Khoomei is a unique singing style and outstanding creation of the Mongolian ethnic group.     1     (mean) “throat” in Mongolian, Khoomei is a kind of double- or multiple-part singing art.

Khoomei originated from the Altai native people during the 12th century,     2    it spread throughout the vast region. As a product of the     3     (mountain) hunting culture of the time, in China, it is now     4     (primary) distributed in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, while outside China it can be heard in Mongolia and Russia as well.

One of the     5     (old) art forms of the Mongolian ethnic group, Khoomei keeps many elements of the original singing style. It is a kind of ancient echo (回声) from the     6     (depth) of many people’s memories,     7     is closely related to the history and culture of ethnic Mongolians. The art form conveys ethnic Mongolians’ deep philosophical thinking and understanding of the natural universe.

However, in Inner Mongolia, only the bass (低音) part of Khoomei has been preserved, while it is also     8    the edge of being lost in the Altai region of Xinjiang. Therefore, it is an urgent task     9     (save) and protect this special singing art from extinction(灭绝). In November 2019, Khoomei     10     (include) as part of the first of items added to China’s National Intangible Cultural Heritage List.

The traditional oilpaper umbrella is made with a wooden frame and hand-colored paper     1     (polish) with candlenut tree oil. As well as providing shelter from rain and sun, the 2,000-year-old art form     2     (regard) by many people across Asia as a tool for escaping evil spirits.

Although they almost     3     (disappear) from Chinese society 40 years ago, some artisans stuck to the craft in the hope of reviving (复兴) it. One bamboo shoot, five rolls of cotton thread, 18 pieces of Chinese painting paper and 36 wooden frame brackets are incorporated into     4     umbrella in a total of more than 70 procedures. In particular, the umbrella frames should be made from five-year-old bamboo that is     5     (special) treated to make it soft, flexible and resistant to mold (霉菌) and pests. The cover of the umbrella also requires special Chinese painting paper     6     can bear strong force. Usually, it takes at least 10 days     7    (finish) one umbrella.

Some artisans created new designs by     8     (keep) the traditional roots. During this process they also found some details, materials and functions that they transferred into other products such as lamps, storage, trash bins     9     even chairs. They are searching for the future of the traditional paper umbrella.

Oilpaper umbrellas have not exactly enjoyed a revival yet, but     10     (appreciate) of them is beginning to grow.

Young Chinese bring hanfu to the world during Spring Festival

Young people dressed in hanfu, the traditional clothing of the Han ethnic group in China,    1     (spot) in many    2     (locate) around the world during this year’s Spring Festival holiday.

An initiative launched in late January by Xiaohongshu,     3     Chinese lifestyle-focused social media platform, invited users to upload photos or videos of themselves and friends wearing hanfu at landmarks around the world from January 28 to February 19.

The first two weeks of the initiative saw some 10,000 Xiaohongshu users share their photos     4     (take) from around 30 countries and regions around the world. One user even posted photos from Antarctica.

Many young Chinese people working or studying overseas also invited     5     (they) foreign friends to wear     6     (tradition) Chinese costumes to celebrate the Spring Festival together.

Hanfu, as well as other traditional forms of Chinese costume,     7     (experience) a surge in popularity in recent years. Clothes featuring traditional Chinese elements combined with modern designs,     8     are dubbed the “new Chinese style” have developed into a fashion trend among the     9     (young) generations not only in China, but also worldwide.

Analysts say the rise     10     “China chic” reflects young Chinese people’s confidence in their own culture. Wearing Chinese-style costumes not only reflects the wearer’s Eastern temperament, but also presents Chinese aesthetics to the world.

From: chinadaily.com.cn

The earliest Chinese kites     1     were made of wood were called muyuan (wooden kites) They date as far back as the Warring States Period (475-221 BC) at least two thousand years ago. After the     2     (invent) of paper, kites began to be made of this new material, paper, and this paper kite is called zhiyuan.

The method of making a kite can be divided into three parts. Firstly, use thin bamboo strips (条)     3     (make) a kite frame (框架), and according to taste, kites can have     4     (attract) shapes like a dragonfly, a swallow, a centipede or a butterfly. Secondly, glue paper onto the framework. The paper     5     (require) to be thin. Finally, decorate the kites     6     colorful paintings and ribbons.

Although the basic method remains the same, styles of kite making are presented     7     (different) in every place. The kites in the “World Kite Capital” of Weifang in Shandong Province are well known for     8     (they) fine materials, painting, sculpture and flexible flying movement. One of these kites, which was over 300 meters long and in the shape of a centipede with a dragon’s head, won the     9     (one) place in the International Kite Festival held in Italy. This kite is now shown in the Weifang Kite Museum. Every year, the World Kite Festival will be held there and is expected to draw many fans with a love for     10     (fly) kites.

The dragon lantern festival is set to open Lanterns, symbols of joy and     1     (happy) since ancient times, have become one of China’s cultural icons. During the Lantern Festival every year, lighting lanterns     2     (be) an important part of Chinese New Year celebrations.

The Zigong lantern festival, dating     3     the Dang Dynasty, stands out from the lantern shows in China and has been listed as a national-level intangible cultural heritage (非物质文化遗产). With     4     (it) combination of lanterns with landscapes, the Zigong lantern festival covers various art forms such as sculpture, and traditional Chinese painting. Up to now, it     5     (attract) over 400 million visitors.

The lantern exhibition features nearly 2 kilometers of lighted streets. There are about forty sets of different lanterns,     6     (include) huge lanterns, crafted lanterns, decorative lanterns and themed lantern sets inspired by     7     (tradition) Chinese legends and classical literature. Varieties of animal-shaped lanterns will show great artistic charm to visitors.

Throughout the lantern festival, there will be a series of Chinese cultural experiences,     8     include a lighting ceremony, a traditional Hanfu show and     9    creative New Year painting exhibition. Limited-edition lanterns will be available for visitors     10     (buy).

Chinese wine culture has a long and rich history, dating back thousands of years. One of the most famous traditional Chinese     1     (wine) is Baijiu, which is made from grains such as rice and wheat. People often drink it during important celebrations. Another popular type of Chinese wine is Huangjiu, also     2     (know) as yellow wine. Huangjiu is a fermented (发酵的) rice wine and has a     3     (soft) taste compared to Baijiu. It is     4     (common) used in cooking and is a popular ingredient in traditional Chinese dishes. Huangjiu is also enjoyed     5     a drink, with different varieties and flavors available across different areas of China.

In Chinese culture, wine is often associated with toasting (祝酒),     6     is an important gesture in Chinese wine culture and helps to create a warm and     7     (harmony) atmosphere. Furthermore, wine is often used in traditional Chinese medicine. Certain types of wine     8     (believe) to have health benefits and are used for medicinal purposes. In recent years, imported wines, particularly red wine,     9     (gain) popularity among Chinese. Wine appreciation and wine-tasting events have become increasingly common,    10     (provide) opportunities for both locals and foreigners to learn and experience different wine cultures.