Chinese Fan

Chinese Fan Overview & Map Weather Transportation Information

The fan is a tool used to drive away heat and stay cool. On hot days, fans can be used to simulate cool breezes. However, since ancient times, Chinese fans have brought artistic charm, enjoying a unique, national flavor. During its long history, the negligible fan was not only intended for daily use, but had also become interwoven with the wisdom of Chinese cultural arts and the soul of the industrial arts of all times, becoming the wonder of China's many fan styles.

History

The history of the making of traditional Chinese fans can be traced back to Western Han Dynasty. The practical use of fans has decreased with the coming of electric fans and air conditioner. As traditional crafts, however, fans are still liked for their artistic value, especially those with good paintings.

China has been making fans since 200 B.C. During the Western Han Dynasty (206 B.C C A.D. 23), Ban Jieyu, a famous woman writer, wrote, in admiration of fans, the poem Song of Grievance: "The newly spun silk from Qi is as white as snow, the round fans made of the silk shine as the full moon." Folding fans appeared in the Northern and Southern Dynasties (420581) and became very popular during the Ming (13681644) and Qing (16441911) dynasties because they were convenient to carry. Since the earliest fans in China were made of feathers, the Chinese character for "fan" has the character for "feather" as a component.

Types of Fans

According to the materials, shape and usage, Chinese fans can be divided into the following cetegories.

• Feather Fan: The feather fan emerged in China around the Shang Zhou Dynasty over 3,000 years ago. The main and best materials used for this type of fan are feathers from large birds, such as quills of fleck willets, tail feathers of the black wide goose, tail feathers of the magnificent peafowl, wing feathers of the round fleck owl, tail feathers of the crane and the white or gray goose.

• Shaped Fan: Most ancient silk fans have exquisite designs and various decorations. Shaped fans are very popular among ordinary people with a double-sided single color -- gold or blue porcelain -- that come in various shapes, like a full moon, cashew or hexagon. The fan handles are usually made of mottle bamboo and brown bamboo, as well as ivory. As for the shape of the silk fan, the full moon is most popular, followed by the hexagon, octagon, polygon, palm leaf and phoenix leaf. The Chinese flowering apple, U-shape and quincunx are also common shapes. On the cover of a silk fan are flowers and birds, fish and bugs, landscapes, figure of Buddha, as well as embroideries. Chinese embroidery had already been popular in the Song Dynasty (960-1127).

• Rattan Fan: Rattan is a trailing plant with a soft texture, which comes in several varieties, such as white rattan, red rattan and purple rattan. The handicraftsmen of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) used the thin and withered rattan to weave the fan cover, which is extremely durable.

• Wheat Straw Fan: It is prevalent in Zhejiang Province. According to a folk custom in Zhuji, if a young man falls in love with his lady, he will receive a beautiful fan of wheat straw when the summer approaches.

• Bone Folding Fan: It is made of the buffalo rib and is mainly produced in Suzhou, Changzhou, Jiangxi and Guangzhou. After skiving, sawing, digging, blanching, shaping, carving and polishing, the bone looks exactly like ivory.

• Bamboo Fan: It is usually woven of thin bamboo strips from the surface of a mountain. When the fan is finished, it is as smooth as silk. It can be square, round or hexagonal in shape, and usually acquires a reddish hue after five or six years. The bamboo fan is also produced in Qingshen County of Sichuan Province where it is called the "green bamboo fan." There is another kind of bamboo fan that is relatively considered to be low-end and is woven of rough bamboo strips. This extremely durable and cheap fan is produced in northern Zhejiang and southern Anhui.

• Palm-Leaf Fan: The palm leaf fan is always round, big and strong, with a long handle and pea green in color. Local people turn the leaf upside down and put weight on it to make it smooth. They then cut it into a round and hang brocade thread along the edge. The handle of the palm-leaf fan is the stem of the palm leaf, which is why it is called a natural handle -- albeit a very rough one. Other materials like bamboo, ivory and hawksbill are also used to make exquisite handles, which are decorated with butterfly laces. These two kinds of fans are both called "punka" or "palm-leaf fan." The palm-leaf fan has been very popular among people because it is inexpensive and portable.

• Portable Fan: The portable fan, also called the "mini fan," can be folded and is also portable. One kind of the portable fan has an iron handle, whose fan frame is made of pressed sheets of iron painted with colored lacquer; its surface is made of colorful paper and is very cheap. Another kind of fan has a wooden or bamboo handle, which uses colorful paper and aromatic wood as the cover.

• Silk Dancing Fan: Most silk dancing fans are used for drama and dancing and are half silk or silk. The frame of the fan is mainly made of bamboo, sandalwood or cow bone. The cover is always made of various kinds of silk with flower and grass patterns that are sometimes adorned with a flashing aluminum sheet. Some of them are decorated with silk lace along the edge and are mostly used by women.

• Hat Fan: The hat fan is used to keep cool in the summer when half-opened and as a sunshade when completely opened. It has good ventilation, is durable, easy to fold and has comes in many varieties.

• Hanging Fan: It is also known as the "screen fan" and is usually hung on the wall or put in the sitting room for decoration. The frame is 60 to 70 cm long, and is actually a large folding fan. The Hangzhou Wangxingji Fan Manufacturing Plant once produced a huge screen fan named "Panorama of the West Lake in Hangzhou," which has a side length of 2.6 meters, measures around 10 square meters when unfolded and weighs 16 kilograms. The frame of the fan is made of top-grade wood with the 10 famous views of the West Lake dotting the two sides. Sixteen pieces of brown paper make up the whole fan cover. This is probably China's largest folding fan.

Fan Arts: Calligraphy and Painting on Fan

The calligraphy on the fan cover was firstly recorded on the story of Wang Xizhi wrote calligraphy on some of the lady's fan. In the history, Wang Xizhi painted mini figures on fan, and "painting cow for Huanwen" of his son Wang Xianzhi. With the rapid development of the painting art, especially all-time improvement of the landscape and flower and bird based on late Tang and Five Dynasty, the literator and painting in Song dynasty were more and more closely, and formed the peak period of painting. Meanwhile, the emperor was extremely attention to the cover painting.

Chinese Fan Highlights

Chinese Fan Highlights Related

Silk attraction highlights

"A silkworm spins all its silk till its death and a candle won't stop its tears until it is fully burnt." This Tang poem accurately describes the property of the silkworm. Silk, a symbol of China, can now be found everywhere in the world.

• Hangzhou

• China National Silk Museum
• Bayunxiang Silk Clothing Shop

Chinese Fan FAQ & Travelers's Tips

1. Is it convenient to pay by Credit Card when shopping?
2. Can I pay by cash?
3. Can I bargain when I want to buy some goods?
4. Do I need to compare the prices of several stores when I want to buy one item?
5. How to avoid cheating?
6. Is it safe shopping in China nowadays?
7. What is archway? What is archway used for?
8. What do I need to pay special attention to before I pay for the goods?
9. Is it a must for me to inspect my goods specially?
10. What must I do before I leave the Shopping Mall?
11. Who can I turn to for help when disputes occur?
12. Is it possible to get a refund if I am unsatisfied with what I bought?
13. How to choose what to buy when shopping?
14. What are your first choices when shopping?
15. Weather the tax of anything you buy overseas can be refunded?
16. How can I take the antiques that I bought in China?

1. Is it convenient to pay by Credit Card when shopping?

   Most city shops in china accept credit cards. Check the credit card slip before signing it and remember to take your receipt. Credit card companies and/or banks issuing the cards may charge a currency-exchange fee on overseas purchases. Please check with your credit card issuer for further details.




2. Can I pay by cash?

   Yes. RMB is accepted in local stores. Money exchange businesses are available on the streets. But it is not convenient to carry with a large amount of crash.




3. Can I bargain when I want to buy some goods?

   For those who want to go shopping for souvenirs to take home, they can look around, apart from large department stores and shopping malls, in some of the open markets such as the Xiushui Street (Silk Street) and Panjiayuan Antique Market in Beijing. Unlike large department stores where the prices are fixed, these places are where you can and you must bargain. Your local tour guides or hosts are the best help when you go to these places. They will prove be helpful in finding the real stuff and beating the prices down!




4. Do I need to compare the prices of several stores when I want to buy one item?

   Don't purchase something at the first place you find it, no matter how good the deal sounds. Go to several stores and ask for their price on the same goods. If you tell them you found the goods for a better price at another store, they are usually willing to negotiate the price with you. After looking at the same goods at different shops, you will have a better idea of what is available and the right price for the goods. This will allow you to bargain better and get the best value for your money.




5. How to avoid cheating?

   Avoid Bait and Switch Tactics. Some merchants display ambiguous prices or request a deposit on goods only to claim later that only an inferior or more expensive goods is available. In order to avoid these bait and switch tactics, be sure to shop at outlets where goods price is clearly displayed. You should also compare prices to get a better idea of the goods's price and features before purchasing it. You should also verify and understand exactly what you are buying and what the price covers. You also can get help from the local tour guides.




6. Is it safe shopping in China nowadays?

   Shopping in most cities of China nowadays should be a pleasant and rewarding experience. To ensure that visitors return home satisfied, China Tourism Board evaluates shops and restaurants using the Quality Tourism Services Scheme. Goods sold at accredited establishments are guaranteed to be genuine and of high quality.




7. Can you give some examples about the notices when I do shopping in some cities of China?

   Make sure you know what you want in terms of models, features, price and accessories, especially when you buy some costly goods. When you buy Chinese medicine and dried seafood, please check the goods's unit price and the method used to measure the weight of the goods. If you have any queries about prices please contact the Consumer Council, wholesaler or agent, or visit the manufacturer's showroom for further goods information.




8. What do I need to pay special attention to before I pay for the goods?

   Please make sure that the goods are in your hand before cash on the table. Many shops cater to the fact that tourists do not know what they are doing. When you are purchasing goods, make sure you ask for the case that the goods came with, and check the boxes to make sure the goods you are buying are indeed the same thing.




9. Is it a must for me to inspect my goods specially?

   Yes. Check the goods before paying and make sure you have all the accessories that should be included. Check the goods you have bought again before you leave the store.




10. What must I do before I leave the Shopping Mall?

    Check Your Receipts. You should always get a sales receipt (street stalls sometimes do not provide them). Check to ensure that all details and verbal agreements are fully listed on the sales receipt. Make sure the goods details listed match the goods you have bought.

11. Who can I turn to for help when disputes occur?

    If you have any problems, you can call the local Tourism Authority or the Consumer Association for help. The travelers also can lodge a complaint to the local Consumer Association or the Court.




12. Is it possible to get a refund if I am unsatisfied with what I bought?

    The large department stores or shopping malls in China promise a refund if tourists are not satisfied with the goods within two weeks. If you buy some goods from some of the open markets, you will not have chance to refund.




13. How to choose what to buy when shopping?

    When shopping, travelers should buy stuff that are of local characteristics as souvenirs. They are authentic, under reasonable price and worthy of being bought by consumers. For example, the Longjing Tea in Hangzhou, coconuts in Hainan, local styled clothes in Yunnan, Khatag in Tibet, are all souvenirs to keep for yourself or gifts for friends and relatives.




14. What are your first choices when shopping?

    Stuff that are small and light are your first choice when doing shopping, because it is convenient to bring with. If consignment is needed, it is also necessary to know whether your goods are allowed to be consigned. Some goods are vert fragile; if they would be broken during the consignment, they would be even more unnecessary to buy.




15. Weather the tax of anything you buy overseas can be refunded?

    Only the tax of certain products can be refunded, which are products that are marked with "TaxRefund," "TaxFree," or "EuroFreeTax." Products that need refund must be bought 1 to 3 months before they leave China (the time limit is set according to each nation's laws). Products as follows can not enjoy a refund: alcohol and tobacco (because they can be found in refund stores), goods without taxes (such as fresh goods like raw meat), and goods that have already been used abroad. Products that are not carried with the passengers also can not enjoy a refund.




16. How can I take the antiques that I bought in China?

    When buying antiques, travelers need to buy antiques that have the permission from the State Cultural Relics Bureau (under the Ministry of Culture) so they can bring them abroad.