity Avalokiteshvara, she is often depicted with up to a thousand arms.
Gulou
Drum tower; traditionally marking the centre of a town, this was where a drum was beaten at nightfall and in
times of need.
Guomindang (GMD)
The Nationalist Peoples' Party. Under Chiang Kaishek, the GMD fought Communist forces
for 25 years before being defeated and moving to Taiwan in 1949, where it remains a major political party.
Han Chinese
The main body of the Chinese people, as distinct from other ethnic groups such as Uigur, Miao, Hui
or Tibetan.
Hui
Muslims; officially a minority, China's Hui are, in fact, ethnically indistinguishable from Han Chinese.
Hutong
A narrow alleyway.
Immortal
Taoist saint.
Jiao (or mao)
Ten fen.
Jie
Street.
