【推荐1】Pandas not only are a national treasure, but also have played an important role in China’s diplomacy, known as “panda diplomacy”. According to Japanese Royal Annual《日本皇家年监》, the practice of “panda diplomacy” dates back to the Tang Dynasty, when Empress Wu Zetian sent a pair of pandas to the Japanese emperor (皇帝) to express China’s friendship with Japan.

China restarted panda diplomacy in the 1950s when China sent two pandas to the Moscow Zoo. By 1982, Ching had given 23 pandas to nine different countries and truly helped to improve the understanding between different countries. However, most of them died. So China shopped giving away pandas in the 1980s. Instead, the pandas are lent to other countries. They are to be returned to China after 10 years.

____▲____ According to Xinhua, their eating habit is one significant point. Their nutrition mostly comes from bamboo shoots. Adult pandas eat about 40 kilograms of bamboo per day. Pandas can also be quite picky. How picky? Well, they refuse to eat bamboo shoots after they have blossomed (开花).

It takes 10 years for a new crop of bamboo to grow up and many countries do not have an environment suitable for bamboo growth. This means that food has to be imported (进口). In August, Calgary Zoo in Canada said that because of COVID-19, they couldn’t provide enough fresh bamboo for pandas. This may mean that they have to send pandas back though they deeply hope these pandas continue to serve as close friends between China and Canada.

But countries are still trying their best to push this special type of diplomacy. “Our people do love pandas. We regard it as a good way to keep connection with China. We are willing to do more to develop it.” Steven Monfort, director of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, told China Daily.

【推荐3】 February 14 is a day for people who have fallen in love. On this day? these men and women give gifts (presents) and cards to each other for Valentine’s Day (情人节). This day has been popular with people in love for a long time. At first, this holiday was called Lupercalia. Then the name of the day was changed to Saint Valentine’s Day. The man named Saint Valentine was killed on February 14, 270 AD, because he was a Christian (基督教徒).

Before Saint Valentine was killed, February 14 was the old Roman holiday, Lupercalia. The church wanted people to think of a Christian holiday on this day, so the church changed the name of the holiday.

This change did not stop people in love from giving gifts to each other. People usually gave gloves,   handkerchiefs, or even underwear was gifts. Sometimes people also put hearts and flowers on the presents before giving it to the other persons.

Valentine cards did not become popular until the 1750s. The first Valentine cards were made by hand. People wrote their own words on the cards. These words were usually funny.

Now, every year around February 14, cards and chocolates fill shops for people in love.