The Wuhan silk flower is a famous specialty of Hubei. It has been produced and sold for many years and enjoys a high reputation.

Over the past hundred years, Wuhan silk flower     1     (adopt) the traditional silk flower making techniques from the royal courts. It draws spirit from the folk silk flower making techniques throughout China, while perfecting     2     (it) on the basis of the traditional flower skills that have been known far and wide due to its fine workmanship.

Silk flowers are the flowers     3     (typical) made with silk, satin and other high-grade fabrics. The flowers look vivid and are unique skills. Whether due to its long history or the strong     4     (decorate) effect, silk flowers were common accessories of the ancient women.

Among Chinese traditional skills, making flowers     5     fabrics emerged more than 1,700 years ago. In the Tang Dynasty, it was recorded     6     women wore flowers made with silk.

The silk flower     7     (artist) in Wuhan have handed down and carried forward silk flower workmanship from generation to generation, making silk flower     8     art craft specialty with local characteristics. The varieties of the flowers     9     (make) with silk include peony, rose, Chinese rose, and other flowers in total of more than 400 varieties. The finished flowers are classified into inserted flowers, hat flowers and more,     10     (enjoy) great popularity among consumers.

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?

A skywell, or “tian jing” in Chinese, is a typical feature of a traditional home in Southern and Eastern China. They are commonly seen in homes     1     (date) to the Ming and Qing dynasties, which     2     (design) to house different generations of relatives. Despite their varied sizes and designs, these skywells are typically square and located in     3     heart of the house. They serve to allow in light, enhance airflow, and harvest rainwater.

Since decades ago, the government     4     (advocate) green buildings, promoting environmentally-friendly practice. The increased interest towards traditional Chinese architecture is leading to the restoration of historic buildings with skywells     5     modern use. Architects are also looking towards the principles behind skywells while designing new buildings     6     (save) energy. The Dongguan TBA Tower in Guangdong Province, for example, brings natural airflows into every floor with internal “windpipes”    7     function in a similar way to skywells. The aim is to keep the building's temperature     8     (comfort) in all seasons, using only natural airflow.

The fact that skywells still exist today shows     9     clever ancient builders were in using nature's elements to create energy-sufficient and sustainable living spaces. These timeless architectural     10     (wonder) continue to inspire architects in their efforts to find green solutions for cooling homes and buildings.

Born into an ethnic Miao family in rural Guizhou Province, Zhang was exposed from a young age to the rich tradition of Miao embroidery (刺绣) —     1     cultural craft that has been passed down through generations. She spent countless hours as a child     2     (observe) her mother and grandmother stitching fancy patterns onto fabrics by hand. In 2003, hoping to modernize and share this heritage, she opened her first clothing shop in the provincial capital.

A decade later, Zhang     3    (establish) her own clothing brand focused on combining traditional Chinese-style qipao dresses with colorful customized embroidery patterns. “We have trained hundreds of local Miao women in the ancient needlework techniques,” Zhang     4     (proud) remarked. “The clothing line celebrates their breathtaking handiwork,     5     I hope advances my home village’s revitalization.”

Her     6     (commit) to cultural preservation and rural development was recognized in 2019, when the China women’s Handicraft Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition     7    (hold) and Zhang’s innovative design collection won top honors. In an interview afterwards, she reflected on both preserving traditional skills through new media,     8    expanding economic opportunities for artisans. We attach equal importance     9     cultural inheritance and market expansion,” Zhang stated. “In the future, we’ll continue innovating designs     10    (display) Miao embroidery’s beauty and diversity.”

Originating in southwest China, tea enriches and nourishes the life of Chinese people, and gives rise to a unique and profound tea culture.

Dating back to over 2000 years ago, tea has risen above differences in diets and cultures and enjoyed worldwide     1     (popular) with its unique fragrance. Since the Tang Dynasty, Chinese tea has made     2     way to the world, through the Ancient Tea Horse Road and the Ancient Silk Road,     3     (shape) different tea drinking customs and cultures along the way. After the 18th century, Chinese tea seeds     4     (introduce) to India, Sri Lanka and later other countries, and now more than 60 countries are growing tea.

Chinese tea falls into six categories,     5     (name) green tea, white tea, yellow tea, oolong tea, black tea and dark tea,     6     (base) on different production methods and fermentation (发酵) degrees.     7     the only country in the world capable of producing and processing sixteen categories, China     8     (develop) an automated and standardized way with great innovation. In 2016, China exported 271,000 tons of green tea,     9     quality has won world recognition.

In tea, we find art, prosperity and our journey ahead. Chinese tea culture values harmony and sincerity,     10     spirit that shares the same origin with the Silk Road.

In September, UNESCO Director-General Audrey visited Zhoukoudian in Beijing. She was full of praise     1     a special structure which     2     (successful) protected Yuanrendong Cave from an unusual rainstorm in July. The karst cave     3     (reveal) the fossilized remains of 40 individuals so far.

The structure protects the site from the extreme weather, secretary-general Qin Changwei said at the 2nd World Cultural and Natural Heritage Forum. “    4     provides a reference for the protection of cultural relics, and suggests     5     (measure) for helping heritage sites respond to the influence of climate change.”

Organized by various organizations,     6     forum brought together some 50 professionals to discuss the protection and     7     (sustain) development of heritage sites.

“Climate change has been the subject of in-depth discussion by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. Questions like how to balance humans and nature, how to respond to natural disasters     8     what new challenges this brings to World Heritage Sites are worth     9     (consider),” says Qin.

“Addressing the issue requires multi-sectoral and interdisciplinary cooperation, making full use of cutting-edge technology and jointly     10     (develop) risk prevention and response plans,” he adds.

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.

A museum showcasing the culture of the Grand Canal is expected to open in Beijing next week. Some 6,000 items or sets of exhibits     1     (close) related to Beijing and the ancient canal are to be displayed.

“The Grand Canal Museum of Beijing, also called the Capital Museum East Branch,     2     (locate) in the Beijing Municipal Administrative Center and has     3     total floor area of 99,700 square meters,” said Feng Hao, who is     4     charge of museum collections at the Capital Museum.

With a daily capacity of 6,000 visitors, the new museum is designed     5     (combine) boats, sailing and water elements, showcasing the culture of the Grand Canal.

The exhibition area consists of basic,     6     (theme), open, and temporary exhibition     7     (section). “Visitors can enjoy an interactive experience     8     (reflect) the themes of Beijing and the Grand Canal in the open exhibition section through     9     (digit) technology,” Feng said.

With a history of more than 2,500 years, the Grand Canal connects Beijing and Hangzhou in East China’s Zhejiang Province,     10     served as a significant transportation route in ancient China.

Despite being 75 years old, Chai Tixia’s expertise in Jianzi is truly impressive. With quick kicks, he effortlessly sends the Jianzi into the air and gracefully guides it to land    1     (gentle) on his head.

Jianzi,    2     game that dates back to the Han Dynasty, is surprisingly simple: players must keep the Jianzi in the air,    3     (use) any part of their body except their hands and arms. However, to master this game    4     (require) a lot of practice.

While enjoyed throughout China, Jianzi     5     (describe) by Chai as an important aspect of hutong culture. The narrow alleyways, situated within Beijing’s inner city, provide the setting for the game’s    6     (popular). Each mormning, Chai and his fellow hutong residents gather for their shared passion for Jianzi.

Chai’s spirited matches with his neighbors have a big audience     7     (draw) to the artistry and excitement of the game. The onlookers who watch them playing with great athleticism are amazed at     8     Chai and his fellow players can achieve.

Having practiced Jianzi for over 30 years, Chai cherishes the physical and social     9     (benefit) the game brings. Engaging in lively matches with his neighbors energizes his body, enhances his flexibility,     10     promotes unity within the community. Through Jianzi, Chai harvests not only health but a sense of belonging and friendship.