Ancient China is a fascinating mix of extreme extravagance and extreme poverty. Explore daily life in 4 different Chinese dynasties, meet weird emperors like Hu the Tiger, read things written in BCE times, learn about Taoism with Winnie-the-Pooh!

The ancient Chinese invented paper, gunpowder, matches, the compass, a seismograph to measure earthquakes, the umbrella, and more! They created incredible philosophies, gorgeous art, and great legends.

Even their money was neat. Coins had a hole in their center. There were not any banks, so people stored and kept their coins by running a string through the center. A thousand coins strung together was called a string of money.

Click on the Cheat Sheet, for a very quick look at 11,000 years of ancient Chinese history! Welcome to ancient China!

People, Places,
Festivals
Daily Life, Culture Beliefs

Cheat Sheet

Geography

Huang He & Yangtze Rivers

Himalayan Mountains

Gobi & Taklamakan Deserts

Great Wall of China

Terra Cotta Army

Silk Road

Han Tombs

Pagodas

Forbidden City

Chinese New Year

Lantern Festival

Wang the Peddler

Loawnu the Wise Woman

Story of Mulan

The Warrior Well

Chinese Dynasties

Xia (Very Early)

Shang & Chou

Qin Dynasty

Han Dynasty

Age of Division

Tang Dynasty

Song Dynasty

Mongols

Ming Dynasty

Chinese Food

Chopsticks

Chinese Art

Calligraphy

Shadow & Paper Puppets

Paper Fans

Abacus

 

Mandate of Heaven

Ancestor Worship

Oracle Bones

Confucius

Taoism

Legalism

Beliefs
Comparison -
Confucius, Taoism,
Legalism

Buddhism

3 Teachings

Gods & Goddesses

Dragons

Animals of the Zodiac

Chinese Fables, Stories

Chinese Proverbs

Chinese Opera

Achievements, Inventions

 

Free Interactive Games for Kids for Ancient China

Free Presentations about Ancient China

For Teachers: Free Lesson Plans for Ancient China

Choose Your Own Adventure (from a long and creative list of Classroom Activities and Possible Assignments)

The Giant Panda

Our thanks to Dr. Jerry Adams
for sharing with us some of his extensive knowledge
of Ancient China and of Eastern Religions.
This site could not have been written without his help and guidance.