Fun Stuff

large view

1. The Virtual Forbidden City  is a 3-dimensional virtual world where visitors from around the world can experience the Forbidden City in Beijing. When you enter the city an avatar will take you on a guided tour. You will see and learn about the many treasures housed within the palace and experience animated scenes from Qing life. The program takes quite awhile to download. Make sure you have enough space on your computer's hard drive.

2. Chinese Seals: Would you like to make a Chinese "chop" or "seal" with your name on it? To generate a unique and personalized seal with your name or any sentences go to this site. You can choose the ink color, size, and script style.

3. Do you know in what year you were born on the Chinese Zodiac calendar? Find out here.

4. How many Chinese yuans will you get for your American dollar? How much is one hundred Taiwan New Dollars worth?  Find out here.

5. Are you in search of a Chinese name for yourself? Do you want to find out how to say any number in Chinese? Go to mandarintools.com and browse the Chinese Culture links.

6. Use flashcards to hear and practice Chinese phrases with some students from Beijing at this site.

7. Do you like to create comic strips? Find photos, add speech bubbles and your own text in Chinese. You now have an instant cartoon you can publish online and share with the rest of the class. Go to this site.

8. Here is yet another fun site for designing your own comic strips in Chinese. These can also be printed out. Go to Make Believe Comix.com

9. Here are four fun activities based on ancient Chinese culture. A Tangram puzzle, a matching game with mahjong tiles, an animal spirit quiz to find out what animal spirit matches your personality, and a Grandmaster's challenge based on five of the zodiac animals. Go to this site.

large view