Every Wednesday afternoon, Le Duc An, a Vietnamese PhD student at Beijing University of Technology, practices calligraphy in the calligraphy group.

The 33-year-old     1    (study) Chinese calligraphy for nearly three years. “I     2    (expose) to Vietnamese calligraphy when I was a child, and it was one of the things that made the biggest impression on me,” An says.

When he came to Beijing in 2019 for his PhD studies focusing on the environment, he also spent time practicing Chinese calligraphy,     3    (commit) himself in earnest to the journey of learning the art.

    4    (initial), An says that he did not understand the techniques in Chinese calligraphy, but with the help of Professor Liu Hongli, he gradually came to understand the meaning behind the characters and the techniques in calligraphy.

    5    (gain) a deeper understanding of calligraphy, An has visited many ancient sites in Beijing, including the Confucius Temple and the Forbidden City. He has also participated     6     a number of calligraphy competitions, both at school and international events.

An says that places     7     he has seen treasured scrolls of calligraphy have left a profound impression, and are     8     major source of inspiration. “Calligraphy has become a part of me,” An says.“Whenever I see Chinese calligraphy from different     9    (dynasty), and on sculptures and at historical sites, I find myself     10    (impress) by the vastness and depth of Chinese culture.”

The Xuanyuan Mirror is a special ancient Chinese mirror made of bronze. It was created during the Han Dynasty,     1     lasted from 206 BCE to 220 CE. This mirror     2     (consider) one of China’s most important archaeological     3     (discovery) and can be seen at the Palace Museum in Beijing.

The Xuanyuan Miror is big and round, about 51 cm in diameter. It has a curved surface that bulges (凸起) outwards     4     (slight), making it look unique. The mirror is decorated     5    many patterns and designs, such as dragons, phoenixes, and other imaginary creatures.

One thing that makes the Xuanyuan Mirror so interesting is its writing, called an inscription (铭文). It says “Xuanyuan” in ancient Chinese characters. People believe this refers to Emperor Wu of Han, who     6     (rule) from 141 BCE to 87 BCE. The mirror might have been made during his time     7     (show) his power and authority.

Not only is the Xuanyuan Mirror important for history, but it is also     8     beautiful work of art. The detailed designs show how talented and     9     (create) ancient Chinese craftsmen were. Today, it remains one of the most popular exhibits at the Palace Museum,     10     (attract) visitors from all over the world who come to appreciate its beauty and learn about its exciting history.

China, a country with a history spanning over 5,000 years, is known for its rich cultural heritage. From the majestic Great Wall to the amazing art of calligraphy, from the colorful festivals to the delicious cuisine, Chinese culture is a fascinating blend of ancient     1     (wise) and modern civilization. Calligraphy, one of China’s oldest art     2     (form), is considered a high regard of self-expression and is often used to convey deep emotions. Chinese painting, too, is celebrated for its beauty and elegance, with artists     3     (use) brushstrokes and colors to create landscape’s and portraits, or capture the essence of nature and human emotions.

The Chinese culture has the power to make an impression     4     anyone who encounters it. Its traditions, customs, and beliefs are     5     (extreme) diverse and unique. In recent years, China’s rapid economic growths     6     (bring) about significant changes in its society. As China continued to expand its influence on the     7     (globe) stage, it is important for the nations     8     (balance) its economic progress with the preservation of its cultural identity.

In conclusion, the beauty of Chinese culture is beyond     9     (describe). As we navigate the challenged of the 21st century, it is our job to protect and celebrate this incredible legacy for generations to come. Every Chinese carries a     10     (responsible) to preserve and pass on its rich heritage to future generations.

Shu embroidery (蜀绣) enjoys a long history in China. As early as the Han Dynasty, Shu embroidery was already famous, enjoying a high reputation as “    1     treasure of Sichuan”. During the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, a     2     (relative) peaceful society and large demand provided     3     (advance) conditions for the rapid development of the Shu embroidery industry. Shu embroidery experienced its peak development in the Song Dynasty,     4     (rank) first in both production and     5     (excellent). In the mid-Qing Dynasty, the Shu embroidery industry was formed.     6     the People’s Republic of China was founded, Shu embroidery factories were set up and the craft entered a new period of development.

Shu embroidery     7     (form) its own unique characteristics, since it originated among the common people in the west of Sichuan Province. Shu embroidery has strong expression and artistic effect,     8     features are said as “fine and smooth needlework, simple and elegant colors, graceful and easy lines and the traditional Chinese paintings style”. Altogether, there are 122     9     (approach) in 12 categories for weaving. The embroidery took locally-produced colorful satin (缎子) and threads     10     its materials.

Tens of thousands of Chinese     1    (society) media users have backed calls from the country’s state media to have its artworks     2    (current) kept in the British Museum returned.

The topic “The British Museum please return Chinese antiquities (古董)” was in response     3     a piece published by Chinese state media Global Times that called for all cultural relics in the British Museum     4    (return) free of charge.

The British Museum has been under pressure after around 2,000 items were reported “missing,     5    (steal) or damaged” two weeks ago,     6    (lead) to accusations that it was failing to fulfil its duty of care.

The calls follow a piece published by the Global Times     7     argued, “The world-renowned British museum     8    (fail) to take good care of ‘cultural property belonging to other countries’ up to these years.”

The British Museum looks after 23,000 Chinese objects, from the Neolithic (新石器) age to the present day. It is one of the largest     9    (collection) of Chinese antiquities in the West. The collection includes     10     large range of precious items such as paintings, prints, jade and bronzes.