The Double Ninth Festival, also known as the Chongyang Festival, is a traditional Chinese holiday celebrated     1       the ninth day of the ninth lunar month. This festival holds cultural significance, representing longevity and respect for     2     elderly.

One of the most     3     (wide) accepted stories credits the Han Dynasty poet Cai Yong with the creation of the festival. Legend has it that Cai Yong     4     (trouble) by an evil spirit that took the lives of his family members. On the advice of a sorcerer (术士), he climbed a mountain, carrying dogwood branches, and wore them     5     (avoid) the spirit. From then on, climbing mountains and wearing dogwood     6     (become) customary during the Double Ninth Festival.

It’s a time for family reunions and showing appreciation for the older generation. One popular custom is climbing mountains,     7     (symbolize) the promotion to a higher level of life and health. Another practice is wearing cornel branches or dogwood leaves,     8       are believed to keep away from evil spirits and bring good fortune. Additionally, some     9     (region) have the tradition of drinking chrysanthemum wine, which possesses qualities that benefit the immune system and promote longevity.

The Double Ninth Festival is not only a celebration of the elderly     10     a reminder of the importance of the value of family connections in Chinese culture.

Encouraged by beating drums and spirited cheering from the crowd, paddlers from more than 60 dragon boat teams made a splash at Salford Quays in Greater Manchester, England on the weekend     1    (celebrate) the traditional Chinese Dragon Boa t Festival.

The UK Chinese Dragon Boat Festival this year featured the     2    (participate) of some world-renowned sports clubs, Manchester United FC, Manchester City FC, and Salford Red Devils rugby league club     3    (include), which brought a new level of excitement to the event, and a fusion of sports culture.

This year marks the 10th staging of the UK festival,     4     is said to be one of the largest dragon boat events in Europe and one of     5    (significant) culture and sports highlights in the UK. Since it began in 2012, the competition     6    (organize) by the Xinhua Chinese Association (XCA) in partnership with Salford City Council and the British Dragon Boa t Racing Association.

In addition     7     boat races, this year’s celebration in Manchester featured a variety of cultural performances, including dragon and lion dances, kung fu, and waist drum dances, attracting many curious and interested     8    (passer-by). People also enjoyed zongzi, a type of     9    (stick) rice dumpling that is     10     traditional Chinese treat during Dragon Boat Festival.

As the Beijing Dance Academy celebrates its 70th anniversary this year, the established dance school has announced the first nationwide tour of a selection of standout entries from the 13th edition of “Taoli Cup” National Dancing Education Performance of China. The national event, launched by the academy in 1985,     1     (hold) every three years so far.

The 13th “Taoli Cup” featured 250 programs in     2     (vary) styles, including classical Chinese dance, Chinese folk dance, ballet, and contemporary dance. Apart     3     live performances, the tour is inviting scholars and experts to discuss both the development     4     achievements of dance education over the past 40 years.

Students from 64 schools across 27 cities and provinces participated,     5     (make) it the largest event in the cup’s history. Notably, for the first time, the competition featured contemporary dance,     6     is a relatively new style in China compared to traditional Chinese dance and Chinese folk dance.

For any young student majoring in dance in China, the “Taoli Cup” is a symbol of success and a clear goal     7     (pursue). After winning the competition, many young Chinese dancers have become leading     8     (figure) in the dance world today. They have taken major roles in theater productions and created     9     (they) own works, promoting the development of the dance scene in China by growing a large fan base for the art,     10     (especial) among the young.

The ongoing Huazhao Festival, or Flower Festival, at Yuyuan Garden in Shanghai is offering visitors unique experience of traditional Chinese culture.

Celebrated for over 2,000 years, the festival     1     (hold) in the second month of the lunar calendar in memory of the birthday of the flower goddess. According to ancient     2     (belief), the flower goddess controls human reproduction, and it has become     3     custom to celebrate her birthday to invite prosperity.

Despite     4     (region) differences in celebrating, the Huazhao Festival usually shares a number of features: hanfu, traditional Chinese clothes, flower appreciation and traditional culture.

Running through April 27, the festival at Yuyuan Garden features colorful decorations    5     (base) on flowers and flower fairies. A series of activities is also taking place     6     (help) visitors enjoy in a traditional Chinese culture atmosphere,     7     (include) light shows, performances, markets, parades and interactive events.

According to the festival’s organizers, interest     8     traditional culture has been growing among young people in recent years. Products and activities featuring traditional elements combined with modern designs     9     are called the “new Chinese style”, are becoming     10     (increase) popular. Through special events like the Huazhao celebrations, the organizers aim to promote traditional culture and boost spending at the same time.

Harbin is the capital of Heilongjiang province. Harbin is now a large and open city,     1     (influence) deeply by Russia, Europe, and Japan in     2     (it) culture, architecture, and lifestyle. Harbin is one of the most popular destinations for winter tours,    3    (host) the world’s biggest ice and snow festival.

Harbin     4     (become) world-famous for having the largest ice and snow festival. The opening ceremony is held     5     January 5 every year. Lasting for more than two months, Harbin Ice and Snow international festival is also     6     longest snow festival in the world.     7     (near) all the ice for the festival is cut from the Songhua River in Harbin.

The most popular place is the Harbin Ice and Snow World,     8     is like a frozen Disneyland, and you can see the big ice and snow castles, carto on sculptures and enjoy the biggest     9     (vary) of snow sports and activities in the world.

There are also ice and snow sculptures exhibitions on Sun Island and an ice lantern show in Zhaolin Park.

Harbin has long been a popular winter destination for snow tourism and skiing experiences. If you are skiing lovers, Yabuli Ski Resort and Jihua Ski Resort     10     (recommend).

On 22nd December 2023, the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (联合国大会) witnessed a     1     (history) milestone. Unanimously (一致地), the assembly agreed to declare the Spring Festival a United Nation’s holiday. This decision has been welcomed as a significant recognition of the festival     2     (celebrate) by millions worldwide, particularly within Chinese communities.

The resolution     3     (honor) Chinese New Year as a UN holiday is a mirror     4     (reflect) the cultural diversity and the spirit of the global organization. The UN, through this agreement, has made a strong statement of its commitment to cultures and the acknowledgment of important cultural celebrations     5     (globe). The move is     6     proof of the UN General Assembly’s ability in emphasizing their role in strengthening global unity and respect for all cultures.

Chinese New Year is not only a celebration marked     7     feasts, fireworks, and family reunions but also a rich cultural tradition     8     includes various elements of Chinese philosophy, folklore, and symbolism. By declaring it a UN holiday, the United Nations     9     (promote) its status so far, giving it a global platform and encouraging a deeper appreciation of Chinese culture.

In conclusion, the decision provides an opportunity for the world to learn and understand more about Chinese culture. Moreover, it     10     (far) promotes the principles of peace, respect, and mutual understanding that highlight the mission and vision of the United Nations.

Perhaps the tea ceremony is one of     1     most well-known and crucial components (关键部分) of a Chinese wedding. The couple express great gratitude     2     their parents during the tea ceremony.     3     (traditional) the ceremony often takes place at home, and the way     4     (conduct) it varies depending on the couple’s plan for the day. A red china tea set symbolizing “double     5     (happy)” will be used when the tea is served. A bridesmaid (伴娘) passes the tea cups to the couple,     6     are kneeling (跪) on the floor in front of their parents.

The parents are seated in elegant     7     impressive wooden chairs, usually with arms, and the groom’s parents are served first. After each parent takes a sip of tea, the bride and groom     8     (offer) a red envelope with money or gold jewellery inside, conveying the elders’ best     9     (wish) for them. The couple then serve tea to the paternal uncles and aunts, in order of age, and then to their elder     10     (marry) siblings (兄弟姐妹). After that, this is repeated for the maternal family. Now the tea ceremony is often held at the hotel, where the wedding banquet (筵席) takes place after the wedding ceremony.

A concert     1     (feature ) ancient China's Tang Dynasty poems was held in Philadelphia, on Friday night January 6 to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year.

Echoes of Ancient Tang Poems, the 1.5-hour-long concert attracted more than 2,000audience and brought the Tang Dynasty to life with ancient poems reinterpreted by young international    2     (composer).

    3     concert, presented jointly by Suzhou International Young Artist Festival and the Philadelphia Orchestra, was also held to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the orchestra’s historic 1973 tour of China.

Chinese Consul General in New York Huang Ping,     4     made remarks before the show, said, “The Philadelphia Orchestra     5     (become) one of the most popular foreign orchestras in China since the ensemble’s (乐团) trip to China. The stories between the Philadelphia Orchestra and     6     (it) Chinese partners showed that people to people exchange is a constant driving force for China-U. S. relations.”

    7     (found) in 1900, the orchestra was the first U S orchestra to perform in China Since then, it has     8     (frequent) visited the Asian country, serving     9     a bridge for bilateral cultural, educational and people-to-people exchanges. “The concert was marvelous, ”said Jennifer Lin, a local documentary director told Xinhua after the show. “The poetry was     10     (impress) .The singing was beautiful , and the orchestra was fantastic ”

The Qiang New Year Festival is the most important traditional festival for the Qiang ethnic group     1     (appreciate) nature, celebrate prosperity and show respect for their ancestors. It falls     2     the first day of the tenth lunar month on the Chinese calendar.And several celebrations are held by the Qiang people     3     (live) in Sichuan Province.

The celebration lasts from three to five days. During the festival, Qiang people wear beautiful traditional costumes to celebrate this grand occasion through a range of folk activities such as dragon dance performances, bonfire (篝火) parties, music and shows, ritual sacrifice     4     (ceremony) and other events. In the evening, Qiang women dress up in elegant clothes and accessories to attend a grand occasion around a central bonfire,     5     forms the heart of the celebrations.    6     (inspire) by the passions of the flames and music, dancers circle and sway to the rhythms to create     7     joyous atmosphere.

It is also an occasion for the Qiang ethnic group to celebrate the harvest of the year. A series of rituals are held to show their     8     (harmony) and respectful relationship with nature as well as strengthen the solid bonds within their community.

The festival was listed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2009 due to its     9    (high) valuable cultural significance. From generation to generation, Qiang people     10     (devote) their time to inheriting their own culture and keeping it alive after promising development in recent years.