Traditional arts and crafts are outstanding samples of Chinese     1     (culture) heritage. China Daily is running the series     2     (show) how master artisans (工匠) are using dedication and innovation to add new life into these age-old heritages.

Zou Yingzi,     3     expert of Su embroidery (刺绣) which originates     4     the garden city of Suzhou in Jiangsu province once     5     (work) more than one year on a large piece of Su embroidery. She says “Only when I take the needle out and touch the silk thread, I feel     6     (full) comfortable.” Just the day before the interview, A piece     7     (measure) around half a meter can take her one year and a half to complete. In fact, from Zou’s mother to her grandmothers, all the women in her family are good at needlework, particularly Su embroidery,     8     features complex stitches (针脚) and the creative use of silk threads     9     (dye) in various colors.

Thanks to     10     (skill) embroiderers (刺绣工), these elegant arts and crafts can evolve to fit modern Chinese lifestyles.

On: streets of Chinese cities, young people can     1     (increasing) be seen wearing clothing with “neo-Chinese elements”. This style featuring traditional Chinese elements such as qipao or hanfu     2     (combine) with modern designs has a sharp re in popularity among. younger generations, who have more confidence than ever in traditional Chinese culture.

With its harmonious combination of urban and casual style, exquisite (精致的) detailing and traditional charm, the “new Chinese style” of clothing, suitable for all occasions,     3     (meet) modem aesthetic (审美的, 美学的) demands successfully in recent years.

On China’s lifestyle-focused social media platform Xiaohongshu, a search for “new Chinese style of clothing” could produce over 2 million results, with the most popular     4     (receive) 150, 000, “likes’. During the past Spring Festival shopping festival from January 13     5     28, the sales, of the new Chinese clothing style increased more than 21-fold compared with the same period last year, with most     6     (buyer) being young people.

Analysts say     7     rise of the new Chinese style is in line with the Generation Z’s aesthetic. More youths are willing     8     (express) their individuality with traditional culture, reflecting their cultural confidence and cultural identity. Their     9     (fascinate) and love for traditional Chinese culture have made “China-Chic” a growing trend     10     has gone global.

At noon, the Tongxin Cafeteria near the Jing'an Temple downtown has a line that demonstrates its multi-generational     1     （popular）. The menu,     2     over 60 dishes served daily, caters to (迎合) all kinds of tastes.

“     3     （compare）with food ordered for lunch online, this place is much better,” said Chen Luo,     4     accountant from a nearby office building. Chen, who lives alone, formerly depended     5     （heavy）on delivered meals ordered online until her parents raised concerns about the nutritional value. The nearby community canteen is a perfect solution.

Originally, these cafeterias, once known as “senior canteens”,     6     （establish）to provide healthy meals at     7     （afford）prices to older folks who might not be getting enough nutrition at home. From 2019 to 2021, the Shanghai government set a goal of building 200 new community canteens,     8     （bring）the total at the end of last year to 1, 608.

The manager of a local community canteen, said the prices of the dishes were 20 percent     9     （low）than current market rates because of the government assistance.

So popular have some community cafeterias become     10     they appear on WeChat and other lifestyle sharing platforms.

A total of 99 traditional culture enthusiasts, mostly in their 20s and 30s,     1     (gather) at the television show Yellow River Culture Competition, where they provided a youthful interpretation of the     2     (country) “mother river”, according to a meeting recently     3     (hold) in Beijing.

Initiated by Shandong Radio and Television Station in     4     (associate) with eight other provinces and regions along the banks of the Yellow River, the show adopted multiple formats to combine competitions and performances, such as singing folk songs and     5     (recite) poetry, to promote the history and culture of the civilizations that have thrived (繁荣) along the river for thousands of years.

The show invited four famous     6     (scholar), namely Kang Zhen, Meng Man, Li Bo and Yang Yu, as guest celebrities, sharing lesser-known knowledge about the historic moments     7     have been part of Yellow River’s cultures.

Meng Man, a professor at the Minzu University of China, quoted some of     8     most famous poems featuring the Yellow River in ancient China. “The Yellow River is the mother river of the Chinese nation and the     9     (spirit) source of Chinese civilization. Through this program, the audience can not only have a deep understanding     10     the history of the Yellow River, but also take a close look at the happy life of the people living along its banks,” she added.

Horse-face skirt, also known as “horse-faced pleated (有褶的) skirt”, is one of the main skirt     1     (style) of ancient Chinese women. It is not only a kind of clothing, but also a treasure of Chinese culture. Originating in the Song Dynasty (960-1279), the horse-face skirt     2     (grow) popular during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) due to     3     (it) functionality and aesthetic (美学的) style. During the Ming Dynasty, deeply pleated versions of the skirt were     4     (extreme) popular. After the development of the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, the horse-face skirt has gradually become     5     unique dress style.

Today, designers skillfully combine traditional elements with modern design     6     (create) an amazing fashion work, which makes the horse-face skirt shine with new vitality. Wearing a horse-face skirt, as if stepping     7     the time tunnel of thousands of years, we can feel the ancient and mysterious charm. It carries the memory of history     8     conveys the feelings of the nation. In the eyes of experts and fashion industry insiders, traditional Chinese clothing,     9     (represent) by the horse-face skirt, is a significant symbol of Chinese civilization     10     has influenced western fashion for many years. Let’s enjoy the charm of horse-face skirt together, pass on the elegance of the treasure, and dazzle the world.

Sichuanese is China’s most thrilling regional cuisine. Although it’s most famous for     1     (it) electrifying use of chilies (辣椒) and lip-tingling Sichuan Peppercorns (花椒), the heart of the local style of cooking     2     (lie) in the artful mixing of flavors.

Sichuanese     3     (cook) specialize in combining hot, numbing, sweet, sour, savory and nutty seasonings     4     (create) an astonishing variety of flavors. Some of these are     5     (incredible) hot, some dishes are mildly spicy and some are not hot at all.

While Sichuan pepper is     6     ancient Chinese spice, the chili is a relatively recent import from the Americas. It wasn’t widely cultivated in Sichuan     7     the 19th century but went on to become one of its most indispensable local seasonings.

In Sichuanese dialect, chilies     8     (know) as “sea pepper” (hai jiao) too, a reference to their foreign origins. Locals explain their preference for chilies comes from traditional Chinese medicine,     9     people are advised to eat plenty of “heating foods” to counter the damp of the local climate. People     10     (visit) Sichuan are often asked, “ni pa bu pa la” — “Are you afraid of Chili heat?”

The Lepcha people are a minority group living in parts of India, Nepal, Bhutan, and China. They have a rich and unique culture, and one less-known aspect of their customs     1     (be) their music and dance traditions.

Lepcha music is     2     (primary) oral and performed in a call-and-response fashion. The songs are typically related to themes from nature and Lepcha folktales.

Lepcha dances are a vital part of     3     (they) culture, often performed during festivals and special occasions. One such dance is called the “Ponsum”, performed in a group of eight people. Each dancer carries a bamboo stick,     4     is struck against the ground to the music. This dance is typically performed     5     (celebrate) the end of the harvest season.

Another important dance is the “Chaam”, which is performed only by men     6     (wear) beautiful robes and masks. The dance is performed in a circle     7     the sound of drums and other instruments.

Another interesting aspect of Lepcha culture is their     8     (tradition) clothing, still worn by many Lepcha people today. The women wear a brightly colored blouse and a long skirt while the men wear     9     long-sleeved shirt and baggy trousers.

Overall, Lepcha culture has many fascinating traditions and customs, and their music, dance, and clothing are just a few     10     (example) of their unique way of life.

Baiyang Lake, also known as Lake Baiyangdian, is located in the Xiong’an New Area of Baoding. As the largest freshwater lake in North China, it has gained     1     (recognize) as the “Pearl of North China” due to its breathtaking scenery and unique ecological functions. It is referred to     2     the Kidney of North China.

The old Chinese movie “Zhang Ga, the Soldier Boy” is famous for the lake     3     Zhang Ga lived. With the beautiful lotus, flourishing reeds and plenty of fish. Lake Baiyangdian is     4     (precise) like that lake.

    5     (serve) as a crucial waterway, Baiyangdian Lake occupies an import ant location in the ancient basin of the North China Plain. Throughout the Northern Song Dynasty, the imperial court continually     6     (expand) the marshlands, resulting in the formation of a winding “Water Great Wall.” Over time, Baiyangdian Lake     7     (remain) steadfast (不变的) in fulfilling crucial ecological roles from storing floodwater to regulating the climate.

However, the lake almost dried out because of climate change from 1983 to 1988. Local governments launched 26 rehabilitation projects in 2005     8     (restore) and improve Lake Baiyangdian’s ecological environment. Now, the beauty of Lake Baiyangdian resembles the one     9     (describe) in “Zhang Ga, the Soldier Boy”, attracting visitors who hope to take     10     glance at the vivid lotus, flourishing reeds and the clear lake water.