The relationship between food and love is quite    1     universal phenomenon. Just as American novelist Richard Ford once    2    (say), the way to many an honest heart lies through the belly.

It’s through this theme that the romantic comedy Delicacies Destiny appears extremely     3    (attract) to audiences, which wrapped up on May 2. This Chinese drama has 3 translated versions, in English, French and Portuguese, for its overseas streaming.

The series, set in ancient China, tells about a talented cook working hard to become the best royal chef in the palace. At the same time, she tries her best to win the     4    (appreciate) of the prince. “Food    5    (choose) by the director can perfectly represent the relationship between people and food. Taste of the food depends on    6     you’re eating with — a caring family member, intimate friends, or just by yourself as you stay all alone,     7     (enjoy) this quiet moment at the same time.” commented the actress.

“    8     the least preparation they’ve made of the ingredients (食材) to the time which is needed     9     (cook) and how to lay tables, this drama covers different aspects. And to some extent, it     10    (true) reflects Chinese people’s attitude toward life.” said American vblogger Stacy. He also expects to see more foreigners interested in traditional Chinese cuisine.

5 . We did a quick survey of New Year traditions around the world, and couldn’t help but notice that the traditions might reflect cultural varieties? but the meanings behind them are pretty universal.

Philippines

In Philippines? families hold traditional dinner parties called Media Noche to greet the New Year. Circle-shaped fruits are their favorites, such as grapes, oranges and melons, since they look like coins, you know. Filipinos actually try to choose 12 different kinds of fruit to put on the table—one for each month in the New Year.

Make sure you leave some food in your plate. It’s bad luck to start the New Year off as a hungry wolf.

Spain

Many Spaniards will eat 12 fresh grapes at midnight—one with each strike of the clock. Each grape represents a wish for happiness and good luck for every month in the coming year. This “12 grapes in 12 seconds“ custom came from a grape farmer in the Alicante region who wanted to promote his produce about a century ago. The tradition has spread to other countries too? with a few adjustments. In Portugal? they eat 12 dried grapes. In Peru? they eat a thirteenth grape.

Denmark

In Denmark_? they eat kransekage, a big horn-shaped cake, on New Year’s Eve. When they’re finished with the cake, it’s Danish custom to throw the used plates against the front doors of their friends and neighbors. It’s actually a sign of friendship.

Italy

Pork sausages are usually served on New Year’s Eve in Italy. Italians choose pork because they think pigs are fat and keep moving forward, while other animals, such as chickens or cows, move backward or stand still.

But whatever you eat into the New Year in Italy-pork, fish or chicken-make sure you stay at home. Italians throw old possessions out of the window after midnight as an out-with-the-old, make-room-for-the-new gesture.

Of all the notable mountains in China, the Huangshan Mountain is probably the most famous. The fairy-land like Huangshan national park     1     (occupy) an area of 160.6 square kilometers possesses not only attractive scenery but also rich resources and diverse animal species, for     2     it has been listed as a World Natural and Cultural Heritage Site.

It is famous for its splendid natural scenery     3     (compose) of four wonders, namely unique guest-greeting pines, absurd (怪) stones, sea of clouds and amazing hot springs.

In Huangshan, there are hundreds of precious pine trees     4     (rare) seen anywhere else. As one of the     5     (symbol) of Huangshan, the most famous Guest-Greeting Pine stretches out for about 10 meters from the cliffs in a     6     (respect) greeting gesture. The absurd stones can     7     (see) almost on every peak of Huangshan Mountain. From different viewing angles, the stones look like human beings, animals or other objects. You would be lucky to see the sea of clouds, as it only     8     (occur) around 50 days in a year. The whole mountain surrounded by the misty clouds is as pretty as a huge ink wash painting. The hot springs keep an average temperature of around 42.5℃ all year round. Taking a bath     9     a hot spring while appreciating the wonderful natural landscapes is     10     relaxing that you will get away from the tiredness after the Huangshan hiking.

7 . In order to kill time, many people have been trying to cope with the boredom by reading books, others have perfected their cooking skills and many others have tried their hands at craft projects, including tie dyeing (扎染).

Whether you think tie-dye is totally stylish or not your style, the unique print from the 1960s is back in a major way. It’s become a hot fashion trend.

“The last several years have seen the resurgence in craftsmanship and handmade goods, popularizing the hobbies in the 1960s (weaving, tie-dyeing), but in a modern way. People would connect with these handmade objects to feel connected to nature,” Stitch Fix color expert Ryen Anderson said to Today. Online searches for “how to crumple (压皱) tie-dye”, a popular technique, are u by 376 percent on Pinterest.

This homestyle creation can easily be made at home. The only things we need to prepare include fabric. light-colored clothes, dye, rubber, and water. In tie-dye, the fabric is colored by tying several parts of the fabric before dying to give certain color effects. While this seems relatively simple, it takes multiple steps and washes.

Some people make tie-dye adjust old-fabrics in an innovative way. Some others use tie-dye technique to create a new pattern as the color of their clothes fades. The typical current trend is that people use natural coloring for tie-dye and combine it with doodles (涂鸦) and natural printing ( eco-printing) by abstracting colors from the leaves.

The dyeing technique has deep roots from Africa. Many immigrants from various African countries brought their skills to the United States during the 1700s to 1800s. The popularity of tie-dye then was quite influential in the 1960s or commonly referred to as “flower power” generation. Tie-dye became a symbol in that times.

The history of siheyuan (courtyard house) in Beijing can be traced back to more than 800 years ago     1     Beijing established its status as the capital city. As a kind of traditional Chinese relic, siheyuan represents the     2     (capital) architectural style.

Siheyuan is a closed rectangular space with a courtyard in the center. It     3     (surround) by four houses: the main room, the opposite room, an eastern-wing house and a western-wing house. The housing arrangement is     4     (total) based on the rules of hierarchical system, which aims to keep the order of the family members’ status. The principal house facing the south is inhabited by the head of the family, and his or her     5     (old) son lives in the eastern-wing house, which is believed to be superior     6     the western- wing house. Usually, the opposite house is given to servants and other members. Undoubtedly, siheyuan is a mirror of Chinese culture,     7     (reflect) the sense of belonging in the mind of Chinese people. All the gates are printed red,     8     symbol of luck in China.

Indeed,     9     (know) more about Chinese culture and traditions, visiting siheyuan     10     (be) a smart choice for you. Staying in a siheyuan, learning how to make dumplings and enjoying a local Chinese life, you will get an unforgettable experience here.