Also    1    (know) as “paper paintings” and “painted pictures”, New Year paintings are     2    unique art form in Chinese folk culture. The paintings are called “New Year paintings” because they are    3    (most) posted during the Chinese New Year holiday    4    decoration and they are also a symbol of New Year’s greetings.

New Year paintings    5    (appear) around the Tang dynasty, replacing the previous door pictures     6    (feature) the gods believed to be able to protect the residents and drive away ghosts. In the Song dynasty, New Year paintings were created on a large scale. With the advancement of printing technology, the content and forms of New Year paintings became    7    (diversity). The development of the paintings matured in the Ming and Qing dynasties,     8    the art hit its heyday(全盛期).

Traditional printing    9    (method) of New Year paintings include woodlock printing, stone-block printing, offset (胶印) printing, traditional Chinese painting, watercolor painting and sketches etc. Woodblock printed New Year paintings    10    (be) the most popular and interesting ones.

Acupuncture (针灸),     1     ancient Chinese medical practice, has been the method for many patients for thousands of years. Before modern medicine came to life, ancient Chinese used stone tools     2     (reduce) pain. Over time, this effective practice     3     (gradual) has become an overall and meaningful medical system and shaped the root of acupuncture. Acupuncture is a treatment that aims to promote the body’s self-adjusting functions.

Looking beyond China, acupuncture has become a     4     (globe) cure. Over the years, acupuncture has made progress in scientific research and modern medicine. It is now a great choice for different kinds of illness. According to a 2023 WHO report, acupuncture is used in 113 of its 120 member countries,     5     (prove) its popularity and application worldwide.

As a traditional Chinese medical practice with a rich history     6     deep cultural significance, acupuncture is an example of meaningful cultural heritage and an overall path to healing. It     7     (pass) down over the years through generations. It continues to do     8     (wonder) for millions of people in response     9     their physical and emotional needs. Acupuncture has also made up for the limitations of modern medicine and continues to provide     10     (inspire) for further research and development in the field.

Jointly produced by Shanghai Animated Film Studio and streaming site Bilibili, Yao—Chinese Folktales,     1     (gain) over 26 million views and a score of 9.6 out of 10 on rating site Douban since it aired last Sunday.

The eight-part series was inspired by various classics from traditional Chinese literature and showcases a range of artistic     2     (style) such as paper cutting, watercolor painting, and computer graphics.

The first episode (集) is based     3     the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West, with characters preparing     4     (capture) a Tang Dynasty Buddhist monk.

Its plot,     5    depicts one of the characters being punished after their leader was dissatisfied with their work, has resonated (共鸣) with     6     wide audience, reminding     7     (they) of their own dilemmas and hardships in the workplace.

The new series is part of the growing trend of Chinese animation     8     (turn) to ancient legends and folktales for     9     (inspire).

    10     (domestic) produced animated films featuring classic figures such as “Monkey King”, “Ne Zha”, and “White Snake” have proved to be big hits in recent years!