A journey enriched with cuisine and culture

As reported by China Tourism News, the combination of culture and tourism has inspired several cities in China to explore their cooking heritage while transforming food tours into cultural experiences.

Recently the sharp increase in popularity of Zibo barbecue is a clear proof to this effort. Zibo, 【小题1】 (locate) in East China’s Shandong province, was not 【小题2】 (wide) known as a tourist destination. However, over the past three months, the industrial. city’s delicious barbecue 【小题3】 (gain) large popularity and attracted a massive arrival of visitors who have turned it into a tourist hot spot.

“I never expected Zibo barbecue 【小题4】 (become) so popular all of a sudden!” said Zhang Linlin, deputy director of the business management department at Shandong College of Tourism and Hospitality. “With the recent much publicity, many of my young colleagues have rushed to try 【小题5】 out. They all praised its great taste and reasonable price. “

Zhang is researching the Zibo barbecue craze to identify sustainable strategies 【小题6】 can promote youth tourism and support the recovery of the tourism industry.

China boasts a diverse range of cuisine, and 【小题7】 (region) throughout the country have been actively exploring the potential of food as a catalyst (催化剂) for tourism growth.

Food plays a vital role in driving tourism spending and 【小题8】 (win) a traveler’s heart. Wu Liyun, an associate professor at the China Academy of Culture and Tourism of Beijing International Studies University, illustrated this point by reflecting 【小题9】 her own experience: “The attractive skewers (烤肉串) of Dujiangyan, the tasty Yimeng stir-fried chicken of Linyi and the pleasant grilled oysters (蚝) of Guangzhou were not only among the most memorable and important components of my plans, but they were the 【小题10】 (great) motivators for me to return,” Wu said.

Gift giving has been a long tradition that dates back thousands of years as far back as man can remember. As human beings, we are social creatures who enjoy each other’s company and expressing【小题1】(we)feelings through the giving of gifts.

The giving of gifts may be one of the oldest of human 【小题2】(activity)that predates civilization and may date back 【小题3】the origin of our species. Even in primitive cavemen culture, the giving of gifts was 【小题4】(fair) common as it was used to show love and affection towards one another. The presenting of gifts was also inferred as a status symbol when leaders of tribes(部落)would show their【小题5】(appreciate)for the contributions of those who were part of an important achievement. Whether it was an unusually shaped rock, a tooth from an animal, the bark from a tree【小题6】some other item that was natural in origin, the giving of gifts had been certainly common behavior long before an advanced civilization came into being.

Today, gift giving is spread across all cultures around the world. Gifts 【小题7】(give)to family members, friends, those we work with and even neighbors who receive gifts of all different types. The psychology of 【小题8】 gift giving is so rewarding is simple:It allows people【小题9】 (connect). Making connections with people around us gives us a sense of purpose and feeling of satisfaction. This feeling is one that enlightens the soul and brings out the 【小题10】(good) in us.

The brief outline takes us to the beginning of the twentieth century, 【小题1】 now we’ll have a closer look at Beijing’s housing conditions during that time.

At the beginning of the century, living conditions for the majority of working people in the East Beijing were very basic indeed. Houses were crowded closely together and usually very badly 【小题2】 (build), because there were no regulations. But the poor and   【小题3】 (need) were attracted by the possibility of work, and they had to   【小题4】 (house). It was the   【小题5】 (available) rather than the conditions of the housing that was the major concern.

Few houses had electricity at this time. So other sources of power were used, like coal for the fires   【小题6】 heated perhaps just one room. Of course, the smoke from these contributed a great deal   【小题7】 the air pollution for which Beijing used to be famous. 【小题8】 (luck), Beijing is not like what it used to be. It’s 【小题9】 cleaner than before and we can breathe safely.

A tiny, damp, unhealthy house like this might well be occupied by two full families, possibly including several children, grandparents, aunts and uncles. Can you imagine a big family 【小题10】 (live) in so little room like that?