World Tai Chi & Qigong Day falling on the last Saturday of April is an annual event organized     1     (promote) Tai Chi and Qigong across the world. Since it started in 1999, the movement     2     (witness) people in over 80 countries taking part in its celebrations.

The first form of Tai Chi as a practical tradition     3     (document) in Northern China in the 17th century,     4     the most widely     5     (recognize) form was the “Yang style” spread by Yang Luchan in the 19th century. In the 20th century, Tai Chi’s various methods were standardized, helping it gain     6     (wide) recognition. The event     7     inspired World Tai Chi & Qigong Day took place in Kansas City, Missouri in 1998, where the local Tai Chi club held a public exhibition     8     (aim) to spread the Chinese martial arts (武术). Gradually, the event caught people’s interest, beginning in other American cities and eventually spreading worldwide by 1999.

The goals of the event today are to educate the world about the medical and spiritual     9     (benefit) both arts offer, and the benefits of including traditional Chinese ideas in health, education etc. These are taught through events ranging from educational seminars (研讨课) to exhibitions. By doing so, the movement helps encourage     10     ( cooperate) that goes beyond geopolitical borders.

The art of the paper cutting in China may date back to the second century，since paper     1    （invent）by Cai Lun in the Eastern Han Dynasty in China. As paper became more affordable，the paper cutting became one of the most important     2    （type）of Chinese folk art. Later，with different regions adopting their own cultural styles，this art form spread to other parts of the country.     3    （usual），the artworks are made of red paper，as red is associated with     4    （happy）in Chinese culture，but other colors are also used.

With     5    （it）long history，the paper cutting，    6     originated in China，has been very popular among the ordinary Chinese people. People put up paper cuttings on walls，windows and doors at wedding ceremonies or festivals     7    （strengthen）the cheerful atmosphere.

Chinese paper cuttings are rich in content. The auspicious（吉祥的）designs symbolize good luck and the avoidance of evil. The child and lotus designs suggest a family with     8     large number of children and grandchildren. Birds，livestock，fruit，fish and worms are also familiar objects     9    （accept）by Chinese people. In a word，paper cuttings used     10    different occasions have different meanings.

Revival of Ancient Arts: Craft Blossoms in Modern Age

As a country with splendid civilization, China has witnessed the passing down of numerous forms of intangible cultural heritage,     1     continue to flourish today. China Daily recently launched the documentary series Revival of Ancient Arts, filming     2    (craftsman) and artists who are committed to preserving and reviving ancient arts.

Ronghua, or velvet flowers that are made of silk and copper wire, hold its unique historical     3     (significant) in Chinese culture. The tradition of wearing velvet flowers is believed     4     (date) back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and the artistic flowers were once offered to the imperial court     5     a tribute (贡品). The intangible cultural heritage of velvet flower making has been passed down through the generations,     6     (preserve) its timeless artistry.

The second episode of the documentary series     7     (focus) on the efforts of a velvet flower master and a young artisan who are     8     (enthusiastic) integrating the craftsmanship into modern life. In this episode, inheritors from Nanjing of East China’s Jiangsu province, one of the birthplaces of velvet flower production, perform     9     process of crafting velvet flowers, and share their endeavors in advancing this     10     (tradition) handicraft and their dedication to preserving and reviving the ancient technique.

With Silk Road-themed music performed by musicians, a grand art exhibition titled Silk Road: Artists’ Rendezvous kicked off at the National Art Museum of China in downtown Beijing on the afternoon of August 15,     1     (attract) about 40 foreign diplomats and representatives from several international organizations.

The exhibition presents over 190 works     2     (create) by artists from 112 countries in the Belt and Road Initiative. It also includes an interactive unit     3     visitors may click a mouse or use their fingers on a touch screen     4     (change) digital versions of the artwork.

“This artistic and cultural feast for eyes and hearts alike is a vivid testimony(证明) to the great success of China’s Belt and Road Initiative,” said Wu Weishan, an organizer of the exhibition.

According to Wu, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism     5     (invite) countless influential artists from Europe, Africa, America, Oceania and Asia for field trips, residency programs and workshops across China so far. Drawing     6     (inspire) from their experiences in China, these artists have created     7     wide variety of works, including oil paintings, traditional Chinese ink paintings, sculptures and mixed media.

“The Silk Road is an invaluable world heritage to be celebrated for reminding the world     8     the importance of cultural diversity and cross-cultural communication,” said Shahbaz Khan, director of UNESCO Beijing and Representative to China. “Cultural and artistic creations, no matter what     9     (they) specific forms are, are all     10     (benefit) to innovation and sustainable development in a country.”