Linqing, a city near the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, has developed a unique food culture 【小题1】 combines the characteristics of cuisines from both northern and southern China.

Zhang Xiumei, president of a five-star hotel in Linqing, has been working hard 【小题2】 (protect) and explore the food culture of Linqing, and to present that culture in a Lunar New Year’s Eve dinner, or family reunion dinner.

“The Chinese style and Chinese flavors that have been integrated in the New Year’s Eve dinner will last forever. This is a rich and precious 【小题3】 (culture) heritage our ancestors left to us,” she says. While 【小题4】 (study) the history of the New Year’s Eve dinner in Linqing, Zhang realized 【小题5】 most important things about the dinner were “virtue,” “harmony,” and “reunion.”

Whether it’s a feast 【小题6】 a simple dinner, the dishes 【小题7】 (be) the carrier of the traditional Chinese “virtue” during the New Year’s Eve dinner. The dinner also embodies (体现) “harmony.” This particular meal has a great 【小题8】 (significant) — people’s wishes for family harmony, social harmony, and national prosperity (繁荣).

The New Year’s Eve dinner is also a “reunion” dinner, inspiring family 【小题9】 (member) from across China, or even the world, to reunite, recall the joys of the past, and enjoy the warmth and happiness of the reunion.

Zhang says, “The family reunion dinner is a lyrical poem, 【小题10】 (write) by the Chinese using delicacies (佳肴).”

Shiwan, known for its lifelike ceramic (陶瓷的) sculptures, has won the high reputation of the “Ceramic Capital of Southern China”. Shiwan is a town located in the southwest of the city of Foshan with a 5 ,000-year-long and rich history of ceramic sculptures. Shiwan ceramics were mainly produced 【小题1】response to economic and social needs and were made for both daily use and for art.

Shiwan ceramic sculptures first were uncovered in the cultural relics unearthed in the East Han Tombs of Shiwan, 【小题2】 were continuously developed before the Ming dynasty, 【小题3】(reach) a peak during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Shiwan ceramic sculptures later【小题4】(suffer) a setback during the Republican Period of China. However, after the establishment of the People’s Republic of China, it continued to develop through innovation. Traditional【小题5】(work) of Shiwan pottery featured everyday motifs while those with strong personal styles 【小题6】(consider) unusual.

Made with a unique artistic style, Shiwan pottery tends to be humanistic, regional and national. One of the most remarkable achievements of Shiwan potters is their sculptures. 【小题7】 (produce) of sculptures changed from only religious sculptures to a 【小题8】(wide) variety —   including history, folklore and other popular literary works.

They are popular due to the slightly exaggerated (夸张的) expressions of the sculptures as potters aim 【小题9】 (capture) the unique character of the subject. Nowadays, they are also 【小题10】 popular idea for special gifts and home decorations.

The Lantern Festival, also known as Shangyuan Festival, is observed on January 15th on Chinese lunar calendar. It is the first full moon night in Chinese lunar year, 【小题1】(symbol) harmony, reunion and the coming back of the spring.The Lantern Festival is deemed as a good day for family get-together.

As for the traditions for this festival, just 【小题2】 its name indicates, hanging and looking at lanterns is the main tradition. Lanterns of 【小题3】(vary) of shapes and sizes are displayed on trees, or along river banks. Some are in the shapes of butterflies, birds, flowers, and boats, others 【小题4】(shape) like dragon, fruit and animal symbols of that year.   

Another tradition is solving lantern riddles. Thousands of riddles 【小题5】(hang) on lanterns for people to shoot down and solve. The riddles are usually short, wise, and sometimes humorous. The answer 【小题6】 a riddle can be a Chinese character, a famous person’s name, a place name or a proverb. This tradition is said 【小题7】(become) a popular game with serious staying power even as social development changes other traditions.

Aside from that, the most important thing to do today is to eat sweet dumplings. In northern China, sweet dumplings made of glutinous rice flour are called “Yuanxiao” while in 【小题8】(south) part they are called “Tangyuan”. Typical sweet dumplings are filled with black sesame sauce, sweetened bean paste, or hawthorn and the round shape of it is a symbol of wholeness, completeness and unity.

The lantern festival is an occasion when the families get together and everyone—young, old, rich and poor 【小题9】(have) fun. Making “ Yuanxiao” today is like a game or 【小题10】 activity, so it’s seldom done without a group of friends or family present to help out.