The lantern fair in Zigong, southwest China’s Sichuan Province, which     1     (own) a history of more than 1,000 years, is once again fascinating visitors with its brilliant shining lanterns.

Covering     2     area of nearly 37 hectares, the 30th International Dinosaur Lantern Show received around 450,000 visitors during the Spring Festival holiday from February 10 to 17.

To mark the Year of the Dragon, many of the lanterns     3     show feature the Chinese sign of the zodiac (生肖), but there are also a wide variety of other lantern designs to meet different needs. Visitors     4     prefer traditional lanterns can find lanterns with flowers and birds, legendary figures, and landscapes, while lanterns with modern themes such as cartoon characters, cultural trends and online games are gaining     5     (popular) among young people.

The lantern show is also expressing the concept of environmental protection. For example, a dragon lantern     6     (measure) over 200 meters long was made by tying together some 200,000     7     (abandon) water bottles.

This year’s show received more than 3,000 children’s artworks from around the world. Some of the art pieces were turned into lanterns by     8     (profession) craftsmen. Visitors can also enjoy acrobatics (杂技), folk arts, and Chinese music performances during     9     (they) lantern-viewing tours.

Famous for lantern-making, Zigong saw its lanterns lighting 80 cities across China during the Spring Festival holiday and Zigong lanterns     10     (light) up in more than 20 countries overseas last year.

“Jianbing” stands are common in every Chinese city. At around five in the morning, the vendors (小商贩) appear with everything     1     they need, packed on the back of a bicycle or motorbike. They set up in unused spaces, doorways, or street corners and minutes before the first bing (pancake) becoming available on the hot griddle (鏊子), many people are     2    (ready) waiting for it.

Although these “jianbing” stalls might be temporary, this is no grab-and-go street breakfast. For “jianbing”, there is always     3     long line. You might be late for work, or filled with extreme     4    (starve), but that’s all irrelevant to the vendor behind the griddle.     5    (preserve) the crispness of the pancake and fried wonton wrapper, “jianbing” are never cooked ahead of time, so waiting for your turn     6     (be) part of the culture. Maybe in the midst of our busy days, this moment of     7    (silence) observation, of waiting while someone cooks something especially for you, is the true secret of “jianbing”. Buy a baozi (steamed bun) or other fast food instead, or you     8    (have) nothing fast to eat.

If “jianbing”were that easy to make, it would have taken the world by storm long before now. Part of the challenge in copying the dish is that the batter (面糊) and fillings     9    (use) in “jianbing” differ by region, and even by vendor. Many consider making your own “jianbing” impossible     10     months of practice and tuition from a master.

Since the 17th century, tea from China     1     (transport) to Europe via the Overland Silk Road and the Maritime Silk Road. Whether it is pure tea     2     scented tea made with flowers and spices, tea from China has captured the hearts of many tea lovers. In Germany, drinking tea is not only an enjoyment of flavor, but also people’s yearning for dietary health and sense of well-being.

One of the most     3     (wide) consumed types of tea in Germany is “herbal (药草的) tea”,     4     dates back to the 10th century. This kind of herbal tea ismade with     5     (vary) herbs of medicinal value, so they have the special effects, such as relaxing the mind, helping with sleep,     6     (relieve) coughs and so on. Nowadays, people in Germany still like herbal tea made from chamomile flowers, fennel seeds, and nettle leaves because of     7     (it) mild medicinal function that benefits people’s health.

Another characteristic type of tea in Germany is “fruit tea”. This type of drink is made with scented dried fruit and tea leaves.     8     (example) of such drinks include wild raspberry tea, tea made with plum and peach.     9     (compare) with herbal tea, fruit tea has a pleasant sweet and sour taste. Its rich fruity aroma makes it particularly tempting. That’s exactly why fruit tea has become immensely popular     10     the local people.

Whether tiny and used for delicate needle work     1     large and employed to make clothing, as well as for other purposes , traditional Chinese scissors are distinctive.

Scissors were once handmade by a Chinese man who also made metal     2    (knife) in his shop. Today’s scissors, often made of steel rather than iron, are produced in larger workshops     3    (employ) a combination of traditional and modern methods. These workshops produce a range of all-purpose scissors capable     4     cutting anything from sheet metal to fine silk.

No scissor producer in China is more famous than the Zhang Xiaoquan Scissors Factory,     5    (found) in 1663 in Hangzhou,     6     currently produces about 45 million pairs of 120 different styles each year.     7    (original), production required 72 steps, but this has been reduced to 24. One unique feature of the Zhang Xiaoquan brand is that beautiful landscapes and images of birds, flowers, and animals are still hand-carved along the surface of each pair. The     8    (company) scissors won various international honors, besides having been designated(指定) as “Imperial Palace Scissors” by the Qing emperor’s court. Up to now, identified as deserving protection along with     9    (diversity) centuries-old craft products, Zhang Xiaoquan     10    (recognize) as a laozihao or “heritage brand”.

The Cun BA basketball tournament, one of China’s popular grassroots sports competitions, plans more interactions with NBA professionals in the current season. “We plan to take the championship team to     1     exchange program with the NBA, allowing them     2     (experience), learn from and interact with professional NBA players,” Cen Jianglong, head of Taipan and co-organizer of the tournament, said on Friday.

The basketball games, originally held to mark a local festival,     3     (go) viral in 2022, garnering online views of more than 1.5 billion that year. In 2023, the event received over 55 billion views,     4     (far) consolidating its status as a cultural and sporting phenomenon.

In its     5     (three) year, Cun BA remains both a basketball competition and a carnival. On opening day, singers performed,     6     the aim of conveying cultural confidence to the audience and improving awareness of preserving traditional culture, according to the organizers,     7     hope that such activities will attract even more     8     (spectator) to the games.

The Cun BA phenomenon has not only energized the local economy, but has also contributed to the overall development of Taipan village and the surrounding regions. Sports events,     9     (combine) with entertainment activities at the grassroots level,     10     (drive) local cultural and tourism development in a number of regions across the country.

In front of a packed hall at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, on Friday, dancer Hao Ruoqi     1     (graceful) moved across the stage as she waved her sword against her opponent. Hao, playing     2     heroine Hua Mulan, was the star of Ningbo Performing Arts Group’s Chinese dance drama Mulan.

Based on the beloved folklore of family devotion, loyalty and love, Mulan tells the tale of a young woman in ancient China who disguises herself as a man     3     (take) her father’s place in the army.

This modern interpretation re-imagines the classic tale of the     4     (distinguish) female Chinese warrior Hua Mulan through remarkable and compelling dance numbers and exquisite music,     5     (explore) the themes of self-identity and empowerment.

Hao, a member of the China National Opera and Dance Drama Theater, said there might be a thousand     6     (version) or Mulan in a thousand people’s eyes, but there are things common to the audience     7     the cultural and geographical differences. “I think the love and peace brought out from Mulan is understandable and acceptable both in China and the United States,” she told China Daily.

Lisa Richards Toney, president and chief executive officer of the Association of Performing Arts Professionals, said     8     impressed her was the true warrior spirit that Mulan displayed     9     her love for humanity.

The story of Hua Mulan     10     (inspire) numerous productions in the globe over centuries, including Disney’s 1998 animated film and 2020 live-action movie.

It is believed that Chinese knotting, also known as zhongguojie, originated for recording information and exchanging messages     1     writing was invented. Over the past thousands of years, knots     2     (play) an important part in the life of Chinese.    3     (initial), Chinese knots acted as good -luck charms to drive away evil spirits. Today, Chinese knots are widely used to decorate homes during festivities.

A major characteristic of Chinese knots is that they are often tied from a single continuous length of string. The knots are commonly named     4     the shape it takes. Chinese knots are created in a     5     (various) of colors such as gold, green, blue, or black, though the most commonly used color is red,    6     symbolizes good luck and prosperity.

Crafting the Chinese knot is a three-step process     7     (involve) tying knots, tightening them and adding the finishing touches. The knots     8     (pull) tightly together and are strong enough to be used for binding or wrapping, making them very practical.

Today, most of such knots are often mass manufactured in factories. Skilled knot artists weave complex knots that you might see     9     (sell) as souvenirs that you can take back with you. If you have time, why not try your hand at it? Perhaps these age-old charms can add     10     touch of good luck to your daily life?