1、1、元宵节是春节后的第一个重要节日。元宵节的习俗在全国各地不尽相同，其中赏花灯（lanterns exhibits） 、猜灯谜、吃元宵等是几项最常见的民间习俗。据说，吃元宵的习俗起源于汉代，唐宋时期开始盛行。如今，元宵已成为人们的日常饮食之一，在超市一年四季都可以买到。The Yuanxiao Festival is the first important festival after the Spring Festival. Although customs of the festival vary from region to region, the most common ones in
2、clude appreciating lantern exhibits, trying to solve riddles written on lanterns, and eating yuanxiao. It is said that the custom of eating yuanxiao originated from the Han Dynasty and became popular during the Tang and Song periods. Nowadays, yuanxiao has become a food in peoples daily life, which
3、is available in supermarkets all the year round.2、皮影戏（shadow puppetry）是流行于中国的一门古老民间艺术。这种艺术形式产生于两千多年前，到了宋代，皮影戏已十分发达。13 世纪时，皮影戏传到西亚，到了 18 世纪传到世界很多地方。皮影戏是世界上最早由人配音的影画艺术。过去没有电影、电视等现代娱乐，皮影戏成为重要的娱乐形式。Shadow puppetry is an ancient folk art popular among the Chinese people. The art form first appeared 2,000
4、 years ago and by the Song Dynasty it had become highly developed. In the 13th century it was introduced into West Asia, and by the 18th century, it had spread to many parts of the world. Shadow puppetry is the worlds earliest movie art with the accompaniment of human voice. In the past, without fil
5、m, television, or other modern entertainments, shadow puppetry was an important form of entertainment. 3、中医（traditional Chinese medicine, or TCM）历经几千年的发展，形成了一套独特的疗法和理论体系。中医认为人体由阴阳元素(the elements of yin and yang) 组成。如果人体阴阳平衡，人就不会生病。中医强调对整个身体的治疗，目的是调节整个身体的平衡。最近几十年来，中医得到西方人的认可，并日益受到西方人的关注。With thousand
6、s of years development, TCM has formed a unique set of treatments and theories. TCM holds that the human body is made up of the elements of yin and yang. When there is a balance between yin and yang in the body, the person will be free of disease. TCM emphasizes treatment of the whole body with the
7、aim of regulating the balance of the whole body. Over the last few decades, TCM has gained recognition in the West and is attracting increasing attention from the Westerners.4、中华武术（Chinese martial arts）又称功夫，是中国传统文化的重要组成部分。人们习武是出于防身、竞技、娱乐，以及增进身心健康等目的。随着国际文化交流的加深，中华武术越来越受到外国人的喜爱。有不少外国人到中国来学习中国功夫。Chine
8、se martial arts, also known as kungfu, are an important part of traditional Chinese culture. People practice martial arts for a variety of purposes: self-defense, competition, entertainment, as well as mental and physical health. With the increasing international cultural exchanges, Chinese martial
9、arts are becoming more and more popular with foreigners. Many foreigners come to China to learn Chinese kung fu. 5、书法（calligraphy）是中国特有的一种书写艺术，也是世界上独一无二的艺术瑰宝。中国书法艺术的形成和发展与汉字的产生与演变有着密不可分的关系。书法不仅是一种交流方式，也用来表现个人的内心世界。它能很好地反映出书法家的个人感情、知识、个性等等。Calligraphy, Chinas special art of writing, is a unique art t
10、reasure in the world. The formation and development of the Chinese calligraphy is closely related to the emergence and evolution of the Chinese characters. Calligraphy is not only a means of communication, but also a means of expressing a persons inner world. It well reflects the calligraphers perso
11、nal feelings, knowledge, personality, and so forth. 6、说到中国古代的科技文明（civilization） ，人们自然就会想到“四大发明” ，即指南针、火药、造纸术和印刷术。这四种发明是古代先进科技的象征，具有重大的历史意义。它们对中国古代政治、经济、文化的发展产生了巨大的推动作用，也对世界的文明进程产生了巨大影响。Speaking of ancient Chinese civilization in science and technology, people will naturally think of the Four Great I
12、nventions, namely the compass, gunpowder, paper-making and printing. These four inventions are symbols of ancient Chinas advanced science and technology and are of great historical significance. They greatly promoted the development of politics, economy and culture in ancient China and had a tremendous influence on the process of world civilization.
