Biang Biang noodles, originated in Shaanxi Province, are well known for its traditional flavor and a funny name and interesting story.

The Chinese character for Biang is one of the most complex in the Chinese language, 【小题1】 (contain) 42 strokes (笔画) in simplified Chinese, 【小题2】 is far more than most characters.

Unlike other noodles that are named after how they’re made like pulled noodles, story has it that the name dates back to the Qing Dynasty. The noodles had already existed for long but didn’t have a nice name. One day, a hungry scholar, living a poor life, tried his luck for a free meal. 【小题3】 (attract) by the sound of making noodles, he stopped and made 【小题4】 proposal that the noodle shop owner give him free noodles, and in return he would come up 【小题5】 a name for it.

After 【小题6】 (enjoy) his delicious free lunch, the scholar got 【小题7】 (inspire) for the name when the noodle chef slammed the noodles on the counter. The repeated motion gives Biang Biang noodles the character to be thick and chewy (耐嚼).

Despite the fact that the scholar just wanted to give the noodle shop owner his money’s worth, the name he created was 【小题8】 (extreme) difficult. Since then, it 【小题9】 (regard) as one of the top 14 【小题10】 (difficult) characters to write in the entire language. Anyway, the noodle comes down with its super taste and unforgettable name.

Decoration with feathers is a universal phenomenon in human history. In the past, objects 【小题1】 (decorate) with feathers were regarded as fine art works and therefore were 【小题2】 (enormous) prized.

In this subject, Chinese tradition plays a (n) 【小题3】 (replaceable) role. In ancient China, kingfisher (翠鸟) feathers, with blue or violet colors, 【小题4】 (consider) one of the best materials for luxury decoration. These feathers possess 【小题5】 unique quality that allows them to display a remarkable range of colors when hit by light.

Dotting a surface with kingfisher feathers was called diancui, 【小题6】 is a major traditional feather decoration technique in China. Dating back to the Warring States Period, this technique became very popular in the Tang and Song dynasties 【小题7】 reached its height in the Ming and Qing dynasties. It represented an invaluable part of the nation's history and demonstrated the creativity and 【小题8】 (original) of the Chinese people.

The diancui technique was complex, standing out 【小题9】 a shining example of craftsmanship (工匠精神). Craftsman put the feather of a kingfisher on a base metal and adjusted the tiny structure and materials 【小题10】 (obtain) various color effects. This showed a high level of artistic achievement.

Thousands of years ago, the West Lake in Hangzhou was connected to the sea. The Qiantang River, not far away from the West Lake, 【小题1】(enter) the sea in the eastern part of this area. The solid material such as sand, stones and mud carried by the river 【小题2】(eventual) settled at the bottom and blocked the connection between the West Lake and the sea, 【小题3】 (make) it an inland water.

Since the ninth century AD, the breathtaking scenery of the West Lake in all seasons 【小题4】(appear) time and again in poems, stories and legends. 【小题5】 impresses people most is that there are about 630 legends of the West Lake alone. Su Dongpo wrote a poem to praise the West Lake 【小题6】 compared it to Xizi, a Chinese legendary 【小题7】(beautiful). From then on, the West Lake got another elegant name — Xizi Lake.

In 2011, West Lake Cultural Landscape of Hangzhou was included 【小题8】 the World Heritage List. It is now visited by an endless stream of 【小题9】(visitor) from home and abroad. Perhaps some of them will add 【小题10】(they) own stories to West Lake’s wealth of literature.