Learning Chinese calligraphy     1     (list) as one of the must-do things when I came to China. Now, I’m in the course of learning this unique art,     2     value is considered very high in China, even across East Asia today. It is not only     3     ancient artistic form of human language, but it also reflects Chinese traditions.

As someone who paints, draws, and loves all     4     (create) things, at first, I assumed I would be rather good at Chinese calligraphy. I was     5     (total ) wrong. Using thick brush tips to produce awkward brush strokes (笔画)     6     (be) very difficult for a beginner. I have no idea about the different types of calligraphy and the meanings     7     ( hide) behind each one. Also, I have to hold the paintbrush     8     a very specific way; unlike a pen or pencil, the paintbrush is held upright in the hand. I need to be extra careful when changing the angle or     9     (direct) of the brush, especially if I press too hard on the paper.

After taking the lesson, I now understand the difficulty of calligraphy and that it will take efforts and commitment     10     (master) this art form. Yet, I am grateful to learn such a special Chinese tradition.

Learning to play an instrument is something that can give you a lot of pleasure. It is also     1     achievement and a skill     2     stays with your life. Music has a part to play in everyone’s life, and has been described as “a primary language.”

Learning to play an instrument isn’t easy at the beginning and     3     (take) effort and determination. While it is OK to aim for the top, music is     4     (certain) not something to take up because you think you ought to do it.

A lot of adults regret not having learnt to play an instrument when they     5     (be) younger. But it is never too late to learn! And the     6     (advantage) of learning an instrument are far     7     (great) than just the pleasure of producing an enjoyable sound. When you’ve progressed far enough, there are lots of amateur (业余的) groups that you can join     8     you want to be part of a larger group. Once you’ve reached a good enough standard     9     (join) a band or orchestra, you add the team skills like those you get from playing sport. There’s also a great social side to playing     10     others, as well as the chance to travel through touring.

Many years ago, a dance between clay (陶土)     1     fire gave rise to a piece of art: ceramic. In the flames burning in kilns (窑) around China in the Xia and Shang dynasties, ceramic     2     (be) born. Ceramic     3     (make) by heating raw materials, is often a mix between China stone and kaolin clay, in a kiln at a temperature as high as 1, 200 degrees Celsius. Temperature is the key to     4     (produce) ceramic.

Ceramic has also been     5     carrier for cultural exchanges. Along with China's silk and tea, ceramic was one of the first goods     6     (receive) worldwide trade.

As it travelled around the globe through the ancient Maritime Silk Road, ceramic enjoyed great     7     (popular) among royal families and upper classes in Europe,     8     were attracted by these beautiful     9     (contain) they named after China, a product that could be produced only in the far East. As a memory that can be felt with both hands, ceramic is     10     (absolute) the touchable history.

An organization has taken measures     1     (add) chopsticks to the Shanghai Intangible Cultural Heritage List recently. Xu Hualong, chairman of the organization, says chopsticks are     2     (increasing) ignored in modern China despite the fact that they are unique Chinese items. August 4th     3     (set) aside as Chopstick Day by China’s neighbor Japan already.

Chopstick culture in Shanghai     4     (date) back to the Tang Dynasty, when these items     5     (make) in the City God Temple area, enjoyed widespread popularity.

After opening as a commercial port, Shanghai is proud of     6     (have) the first mechanized(机械化的) production line for chopsticks,     7     are not only supplied to Zhongnanhai and Diaoyutai State Guesthouse but also presented to foreign friends     8     gifts.

At present, at least 1.8 billion people use chopsticks worldwide. Chopsticks, though small, serve as     9     means to pass down Chinese civilization. It’s believed that recognizing the cultural value of the custom matters in the     10     (promote) of Chinese traditions.

For those looking to escape the concrete jungle, maybe it’s time to dive into the bamboo forests of southern Sichuan.

A natural forest that people in Sichuan province tend     1     (visit) is the Southern Sichuan Bamboo Sea in Yibin. The 120-square-kilometer Bamboo Sea is the     2     (large) bamboo park in China and its average temperature seldom drops below zero degrees Celsius in winter     3     many parts of the country are covered with snow and ice.

Known as one of the country’s 10 most beautiful forests, it     4     (be) a popular tourist attraction since the Oscar-winning Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon     5     (shoot) there in 2001.

Two years later, the bamboo forest received world-wide     6     (recognize) as a bamboo reserve in December 2003,     7     (become) the fourth tourism destination in China to be granted Green Globe 21 certification.

The Bamboo Sea covers Changning and Jiang’an, two counties under the authority of Yibin. Amazed at its vast expanse (浩瀚), Huang Tingjian,     8     poet from the Song Dynasty, described it     9     “bamboo waves”. As Huang was an     10     (influence) man, his description gave rise to the forest’s popular nickname-the Bamboo Sea.

It was a short flight from Shanghai to Xi’an. Xi’an is one of the four great ancient capitals of China with a history of over 3,100 years. Dating from the Ming Dynasty,     1    (it) ancient walls are the best preserved in the world. There are bicycles for people to hire. It is     2    (amaze) to ride along the walls to survey this fascinating city.

The Tang Dynasty Music and Dance show     3    (be) not to be missed, but my favorite is     4     art gallery, where we can enjoy some beautiful artwork and learn how to write Chinese characters.

Most visitors make their way     5     Xi’an to see the life-size terracotta warriors (兵马俑) and we were not different at all. The collection,     6     shows the armies of the first Emperor of China, remained hidden until 1974 when they     7     (discovery) by a farmer digging a well.     8     (walk) among the statues is forbidden unless you are a VIP — but there are plenty of souvenir     9    (shop) in which tourists can buy the replicas (复制品) of them.

All too soon it was time to leave. I     10     (true) enjoyed my stay in Xi’an. It is indeed a place of interest worth a second visit.