Have you ever considered a Chinese dragon isn’t a dragon? For Europeans, a dragon is usually a monster (怪兽) .With four legs and two black wings, it can release fire with    1    (destroy) power. Contrary to what Europeans think about dragons, Chinese dragons, or “Loongs”,    2    (describe) as benevolent (仁慈的) beings, which bring rain, wealth and harmony. Chinese Loong is always associated with wealth and is    3    (deep) rooted in China’s national identity,    4    (symbolize) power, strength and good luck. In Chinese culture, Loong is capable of controlling weather, particularly rain and storm,    5    are crucial for agriculture. To ensure a    6    (favour) weather and a good harvest, dragon dances are always performed during the Spring Festival     7    (please) the Dragon King. Therefore, because of different values, the western concept of dragon is not consistent     8    that of the Chinese dragon.

However, whether or not to use Loong instead of dragon is not important.    9    is important is that we appreciate and practise the values and spirits    10    (represent) by Loong, positively embracing(拥抱) the new year with energy and strength.

The 2023 Chinese Bridge Calligraphy and Painting Contest lasted for six months,     1     (attract) 1, 084 contestants from 86 countries     2     a total of 1, 146 calligraphy and painting works.

According to experts, the award winning calligraphy works this year mirrored many Chinese classic elements with more     3     (expressive) and creativity, compared to the winners of last year's contest,

“I feel honored to be the judge again and also     4     (delight) to find that the entries for this year have been such a breakthrough. From their progress, you can     5     (definite) see the authors must have spent a lot of time and energy learning traditional Chinese culture, ” commented one of the judges.

At the closing ceremony, Zhang Bo, professor from Beijing Language and Culture University, gave high praise of the achievement of overseas Chinese teaching,     6     played a significant role in cultural exchanges. He said the quality of the entries resulted from the contestants' years of study, as well as     7     guidance and assistance of overseas Chinese teaching behind them.

The experts suggested watching the videos about the contestants on the website. “Through these videos, we can see their daily practice and creation process,     8     we can also feel their understanding and love for Chinese culture from their introductions. The creative process of calligraphy and painting     9     (have) a visual appreciation similar to dance. It is our hope that these videos     10     (share) on social media will encourage more people to develop a love for Chinese culture.”

Zanhua Wei, known as “the garden on the head”, is a kind of flower headwear     1     (wear) by local women in Xunpu, a fishing village in Quanzhou, Fujian Province.

The production of it needs to go through multiple     2     (process), including cutting, laying, inlaying, coloring and so on. Main materials for making hair-pinned flowers are metal wires, jewelry stones and colored pearls,     3     (delicate) combined to form a variety of flower patterns.

Opinions vary about the origin of Zanhua Wei, with some saying     4     originated from the custom of Central Asian women wearing flowers and was brought back through the maritime Silk Road during the Song and Yuan dynasties,     5     Quanzhou served as one of the few leading trading ports on the southeastern coast of China. The ships carried spices and all kinds of     6     (value) goods to Quanzhou for trade, notably countless jewelry stones and pearls.

In 2008, the custom    7     (include) in the national intangible cultural heritage list. Besides    8     (use) as hair accessories (配饰), head-pinned flowers play     9     undeniable role in traditional Chinese culture. Zanhua Wei carries the emotions and memories of the fisherman’s family, reflecting the diligence and simplicity of Xunpu, as well as the    10     (expect) for a better life.

Chen Yishi, of Yangzhou, Jiangsu province, has devoted most of his life to woodblock printing, an ancient art     1     has embodied(体现) the charm of Chinese characters for hundreds of years. In 2006, the traditional craft     2     (list) among China’s first items of national intangible cultural heritage, and Chen has been honored as a     3    (represent) inheritor(继承人).

Known as the “living fossil” of printing, woodblock printing originated in China during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Inheritors of the craft follow the ancient ways, using traditional tools     4     (carve) characters and patterns on a wooden block. Next, ink is applied to the carved face, and blank pages of paper, silk     5     other material are pressed down on the ink, picking up the impression. Those pages are then bound into a book.

The passion for woodblock printing     6    (run) in Chen’s family for more than 100 years. His grandfather was a famous Qing woodblock craftsman. Chen     7    (he) has been practicing the craft since he was 13 years old. The Chens and the city of Yangzhou are making efforts to attract more people’s attention through publicity. They have made light covers, fans and other daily items     8     (use) woodblock printing and sold them     9     low prices. “The public will have access to it through these     10     (product),” said Chen Meiqi, Chen’s daughter, “They will get to appreciate woodblock printing, and then protect it.”

Thirty cultural relics have been returned to the Chinese mainland from Taiwan thanks to the joint efforts of people on both sides     1     the Strait.

They,     2     (transfer) to the National Cultural Heritage Administration on Monday, marked the     3     (large) return of lost relics to the mainland from Taiwan in recent years. Thirteen of the returned pieces, including the heads of broken Buddhist images,     4     (show) at a donation ceremony at the National Museum of China in Beijing on Monday. Wu Chih-yang, co-president of the association, confirmed that the returned relics were collected by “warmhearted people” from overseas     5     then gathered by the association. Wu said, “Donation of these items is more than     6     exchange of cultural heritage across the Strait. Cultural     7     (communicate) has always played a crucial role in     8     (strengthen）our links.” Sammy Yang, vice-chancellor of Taipei's Shih Hsin University, said a preliminary (初步的) assessment in Taiwan two years ago     9     (indicate) a high degree of similarity in the artistic styles, materials and craftsmanship of some of the painted sculptures with others in Shanxi province.

Analysis of cutting marks on some head statues led to the guess     10     they may have been stolen about 30 years ago, considering some statues were cut and stolen from a Shanxi temple in an identical way in 1993. They were later found and returned from Taiwan in 1999.

Chinese speakers tend to use “spear and shield”     1    (describe) anything that’s contradictory. Actually, now the Chinese phrase for “contradiction”     2    (call) Mao Dun or “spear and shield”.

Nearly 2, 000 years ago, there was a man living in the State of Chu. One day, he went to a market to sell spears and shields—two most common     3    (weapon) at that time. When a small crowd gathered around the seller to look at his goods, the man     4    (decide) to advertise his shields first. He said, “Please look at my shields. They are certainly the     5    (strong) ones you can ever find in the world.”

Then some of the potential buyers came closer to have a careful examination of the shields,     6     they couldn’t see anything special about them. The seller then moved on to brag about his spears. “Now please have a good look at my spears. They are the sharpest weapons     7    have ever been produced. So, no matter how firm a shield is, my spears will pierce (刺穿) through it     8    (easy).” After listening to the seller’s pitch, a man stepped forward and said, “You just told us that your shields are the strongest in the world and then you claim your spears are the sharpest. How about     9    (use)your spears on your shields?” The seller was unable to respond.

So today, instead of saying “you are contradicting yourself”, Chinese will say “you are attacking your shield     10     your own spear”.

Chinese opera, has a rich history dating back thousands of years. There are various types of Chinese opera, each with its own unique characteristics and traditions. Kunqu Opera, for example,     1     (consider) an old form of Chinese opera, characterized by its elegant lyrics and beautiful melodies. Peking Opera, another famous type, is noted     2     its colorful costumes, facial makeup and movements.

One of the     3     (remarkable) features of Chinese opera is its integration (融合) of singing, dancing, acting, and acrobatics. The singing in Chinese opera is an impressive aspect. In addition to singing,     4     fascinates people most is actors’ dance and acrobatics. These     5     (performance) require years of training and dedication, making Chinese opera actors true masters of their craft.

The stories     6     (tell) through Chinese opera are often drawn from historical events, legends and folklore. These narratives not only entertain but also educate,     7     (pass) down cultural values and moral lessons from generation to generation. The themes of loyalty, bravery and filial piety (孝) are repeated, which promotes social harmony and moral behavior.

In     8    (conclude), Chinese opera is a treasured art form     9     (deep) rooted in Chinese culture. Whether you’re a fan of theater     10     simply interested in Chinese culture, Chinese opera is definitely worth exploring.

Beloved as they may be, many Chinese dishes only show up on family tables once a year,     1     (mark) holidays or seasonal observances. When the Qingming Festival approaches each spring, qingtuan, a sweet, jade-coloured treat begins to appear in supermarkets     2    bakeries all over the country

“In Chinese culture, it’s really important to always honour and remember your ancestors,” said Lillian Luk,     3     founder of the London pop-up Shanghai Supper Club. During the Qingming Festival people all over China go on trips to their deceased loved ones’ burial sites    4     ( sweep) the graves, burn incense and present offerings.

    5     (make) with glutinous rice flour, qingtuan dough is emerald-green because of the addition of mugwort (艾草). “Mugwort also gives the qingtuan a nice medicinal benefit. It’s meant to    6     (low) blood pressure,” said Luk, who now makes and sells the green    7     (treat) at her pop-up restaurant when the Qingming Festival rolls around.

In recent years, Luk     8     (notice) qingtuan evolving. She’s seen all sorts of novel versions pop up, from dumplings dyed green with matcha (抹茶) instead of mugwort,     9     ones filled with custard or sweet potato. Luk acknowledges the value of unexpected flavour options—seeing her children become excited and curious about foods from their culture. “Somehow, I have kind of woven this thread     10     ties my kids to my heritage, unintentionally,” said Luk.

Spring rolls, those crispy delights of golden pastry (油酥面团), featuring a mix     1     finely chopped vegetables like cabbage, carrots, and sometimes meat, are among the most popular     2     (choice) for a quick and tasty snack. The rolls are fried to a perfect crunch and are     3     (typical) eaten when hot. To eat one, you have to decide     4     to dip it in a sweet and sour sauce first, adding an extra layer of flavor, or to enjoy it on     5     (it) own, letting the roll’s own taste shine through. While spring rolls     6     (serve) in many places, the classic version can be found in the busy street markets,     7     they are made fresh on the spot and provided straight from the fryer. Good spring rolls have a light crust, allowing them     8     (pick) up easily without breaking or becoming unpleasantly wet. The filling is carefully seasoned     9     (guarantee) a harmonious blend of tastes and textures (口感).

No matter where I get them, one is rarely enough, but two or three might be too much, so I am always left     10     (look) forward to my next spring roll experience.