1 . It’s a race against time, as generations of cultural heritage conservators at the Dunhuang Academy make a great effort to protect the artistic charm of the Mogao Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, despite erosion (侵蚀) by sand and wind.

The team is devoted to protecting the 45,000 square meters of murals (壁画) and more than 2,400 painted sculptures of the 735 caves of the site, the construction of which spans about a thousand years, from the 4th century to the 14th century. The cultural relics are the product of the cultural exchanges that took place over centuries on the ancient Silk Road. “Our work, repairing murals and painted sculptures, is to better preserve the caves, which promotes the great Dunhuang spirit of inclusiveness to the world and inspires modern people,” says Su Bomin, director of the Dunhuang Academy.

Commonly seen “diseases” affecting the murals include cracking and flaking, as well as erosion that is caused by changes in temperature and humidity of the caves, and the deposition of salts. To restore a mural requires an all-rounder. Restorers should know painting, master the skills of a mason and have some knowledge of chemistry and physics, to be able to recognize the problems and their corresponding causes and deliver a solution. They must also select proper materials and tools, and conduct experiments, before formally carrying out the restoration and evaluating the effect afterward.

The restoration should respect the original work and aim to maintain the status quo of the murals rather than repainting them. When the restorers find some parts of murals missing or fading away, they never repaint them to create a “perfect” appearance in restoration. “Cultural relics are witnesses of history,” explains Su. “When you pursue the so-called intact (完好无损的) look for artistic reasons, you will lose their key meaning.”

Cave conservation is about continuously solving problems. “It needs a long-term research to better preserve the caves, over a much wider time span that goes beyond our lifetimes,” Su says. But at least, they can keep the current look of the murals for as long as possible.

Chinese characters are so     1     (amaze) that even many foreigners are crazy about them. For the past three decades, Richard Sears has been focused on one thing: telling many    2     (story) behind Chinese characters. His interest in Chinese language and characters dates back to 1972, when he was a 22-year-old physics major in the USA.

He built a website in 2002 and named it Chinese Etymology (词源),     3     provides visitors with opportunities to check the development of Chinese characters in a variety of forms for free. Because of this well-received website, he     4     (become) Uncle Hanzi, a nickname (昵称) which was given by Chinese netizens.

In September, Sears set up     5     (he) studio in Nanjing as part of the local government’s plan to promote Chinese culture. To help both Chinese     6     foreign learners have a better understanding of Chinese characters, the studio concentrates     7     telling stories behind Chinese characters with the aid of technology. They have made over 60 videos in English with Chinese subtitles for Bilibili, a popular video website among young people.     8     (watch) the videos not only brings fun but also makes people know more about Chinese characters, leaving them a deep     9     (impress).

With the tireless efforts of people like Richard Sears and the government’s support,     10     (many) people will appreciate the beauty of Chinese characters fully.

4 . Some Strangest Festivals From Around The World

Through the years, people have found many ways to celebrate important occasions in their lives. If you’re looking for an interesting and off-the-beaten-path travel place, here are some most wonderful and unusual festivals from around the world.

Boryeong Annual Mud Festival, Boryeong rock

This festival takes place at the beach, with much mud (泥巴) resource from the sea. At this festival, people take part in a number of activities involving (涉及) mud, which not only brings back happy childhood memories but is good for the skin.

World Body-painting Festival, Pörtschach, Austria

This entire festival is not strange because of the activities that occur (发生) during it, but because of the way people look when it’s over. During this time, artists worldwide flood in and hold live body-painting activities. They are painting creative designs on willing participants (参与者).

Underwater Music Festival, Florida, America

Rather than being held at a typical concert hall, the underwater Music Festival takes place on the seabed. This special custom is unlike any others because it featured musicians playing music below water level. 100 feet deep in clear water, talented musicians wear diving (潜水) equipment, performing free concerts for sea creatures and humans alike.

Battle of the orange, Ivrea, Italy

This Italian town hosts one of the most unusual festivals. Each year in February, a battle (战斗) takes place among thousands of participants who have to throw orange at each other during a 30-minute fight. The aim is to try and knock down other participants by attacking them with oranges so that they cannot stand any longer.

8 . Around 28 years ago, when photographer (摄影师) Liu Shibin first came to the Shitan Village in She County of Anhui Province, he was deeply attracted to the sights there. The 800-year-old village has peaceful lanes, fine Hui-style architecture, water scenes, beautiful mountain s and a deep cultural base. After that, Liu came to the village almost every year and started to think about how to use his power to help the village get out of poorness.

Spring is the high season for photography tourism in the village. As to how to attract visitors during other seasons, Liu got an idea. As the sunflower scene in Qinghai Province was quite famous, Liu advised the local villagers to copy that and plant sunflowers. In April of 2009, the photographer bought some seeds and paid to villagers to try them out. After the successful attempt, Liu spread his sunflower photographs online and the local government then encouraged villagers to plant more fields of sunflowers. Thus, more and more photographers and tourists came to the poor village, which brought development to the local tourism.

When Liu first came to Shitan village, there was only one hotel for photographers, which could only admit 12 people. However, now the village can accommodate nearly 10,000 people per day at the tourist season of spring.

Over the past years, photographer Liu Shibin has also shot many photos for local villagers and sent them a copy for free. Liu has “shot” the small unknown village into a nationwide famous photography attraction, helping local people get on a road to wealth with his lens (镜头).

10 . Whether you’re searching for a relaxing beach break, an immersive (沉浸式的) cultural journey, or an active adventure, 2023 offers endless opportunities. Let’s take a look at some fantastic holiday destinations and where to go.

Cyprus, an attractive island in the heart of the Mediterranean, is well known for its amazing landscapes. Cyprus is home to a number of ancient archaeological (考古的) sites, beautiful beaches, lively cities and peaceful towns. With a wide range of experiences, Cyprus invites you to uncover its cultural treasures.

Crete is the largest of the Greek islands. Crete delights visitors with its ancient ruins, picture-perfect villages and sun kissed beaches, making it the perfect destination for a family holiday in 2024. With wonder and discovery around every corner, Crete is a fantastic choice.

The Maldives is a dream destination with blue waters and white sands. Whether you’re in search of relaxation, romance or adventure, the Maldives has it all and more. Be sure to explore the colourful coral reefs, and the amazing surroundings, or simply just relax on the sands.

Dubai has grown to be a global centre for tourism, business, and cultural experiences. Home to an iconic skyline with the tallest building in the world, Dubai has world class attractions and fascinating shopping malls. Head to the beaches to relax or appreciate its architecture and design. You could even start a thrilling adventure into the desert.