As a centuries-old art form, the popularity of Yingge dance on the streets of London during the Spring Festival was     1     success in terms of traditional Chinese folk art sailing overseas.

Literally     2     (translate) as the “Songs of Heroes” dance, Yingge dance is a 300-year-old folk dance that originated from the Chaoshan area of South China’s Guangdong Province. Dressed in colorful costumes,     3     (energy) performers wave wooden sticks in their hands in orderly formations while dancing to the music.

Based     4     the stories of the 108 Heroes of Liangshan Mountain from the classic novel Outlaw’s of the Marsh, this is a folk art     5     (combine) a variety of forms, from martial arts and Chinese operas to dance.

With its high compatibility (共存) with various art forms and years of inheritance and innovation, this Chaoshan-born dance art has spread to neighboring countries and     6     (region) in the last century.

Yingge dance     7     (bring) to Thailand by Chinese immigrants around a century ago, where it took off     8     expanded to over 10 provinces. For now, this traditional Chinese dance is     9     (wide) known by its inheritance among the younger generations who have     10     (enthusiastic) in practicing kung fu, and trying dragon and lion dances as well as being on the wind of social media.

The Fahai Temple, located at the southern foot of Cuiwei Mountain in the western part of Beijing, houses Ming Dynasty frescoes (湿壁画) dating back nearly 600 years.

The temple, which     1     (build) in 1439 during the time of Zhengtong in Ming Dynasty, is known as one of the three major fresco     2     (site) in China, together with Dunhuang of Gansu province and Yongle Palace in Yuncheng, Shanxi province. These impressive frescoes originating from the royal family were completed by 15artists,     3     used traditional techniques that led to the frescoes with vivid effect.

Despite the brilliance of this Ming Dynasty fresco art, it did not maintain     4     (it) splendor throughout history. With the fall of     5     dynasty, the golden time of the art came to a sudden end.

Today, a brand-new art center has been set up at the foot of the mountain, where visitors can immerse (使沉浸) themselves in a digitalized journey of discovery. “By     6     (employ) modern technology, we can bring the     7     (value) frescoes to life,” says Liu Xiaobo     8     charge of the Fahai Temple Mural Art Center.

    9     (current), the original frescoes are being protected and opened to the public in a controlled manner. Visits are arranged by appointment, with each viewing session limited to about 20 minutes. Visitors can only use cold light sources throughout the visit, allowing the original frescoes     10     (rest) more.

More young people are trying their hand at farming the soil. Guo Lan, 29, works in a vegetable greenhouse on his organic farm     1     (locate) in the suburban district of Hefei, East China’s Anhui province. It is the eighth time this summer that Guo has failed to grow vegetables     2    using chemicals. Despite trying various homemade pest solutions, such as plant ash and mixtures of pepper and alcohol, the vegetable     3     (leaf) were still being eaten by insects. “I will not give up     4     (try),” the 29-year-old accountant-turned-farmer says. He is determined to turn his farm into     5     organic one, cultivating fruits and vegetables with the same flavors as those from his childhood memories.

“Growing tasty and healthy food     6     (be) my dream since I was a teenager. I know     7     challenging it can be, but if you take the soil     8     (serious), I believe it will pay off,” Guo says. He adds that farming is not a business that can make quick money, but for him, it has become an uplifting activity that brings back memories of spending time on the farm with     9     (he) parents as a child. Guo’s passion for organic farming and commitment to producing healthy food will surely inspire more young people to explore     10     (sustain) agriculture.

Festivals hold a special place in our hearts and they     1     (celebrate) all around the world. They bring joy, togetherness, and meaning to our lives. But why do we celebrate them?

Firstly, festivals provide an opportunity for people to come together and strengthen social bonds. Whether they are family gatherings during Thanksgiving     2     community festivities during Chinese New Year, festivals unite us in celebration. They promote harmony among communities,     3     (encourage) a sense of belonging and mutual respect.

Secondly, festivals offer a break from the routine of daily life, allowing us to relax. They provide an escape     4     the stresses and worries of work or school. During festivals, we enjoy delicious food, engage in fun activities, and take part in colorful traditions, all of     5     contribute to our overall well-being.

Additionally, festivals serve as a platform for     6     (culture) exchange and understanding. They offer the opportunity     7     (learn) about different customs, traditions and lifestyles. Through participating in or observing festivals from various cultures, we gain a deeper appreciation for diversity and multiculturalism.

Furthermore, festivals often carry symbolic meanings. For example, the rebirth symbolized by festivals like Easter     8     (reflect) our desire for growth and transformation.     9     (similar), the Chinese Qingming Festival symbolizes people’s longing for their deceased loved ones.

In conclusion, festivals play a vital role in our lives. So, let’s continue to cherish and celebrate these special     10     (occasion) with enthusiasm and gratitude.

Shan Hai Jing (Classic of Mountains and Rivers), the     1     (collect) of ancient texts of 2,000 years old, describes the sacred geography before the Qin Dynasty (221 BC-206 BC) and the many mythical (神话的) creatures living in the Great Wilderness. With the creatures mentioned with few lines, fascinated artists of all time create them in     2     (diversity) forms.

    3     (recent) , at the foot of Mao’er Mountain, in Guilin of Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, jade artist and sculptor Qiu Qijing exhibited his latest work, a mode m sculpture (雕塑) called Zhu Long. Its origin can be found in Shan Hai Jing. It     4     (claim) that Zhulong has no foot but a red body. Apart     5     that, he has a mission to guard mountains.

Qiu sought     6     (create) this dragon of hundreds of meters long using local bamboos. After     7     great deal of work, he made it. He placed the sculpture at the center of his ongoing tour exhibition. A series of Shan Hai Jing sculptures     8     give a vivid profile (形象) to the creatures are on show along the valley of several kilometers,     9     (suit) the surrounding landscapes.

Since 2012, Qiu     10     (devote) himself to creating the mythological animals in Shan Hai Jing. Actually, the touring exhibition in outdoor environments began three years ago.

The Qinglong Temple Fair, serving as an important link connecting Chaozhou communities both domestic and overseas,     1    （be）a significant part of Chaozhou’s traditional culture. Many tourists have an urge     2    （participate）in this event. But if you don’t know the local history, some customs may be beyond your     3    （comprehend）.

The Qinglong Ancient Temple was superior     4     all other local temples in some aspects. It was named after the frequently     5    （see）green snakes wandering near the temple without doing harm to people.

Annually, the Qinglong Temple Fair     6    （hold）from the 13th day to the 28th day of the first lunar month. The festival involves parading the wooden statue,     7     is known as Laoye, through the streets in a celebratory activity. The whole town would eagerly come out to witness the parade,     8    （pray）for favorable weather, family safety and business success.

This year, the parade, with     9     number of participants, started from Qinglong Ancient Temple, passed through various tourist spots and major streets in the city, and then returned to Qinglong Ancient Temple.

This temple fair is a moving museum of intangible cultural heritage. It     10    （genuine）shows Chaoshan people’s attachment to their cultural identity rooted in their hometown and their love for their home country.

Longmen Grottoes

Set on the banks of the Yi River, 12km south of the current Luoyang City, the Longmen Grottoes are ranked first of the Four Great Grotioes in China, together with Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, Yungang Grottoes in Datong and Mount Maiji Grottoes in Tianshui. They were also listed in the World Cultural Heritages and Relics by UNESCO in 2000.

    1     (Locate) between the Xiangshan Mountain and the Longmen Mountain, with the YiRiver flowing below, the Longmen Grottoes are     2     (harmony) with mountains, forests and rivers displaying a peaceful atmosphere. Viewing it at a distance, it looks like     3     natural gate, which gave it the name “Yi Que (the gate of the Yi River)”. According to legend,     4     Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty climbed on Mount Mang north of Luoyang, he was very pleased and ordered the eastern capital     5     (build) here with its palace gate opposite the Yique. Thus, it came to be named, Longmen Gate.

Longmen Gate also houses     6     (rough) 2860 stele inscriptions (碑刻), making     7     a treasure for ancient calligraphy study. In total, more than 100,000 Buddhist statues and niches     8     (carve) into the cliffs by ancient Chinese people ranging from the largest one, the Vairocana Buddha with a     9     (high) of 17.14 meters,     10     the smallest one of 2 centimeters.

Wandering in the Longmen Grottoes, one is amazed by the delicate carving skills, deep Buddhist culture and great art achievements of Chinese people.

Tea is one of the three major drinks in the world,     1    （produce）in more than 60 countries and regions worldwide and enjoyed by over 2 billion people. Huangshan in Anhui province has a long history of tea planting. The recorded history of Huangshan's tea can date back     2     the Tang Dynasty. In 1915, Taiping Houkui and Qimen Black Tea were sent to the Panama World Exposition,     3     they were awarded gold medals. Huangshan city remains     4     key tea-production area in China and Huangshan Mountain in the city is known worldwide for its     5    （impress）scenery. The clouds that ring Huangshan Mountain     6    （believe）to create a natural shelter, blocking sunlight and allowing the tea leaves to produce more nitrogen（氮）which     7    （give）them their unique aroma.

Consequently, the celebrated Huangshan Maofeng, Taiping Houkui and Qimen Black teas from Huangshan have gained worldwide     8    （popular）.     9     they were added to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on Nov 29, 2022, their cultural significance has been further acknowledged. Tea from Huangshan continues to delight and attract the world. In 2022, Huangshan city's tea industry achieved a remarkable output of 45,000 metric tons,     10    （create）4.6 billion yuan（$664.42 million）in revenue（财政收入）.

Mamianqun, also known as Horse-face Skirt, is one of the     1     (representative) of the ancient Chinese style skirt.     2     appeared in the Song Dynasty and grew popularduring the Ming Dynasty. Ever since, it has reserved its     3     (distinction) “horseface” structure and undergone a fascinating evolution.

This traditional skirt is composed of two overlapping panels of fabrics, each of     4     is identical and forms half of the skirt. With four openings, two in the front and two behind, the skirt is well-suited     5     women planning to go horseback riding. Typically, the decorative patterns of mamiangun     6     (divide) into individual and broad embroidery (刺绣) fabric patterns,     7    (carry) unique meanings respectively.

Up to now, Hanfu designers and enthusiasts     8     (develop) more modified andmodern-style mamianqun.     9     (additional), to bring new life to this historical cultural costume, Hanfu enthusiasts have integrated mamiangun with more casual clothes like T-shirts or blouses, presenting     10     more casual look.

Oil paintings, prints, porcelain paintings, watercolor... Art has many different forms. For Lian Yang,     1     real name is Wu Yang, a young painter from Sichuan province, her expression of oriental beauty stands out as unique. She     2    （devote） herself to bringing mineral pigment painting（岩彩画）back to the attention of young people in China since 2018, five years after graduation from the Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing.

Mineral pigment painting dates back     3     over thousands of years ago, originating as the Qiuci murals（龟兹壁画） in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region and the Dunhuang murals in Gansu province.     4    （inspire） by this, Lian Yang created many     5    （artwork） about Bodhisattva, Buddhist scripture and Chinese culture, with lively and unique strokes. Her works gained     6    （popular）quickly, being collected by institutions and individuals globally.

To inject new vitality into traditional art, Yang also     7    （deliberate） made the females look more like modern youngsters.     8    （wear） hanfu, they display both the unique look of ancient murals as well as modern aesthetics.

The video of Lian Yang’s painting process went viral on     9     Internet, gaining over 24 million views. “A young person learning art is free from any constraints. They want to create things they like. This way, art comes from life and out of a box,” said Lian Yang. “We want to encourage more people     10    （create） and collect mineral pigment paintings.”