Sugar painting, one symbol of traditional Chinese art, uses hot liquid sugar to create objects on a marble (大理石) or metal surface. As     1     unique art form in China, it is said to go back around 600 years ago to the Ming Dynasty. Over time, its charm is gaining more     2     (recognize) and attention.

    3     is so breathtaking about sugar painting is its production process. With hot sugar poured from a small in spoon onto a flat surface, the outline of the figure     4     (draw) with a thick stream of sugar. Then     5     (relative) thinner sugar is added to support the outline and fill in the figure of the body in     6     (combine) patterns, supported by a wooden stick. The painter has to work quickly,     7     (make) sure he gets every shape just right before the sugar cools down.

Today the chance to appreciate this classic art form is much     8     (small) than it once was, but it still has the power to amaze     9     (tourist) who come across talented street artists who make these amazing creations. Hopefully, sugar painting, whether it serves as a delicacy     10     an artistic treasure, will continue to last for generations.

Having stretched for more than 170 million years, Chinese food culture occupies an important part in the nation’s traditional culture.

The gastronomy (烹饪法)     1     (employ) in Chinese cuisine is an art form that goes beyond just satisfying your taste buds (味蕾). It is a perfect     2     (combine) of all your senses, a harmony of color, aroma, taste and appearance in every dish.     3     (history), Chinese cultures connected     4     (agriculture) preferences with patterns in the stars, guiding food consumption based on 24 Solar Terms.

Ancient Chinese people     5     (invent) chopsticks more than 3000 years ago, which are not only a kind of tableware with distinct national features     6     an important component that reflects the     7     (characteristic) of Chinese diet culture. Unlike a knife and fork or one’s own hands, a pair of chopsticks also implies the meaning of “Harmony is     8     matters”.

And, of course, what’s a Chinese feast without tea? More than a type of drink, it also serves as a transmitter of culture,     9     (represent) the philosophy, aesthetic views and way of life of the Chinese people, from which     10     spiritual world of the Chinese people can be perceived.

Chinese fans seem to have special meanings in Chinese culture. I’ve     1    (receive) a number of them as gifts from my Chinese friends. The fans are very pretty. You may have noticed that almost all female figures in     2     (tradition) Chinese paintings carry a silk fan. In the movies of     3    1930s and 1940s, fans are a very visible article for Shanghai women.     4    (usual) the structure of the fans is made of sand wood and the faces are made of silk or paper. Because the fans always have sweet smell, women     5     use them appear even more attractive. Fans are probably one of the most appropriate     6    (expression) of noble female.

Men also use fans. But these fans are quite often much     7    (big). Men’s fans often use valuable materials for that structure and the faces are always     8    (paint) with plants or landscapes. As a result     9    open-door policy, fans have become popular again not for people to use at home,     10     as a gift for foreigners. I heard westerners appreciate these gifts. As fans are small, inexpensive and typically Chinese, many people like to use them as gifts from the overseas trips.

Qiang embroidery (羌绣) has a long and rich history, dating back to the Han Dynasty,     1     it was adopted for use on clothing. It makes use of many kinds of stitches (针法) and     2     (usual) is practised by women more often than not. A pair of embroidered shoes can take as long as ten days to produce, making the practice a test of both skill and patience.

Chen Yunzhen, from Beichuan Qiang Autonomous County in Sichuan Province,     3     (be) a master of Qiang embroidery. As part of her efforts to stop the endangered technique from     4     (appear), Chen began visiting the surrounding regions to teach embroidery. In 2014, she established a Qiang embroidery workshop that has since provided free training to over 20,000 people.

    5     (breathe) new life into Qiang embroidery, Chen has continued to keep     6     open mind, introducing new products like personal accessories, notebooks and bags in addition to the traditional clothes. Chen’s two daughters returned to their hometown to help support her efforts after graduating from university. With her daughters’ youthful sense of     7     (innovate), Chen has combined metalwork and Qiang embroidery to create earrings, rings and necklaces popular     8     young consumers. She is also considering live streaming to promote her handmade products.

According to Chen, the Qiang people do not have a     9     (write) language, so Qiang embroidery must     10     (preserve) and developed as part of efforts to sustain its culture.

Shaanxi kuaiban is a traditional Chinese form of storytelling in the Shaanxi dialect to the rhythm of bamboo clappers. In June, it     1     (recognize) as an intangible(非物质的) cultural heritage at the national level. It can be performed by a group or alone.

The art form can date back to the late Qing Dynasty. According to its performers, the art was     2     (origin) used by farmers to share their knowledge and earn money.     3     now, more people perform Shaanxi kuaiban on different occasions—for example, at a great many festival     4     (celebrate) , parties and art shows.

Yang Jinlong, 45, is an     5     (experience) Shaanxi Kuaiban artist. He first learned the art at the age of 9. Before that, he often went with his father, an amateur performer,     6     (watch) kuaiban performances.

“As a young boy, I was attached     7     the art form because many of the stories are about heroes. The performer tells stories while playing kuaiban, and it is easy for the audience to remember the stories since all the lines rhyme,” Yang said. Since 2003, he     8     (teach) the art form to young people.

“Art education is playing     9     important role in students in China. Just as many students learn to play Western musical instruments, there are many people     10     (learn) traditional Chinese folk arts, including Shaanxi kuaiban.” Yang said.