Chinese architecture has evolved over time from ancient styles to modern skyscrapers. Traditional Chinese buildings were based on principles of symmetry and were usually long and low to the ground, often made of materials like wood, brick or tile. During the Han Dynasty, Buddhism introduced new styles like pagodas. Some ancient Chinese believed ghosts could not turn corners, so buildings included protective turns or walls near entrances. The Forbidden City served as China's imperial palace for 500 years, housing nearly 1,000 structures according to traditional design principles and social ranks. Modern Chinese architecture ranges from old palaces to new towering buildings.

1. Chinese architecture
By Alexander Vyorst

2. Chinese past buildings and new buildings
There are many different types of buildings in China.
Some are old and some are new. Examples of the old are the buildings in the
Forbidden City. Examples of the new are the tall skyscrapers of Shanghai.
The first types of buildings were long and low. The second type were based
on symmetry.
All of the buildings in the past had to be based on Chinese philosophies.

3. How buildings are made.
There are tons of ways buildings are made:
Some buildings were made one to two stories high.
Some buildings were made from mud bricks and tiles, and others were
made out of wood, cement or steel.
There are some that have curved roofs.
Some towers stacked roofs on each other.

4. History of Chinese buildings
The biggest change in Chinese architecture was during the Han Dynasty when
Buddhism came. The buildings they made were called pagodas. Also some people in
ancient China had some superstitions. They thought that bad luck [ghosts] would
come, but it was also believed that ghosts could not turn corners.
So they put a wall which faced the main entrance,
so that you needed to make a turn and so bad
luck [ghosts] could not come in.

5. 5 FACTS!
The Forbidden City was the Chinese imperial palace for almost 500 years from
the Ming Dynasty.
This city was built in 1406 to 1420 and was made up of 980 buildings.
It is located in the middle of Beijing, the capital of China and it now houses the
Palace Museum.
You would not get more courtyards if you were rich, but by your rank in society.
A Chinese farm house contains three rooms and one door which is off the middle
room, the kitchen.

6. Recommendations for your building
 All windows and doors should face the south away from the north wind.
 You should respect your carpenter because he can put hexes on your house
if you do not treat him well.