I attended the Naadam Festival in China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region this year. The festival,     1     includes horse racing, wrestling and archery, falls on the     2     (four) day of the sixth month of the lunar calendar, usually     3     (last) for three days.

I went to the games early with my friend   and found that many people     4     (make) preparations for the events. I was told that the festival had been popular with Mongolians for     5     (century). After the opening ceremony, the wrestling competition began,     6     (follow) by the archery and my favourite horse races.     7     my surprise, the riders were all children and I was concerned about their     8     (safe). My friend told me not     9     (worry) as they had been riding horses all their lives. Then I began to understand what “Horses are at the heart of Mongolian culture” meant.

Having been back home, I felt really tired,     10    it was worthwhile to celebrate the festival with my friend.

2 . No matter how many times you go, Dubai always has something new in store for its natives and tourists. Let’s take a look at a few must-dos for your first time in this impressive city in the United Arab Emirates!

●Hit the famous Dubai Mall.

Any shopaholic (购物狂) worth their salt knows about the Dubai Mall, one of the most famous and the most expensive shopping centres in the world.     1     However, even if you’re not in the mood to spend your savings in hundreds of luxury stores, there are other fun options.

●Mind your manners.

While you’re searching for the next adventure, make sure you follow some basic rules of conduct that the local law prescribes. For example, if you’re travelling with your significant other, public displays of affection are strictly forbidden.     2     So make sure that your attitude is appropriate for the city’s expectations and cultural norms.

●    3    

Although you’ll find many tourists wearing clothes considered not entirely polite by the locals, there are certain rules that are strictly implemented in restaurants, malls, and entertainment centres. So, if you put on something considered inappropriate or revealing, you risk being asked to leave a place.

●Save some time for Jumeirah Beach.

Situated conveniently close to Burj al Arab, this spectacular stretch of the coast is a perfect way to spend some time sunbathing and enjoying the warm waters of the Persian Gulf.     4     In addition, those looking to stay away from the sun can enjoy the many bars next to the beach.

●Prepare your palate for Emirati cuisine.

Have you ever had a chance to sample Al Machboos, camel meat, or Manousheh? Arabic cuisine has some of the most extraordinary delicacies you could possibly imagine, few of which are prepared in the same manner outside of their native lands.     5    

The most difficult thing about celebrating the Spring Festival in     1     big city is finding a restaurant that is open. Almost all the shops close for a week or two, as workers and proprietors (业主) return to their hometowns     2     (celebrate) with their families. Cities like Shanghai, Beijing, and Shenzhen,     3     half or more of the population moves in from elsewhere, are ghost towns.     4     (lucky), I like Lanzhou beef noodles; those shops mostly stay open.

In the countryside, it is completely opposite. Two years ago, a friend, Robin    5    (invite) me to celebrate the Spring Festival at his family’s home in Baichi village     6    the north of central China’s Henan province.The village residents were friendly and somewhat    7     (surprise) to see a foreigner. Much food    8     (eat) and beer was drunk at neighbors’   homes at supper. Without doubt, the drinking experience was unique. Almost everyone who came to Robin’s home brought a bottle of baüju or rice wine with them. Long     9     (table) were put in two rooms of the house, and each was covered with food.    10     your glass was empty, it would be filled quickly; if it was full, you’d better empty it!

If you are really interested in music, you’ve probably heard of the Bestival Music Festival. It     1     (take) place every September on the Isle of Wight, the UK. As it is at the end of summer, people think it’s their last chance     2     (have) fun before going back to boring work.

In order to get to the campsite of the Bestival, you have to take a boat called ferry,     3     is always crowded with happy festival lovers. After you arrive at the campsite, you can put     4     your tent. There people talk with each other     5     (open).

The festival lasts four days. During that time, you forget all your     6     (worry) and problems, just like living in a dream. And you’ll find     7     really hard to come back to “reality” after that.

I took part in the Bestival with my friends last year. It was so exciting and we all lost     8     (we) in the beautiful music. We Are Family     9     (sing) by Sister Sledge was my favorite. I’m really looking forward to     10     (join) in it for a second time.

The Qingming was the most important festival of the year    1     ancient times and a spring outing was the most important part of the Qingming custom. Therefore, it was the major theme for poetry and paintings.

Of all the ancient    2     (poem) about the Qingming, the one by the Tang poet Du Mu is well-known and has come down to the present day. It goes    3     (rough) like this: The Qingming’s day is a rainy day, and people with a    4     (break) heart are back and forth on the way. May I ask where I can find a wine shop? The shepherd kid, pointing afar,     5     (say) there you can find the best. This is    6     vivid description of the mood you feel on the Qingming Festival.

The Song    7     (art) Zhang Zeduan’s painting “Qingming Scroll”   (《清明上河图》) is a masterpiece of art,     8     describes what happens on both banks of the Bian River on the Qingming Festival. There are a crowd of people from all walks of life, some    9     (take) carriages, others sitting in sedans(轿子), on    10     (they) way to the suburbs (郊区) for spring outings. When you look at the picture you feel like part of it.

7 . Newcomers always have a good time during Spring Festival.

Huda Mohammed, a doctoral student is looking forward to ________ her third Spring Festival in China. Her favorite part of Lunar New Year is the ________. She went out with her friends to the street at 11 pm on New Year’s Eve in 2021 to see the fireworks. Her friends even searched online to ________ locations where fireworks could be seen, and visited them to ________ the displays. After the eye-catching fireworks, they returned to the ________ and had some dumplings. She also had ________ with the online red envelope games on WeChat. People can give and ________ digital red envelopes, or hongbao, ________ real money.

The best thing about spending Spring Festival in Beijing is the lack of passengers on public transportation. For foreigners, it’s a good time to ________ around and enjoy the city. Many people leave the city and it’s really easy to get around. Bill Siggins, 60, an editor from Canada, loves to go to Miaohui — a type of fair (集市，集会) ________ during Spring Festival — to enjoy traditional food and ________ shows in public parks and buy a Chinese New Year symbol to ________ on the door. He often travels to his wife’s hometown, Xi’an, to spend the festival with her ________. “It’s always good to see my mother and father-in-law. We eat too much food, have too much fun ________ the TV gala (盛会，演出) on New Year’s Eve,” he said. This year, he ________ to drive to Xi’an for the coming holiday.

Lunar New Year becomes increasingly recognized across the world.

8 . Top 4 Traditional Festivals in China

The Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival or Lunar New Year, falls on the first day of the first lunar month. Chinese New Year is the most important festival in China. It is an important family reunion time for Chinese people around the world.

2022 Date: February 1 (Tuesday)

2023 Date: January 22 (Sunday)

The Lantern Festival, also known as Yuanxiao Jie or Shangyuan Festival, falls on the15th day of the first lunar month, it traditionally marks the end of the Chinese New Year celebration.

Tangyuan, also called yuanxiao, is a must-eat food for the Lantern Festival. Shaped like a round ball, tangyuan symbolizes people’s desires for happiness and family reunions. Besides eating tangyuan, Chinese people would also light colourful lanterns and guess lantern riddles to celebrate this festival.

2022 Date: February 15 (Tuesday)

2023 Date: February 5 (Sunday)

The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duan Wu Jie in Chinese, falls on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. Chinese people celebrate this festival by racing dragon boats, eating zongzi, drinking realgar wine, and hanging Chinese Mugwort to honour Qu Yuan.

2022 Date: June 3 (Friday)

2023 Date: June 22 (Thursday)

The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival or Mooncake Festival, falls on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month. Like the Chinese New Year, the Mid-Autumn Festival is also an important time for family reunions. Chinese people would eat moon cakes, admire the full moon, and hang up colourful lanterns during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

2022 Date: September 10 (Saturday)

2023 Date: September 29 (Friday)