Jiangsu, known for its unique blend of innovation and preservation, is a true treasure. I was     1     (incredible) fortunate to journey through the cities of Suzhou and Nanjing, both of which left me fascinated with their true impressiveness and eagerly     2     (long) to explore further.

My first stop was Suzhou.     3     (engage) myself in the local industrial atmosphere, I chose a hotel in the “industrial park”,     4     the coexistence of advanced manufacturing and natural beauty was most evident, as it was situated on the edge of a scenic lake, embraced by a vibrant landscape. As I adventured into the heart of the city, the Old Town’s ancient waterways led me on an     5     (explore) of history, and the classical gardens offered a glimpse into a     6     (story) past. However, what truly amazed me was the “energy of Suzhou” represented by its people who have enormous respect for their city’s time-honored history as well as     7     innovative eye on the future.

Actually, the mindset of modernization with deep respect for the past isn’t only unique to Suzhou     8     an indicative factor of Nanjing. High-rises decorate the city’s skyline, creating a distinct contrast     9     the ancient neighborhoods, temples, and buildings that     10     (occupy) previously by people. I never anticipated my expectations would be blown out of the water by “A tale of two cities”.

I remember that every year in lunar December in my hometown, Xinyang, each family begins to prepare bunches of bacon and sausage hanging from yard to yard     1     (embrace) the upcoming New Year. Walking in such a street view and sniffing the smell of pickled bacon(腊肉), I always have a sense of    2     (happy).

Xinyang, located on the boundary between the north and the south, is rich in rice, wheat and fertile land due to its unique     3     (geography) position and climate. Therefore, it cultivates the characteristics of Xinyang people who have a good appetite     4     delicacies. According to relevant records, the history of Xinyang’s pickled bacon dates back to the Ming Dynasty,     5     the locals learned to keep its special taste by preserving it in a special bean. People in Xinyang love their life so much that even during     6     (tough) times, they still inherited the soul of taste and made delicious pickled bacon. Actually, Xinyang’s pickled bacon is made in     7     seemingly simple way by drying the meat in the shade but it brings out the flavor of the food     8     (it) and stays with our memory for long.

You’ll never become fully conscious of how much you value it until you     9     (tear) apart from it. Such is Xinyang’s pickled bacon, one of my unforgettable memories of my hometown despite time     10    (tick) by.

Bathed in warm sunshine, the newly restored Jingfu Ge,     1     is part of the Summer Palace in Beijing, is like an elderly person     2     a youthful face. It possesses the solemnity and magnificence of a royal building, and the gentle elegance of time.

After a yearlong work, the ancient building was reopened, enabling     3     public to see the results during a special open day on Oct 30.

Located on the eastern ridge of Wanshou Mountain in the Summer Palace, the building was initially a two-story pavilion     4     (construct) during the reign of Qing Dynasty Emperor Qianlong from 1736 to 1796,     5     known as the Tanhua Pavilion.     6     (fortunate), it was burned to the ground by Anglo-French forces in 1860, and it     7     (rebuild) between 1891-93 during the reign of Emperor Guangxu. Historical records show that Empress Dowager Cixi often went there     8     (appreciate) the views and the weather, and received foreign envoys and their family members in the building, which was not far from     9     (she) residence in the Summer Palace.

This round of     10     (restore) covered the main hall and the surrounding courtyard, with the aim of minimizing interference with the building and not changing its original facade and features.

Shanghai, lying in the subtropical zone of monsoon (季风) climate in East Asia,     1     (enjoy) a humid weather with four     2     (remark) seasons in a year. April 1st marks the beginning of spring, lasting 65 days to end up     3     a rise in temperature in June. Summer calls on June 5th and finishes on the 22nd of September, while autumn falls every 23rd of September to wind up at the 26th day of November, totaling 65 days. Winter visits the land of Shanghai on November 27th, extending     4     period of 125 days to end on the last day of next March. So it features a shorter spring and autumn but a longer summer and winter. Though hot in summer and cooler in autumn, it is     5     (relative) cold in winter in Shanghai, but snow is rare. The continual monsoon rain,     6     comes in the middle of June, usually lasts 20 to 30 days to end in the middle of July,     7     (witness) an amount of rain of around 250 millimeters. Storms frequently occur between July and September, a season often     8     (affect) by typhoon activity. Shanghai     9     (locate) in the east coast of the mid-latitude land mass; therefore, warm and cold air-current is a frequent     10     (visit). So it features a changeable weather with drought and flood, influencing the agriculture and life of the people here.

Xi’an, an ancient capital of China, has secured a place among the most popular     1     (destination) for the enchanting appeal. While     2     (it) historical and cultural landmarks awe visitors, it is the varied, mouthwatering selection of snacks that     3     (true) captivates their hearts.

With its strategic location along the Silk Road, Xi’an is a melting pot of cuisine influences from far and wide, and its history of growing wheat     4     (bring) the creation of a display of flour-based dishes, with noodles taking center stage.

From the iconic biangbiang noodles to the inviting oil-splashed noodles, Xi’an’s noodle scene is a     5     (delight) journey through flavors and textures. Biangbiang noodles, are named for the “biang-ing” sound the noodles are said to make when     6     (beat) on the table as they are being formed. While the appeal of biangbiang noodles is     7     they are wide and hand-pulled, their toppings with tasty ingredients are also a highlight. Another iconic snack, roujiamo, is often referred to     8     the “Chinese hamburger”. This sandwich-like delight has a lengthy history     9     (date) back approximately 2,400 years.

Whatever you’d like to experience in Xi’an, you’ll not only have     10     taste delight, but be amazed by the wisdom of our ancestors throughout history.

China’s top legislature (立法机构) passed the Yellow River Protection Law on Sunday. Due     1     (come) into effect from April 1, the law explains water conservation on the river basin, ecological protection and     2     (restore), conservation and intensive use of water resources, flood control and pollution prevention among other measures.

The Yellow River, the second     3     (long) river in China, is called the mother river of the Chinese nation. Since the founding of new China, large-scale protection of the river     4     (carry) out and remarkable achievements made. The introduction of the Yellow River Protection Law will further enhance the river’s governance (管理) and protection.

The law     5     (cover) a series of key issues, such as ecological environment fragility and water shortage. This means the settlement of some of the “pain points”     6     have long troubled the river now has a legal basis. The law also     7     (specific) highlights the need to strengthen the protection, inheritance and promotion of the Yellow River culture.

The Yellow River basin is home     8     a lot of cultural relics, ancient documents and other important cultural heritage, and     9     (they) protection is a very important part of the river’s protection and governance, since it is of irreplaceable significance to promoting     10     inheritance (继承) of Chinese civilization.

The Ancient City of Pingyao, originally named “Gu Tao”,     1    (construct) during the Western Zhou Dynasty. In order to defend from invaders (入侵者), a wall was built     2     the city in 1370. More than 300 years later, gate towers were built     3    (celebrate) a visit by Kangxi Emperor.

The three most historic sites in Pingyao, often referred to as the city’s Three Historic Treasures,     4    (be) the ancient brick-made city wall and the Zhenguo and Shuanglin temples.

The first of these historic treasures, the ancient city wall is 6,163 meters long and separates the city into two parts — an old city enclosed within the walls     5     the newer modern section of the city. The old town still looks as it     6    (do) during the Qing Dynasty, with antique streets and buildings along     7    (age) roads. Walking along the alleyways, one can appreciate the symmetrical (对称的) design of the city and     8    (it) stylish man-made cave houses. In the northeast corner of the city is the second treasure: Zhenguo Temple. Its Wan Fo Hall is the third oldest wooden building in China and houses numerous     9    (value) painted sculptures. The third treasure is Shuanglin Temple. Built during the Qi Dynasty, the temple boasts more than 2,000 painted clay statues     10     were created during the Yuan and Ming dynasties.

The power of Chinese emperors rose and fell with their control of the Grand Canal. Today, this waterway is shorter than it was once,     1     it is still the longest man-made river in the world.     2     (important), the Grand Canal continues to provide a vital cultural and economic link for modern China.

The original Canal system began around the year 605,     3     China’s emperor Yang realized that he needed a better way to move food and feed his army, so the emperor ordered the construction of the first section of the Grand Canal,     4     (connect) those existing canals, lakes and rivers.

For more than a thousand years, goods     5     (transport) along the Grand Canal. Even today the country’s watery highway plays an important economic role in China. Boats continue to carry tons of coal, food and other goods     6     Hangzhou and Jining. However, local governments eager to increase     7     (tour) and city development have torn down almost all of the older canal-side buildings. In 2005 a group of citizens proposed that the historic Grand Canal be made     8     UNESCO world heritage site, hoping this status would protect both the waterway and the architecture around it. With UNESCO status officially     9     (grant) in 2014, the world’s greatest engineering accomplishments continue to link north and south China for     10     (century) to come.

The Great Wall of the ancient Qi State,the oldest    1    (exist) Great Wall in China, stretches across Shandong for more than 600 kilometers. It    2    (build) during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period.

“Historical records say the Qi State built the wall here to defend itself    3    its enemies, as well as to stop flooding    4    (effective),” says An Xingzhu, who worked at the town’s culture station for more than three decades. A key task of the station is    5    (protect) cultural relics.

In the 1970s，parts of the rammed earth wall(夯土墙)were dug out and used by farmers for their land, but since the early 1990s, the local government    6    (start) to take measures to protect the wall.

Rapid development and    7    (construct) have brought many new problems and challenges in protecting the wall.    8    is necessary to provide a solid legal guarantee for its conservation. To tackle the challenges, Shandong Province has passed a regulation protecting the structure    9    will take effect on Jan. 1.

It states that local governments will establish a dynamic conservation system using remote sensing satellites, drones, information platforms and other technological    10    (mean) to monitor the Great Wall.

Come and enjoy the amazing snowscape of the Changbai Mountains     1     (border) the DPRK (朝鲜民主共和国). Thick snow     2     (turn) the area into a fairyland recently, covering the mountains with a layer of silver.

Changbai Mountains mean “Forever-White Mountains” in Chinese     3     its top is covered with snow all year round. It is considered     4     ski paradise and one of the best areas     5     (enjoy) snow scenery in China.

The Heavenly Lake     6     (locate) on Changbai Mountains is at 2,189 meters above sea level. It is a crater with multiple volcanic eruptions 12 million years ago.     7     (fortunate), the volcano has remained silent since 1702. During the winter, the lake will freeze. You can admire the grand mountain-crater ice kingdom with snowy peaks     8     stand guard all around.

The weather at Changbai Mountains is     9     (predict). It’s the luck of the draw whether you see anything as the lake is visible only about 100 days     10     the year.