At the mere mention of a civilization,we invari-aby call to mind those moumental buildings that are characteristic of it.At the mere mention of the Chinese civilization,we invariably call bo mind the Great war,the Forbidden City,the Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace that highlight its unique magnificence and beauty.Great buitdings,Withou exception,mirror the history of a mation one way or another ,and bring to light its cultural features.

Traditional Chinese buildings represent one of the three great school of architectural art ,which is ax important as the European and lslamic schools.This book provides you with a glimpse of tradi-tinal chinese buildings-palace structures,tombs ,mausoleums,gardens ,residential build-ings and religious structures.Read this book and you'll get closer to the kind of cultural environ-m ent in whichthe Chinese have lived over the milleniums.