Du Fei was born in Beijing, and
has 25 years of experience as a
professor of mural painting and
artistic creation. He specializes in
painting realistic works portraying
Chinese history and traditional
culture. His work encompasses
a variety of art forms, from murals
and oil painting to sculpture and
ceramics, and has been displayed
in public spaces including museums,
concert halls, stadiums, parks, and
subways. His best-known works
include The Development of Textile
and Clothing in Ancient China and
The Great Cathay.Time-traveling Quiz
BCE (page 2*): Before Common
Era. The years before 1 ce (start of
the Common Era).Brazier (page 10): A metal
container holding hot coals,
designed to heat a room.CE (page 2): Common Era. The
years from 1 ce to the present.Coup (page 10): An attempt by
a group of people to seize power
in a country.Dragon boat (page 13): A long
boat, decorated with dragon heads
and tails, used for racing.Eastern Zhou Dynasty (page 5): A
period of ancient Chinese history
lasting from 770 to 256 bce.Embankment (page 16). A thick
wall of earth built to prevent a
river from flooding.Five Dynasties period (page 11):
An era of unsettled rule in China
during the 10th century ce.Flotilla (page 7): A procession
of ships.Hawker (page 13): Street vendor.Lock (page 21): A device to raise or
lower boats between parts of the
canal that are on different levels.Ming Dynasty (page 26):
The ruling dynasty of China
from 1368 to 1644 ce.Qing Dynasty (page 30): The last
imperial dynasty of China, which
ruled from 1644 until 1912 ce.Sedan chair (page 26): An enclosed
chair mounted on two poles, carried
by two people.Shaman (page 5): A priest or healer
believed to have special powers.Sluice gate (page 20): A barrier
across a current of water that
controls its flow.Song Dynasty (page 10): A
Chinese imperial dynasty lasting
from 960 to 1279 ce.Spring and Autumn Period
(page 5): The first half of the Eastern
Zhou Dynasty, lasting until 476 bce.Sui Dynasty (page 6): A short-lived
imperial dynasty of China, lasting
from 580 to 618 ce.Tai chi (page 22): A slow, controlled
form of physical exercise developed
in China.Tang Dynasty (page 9): The ruling
dynasty of China from 618 to 690,
and 705 to 907 ce.Tiffin carrier (page 26): A type
of lunch box used across Asia to
carry hot meals.Warlord (page 9): A powerful leader
who rules part of a country using
military force.Weir (page 16): A dam built across
a body of water to control the flow.Wu Kingdom (page 5): One of the
states of the Zhou Dynasty.Note: Page numbers refer to the first
page on which the word or abbreviation
appears.Glossary
Construction Begins
The king’s children are very
excited—they have a cute
kitten to play with!A Palace on Water
One of the boats has an extra
crew member. Can you spot her?Granary Attack!
Lihua’s looking for a place to
hide. Can she squeeze under
the door into the grain store?A Military Coup
Somebody has helped herself
from the table. What has our
sneaky cat found?A Paradise on Earth
Lihua is sick, so the butler of a
wealthy businessman is taking
her to the vet. Where is she?Night Fair, Maple Bridge
Lihua is having a nap in a quiet
corner. What do you think she
is dreaming about?Stopping the Floods
Where’s our cat hiding to stay
dry from the rain?A Ridge of Water
Lihua and some of her friends
have been caught by a man to
be sold! Will she escape?The Consultant
Thomas H. Hahn is an academic
and expert in the historical
geography of China, and the author
of a book on the development of
the Grand Canal. He currently
teaches at the University of
California, Berkeley.Search through the pages of
the book to see what Lihua,
our street-smart, time-traveling
cat, is getting into.
The Illustrator
The Customs Pass
As a boat comes into dock,
Lihua has jumped on board.
Can you see her?A Modern Metropolis
What is Lihua pouncing
on in the bushes?A Landmark Tower
What has our naughty cat
caught on top of the grain store?The Busy Dock
Lihua is scampering onto the
dock. Can you see what she
has caught in her mouth?A Vital Communications Link
Our favorite cat has a friend
to play with. Can you find her?The End of the Canal
As always, Lihua is hungry.
Where is she waiting for scraps?US_032_Glossary.indd 32 30/07/2019 15:53