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