Similar     1     people of other nationalities, ancient Chinese people     2     (grasp) or tore food     3     their bare hands at the beginning. Chopsticks, forks, knives and spoons were used much later, of which chopsticks, with a history of thousands of years,     4     (be) a wonder of Chinese dining utensils (器具). Chopsticks are the dining utensils most     5     (frequent) used in Chinese people’s daily life. In ancient China, they     6     (call) zhu.     7     the Chinese began to use chopsticks     8     an eating instrument is anybody’s guess. They were first mentioned in writing in Liji (The Book of Rites), a work compiled some 2,000 years ago. Chopsticks may be made of any of several materials: bamboo, wood, gold, silver, ivory, pewter, and plastics. In cross-section, they may be either round     9     square. Some of them are engraved with colored pictures or calligraphy for decoration. Ordinary chopsticks     10     (use) in Chinese homes are of wood or bamboo, those for banquets are often ivory, whereas gold ones belonged only to the royalty and aristocracy (皇室和贵族).

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism recently unveiled 10 nation a-level Yangtze River themed tourist routes. Yichang city in Central China’s Hubei province,     1     the Three Gorges Dam lies, is an important part of the routes.

Visitors can take a cruise from downtown Yichang to the tribe, enjoy traditional ethnic group singing and dancing, rub shoulders with inheritors of intangible cultural heritage and go     2    (hike) along the Yangtze River. Yangtze River, one of the “mother     3    (river)” of China, symbolizes the nation’s rich history and culture, with its awe-inspiring currents and picturesque views along its banks.

During the May Day holiday, Yichang received over 6.07 million tourists, with     4     increase of 67.22 percent over 2022. The total tourism revenue(收益) reached about 4.15 billion yuan($599.1 million), increased     5     88.21 percent compared with 2022.     6    (locate) in the Xiling Gorge between the Three Gorges Dam and Gezhouba Dam, the Tribe of the Three Gorges scenic area welcomed 89, 900 tourists, with a total tourism revenue of 11.86 million yuan during the holiday.

Since the May Day holiday, the country     7    (see) a boom in its domestic tourism, and destinations along the river are     8    (extreme) popular among travelers. At present, photos, short videos and live streams about the beauty of the Yangtze River are being shown online to a     9    (globe) audience. The China Cultural Center is holding events     10    (promote) river tourism resources in Paris and Tokyo.

Lǎozìhào refers to the old and famous shops, which have always been reliable and trustworthy and still enjoy     1     irreplaceable position in people’s minds since long time. Not only do they represent high quality and good reputation, they have also become an indispensable part in     2     (people) daily life.

These famous and time-honored shops, eg, Quanjude and Tongrentang,     3     (locate) in Qianmen, the center of Beijing, all have represented the highly developed     4     (commerce) culture of old Beijing.

But these shops are more about businesses; they are also a historical and cultural phenomenon. He     5     has never tasted a roast duck will regret his whole life--such common sayings have made Quanjude a     6     (represent) of Beijing. Many other similar two-part allegorical sayings among the folks have also     7     (vivid) revealed the very characteristics of these old shops.

Nowadays, with the rapid development of economy and fierce competition in modern society, some Lǎozìhào shops have been keeping pace     8     the times and carrying forward their brands through continuous reforms and innovations. That’s why they    9     (stand) the test of time and survived in competition, while some others have faded into the history due to their inability     10     (adapt) to the rapid changes in modern social life.

Tradition has never lost    1     (it) shine. Although China has achieved the greatest urbanization (城市化) in history, Chinese people’s physical and    2     (emotion) connections to traditions are strong and everywhere. These traditions    3     (become) a precious and unique part of Chinese culture over centuries.

In the past Spring Festival holidays, Chinese people have felt a festive atmosphere both in big cities    4    in the countryside.

The Ming Tombs in Beijing staged a live show inspired by the Ming Dynasty silk painting Ming Emperor Xianzong Enjoying the Lantern Festival, attracting hundreds of visitors. Dozens of    5     (actor) wearing Ming Dynasty clothing staged a sitcom (情景喜剧) style play, performing scenes including the emperor lighting lanterns and other ancient activities usually    6     (hold) during the Lantern Festival. One worker said that it aimed    7     (help) people experience how the Lantern Festival was celebrated and further understand Ming culture.

In addition to turning the ancient painting into a sitcom, many other folk arts also became a major draw,    8     (particular) for young people. One young woman Hou traveled all the way from Beijing to Jiexi County, South China’s Guangdong Province, during the holiday to watch a performance of the Yingge Dance,    9    is one of the most representative (有代表性的) folk arts in Chaozhou and Shantou, Guangdong Province.

Many people were deeply moved as traditional cultures could    10     (preserve) until now.

It is believed that Chinese knotting, also known as zhongguojie, originated for recording information and exchanging messages     1     writing was invented. Over the past thousands of years, knots     2     (play) an important part in the life of Chinese.    3     (initial), Chinese knots acted as good -luck charms to drive away evil spirits. Today, Chinese knots are widely used to decorate homes during festivities.

A major characteristic of Chinese knots is that they are often tied from a single continuous length of string. The knots are commonly named     4     the shape it takes. Chinese knots are created in a     5     (various) of colors such as gold, green, blue, or black, though the most commonly used color is red,    6     symbolizes good luck and prosperity.

Crafting the Chinese knot is a three-step process     7     (involve) tying knots, tightening them and adding the finishing touches. The knots     8     (pull) tightly together and are strong enough to be used for binding or wrapping, making them very practical.

Today, most of such knots are often mass manufactured in factories. Skilled knot artists weave complex knots that you might see     9     (sell) as souvenirs that you can take back with you. If you have time, why not try your hand at it? Perhaps these age-old charms can add     10     touch of good luck to your daily life?

In the gentle winter sunlight, Gulangyu Island lies like a pearl in the ocean, quietly revealing     1     (it) unique charm. This small island is a witness     2     history. Every brick seems to tell stories of the past.     3     (original) named “Yuanshazhou” and also known as “Yuanzhouzi”, it     4     (refer) to as “Wulongyu” during the Southern Song Dynasty. Later, due to the sound resembling a drum, it was renamed “Gulangyu.” Famous for its natural landscapes and cultural heritage, Gulangyu boasts     5     (attraction) such as Sunlight Rock, Shuzhuang Garden, and more. Figures like Ba Jin and Lin Yutang found inspiration here,     6     (enrich) the island’s intellectual heritage.

During the winter, life here seems to slow down. In the early morning, it’s preferable to walk through the alleys     7     (surround) by European-style buildings. Breathing in the air filled with the smell of the sea     8     (bring) an extraordinary sense of freshness and joy.     9     walk to Sunlight Rock on the island offers a view of the entire city of Xiamen. In the afternoon, one can enjoy a rich cup of coffee in a café by the sea,     10     feels like being in a moving painting with the occasional fishing boat passing by. As the sun sets, the entire island is enveloped in a golden sunset. At this moment, Gulangyu becomes even more gentle and romantic.

In Shanxi Province, there is a tradition of taking afternoon naps, which means people take a short rest in the middle of the day. You can see people of all ages, men or women     1    (take)their naps. To them, it’s a peaceful and quiet time     2    the busy streets become empty and still.

Taking an afternoon nap is a tradition that     3    (be)around for a long time in Shanxi. It has been passed down from generation     4     generation. Parents teach their children the     5    (important)of rest and encourage them to do it. Through naps, they hope the young ones can learn to take care of     6    (they)and enjoy a quick break from a busy day.

Actually, the tradition of afternoon naps     7    (believe)to have many benefits. It helps people feel     8    (great)refreshed for the rest of the day. It also gives their bodies and minds a chance to relax and recover from all the activities in the morning.

So, if you ever visit Shanxi, don’t be     9    (surprise)if you see people taking naps in the early afternoon. And when you feel tired during the day, try finding somewhere comfortable and taking a good afternoon nap. Who knows, a little shut-eye might make     10    difference in making you feel great and your day even better!

This year’s winter has proven an important season for Harbin, the capital city of Heilongjiang province, as interest     1     the icy destination greatly increased after social media posts showed many citizens from the     2     (warm) south flooding into the snowy city. It     3     (welcome) nearly 3.05 million visitors, taking in $832.39 million of tourism revenue (收入), during the three-day New Year holiday.

To facilitate the consumption of Harbin’s popular frozen pears, the city has even introduced frozen pear plates, making     4     easier for tourists to enjoy the delicacy. Moreover,     5     (attract) more tourists and improve overall services, Harbin has rolled out a     6     (vary) of activities, including live performances on New Year’s Eve, firework displays, theme parks, intangible heritage culture shows and concerts. A series of     7     (measure) have also been introduced to enhance the visitor experience in Harbin, covering areas such as dining, accommodation, travel, shopping and entertainment.

It is these careful and considerate details     8     make sure that tourists feel warmly embraced, cared for and respected. Consequently, their positive experiences are     9     (wide) shared on the internet,     10     (contribute) to Harbin’s “internet celebrity” city status.

Runner’s World Challenge

It’s hard to imagine a more inspirational place for a marathon or half marathon than Marrakech in Morocco. With one of the fastest     1     (route) in the world, this is a race not to be missed. You can be there     2    (run) and explore the city on this great Runner’s World holiday.

We’ve teamed up with Intrepid Travel,     3     leading expert in small group holidays to the world’s most fascinating destination, to bring you a unique eight-day travel plan from January 24th to 31st, during     4     you will explore the ancient sites of Morocoo and take part in the 31st edition of the thrilling International Marathon of Marrakech.

You will join expert guides and also feed     5     (you) soul and stomach on a foodie tour of the market of Marrakech     6     the open air, visit a vineyard, and spend time in the walled city of Essaouira, all in the company of other Runner’s World readers. After the race, you     7     (enjoy) a hammam (土耳其蒸气浴室) treatment and a relaxing massage (按摩) to help you regain energy. However,     8     (race) the Marrakech Marathon’s flat route, along narrow roads lined with palm trees, through lush orange and olive woods and past the 12th-centuty red-tinged city walls is     9     (real) the most attractive. You will remember this     10    (impress) adventure for a lifetime and form friendships that will last just as long.

People have been applying silk, known as si in Chinese, into fabrics for 5,000 years. The     1     (produce) of silk involves the growing of mulberry trees (桑树) and raising of silkworms. It remains a     2     (tradition) practice even today. 

Once upon     3     time, when spring turned to summer, the Grand Canal, a vast waterway system connecting Beijing and Hangzhou, was very busy. Countless boats used the waterway     4     (transport) fabrics. This valuable goods would take two months to reach the capital city,     5     it would be transformed into cool clothes.

Silk has also played a significant role in Chinese interactions     6     the rest of the world. The Silk Road     7     (establish) during the Han Dynasty and promoted the exchange of goods and cultural     8     (practice). Chinese silk was one of the main goods traded, traveling as far as Rome.

In China, fabrics such as ling, luo, chou, and duan represent the improvement of techniques in making textile (纺织品) . Silk is processed     9     (different), which results in silks of different shapes and patterns. Silk combines the beauty of art and technology. It     10     (be) an important carrier of Chinese culture since ancient times and remains so today.