Similar     1     people of other nationalities, ancient Chinese people     2     (grasp) or tore food     3     their bare hands at the beginning. Chopsticks, forks, knives and spoons were used much later, of which chopsticks, with a history of thousands of years,     4     (be) a wonder of Chinese dining utensils (器具). Chopsticks are the dining utensils most     5     (frequent) used in Chinese people’s daily life. In ancient China, they     6     (call) zhu.     7     the Chinese began to use chopsticks     8     an eating instrument is anybody’s guess. They were first mentioned in writing in Liji (The Book of Rites), a work compiled some 2,000 years ago. Chopsticks may be made of any of several materials: bamboo, wood, gold, silver, ivory, pewter, and plastics. In cross-section, they may be either round     9     square. Some of them are engraved with colored pictures or calligraphy for decoration. Ordinary chopsticks     10     (use) in Chinese homes are of wood or bamboo, those for banquets are often ivory, whereas gold ones belonged only to the royalty and aristocracy (皇室和贵族).

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism recently unveiled 10 nation a-level Yangtze River themed tourist routes. Yichang city in Central China’s Hubei province,     1     the Three Gorges Dam lies, is an important part of the routes.

Visitors can take a cruise from downtown Yichang to the tribe, enjoy traditional ethnic group singing and dancing, rub shoulders with inheritors of intangible cultural heritage and go     2    (hike) along the Yangtze River. Yangtze River, one of the “mother     3    (river)” of China, symbolizes the nation’s rich history and culture, with its awe-inspiring currents and picturesque views along its banks.

During the May Day holiday, Yichang received over 6.07 million tourists, with     4     increase of 67.22 percent over 2022. The total tourism revenue(收益) reached about 4.15 billion yuan($599.1 million), increased     5     88.21 percent compared with 2022.     6    (locate) in the Xiling Gorge between the Three Gorges Dam and Gezhouba Dam, the Tribe of the Three Gorges scenic area welcomed 89, 900 tourists, with a total tourism revenue of 11.86 million yuan during the holiday.

Since the May Day holiday, the country     7    (see) a boom in its domestic tourism, and destinations along the river are     8    (extreme) popular among travelers. At present, photos, short videos and live streams about the beauty of the Yangtze River are being shown online to a     9    (globe) audience. The China Cultural Center is holding events     10    (promote) river tourism resources in Paris and Tokyo.

It is believed that Chinese knotting, also known as zhongguojie, originated for recording information and exchanging messages     1     writing was invented. Over the past thousands of years, knots     2     (play) an important part in the life of Chinese.    3     (initial), Chinese knots acted as good -luck charms to drive away evil spirits. Today, Chinese knots are widely used to decorate homes during festivities.

A major characteristic of Chinese knots is that they are often tied from a single continuous length of string. The knots are commonly named     4     the shape it takes. Chinese knots are created in a     5     (various) of colors such as gold, green, blue, or black, though the most commonly used color is red,    6     symbolizes good luck and prosperity.

Crafting the Chinese knot is a three-step process     7     (involve) tying knots, tightening them and adding the finishing touches. The knots     8     (pull) tightly together and are strong enough to be used for binding or wrapping, making them very practical.

Today, most of such knots are often mass manufactured in factories. Skilled knot artists weave complex knots that you might see     9     (sell) as souvenirs that you can take back with you. If you have time, why not try your hand at it? Perhaps these age-old charms can add     10     touch of good luck to your daily life?

In the gentle winter sunlight, Gulangyu Island lies like a pearl in the ocean, quietly revealing     1     (it) unique charm. This small island is a witness     2     history. Every brick seems to tell stories of the past.     3     (original) named “Yuanshazhou” and also known as “Yuanzhouzi”, it     4     (refer) to as “Wulongyu” during the Southern Song Dynasty. Later, due to the sound resembling a drum, it was renamed “Gulangyu.” Famous for its natural landscapes and cultural heritage, Gulangyu boasts     5     (attraction) such as Sunlight Rock, Shuzhuang Garden, and more. Figures like Ba Jin and Lin Yutang found inspiration here,     6     (enrich) the island’s intellectual heritage.

During the winter, life here seems to slow down. In the early morning, it’s preferable to walk through the alleys     7     (surround) by European-style buildings. Breathing in the air filled with the smell of the sea     8     (bring) an extraordinary sense of freshness and joy.     9     walk to Sunlight Rock on the island offers a view of the entire city of Xiamen. In the afternoon, one can enjoy a rich cup of coffee in a café by the sea,     10     feels like being in a moving painting with the occasional fishing boat passing by. As the sun sets, the entire island is enveloped in a golden sunset. At this moment, Gulangyu becomes even more gentle and romantic.

This year’s winter has proven an important season for Harbin, the capital city of Heilongjiang province, as interest     1     the icy destination greatly increased after social media posts showed many citizens from the     2     (warm) south flooding into the snowy city. It     3     (welcome) nearly 3.05 million visitors, taking in $832.39 million of tourism revenue (收入), during the three-day New Year holiday.

To facilitate the consumption of Harbin’s popular frozen pears, the city has even introduced frozen pear plates, making     4     easier for tourists to enjoy the delicacy. Moreover,     5     (attract) more tourists and improve overall services, Harbin has rolled out a     6     (vary) of activities, including live performances on New Year’s Eve, firework displays, theme parks, intangible heritage culture shows and concerts. A series of     7     (measure) have also been introduced to enhance the visitor experience in Harbin, covering areas such as dining, accommodation, travel, shopping and entertainment.

It is these careful and considerate details     8     make sure that tourists feel warmly embraced, cared for and respected. Consequently, their positive experiences are     9     (wide) shared on the internet,     10     (contribute) to Harbin’s “internet celebrity” city status.