Festivals hold a special place in our hearts and they     1     (celebrate) all around the world. They bring joy, togetherness, and meaning to our lives. But why do we celebrate them?

Firstly, festivals provide an opportunity for people to come together and strengthen social bonds. Whether they are family gatherings during Thanksgiving     2     community festivities during Chinese New Year, festivals unite us in celebration. They promote harmony among communities,     3     (encourage) a sense of belonging and mutual respect.

Secondly, festivals offer a break from the routine of daily life, allowing us to relax. They provide an escape     4     the stresses and worries of work or school. During festivals, we enjoy delicious food, engage in fun activities, and take part in colorful traditions, all of     5     contribute to our overall well-being.

Additionally, festivals serve as a platform for     6     (culture) exchange and understanding. They offer the opportunity     7     (learn) about different customs, traditions and lifestyles. Through participating in or observing festivals from various cultures, we gain a deeper appreciation for diversity and multiculturalism.

Furthermore, festivals often carry symbolic meanings. For example, the rebirth symbolized by festivals like Easter     8     (reflect) our desire for growth and transformation.     9     (similar), the Chinese Qingming Festival symbolizes people’s longing for their deceased loved ones.

In conclusion, festivals play a vital role in our lives. So, let’s continue to cherish and celebrate these special     10     (occasion) with enthusiasm and gratitude.

Shan Hai Jing (Classic of Mountains and Rivers), the     1     (collect) of ancient texts of 2,000 years old, describes the sacred geography before the Qin Dynasty (221 BC-206 BC) and the many mythical (神话的) creatures living in the Great Wilderness. With the creatures mentioned with few lines, fascinated artists of all time create them in     2     (diversity) forms.

    3     (recent) , at the foot of Mao’er Mountain, in Guilin of Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, jade artist and sculptor Qiu Qijing exhibited his latest work, a mode m sculpture (雕塑) called Zhu Long. Its origin can be found in Shan Hai Jing. It     4     (claim) that Zhulong has no foot but a red body. Apart     5     that, he has a mission to guard mountains.

Qiu sought     6     (create) this dragon of hundreds of meters long using local bamboos. After     7     great deal of work, he made it. He placed the sculpture at the center of his ongoing tour exhibition. A series of Shan Hai Jing sculptures     8     give a vivid profile (形象) to the creatures are on show along the valley of several kilometers,     9     (suit) the surrounding landscapes.

Since 2012, Qiu     10     (devote) himself to creating the mythological animals in Shan Hai Jing. Actually, the touring exhibition in outdoor environments began three years ago.

The Qinglong Temple Fair, serving as an important link connecting Chaozhou communities both domestic and overseas,     1    （be）a significant part of Chaozhou’s traditional culture. Many tourists have an urge     2    （participate）in this event. But if you don’t know the local history, some customs may be beyond your     3    （comprehend）.

The Qinglong Ancient Temple was superior     4     all other local temples in some aspects. It was named after the frequently     5    （see）green snakes wandering near the temple without doing harm to people.

Annually, the Qinglong Temple Fair     6    （hold）from the 13th day to the 28th day of the first lunar month. The festival involves parading the wooden statue,     7     is known as Laoye, through the streets in a celebratory activity. The whole town would eagerly come out to witness the parade,     8    （pray）for favorable weather, family safety and business success.

This year, the parade, with     9     number of participants, started from Qinglong Ancient Temple, passed through various tourist spots and major streets in the city, and then returned to Qinglong Ancient Temple.

This temple fair is a moving museum of intangible cultural heritage. It     10    （genuine）shows Chaoshan people’s attachment to their cultural identity rooted in their hometown and their love for their home country.

Longmen Grottoes

Set on the banks of the Yi River, 12km south of the current Luoyang City, the Longmen Grottoes are ranked first of the Four Great Grotioes in China, together with Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, Yungang Grottoes in Datong and Mount Maiji Grottoes in Tianshui. They were also listed in the World Cultural Heritages and Relics by UNESCO in 2000.

    1     (Locate) between the Xiangshan Mountain and the Longmen Mountain, with the YiRiver flowing below, the Longmen Grottoes are     2     (harmony) with mountains, forests and rivers displaying a peaceful atmosphere. Viewing it at a distance, it looks like     3     natural gate, which gave it the name “Yi Que (the gate of the Yi River)”. According to legend,     4     Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty climbed on Mount Mang north of Luoyang, he was very pleased and ordered the eastern capital     5     (build) here with its palace gate opposite the Yique. Thus, it came to be named, Longmen Gate.

Longmen Gate also houses     6     (rough) 2860 stele inscriptions (碑刻), making     7     a treasure for ancient calligraphy study. In total, more than 100,000 Buddhist statues and niches     8     (carve) into the cliffs by ancient Chinese people ranging from the largest one, the Vairocana Buddha with a     9     (high) of 17.14 meters,     10     the smallest one of 2 centimeters.

Wandering in the Longmen Grottoes, one is amazed by the delicate carving skills, deep Buddhist culture and great art achievements of Chinese people.

10 . Raised in Bengaluru, Meera has always showed a keen interest in exploring the city’s rich heritage. She used to visit many lesser-known structures around the city. As an enthusiast, she enjoyed uncovering these hidden treasures and had always longed to make a meaningful contribution.

When she grew up, Meera worked as a writer, focusing on topics related to forests and science. She initially pursued writing before discovering her true passion for heritage preservation.

A key moment that redirected her career path was a visit to Devanahalli Fort. During her visit, she realized that there was a lack of information online about its history and heritage. The significance of this place was not only historical but also architectural. But there, she was shocked that it seemed as if no one even knew about it.

To preserve the forgotten heritage, she joined INTACH, a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of unprotected architectural heritage all over India. There are thousands of monument s in the country protected by the government. However, there are also small temples, buildings, schools, and homes that hold historical significance but are ignored. Besides restoration and preservation, they host heritage talks to familiarize people with their city’s heritage. While they do welcome tourists and travelers, their emphasis on engaging the local population is evident. The organization also hosts several heritage walks to spread awareness about the hidden heritage. Also, the team starts from looking for a prospective building, then securing funding and then finding architects and engineers that are ideal for the project.

In the past years, they have restored buildings in and around Bengaluru such as Mayo Hall, Tipu’s Armoury, Gangubai Hangal, Museum, the Old OPD Building at NIMHANS which is now a museum, the Oriental Research Institute in Mysuru among others.

They face many issues, with funding being the major challenge. However, she felt jammy enough to find enthusiastic individuals wanting to contribute as well as government funding here and there.