The apsaras, angel-like beings known as feitian in Chinese, are a symbol of the city of Dunhuang. Here, in     1     historic Silk Road oasis in Gansu province, feitian-themed decorations and designs are common, ranging from towering sculptures of heavenly musicians holding Chinese pipa lutes     2     complex drawings of charming beauties bearing flowers on the cups.

Dunhuang has amazed the world with its nearby Mogao Caves, one of the greatest “storerooms” of ancient Buddhist art.     3     (date) back to the 4th century, these artworks cover the     4     (gold) age of the Tang (618-907) and other influential dynasties,     5     the city played an important role as a centre of exchanges between East and West.

Today, the great impact of the murals, sculptures, scripts     6     other major objects discovered in the early 20th century at the UNESCO World Heritage Site still     7     (continue) to be felt beyond the cultural, historical and religious field.

As a major     8     (represent) of traditional Chinese culture, Dunhuang art also offers an important way     9     (distinguish) traditional Chinese culture and help spread an appreciation of     10     all over the world.

In the soft glow of the Lantern Festival, a woman moves gracefully through the crowd in her Ma Mian Qun. As she walks, the folds of her skirt flow like waves,     1    （bring） the embroidered (刺绣的) dragons and phoenixes to life, as if they were whispering tales of ancient times.

Ma Mian Qun,     2    （common） known as the horse-face skirt, was the most typical style for Chinese women in the Song Dynasty. Traditionally, the skirt     3    （comprise） of two pieces of identical cloth tied at the waistband, wrapping around the body     4    （ensure） coverage in the front and back—a design particularly suitable     5     horse-riding. The cloth was decorated with delicate     6    （pattern） that represent joy and good luck, featuring dragons, phoenixes and historical stories.

Over the years, Ma Mian Qun     7    （experience） a series of changes, developing from the practical function of the Song Dynasty and adapting to the fresh and     8    （elegance） style of the Ming Dynasty, the luxury of the Qing Dynasty and finally the modern fashion innovation. Yet, the “horse face” design has been a constant feature.

Paired with Han suit Ao (袄), Ma Mian Qun displays an air of dignity and gentleness, making     9     a significant symbol of traditional Chinese costume culture,     10     influence on Western fashion has lasted for generations.

As a distinctive visual art symbol of China, Chinese paper cutting, has been around for centuries. With     1     (simple) a piece of paper and a pair of scissors, diverse patterns ranging from portraits to animal zodiacs     2     (create) with delicate designs.

Due to their     3     (culture) value and low cost, Chinese paper cut-outs are popular ornaments used to decorate windows and mirrors. When light shines through the negative spaces of the cut-outs,     4     elegant pattern is formed indoors.     5     (refer) to as ‘window flowers’, the pretty cut-outs decorating windows are significant in Chinese traditional culture.

The oldest     6     (survive) paper cut-out is a symmetrical (对称的) circle from the 6th century found in Xinjiang, China. The art of Chinese paper cutting is believed     7     (originate) in China even before the invention of paper by Cai Lun in 105 CE. There have been documentaries     8     record the Chinese using other thin materials such as leaves, silk, and leather to carve hollowed patterns. It was found that during the Western Zhou Dynasty (1046-771 BC), people had already cut tree leaves into various art forms     9     given them out as presents. They created paper-cuts to depict beautiful things, worship, and express good     10     (wish) .

Every Lunar New Year, China introduces a zodiac(生肖) sign from a cycle of 12 lucky animals. This year, it’s the Year of the Dragon, or more     1     (accurate), ”the Year of the Loong”. Then what’s the difference?

The Western     2     (describe) of dragons as “fire-breathing winged creatures” was inspired by literature such as Beowulf - the Old English epic about a Scandinavian hero     3    contribution was killing monsters, including a dragon. Greek fairy tales also presented dragons    4    violent sea monsters or guards of valuable     5     (possession). By contrast, “loong”, a word    6     (create) in the 19th century, reminds people of strength and fortune, and should    7     (distinguish) from its Western cousin. In Shiji,     8    2, 000-year-old Chinese history book, the emperor’s mother dreamed of a dragon lying on her body,     9     (predict) the birth of a future emperor. Exactly for this reason, Chinese people proudly claim they are “descendants of the Loong” .

Therefore, some culture experts have been calling for a switch to ”loong”     10     (tell) the Chinese dragon from the frightening monsters of Western tales. The call is also in line with the push for cultural confidence to choose the preferred translation of the Mandarin word for a creature long respected in Chinese culture.

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.

Every year during the Spring Festival, a small village east of Beijing puts on a special show. It’s about-15°C, and a man dressed in a straw hat and sheepskin coat    1           (throw)spoon after spoon of heavy molten iron(铁水) at a massive，icy wall.The collision(碰撞)between the 1,600℃ liquid metal and the frozen brick creates a waterfall of sparks(火花)    2    (fall) over him, equally beautiful and dangerous.

This is a performance    3    requires extraordinary courage, skill and strength. Known as Da Shuhua, it has a history of 500 years in Nuanquan, a highly-developed steel town.Da Shuhua translates literally into “beating down the tree flowers,”    4    agricultural activity of hitting fruit trees to stimulate growth.

In ancient times, fireworks weren’t always    5    (wide) affordable. So people in Nuanquan made use of scrap iron and developed Da Shuhua as a way    6    (celebrate) festivals.As a result,they brought firework displays    7    a whole new level.

Today,Da Shuhua has become more popular than ever,due to    8    (ban)on fireworks to reduce air pollution in some parts of China. Every year, this unique firework display attracts tons of people in spite of the freezing cold weather    9    draws attention for its protection. Since 2021,it    10    (list) as an intangible cultural heritage of China.

Economic and trade ties between China and countries along the Belt and Road    1     (grow) significantly over the past decade.

Proposed by China in 2013, the Belt and Road Initiative refers    2    the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 2lst Century Maritime Silk Road. China’s trade in goods with Belt and Road countries doubled    3    $1.04 trillion in 2013 to $2.07 trillion in 2022, with    4    average annual growth rate of 8 percent. Chen Chunjiang, assistant minister of commerce, said at a news conference. By the end of 2022, Chinese enterprises had invested $57.13 billion in economic and trade cooperation zone countries along the Belt and Road,    5    helped create 421.000 jobs for local residents.

    6    (go) ahead, China will expand imports of quality goods, improve its two-way investment structure    7    conclude free trade agreements with more countries along the Belt and Road. China will    8    (active) negotiate and sign bilateral (双边的) cooperation agreements on green development, digital economy and blue economy countries along the Belt and Road.

China will also strengthen cooperation with countries along the Belt and Road in areas including poverty     9    (reduce), health and education, and initiate more “small but beautiful”     10     (project)to enhance local people’s sense of accomplishment, Chen said.

For Greek photographer George Doupas, Beijing is home now. During the past decade, he has been photographing the city, capturing its beauty     1     sharing these photos online and in exhibitions.

“This     2     (true) represents Beijing — the old and the new, nicely mixing together,” Doupas said while showing his photograph of the Zhihua Temple, a delicate Ming Dynasty building. It     3     (locate) in front of a modern office building, Galaxy SOHO, which features weaving bridges and interlocking passageways.

With rich historical heritage, Beijing     4     (be) an important center of traditional Chinese culture since the Ming Dynasty. Doupas often gets     5     (lose) in the city’s splendid ancient architecture. Meanwhile, he is also amazed by the modern city     6    (combine) high-end businesses and various industries. “It is fascinating to see a rapidly-developing city that invests so much effort in preserving its past, which is     7     I decided to pursue my career here,” he said.

Doupas is determined to continue with his career in China, hoping to serve as     8     bridge between China and the West. The     9     (display) that show his photos about Beijing have attracted a large audience in Greece and the Czech Republic.

“I call Beijing my home now,” he said, “I’ll keep sharing photos of China     10     the rest of the world.”