Comfortably numb, Sichuan peppers can do the surprising thing to you.

From its English name, obviously the pepper is essential to the deliciously complex cuisine of Sichuan. The pepper, together with dried chillies,     1     (form) the flavour known as mala, a term     2     (comprise) of the characters for “numbing” and “spicy”.

Anyone who has had the eye-watering, nose-running pleasure of eating Feitengyu—sliced fish in a sea of     3     (boil) , peppery chilli oil—knows this sensation.

In the West, kungpao dishes,     4     Sichuan speciality, tend to be oversweetened; the real version sings, the thrilling pepper set off by the rich flavor of black vinegar.

Less     5     (tradition) , dry-fried and then crushed with salt, Sichuan pepper can be a nice topping for popcorn.

Toasted and mixed with cumin (孜然) and fennel (茴香) seeds, dried chillies, anise (八角) , sugar and salt,     6     makes a spice rub that enriches stir-fried potatoes.

A few peppercorns go a long way. Just as inexperienced barbecue     7     (cook) often light so much wood that they burn their meat black, pepper novices (新手) risk making diners’ heads tremble for hours.

Yet even when     8     (use) in moderation, they remain a divisive ingredient. Critics wonder     9     someone would want to numb their mouths while eating.

There is no answer, really no disputing tastes,     10     the old saying goes.

4 . In September, when UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay visited Zhoukoudian in suburban Beijing, which is famous for the discovery of Peking Man living between 700,000 to 200,000 years ago, she was full of praise for the structure that successfully protected Yuanrendong Cave from an unusual rainstorm in July.

The cave in the central area of the site has so far revealed the remains of 40 individuals. The structure protects the site from the weather, including heavy wind, snow and hail, and its design fits in with the surrounding environment, Qin Changwei, secretary-general of the Chinese National Commission for UNESCO, said at the 2nd World Cultural and Natural Heritage Forum in Beijing on Nov. 17 and 18. “It provides a reference for the protection of precious cultural relics, and suggests measures for helping heritage sites respond to the influence of climate change.”

Organized by the World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for the Asia and the Pacific Region under the Auspices of UNESCO(Beijing), and the China Foundation for Cultural Heritage Conservation among others, the forum brought together some 50 professionals to discuss the protection and sustainable (可持续发展的) development of heritage sites. Scholars stressed the influence of climate change on heritage sites, and offered suggestions for how to solve the problem.

“Entering the 21st century, climate change has been the subject of in-depth discussion by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. Questions like how to balance between humans and nature, how to respond to natural disasters caused by climate change, and what new challenges this brings to World Heritage Sites, are worth consideration,” says Qin. “Solving the problem requires us to unify, making full use of advanced technology, such as space and digital technologies, and jointly developing risk prevention and response plans,” he adds.

To welcome 2024, a wide range of events were organized in many cities across China, from lantern and fireworks shows to outdoor concerts.     1    , the New Year’s countdown (倒计时) at the Guangzhou Museum offered visitors     2    antique different experience, combining a digital light show accompanied by a countdown     3     (feature) the bell-ringing of a Qing Dynasty clock.

The event attracted crowds of visitors who were treated     4     a visual feast arranged by a team of professional lighting designers. During the light show, images showing the development of Guangzhou City, the heritage of Lingnan culture, and     5     (select) pieces from the collection of the museum were projected onto the front wall of Zhenhai Tower, one of the     6     (old) landmarks in the city with a history of over 600 years.

    7     people began to countdown the remaining seconds of, 2023, the projections on the tower changed into colorful Chinese characters spelling out “2024,” adding to the     8     (excite) of the crowd.

Accompanying the visitors as they hugged one another and made their New Year wishes     9     (be) the twelve strikes of a rare gold clock from the Guangzhou Museum’s collection. It was the first time that the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) clock     10     (hear) in public since it was restored. Produced in Guangzhou, this typical clock of the era was made to pay a form of tribute to the royal court, not only striking on the hour but also playing music when wound up.

6 . By tradition, on Lunar New Year, you’re supposed to put on new clothes, from inner to outer ones. If they’re the lucky red, all the better. You can never have too much luck.

But when you turn a multiple of 12, 24, 36, 48, 60 and so on — the tradition gets extended: Red underwear every day of that lunar calendar year. When I first heard about the practice a few years ago, I considered it nonsense. It also seemed ridiculous to buy so many pairs in a color vivid under light clothes. My practical immigrant Chinese parents, an engineer and scientist, didn’t pass this tradition down. Adding another superstition (迷信) also seemed like a thing I could do without. But as I approach my fourth time around the wheel for the “Year of the Dragon,” — in what’s known as “ben ming nian” or the threshold year — I’ve been reflecting upon the milestones of those past intervals: puberty at age 12, moving across the country for a job at 24 and giving birth to my twin sons at 36.

The more I’ve looked into the practice, the more I realize the significance of its popularity. As an American-born Chinese, I have always adopted and adapted what comes from my birthplace. Logically, I know it won’t matter if I wear red or not, but for me, for now, this shared tradition strengthens my bond with my culture.

So often, life goes by so quickly before we could realize. Days become weeks, months, years and suddenly a dozen years go by. My newborns have grown into tweens and I’ve transformed from not quite middle-aged to now very much so. With the turn of the Lunar New Year, I value a chance to reflect on my past struggles and how I found a way through.

It’s a mindset we could all benefit from.

7 . The Mogao Caves form a system of 492 temples 25 km southeast of the center of Dunhuang, which is located at the religious and cultural crossroads on the Silk Road, in Gansu province. Known as Buddhist (佛教) caves, the caves contain some of the finest examples of Buddhist art, lasting a period of 1,000 years.     1    

The Mogao Caves are especially famous for the colored sculptures and murals (壁画), or wall paintings.     2     Rich and varied in forms, they typically have a healthy body, dignified appearance and simple style. The background color is dark red, plus other fresh colors. The color tone is strong and open, and the lines soft and comfortable, which shows the features of western Buddhism.     3    

The painted murals in the Mogao Caves tell stories about Buddhist scriptures (经文), scenery, open halls and scenes about production or flower patterns, reflecting society and civilization in ancient China.

    4     They are the goddesses serving Buddhas, flying in the universe. The artists used the special lines and harmonious interest and charm to show the graceful dream world. The gorgeous color, and lively lines reflect the artists’ passion for the dream world.

In lots of painted murals, the art features of other countries such as India, Iran and Greece can be easily seen.     5     The artistic charm of the painted murals contributes to glorious history of art in China.