By the Shang Dynasty (around L600-1046BCE), these s    1     had become a well-developed writing system. Over the years, the system developed into different f    2    , as it was a time when people were d    3     geographically, leading to many v    4     of dialects and characters. This, however, c    5     under Emperor Qinshihuang of the Qin Dynasty (221-207 BCE).

Emperor Qinshihuang united the seven m    6    states into one unified country where the Chinese writing system began to develop in one d    7    . That writing system was of great importance in uniting the Chinese people and c    8    . Even today, no matter where Chinese people live or what dialect they s    9    they can all still c    10     in writing.

Of all the t    1     festivals, the harvest festival can be found in almost every c    2    . This important agricultural festival t    3     place after all the crops have been gathered in. People celebrate to show that they are g    4     for the year’s s    5     of food. In ancient Egypt, the harvest festival was celebrated during the springtime- the Egyptian harvest s    6    . It featured a p    7     and a great feast with music, dancing, and s    8    . Today, in some European countries, people decorate churches and town halls with flowers and fruit, and get together to celebrate over a m    9    . During the Mid-Autumn Festival in China, f    10     gather to admire the shining moon and enjoy delicious mooncakes.

Trade and     1     have often formed the foundation of mankind’s greatest achievements. To complete the great map of the world was a strong p    2     for the people of early civilisations. Marco Polo’s tales     3     European explorers to search for sea routes from west to east. H    4    merchants and explorers from the East set sail from east to west many years before Columbus first did.

In a     5    times, silk from China found its way overland to India, the Middle East, and Rome, along what became known as the Silk Road. A trading route across the sea was also e    6    along the coasts of the Indian Ocean, centred around Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). Here, merchants from China and many other places met to n    7    trade deals, which also led to more a    8     each other’s cultures. Over the centuries, f    9     trading, allowed more exploration of the regions to the west of China, as r    10     in Du Huan’s Record of My Travels in the eighth century.

Though Lin Qiaozhi never married, she was known as the “mother of ten thousand babies”,     1     50,000 babies in her lifetime. Dr Lin did not retire until the day she died, 22 April 1983. Since she had no children of her own, she     2     and a fund for new doctor. And     3    , her final thoughts were for others ......

Historically, Chinese immigrants settled in the area during the     4    . What     5     for Chinese immigrants then turned into a centre for Chinese culture ......