2 . China’s famous museums include ancient buildings and world class modern museums with big collections. They are excellent places for sightseeing and learning about China.

Sanxingdui Museum

The museum is on the path less beaten by tourists, but it makes one of the top museums for the 3,400-year-old artworks. If you’re an ancient history fan, this place will attract you. If you love art, its style will surprise you a lot.

The Palace Museum

The museum is one of the largest old buildings kept in the country with a history of 600 years old. Built at the beginning of the Ming Dynasty between 1406 and 1420, it was the home of 24 rulers and their courts. It is one of the finest buildings in China and a good place to study Chinese history.

The Shanghai Museum

The big modern museum is popular with foreign tourists. It is probably the most modern museum with the focus on creative art displays about the history of the whole area. Located in People’s Square, the museum is most famous for its huge collection of china.

The Shaanxi History Museum

Since 14 historical dynasties founded their capitals and developed in Shaanxi Province, the museum may have the oldest treasure of all the museums in China. The artworks show the greatness of the museum, and the displays are modern and well laid out.

3 . 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.

Just like spoken language, body language v    1     from culture to culture. The c    2     thing is using body language in a way that is a    3     to the culture you are in. For example, making eye contact — looking into someone’s eyes — in some countries is a way to display interest. In other countries, by c    4    , eye contact is not always approved of. For example, in many Middle Eastern countries, men and women are not socially permitted to make eye contact. In Japan, it may demonstrate r    5     to look down when talking to an older person.

The gesture for “OK” has different meanings in different c    6    . In Japan, someone who w    7     another person employing the gesture might think it means money. In France, a person encountering an i    8     gesture may interpret it as meaning zero. H    9    , you should avoid making this gesture in Brazil and Germany, as it is not considered p    10    .

It is a big challenge     1    (balance) the progress and the protection of cultural sites. We all need to take responsibility for it. However, Aswan Dam is considered     2     great success, which proves it’s possible for countries to work together to build a much better tomorrow.

There are many reasons why Chinese ancient civilization continued all the through into modern times, but one of the main factors has been the Chinese writing system. At the beginning, written Chinese is a picture-based language     1    (date) back thousands years to the use of longgu on which symbols were carved. Nowadays, Chinese characters are of great importance not only because they serve as a communication tool, but also unite Chinese people and culture. As China plays a greater role in     2    (globe) affairs, an increasing number of international students are beginning to appreciate Chinese culture through this amazing language.

7 . In India, one of the most significant festivals is Diwali, which falls between October and November. It’s a five-day celebration that includes good food, fireworks, colored sand, and special candles and lamps.

In honor of Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth, people make special prayers on the first day to obtain blessings for welfare, success, and well-being. People welcome the goddess into their homes by decorating entrances with colorful lanterns and traditional designs. In addition, many people treat themselves to fine jewellery, praying for good fortune. Those who cannot afford so much, seek out cheaper items such as clothes or household goods.

The second day of the festival is called Kali Chaudas. For some, the day provides an opportunity to drive away misfortune from homes and businesses. They decorate their homes with clay lamps and create design patterns called Rangoli on the floor using colored powder or sand.

The third day is when the biggest celebrations occur, which begin early in the morning with a visit to a temple to seek the blessing of the goddess. As the sun sets, festival observers light up their homes with small lamps and enjoy delicious traditional foods with their loved ones.

The festival’s fourth day is celebrated in many different ways. Friends and relatives visit with gifts, sweets and best wishes for the season.

And the final day of the festival is called Bhai Dooj. It honors the close bond between brothers and sisters and is observed with traditional ceremonies and more delicious foods.

For children in India, Diwali is similar to Christmas. They get an entire week off from school and are treated to gifts, new clothes, amazing food, and, in the past at least, a large number of fireworks. It is no wonder that the festival ranks high among the country’s favorite celebrations.

The term Xuan paper first appeared in On Famous Paintings through the Ages,     1     book written by Tang Dynasty artist Zhang Yanyuan, in     2     he described Xuan paper as an ideal carrier for calligraphy and painting. Handma de Xuan paper from Jingxian county, East China’s Anhui province, was listed as a tribute(贡品) to the royal court for its best quality during the period.

    3    (make) Xuan paper is     4    (extreme) strict. Sandalwood bark, a plant native to southern China, goes through 108     5    (procedure) together with rice straw over the course of three years before it can transform into fine Xuan paper. The entire procedure is so complicated that even the most skilled man can only learn     6    (master) limited number of steps.

Xuan paper has accompanied(陪伴) the Chinese artists     7     thousands of years. Unlike other forms of paper, it is very resistant to damage     8    (bring) by time. It is this durability(耐用性) that has saved many     9    (value) works from ancient China.

Papermaking     10    (be) a result of wisdom of the ancient Chinese, and Xuan paper is the highest point of papermaking.