Look at the picture. How cute they are! They are the mascots (吉祥物) of the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2023. Their names are Chenchen, Congcong, and Lianlian.

The mascot Chenchen is blue in color. It represents (代表) the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand canal. It gets its name from the Gongchen Bridge. The bridge is a very famous one along the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal and has a history of over 400 years. Congcong takes yellow. It represents the Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City. The name is from the Cong jade pendant (玉琮). The mascot Lianlian is green in color. It represents West Lake. It takes its name from the lotus leaves (莲叶) in West Lake.

Together, the three mascots are warmly inviting everyone to meet in Hangzhou for the Asian Games 2023. Do you like them?

【推荐3】In China, there are twenty-four solar terms(节气) in a year. And there are six of them in winter. They are beginning of winter, light snow, heavy snow, winter solstice(冬至) , lesser cold(小寒) and greater cold.

Beginning of winter usually falls on November 7th or 8th. After beginning of winter, most parts of the country can start to expect cold weather. On this day, after a year of hard work, people are happy to have a rest and spend time with family. The northern China celebrates beginning of winter as the “Small Spring Festival”. People usually have dumplings and mutton soup on that day.

Light snow usually falls on November 22nd or 23rd and heavy snow usually falls on December 7th or 8th. When winter solstice comes, it brings the shortest day and the longest night of the year. Many places around the country can expect the coldest weather yet. People often start counting “nine cold periods” starting from winter solstice. Every cold period has nine days. People believe that after 81 cold days, spring will come.

Greater cold comes after lesser cold. The field is covered with snow. And all Chinese are ready to welcome the Spring Festival after it. Of course, a new round of solar terms will start.

The Dragon Head-raising Festival

China is a country with a long and rich history.    1    The Double Second Festival（the Dragon Head-raising Festival or Longtaitou Festival）is one of them. This special day is on the second day of the second month of the Chinese lunar calendar. It stands for the start of spring and farming. It falls on March 14th this year.

The dragon plays an important role in Chinese culture. Dragon culture is one of the most popular cultures in China.    2    People celebrated the Dragon Head-raising Festival with many customs about the dragon in ancient times.

On the special day, people put ashes in the kitchen.    3    People believed that if the dragon went into their houses, they could have a good luck all year round and have a good harvest in autumn. On the special day, people ate special food.    4    For example, people ate noodles called “dragon whiskers noodles” and dumplings called “dragon ears”. On the special day, people sent gifts to each other, picked vegetables, welcomed wealth and went on a spring outing

    5    Today people rush to have their hair cut, especially have their children’s hair cut on the Dragon Head-raising Festival. They want to make themselves have new looks and have a good year.

【推荐3】Double Ninth Festival in China is celebrated on the ninth day of the ninth month of the Chinese lunar calendar（农历）every year. And it is also known as Chongyang Festival.

Traditionally, it’s a time when the family get together to climb hills, drink chrysanthemum wines（菊花酒）, eat Chongyang cakes, and wear cornels（茱萸）. However, those activities are only one part of the story. The day is also seen as a chance to care for the elderly.

Once upon a time, on a river bank lived a farmer called Aniu with his blind mother. Aniu wanted to cure（治愈）his mother’s eyes. One night, he dreamed of a beautiful girl, who told him to find white chrysanthemum in the west. She said the flower would come out on the ninth day of the ninth month and could cure his mother’s eyes. He followed his dream, found the flower and planted it in his yard. On the ninth day of the ninth month, the flowers came out. His mother could see things again.

The story is very beautiful and now the festival is still popular among Chinese. The old traditions are meaningful to people’s health. Mountain climbing encourages people to exercise, while chrysanthemum wines are good for the eyes, liver（肝脏）and brain. Cornel, with its special smell, can stop people from catching a cold. The day also reminds all people to take care of the elderly.

Nowadays, the festival has also developed some new meanings. It’s the time for young adults to have a family outing with their elder parents on this day.