| Are you thinking of volunteering in | | | | theme shared among all Chinese |
| China ? To volunteer in China is one of | | | | religions. Traditional Chinese culture, |
| the top volunteering destinations in the | | | | Taoism, Confucianism, and Chinese |
| world. The economic boom combined with | | | | Buddhism all value filial piety as a top |
| the ancient Chinese culture is a great | | | | virtue, and the act is a continued |
| pull for volunteers from around the | | | | display of piety and respect towards |
| world. | | | | departed ancestors. The Chinese |
| Chinese civilization is one of the | | | | generally offer prayers and food for the |
| worlds oldest continuous civilizations. | | | | ancestors, light incense and candles, |
| It has the world's longest continuously | | | | and burn offerings of Joss paper. These |
| used written language system, and the | | | | activities are typically conducted at |
| source of such major inventions as what | | | | the site of ancestral graves or tombs, |
| the British scholar and biochemist | | | | at an ancestral temple, or at a |
| Joseph Needham called the Four Great | | | | household shrine. |
| Inventions of Ancient China: paper, the | | | | To volunteer in China on a short term |
| compass, gunpowder, and printing. | | | | volunteer vacation, longer term or on a |
| Most languages in China belong to the | | | | gap year break is a great experience! It |
| Sino-Tibetan language family, spoken by | | | | will give you a chance to make an |
| 29 ethnicities. There are also several | | | | important contribution to the people of |
| major dialects within the Chinese | | | | China, and to gain an in depth |
| language itself. The most spoken | | | | experience of the country and its |
| dialects are Mandarin which is spoken by | | | | culture that will stay with you the rest |
| over 70% of the population, | | | | of your life. |
| Shanghainese, Cantonese, Min, Xiang, | | | | Most volunteer programs are based in |
| Gan, and Hakka. | | | | Beijing or Shanghai. These two great |
| Taoism is an indigenous religion of | | | | cities are a very attractive place to |
| China and is traditionally traced to the | | | | stay whilst doing your project work. |
| composition of The Book of Tao and Its | | | | Both Beijing and Shanghai are not cheap |
| Virtues. The philosophy of Taoism is | | | | destinations like other places in Asia |
| centered on "the way"; an understanding | | | | so keep this in mind as it will be |
| of which can be likened to recognizing | | | | difficult to get very cheap placements |
| the true nature of the universe. Taoism | | | | in these cities. |
| in its organized form is also considered | | | | Besides the two great cities there are |
| a folk religion of China. | | | | several smaller cities and rural China |
| Buddhism was introduced from South and | | | | where you can join a volunteer project. |
| Central Asia during the Han dynasty and | | | | Wether it is in a city or in rural areas |
| became very popular among Chinese of all | | | | volunteering in China is great! Mostly |
| walks of life, embraced particularly by | | | | you will be teaching English or taking |
| commoners, and sponsored by emperors in | | | | care of children in various projects |
| certain dynasties. Buddhism is the | | | | such as schools, orphanages and projects |
| largest organized faith in China and the | | | | for disabled children. |
| country has the most Buddhist adherents | | | | The language barrier can be a problem |
| in the world, followed by Japan. Many | | | | especially when you start at a project |
| Chinese, however, identify themselves as | | | | so try to learn a bit of Mandarin |
| both Taoist and Buddhist at the same | | | | Chinese before you go which will make |
| time. | | | | your stay much more enriching. |
| Ancestor worship is a major religious | | | | |