четверг, 31 декабря 2009 г.

вторник, 22 декабря 2009 г.

Postcard from China





Mogao Caves

The Mogao Caves, or Mogao Grottoes (also known as the Caves of the Thousand Buddhas and Dunhuang Caves) form a system of 492 temples 25 km (15.5 miles) southeast of the center of Dunhuang, an oasis strategically located at a religious and cultural crossroads on the Silk Road, in Gansu province, China. The caves contain some of the finest examples of Buddhist art spanning a period of 1,000 years. Construction of the Buddhist cave shrines began in 366 AD as places to store scriptures and art. The Mogao Caves are the best known of the Chinese Buddhist grottoes and, along with Longmen Grottoes and Yungang Grottoes, are one of the three famous ancient sculptural sites of China. The caves also have famous wall paintings.

World Heritage List

China
Date of Inscription: 1987
Criteria: (i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)
Dunhuang County, Gansu Province. At the eastern foot of Mount Mingsha, 25 kilometres southeast of the County seat.
N40 08 E94 49
Ref: 440

Mogao Caves
UNESCO

воскресенье, 20 декабря 2009 г.

New stamps

Fountains of Russia

Building of the fountains in our country has a rich history, which counts more than one century. Today achievements in science and technology allow to create diverse fountains by both, architectural features and technical fillings. One of the most advanced technologies is light-dynamic constructions, due to which fountains look spectacular in the night-time, and some of them remain operating even in the cold seasons.


Fountain in the city of Yaroslavl - light-dynamic fountain in front of the building of the regional administration. Due to the plan of its architects after the capital repair in 2009 the fountain was changed into the clock, counting down the time until 1000th anniversary of the city.
In the center of the composition - a dial with pointers-jets, on each side are the "bells" of the clock "chime".
The bowl of the new fountain is made of 250-ton monolithic granite, in the center of is are the sculptural symbols of the four seasons, twelve columns carry out the function of the dial.


The fountain "Sail" in the city of New Urengoy was created to the 30th anniversary of the city and it was opened in 2005.
The concept of the fountain represents the architectural quotation of a sailing ship: a bowl-aft, mesh sail, fluttering round the central mast. Water flows down into the bowl from the mast, foamy jets beat from under the stern, simulating waves.
The fountain is made of materials that can withstand temperatures of the Far North and is equipped with light-dynamic backlight, which creates, at any time of the year, a kind of monumental composition in the form of the ship with a sail.


Fountain in the city of Nizhny Novgorod is an updated version of the historic fountain. It was built in 1847 and carried out a water bearing function. During the capital repair in 2007, additional water cascade, as well as dynamic backlight were added to the fountain.
The fountain is equipped with light-emitting-diode (LED) backlight and it has four operating modes.
It functions in the light as well as in the dark, and thanks to the LED-construction – also in winter.


The fountain in the city Verkhnaya Pyshma, which was established in 2006, is the semantic center of the appearance and accomplishment of the pedestrian boulevard in the city.
Monumental and decorative composition of the fountain consists of a glass sphere with internal illumination and two bowls, flowing water in which creates a waterfall. The whole composition is framed by background jets directed towards the center of the fountain.
Light-dynamic backlight allows the fountain operating in daylight and at night.

rusmarka

вторник, 15 декабря 2009 г.

понедельник, 14 декабря 2009 г.