Kites were invented around the 5th century BCE during the Warring States period. They were made of wood and silk, and had military (军事的)     1     (purpose) such as measuring distances, signaling, and reconnaissance.

Over time, kites gained popularity as recreational toys. They were flown during festive occasions and celebrations, symbolizing good luck and driving away bad luck.     2     (additional), competitive kite flying appeared, with participants showing their skills in     3     (achieve) the highest altitude and performing complex movements. Kite flying became a way for artistic expression. People started applying artistic designs     4     decorative factors together to kites, including delicate paintings and calligraphy on silk surfaces. This allowed kites     5     (become) a medium for showing traditional Chinese culture and beauty.

As kite-making developed, there were significant technical advancements. Experiments with different materials and designs     6     (lead) to the transition (过渡) from wood to bamboo frames, as well as the use of paper and fabric instead of silk.

Kite makers also added tails and explored     7     (vary) shapes and sizes to improve stability and flight performance. Kite flying continues to be popular     8     China. There are kite festivals and competitions     9     show good designs and movements, keeping the tradition alive. The influence of Chinese kites has extended beyond China, promoting designs in other cultures. Besides, the concept (概念) of flying kites has served as     10     (inspire) for scientific advancements in different fields.

An exhibition,     1    （feature）around 200 culture artifacts from the era of interaction between the Chinese and French royal courts in the 17th and 18th centuries, kicked off at the Palace Museum in Beijing on Monday, marking the opening of the 18th     2    （edit）of the Festival Croisements. Croisements, meaning “crossover” in French, symbolizes mutual influence and     3    （connection）between Chinese and French cultures.     4     exhibition is a key event for the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism,     5     celebrates the 60-year diplomatic bond between the two countries.

Highlighted exhibits, from the collections of the two museums, include a gilt copper watch with a portrait of French King Louis XIV, most likely a gift from the monarch（君主）    6     Qing Dynasty（1644—1911）Emperor Kangxi; two pieces from Ten Tribute Horses, a booklet     7    （sign）by French Jesuit painter and missionary（传教士）Jean-Denis Attiret（1702—68）; and a porcelain panel painting of Qing Emperor Qianlong, which     8    （purchase）by French King Louis XV I in 1776 and kept at the Palace of Versailles ever since.

Launched in 2006, the Festival Croisements is dedicated to     9    （active）promoting exchanges and dialogues between Chinese and French art institutions and artists, presenting innovation and energy of their culture and art,     10     enhancing mutual understanding and friendship.

Tomb-Sweeping Day is a Chinese holiday that     1    (celebrate) in China for centuries. It is one of the Chinese Twenty-four Solar Terms, which falls on either April 4^th     2     5th of the Gregorian calendar. It’s also a time for people to remember family members     3     have passed away.

The day is also regarded as the start of spring. As trees turn green and the sun shines brightly, people will go outside and enjoy the     4    (amaze) spring. They will take this opportunity to travel together and go on long walks in parks, laughing and     5    (chat). Therefore, Tomb-Sweeping Day not only is a day     6    (memorize) the dead, but it is also a time for people to enjoy     7       (they). There are many different activities, such as taking a spring outing, or flying kites.

On Tomb Sweeping Day, people often eat a kind of green colored balls     8    (make) from glutinous rice(糯米). The green color is from     9     juice of brome grass(雀麦草) that is added in the rice.

All in all, Tomb-Sweeping Day is a combination of sadness and     10    (happy).

6 . Longji Rice Terrace is a popular attraction for oversea travelers. Located in Longsheng Autonomous County, Guangxi province, the Longji Mountain is 80 kilometers away from Guilin City. Since Longji is the habitation for Yao and Zhuang ethnic group, it gains the official name of Longji Yao and Zhuang Ethnic Terrace.

Longji Rice Terrace was first built in Yuan Dynasty and was completed in the early Qing Dynasty. With a history of more than 700 years, the terrace now is still using for growing rice. It is hard to imagine that more than 800 years ago how the first group of Zhuang and Yao people moved here and cultivated (开垦) the first piece of field. From Yuan to the early Qing, about 650 years, the ancestors could not imagine that the fields they cleared with sweat and life became the terrace that so amazing with charming curves (曲线).

The scenes here are different in each season. In spring, mountains are wrapped in silver water, shinning in the sun; in summer, mountains turn bright green with growing rice waving under the sky; in autumn, the dropping ears of rice promise good harvest; in winter, sheets of snows cover the terraces, making the hills like pagodas (宝塔).

In Longji Mountain, the highest terrace is 1,180 meters above sea level, while the lowest is 380 meters. With a wonderful view, it owns the reputation (名誉) of The Top of The Terraced Fields in the world. As a main body of the terrace farming culture, Longji Terraced Field is a scenic spot that includes the natural scenery and the cultural landscape of ethnic minorities. The harmonious atmosphere and living environment attract more and more tourists at home and abroad, which makes it the top destination for holiday paradise and photography. So photography tips for the Longji Yao and Zhuang Ethnic Terrace will be helpful for your trip. Follow our step, and let’s uncover them one by one.

As families prepare for the Spring Festival, no Chinese New Year celebration is complete without mandarin oranges.

The     1    (popular) of the fruits during the festive season has a long history. During the Qing Dynasty, Chinese parents would place fruits like oranges, lychees beside the pillows (枕头) of their children, as well     2     red envelopes containing money under the pillows,     3    (keep) away mythical monsters (神话中的怪物). The children would then eat the fruits on     4    (wake) up the next morning.

There are     5    (variety) explanations for why oranges have come to be considered     6     lucky symbol — a major part of which comes from the pronunciation. Some say the Mandarin pronunciation of the fruit (ju)     7    (sound) like the word for “good luck”(ji).

Apart from its lucky name, oranges are valued for their reddish-gold color and round shape,     8     are believed to bring good fortune. They’ve inspired Chinese art for     9    (century). An ancient poem called Ju Song     10    (create) by poet Qu Yuan from the Periodof Warring States, using the fruit and tree as a metaphor (比喻); a letter from Wang Xizhi, a renowned calligrapher from the Eastern Jin Dynasty, included a gift of oranges and remained famous after almost two thousand years.

9 . Dragons, a famous imaginary beast born from fantasy, are often present in stories in the west and east. In both cultures, dragons are generally recognized as massive creatures capable of flight. They have great power and are often associated with magical abilities. However, due to their different cultural roots and images, there exist significant differences in the way dragons are regarded in the west and east, particularly in China.

Chinese dragons most resemble snakes, and have four claws and no wings. They often have features of other animals, including carp, tigers, and eagles. In the contrast, Western dragons look like huge lizards with big claws and large bat-like wings, and are often shown with spines or rough scales.

In traditional Chinese culture, a dragon is a symbol of luck, power and high status. They can cause weather changes and bring rainfall to the fields to ensure rich harvests. They are considered divine (神圣的) creatures, which hold an important position as the head of the four spirits. Therefore, to symbolize their power, ancient Chinese emperors decorated their clothes with dragon patterns. These clothes are known as dragon robes. Many Chinese view the dragon as a national symbol, proudly referring to themselves as “descendants of the dragon”. In the west, however, a dragon symbolizes an evil creature that spreads violence and terror throughout the land. They are believed to be transformed by the devil, with the ability to breathe fire or spit poison. Many western tales show dragons being defeated and killed to protect people from danger.

Today, dragons continue to evolve, exceeding traditional boundaries and finding new significance in global culture. They are no longer associated with evil or good, but rather as complex characters with their own unique personalities and motivations. For example, Toothless from How to Train Your Dragon begins as a dangerous dragon but evolves into a misunderstood being with love and compassion. This challenges the idea of dragons as naturally evil, presenting them as complex beings with emotions and motivations.