The term Xuan paper was first introduced in the book On Famous Paintings through the Ages by Tang Dynasty (618-907) scholar Zhang Yanyuan. In his book, Zhang described Xuan paper as an idea     1     (carry) for calligraphy and painting. Handmade Xuan paper from Jingxian county, East China’s Anhui province,     2     (list) as a gift to the imperial court for its top-level quality during that period.

The traditional craft of making Xuan paper is     3     (extraordinary) demanding. It involves a three-year process     4     sandalwood bark (檀香树皮), native to southern China, undergoes 108 procedures together with rice straw before it can be transformed into fine Xuan paper. The entire procedure is so complex that even the most skilled craftsman can only master     5     limited number of steps.

The flow of ink, both guided and resisted by water, determines the output of Chinese art, and Xuan paper stands out with its exceptional ability     6     (give) full play to ink. Changing the amount of bark versus straw during the papermaking process can produce different canvases (画布)     7     (tailor) to artistic expression in freehand ink paintings or calligraphy.

Xuan paper     8     (accompany) the passionate brushstrokes of the Chinese literati for thousands of years. Unlike other forms of paper, it is very resistant to damage     9     (bring) by time. It is this durability     10     has made the preservation of many valuable works from ancient China possible.

Dough sculpture (面塑), also known as dough (面团) flowers,     1     (date) back to the Han Dynasty (202 BC-220). Across north China     2     the folk art is widely spread, people take dough works as religious offerings and wedding gifts.

“The dough is made of wheat starch (淀粉), glutinous rice flour and honey,” said Liu Zenghui, a dough sculpture inheritor (继承人) in Binzhou, Shandong Province. Liu started to learn dough sculpture at an early age. His works center on     3     (hero) of ancient Chinese myths and classics. Each figure,     4     the shape, hair to the muscles and looks, is so vivid and eye-catching.

Watching Liu work is     5     visual delight. After he first shapes the colorful dough into a simple outline, it     6     (attach) to a small stick. With a knife, thread, and toothpicks, he then refines it and eventually creates a lifelike and visually     7     (strike) dough sculpture. “You can’t be too careful to control the knife, because once there is a wrong cut, you need to start all over again. Concentration is fundamental (基础的),     8     ensures minimal (最少的) noise and disturbance.” Liu said in his quiet workshop.

Also, Liu is glad to be invited     9    (give) lectures at schools. “Making the traditional art accessible to children     10    (mean) not only fun but a way to keep it alive,” he said.

In and around China’s southwestern Sichuan Province, one can often find folk artists producing sugar painting with liquid sugar along the streets and in the parks.

According to some academic studies, sugar painting     1    （date）back to the Ming Dynasty when sugar animals and figures were made in moulds（模具）as part of a sacrifice in     2    （religion）ceremonies. In the Qing Dynasty, sugar painting gained more popularity. The production techniques were upgraded and the patterns became more various, most of     3     stood for good luck-such as the fish, dragon and monkey. Afterward, the folk artists in Sichuan developed this art by adding techniques of the Chinese shadow puppet and Chinese paper cutting, the moulds     4     （replace）with a small bronze spoon. As time went     5    , the contemporary form of sugar painting has gradually evolved．

Although the number of sugar painters has     6    （remarkable）decreased, due to its unique charm,     7     certain number of artists are making efforts     8    （preserve）it by offering classes, holding relevant activities such as sugar painting contests and applying to be added to the list of National Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Nowadays, having already been listed as Provincial Intangible Culture Heritage by the Sichuan Provincial Government, this art is engaging     9    （it）in the general public entertainment. Moreover, the sugar painting artists have gained increasing     10    （recognize）.

A Stone Age bird sculpture uncovered in China could be a “missing link” in our understanding of prehistoric art. Dating back almost 13,500 years, the sculpture is now the oldest known example of three-dimensional art in East Asia.

Described     1     being in “an exceptional state of preservation,” the sculpture     2    (find) at an archeological site in Lingjing, Henan Province. It was hand-carved from burned animal bone. Researchers say the sculpture depicts(刻画) a bird on a base, pointing to deliberate marks     3     the creature’s eyes and bill(嘴) would be. It is believed that the bird’s oversized tail was made     4    (prevent) the sculpture from leaning forward when     5    (lay) on a surface. This discovery identifies a(n)     6    (origin) artistic tradition and pushes back by more than 8,500 years the representation of birds in Chinese art. The sculpture differs     7    (technologic) from other sculptures found in Western Europe and Siberia, and it could be the missing link     8    (trace) the origin of Chinese statues back to the early part of the Stone Age. Li Zhanyang, who led     9     study, has contributed to other archeological findings in Lingjing, including various ancient     10    (tool) and two skulls belonging to an extinct species of early humans.

In Chinese culture, there is a deep-rooted belief that even the     1     (healthy) individuals should never leave their belly buttons(肚脐) uncovered. This curious tradition      2     (gain) significant attention online so far.

Many people believe that regardless of the hot heat, they must protect their belly buttons at all costs. Some even playfully claim that if     3     (abandon)on a deserted island without any clothing, they would still find a way     4     (cover) their belly buttons, even if it means using a simple leaf.

The belly button is a weak area of the body with thin skin. Moreover, there are no muscles     5     fat tissues underneath. Additionally, there are abundant nerve endings, making it particularly sensitive to external stimuli and requiring special protection.

Therefore, it is     6     (science) sound for Chinese people to be cautious     7     protecting the belly button. If one doesn’t pay attention to keeping the belly warm and     8     (expose) the belly button directly to air conditioning or fans, the cold air can easily enter the body through the belly button,      9      leads to stomach upset.

Many people find that adding a blanket to their sleep routine helps to reduce stress and promote calm. The practice of covering the belly and keeping the feet warm when sleeping     10     (suggest) to keep healthy according to traditional Chinese medicine.

Beijing Opera is a national treasure of China. The art    1     (date) back to the late eighteenth century     2    it combines acting, talking, singing, music, dancing and acrobatics. Actors play one of four roles: sheng, male roles; dan, female roles; chou, clown roles and jing roles. Each role has its own singing and acting styles. In the early days, most often Beijing Opera     3     (perform) on open-air stages in markets, streets, teahouses or outside temples. The music had to be played loudly and performers had to sing with sharp    4     (voice) in order to be heard over the crowd.     5     (gradual) this kind of singing became a special style of Beijing Opera. Beijing Opera used to be performed on open-air stages     6     were lit only by oil lamps. As     7     result, the actors had to wear bright costumes in colorful patterns    8     (attract) the audience’s attention. Symbols also play a very important role in Beijing Opera. Many body movements can represent complex actions. For example, when a lady is    9     (ride) in a carriage, the performer actually walks a flag on each side. Four generals and four soldiers refer     10     an army of thousands. In other words, every action and movement in Beijing Opera is important.