Core route showcasing Beijing’s history

When deciding on some popular     1     (spot) to visit in Beijing for a taste of the city’s history and culture, the Temple of Heaven, the Forbidden City and the Qianmen area are among those that spring to mind. All these venues are located along the Chinese capital’s central axis (中轴线), for     2     the city government is now seeking UNESCO World Heritage status.

It’s the longest urban central axis in the world,     3     (extend) 7. 8 kilometres from the Bell and Drum Towers in the north to the Yongding Gate in the South. As the backbone of Beijing, the central axis smartly     4     (organize) the palaces, temples and streets in ancient times. The original designers attached importance     5     the traditional Chinese concept of “respecting the center” in urban construction, presenting     6     (harmony) relationship between man and nature.

Nowadays, no matter how big the city grows, the axis is     7     “invisible root” linking tradition and fashion, ancient and modern. To date, mass relocation and restoration projects     8     (carry) out by the local government. Having it     9     (name) a World Heritage site will showcase Beijing’s history and make the axis better known     10     (global).

On December 28th 2021, a winter fishing -themed tourist festival opened at Chagan Lake ---- one of China's     1    (large) freshwater lakes, marking the beginning of the golden season for winter fishing. Over twenty     2    (activity) will be held during the annual festival,     3    runs through Feb 28 next year. The highlight of the event is skiing contests, nature watching and an ice dragon boat    4    (compete).

Yet mere decades ago, Chagan Lake was a very different place. By the end of the 1970s, the lake     5    (cut) down to only dozens of square kilometers due to drought and overfishing. Thanks to the government' efforts    6    (restore) Chagan to its former glory, the lake now covers an area of 500 square kilometers,    7    its fish resources have also recovered. The lake has received more than 1.8 million visitors so far this year, a 29.4% increase    8    (compare) with the same period of the previous year.

The charm of ice fishing at Chagan Lake lies in keeping the fishing culture of our ancestors alive and     9    (carry) it forward hand-drilling holes through the thick ice and lowering nets into the frosty waters to catch fish. The technique has been listed    10     a national-level form of intangible cultural heritage.