Chinese calligraphy is called the art of lines. Practicing calligraphy helps a person to achieve relaxation and inner peace. In the past, children     1     (train) at an early age to practice writing. Great attention is paid     2     calligraphy today with exhibitions and competitions among both the young and the old.     3     (learn) calligraphy, one will need a brush, ink, paper, and ink stone, which     4     (be) commonly recognized as the Four Treasures of Study. As Chinese culture spreads throughout the world nowadays, calligraphy is enjoying     5     (great) popularity than ever before. Many foreigners are practising it now.     6     calligraphy uses Chinese characters (汉字) as a way of expression, one does not have to know Chinese to admire its beauty.

A gallery displaying printing woodblocks (木版) opened at the Palace Museum in Beijing on Monday. The Palace Museum, which was China’s imperial pa lace from 1420 to 1911,     1     (house)1.86 million cultural relics, and about one third of these are ancient books, documents and related printing woodblocks,     2     (make) the museum a key venue on the development of Chinese literature. However, these precious relics for academic studies     3     (previous) lacked a venue in which they could be publicly showcased.

    4     opening exhibition of the new gallery, near the Gate of Supreme Harmony(太和门), feature s 32 woodblocks. “These exhibits are     5     great value for people to understand the politics, culture and printing techniques of that era,” Wang, director of the museum, said. “Putting them in the context of the history of Chinese classic books and the Qing inner court, we can get more information through in depth studies, which is an     6     (inspire) to us in terms of developing modern culture.”

For example, an exhibited woodblock     7     (carve) with dragon patterns was made in 1644 shortly after Qing troops seized Beijing. It demonstrates a Qing imperial warning demanding that princes and high official strictly stick to their duties and avoid corruption.

Some woodblocks were also made to record aspects of the royal lifestyle, with a group used to print landscape pictures of the Cheng de Mountain Resort and Emperor Kangxi’s poems describing its quite     8     (fantasy) scenes.

To give visitors an immersive experience, a storeroom,     9     over 15,000 printing blocks are on the shelves, has been set up in the gallery.

Ji Zhangwei, a researcher at the Palace Museum Library, said that woodblock printing reached its peak during the Ming and Qing dynasties. The royal courts of the two dynasties made a great effort to sponsor printing as an important way to demonstrate national     10     (strong) and promote cultural development.

Luzhou Wood Carving mainly started in Baohe District of Hefei. It is a folk art       1    mixes Dongyang wood carving and Huizhou wood carving, and it has great decorative and artistic value.

As early as the Ming Dynasty, a number of folk artists    2     (perform) wood carvings appeared in Hefei. By the middle of the Qing Dynasty, wood carving became     3     unique traditional handcraft among people. However,       4    the rapid development of our country, this traditional craft of slow and delicate work has been gradually neglected.

Having one rough wood     5     (make) into an attractive wood carving artwork should go through a series of complex procedures, including modeling, carving and polishing. In order to create a perfect artwork, artists should devote    6     (they) to their works.

In terms of art technique, sculpture and traditional Chinese painting elements are combined together     7     (improve) the three-dimensional sense and fluency of wood carving works. As for the content selection, the themes are    8    (main) on history, folk customs and scenery. Through a series of carving     9    (technique) such as low relief (浮雕), deep relief and empty carving, vivid wood carving works are portrayed.

Luzhou Wood Carving    10     (list) into the Provincial Intangible Cultural Heritage project in 2013.

Cui Zhenshuo and Yang Bo discovered that because of the far location of most paper workshops and lifestyles of the paper-making craftsmen, their products are unable to reach the market     1     (easy). Therefore, Cui and Yang came up     2     the idea of establishing their own studio that could serve as a bridge to connect far workshops with buyers to advance     3     (tradition) Chinese handmade paper.

Chu is a kind of tree.     4     (it) bark (树皮) is a common material that was used in papermaking in ancient times. Han Yu, a famous     5     (write) during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) called paper Mr. Chu in his work Biography of Mao Ying. Since then, it     6     (use) as a nickname (昵称) for paper by Chinese scholars. In 2019, Cui and Yang named their own studio “I am Mr. Chu.”, and they focused on     7     (run) it.

Du Weisheng, an expert in the restoration (修复) of ancient books at the National Library of China, told them that, in     8     1990s, many Chinese paper relics needed to be repaired with handmade paper that allowed people to find information on various paper styles.

The two began to create the series of handmade paper products from 2021. Each volume is made up of thirty types of handmade paper, each of     9     is sourced from its place of origin. At present, two volumes of the series have been produced, and they plan     10     (make) ten volumes.

Chaoyang Street—situated at the foot of Yantai Mountain in Yantai, Shandong Province—is a lively commercial center that epitomizes (缩影) modernity.     1     (it) establishment dates back to 1872 during the Qing Dynasty (1644—1911).

Over the years, Chaoyang Street has attracted     2     (number) famous foreign businesses and shops. The street has a diverse array of buildings, including factories, shops, banks, and entertainment venues,     3     (decorate) with signs in both Chinese and English.

In 1880, German merchants opened     4     trading company on the east side of the northern section of Chaoyang Street,     5     was the largest peanut exporter in Yantai at the time. Since then, buildings on Chaoyang Street     6     (spring) up like mushrooms after rain.

Today, the street has     7     (complete) integrated modern bars and nightclubs into its lively atmosphere. Through ongoing efforts by local government, its reputation continues to rise,     8     (gain) increased popularity.

In recognition of its cultural and tourism     9     (significant), Chaoyang Street—Yantai Mountain Cultural District—was designated (指定)     10     a national-level nighttime cultural and tourism consumption gathering area in August 2022. Chaoyang Street stands as a testament (证明) to Yantai’s continuous development, offering a glimpse into the city’s rich history while embracing a modern spirit.

For many locals in Lanzhou, Gansu Province, the day begins with a hot, steaming bowl of beef noodles. Currently, there are over 1,600 shops     1    (sell) Lanzhou beef noodles in this ancient city on the banks of the Yellow River, with annual sales estimated at more than $58 billion.

The     2    (early) Lanzhou clear-soup beef noodles developed from Chen Weijing’s Lao Tang beef noodles from Henan Province during the Jiaqing period of the Qing Dynasty. Then Ma Liuqi from Gansu learned     3     Chen how to make the beef noodles and brought it to Lanzhou. This     4    (follow)by Chen Hesheng, Ma Baozi and others who established the standard of Lanzhou beef noodles and carried it forward.

Lanzhou beef noodles can be classified (分类) into more than 10 types     5    (base) on their thickness, with each type having its own name. The noodle types are determined by the different age groups they are     6    (suit) for. For example, the thinner noodles are ideal for older people as they are easier to chew. Young people have a     7    (prefer) for the thicker and wider noodles.

For over 200 years, this bowl of beef noodles     8    (become) world-famous for its tender meat and tasty soup, as well as its fine noodle texture. Now Gansu Province is considering passing     9     law related to Lanzhou beef noodles,     10     is believed to provide legal protection for the industry to achieve higher quality in production, business operation and services.

Tea comes from China, and Chinese tea culture has a long history. Now, enjoying a nice cup of tea is a habit around the world. Not only is drinking tea a     1    (relax) moment, but tea is an endless drink with so many different types to get, each with     2    (it) own unique flavor (味道). But if you’re a tea-time beginner and find yourself just     3    (put) an old tea bag in hot water and steeping (浸泡)     4    (simple) and carelessly, you could be missing out on tons of flavor and the chance to experience the moment of tea-drinking     5    (happy). There are a few important     6    (thing) that can affect the taste of tea, including the types of tea, the water temperature, and the steeping time. To make a cup of perfect tea, firstly, instead     7     tea bags, you’d better prepare loose-leaf tea     8     has a strong and lasting flavor. Loose-leaf tea also produces generally     9    (little) rubbish than tea bags. Secondly, you should start with fresh water and not let the water get too hot. Remove the water right when it     10    (start) boiling for the best flavor. Finally, set a timer and start steeping according to the suggested time on your tea’s packaging.

Believe it or not, a group of US teens could perform The Mermaid, a classical Chinese play for children, fully in Chinese. The 15 US teens,     1     (age) between 12 and 17, stood out from more than 200 children and spent almost two years     2     (practise), according to Chen Suhan, director and producer of the play’s US version. The show’s success is thanks     3     the China-US Youth Theater Exchange Program. The program combines theater and Chinese language learning to promote language education and youth     4     (exchange) between China and the US. “All the kids     5     (work) so hard over the last two years, and I feel so proud to see their amazing performance,” Chen said. For American teens, coming to China to perform a Chinese play is     6     unforgettable experience. “Theater for children and young people     7     (be) a ‘world language’ that enables children of different countries and race     8     (communicate) without words. Theater for children and young people is the seed of innocence,       9     (kind) and beauty. It is also the seed of love, culture and friendship     10     brings beauty,” remarked Feng Li, president of China National Theater for Children.

Featuring a dynamic story of the legendary dragon’s descendants, the 2023 Dragon Festival returned to Toronto with culture, food and new lion dance     1    (competition) two years after the COVID-19 pandemic.

The three-day festival from Sept 1 to 3 in Toronto’s Nathan Philips Square featured     2     range of activities. Dragon and lion dances, acrobatics, Chinese folk music, waist drum dances, tai chi, martial arts on water and ethnic music     3     (perform) by Canadian and Chinese artists.

“We hope the festival     4     (far) demonstrates the important position of Chinese culture in Canada’s multiculturalism.” Zhang Jian, chairman of the CACPA, said. “This vivid and interesting picture highlights the cross-culture value of the festival beyond national borders, and     5     (encourage) people to deeply explore the connections     6     different countries and cultures.”

As a symbol in traditional Chinese Culture, the dragon symbolizes happiness and luck,     7     reflects the creative talents, wisdom and perseverance of Chinese descendants.

Visitors also tasted delicious Chinese and Asian street food, while     8     (watch) an improvised reflection water show presented by Chinese Canadian communities.

“The performing and shows are     9    (amaze). I am impressed with the splendid 5,000 years history of China.” visitor James Taylor told China Daily. “From diverse culture presentations to delicious food, my family and I find all our favorites here,” Annie Kelly,     10     was accompanied by her husband and two children, said.

Kunqu Opera (昆曲) is one of the oldest forms of opera. It makes a     1     (contribute) to other forms of opera in the country,     2     (include)Sichuan and Beijing operas. Kunqu     3     (experience) several stages of change over the past hundreds of years. It was originally made up of long and short lines, with a singer singing solo and the orchestra coming in at the end of each line. During the Ming Dynasty, it became smoother and more graceful, with performers focusing     4     how clearly they sang lines. The     5     (song) were written in seven-character or ten-character lines. This differs greatly from the opera’s emphasis during the Yuan Dynasty,     6     only percussions (打击乐器) were used in the chorus. In the style that developed during the Ming Dynasty, more musical instruments such as bamboo flutes and drums were used. Known as the mother of all Chinese operas, Kunqu is named after     7     (it) birthplace, Kunshan, located near Suzhou, Jiangsu province. UNESCO listed Kunqu Opera as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2001, which hopes     8     (ensure) that the best of each country’s traditions is     9     (definite) preserved, developed and promoted all over     10     world.