一、习俗 春节
春节是中国最重要，也是最热闹的古老节日之一。春节象征着团结、兴旺以及对未来寄予新的希望。据记载， 中国人过春节已有四千多年的历史。中国是个多民族的国家，各民族（nationality ）过春节的形式各有不同，但是无论在中国的那个地方，人们都会在春节期间全家团圆，吃年糕(New Year cake)、饺子以及各种丰盛的饭菜。人们张灯结彩，燃放鞭炮，并互相祝福。
The Spring Festival
In China, the Spring Festival is one of the most significant and lively ancient festivals, which symbolizes unity, prosperity and new hopes for the future. It is recorded that the custom of celebrating the Spring Festival has lasted for more than 4,000 years. As a multi-ethnic country, different nationalities in China have various ways of celebrating the Spring Festival. However, wherever in China, people will have a family reunion during the festival, eating New Year cakes, dumplings and various hearty meals, decorating the houses with lanterns and festoons, setting off firecrackers and blessing each others.
二、艺术 京剧脸谱
京剧脸谱（Peking Opera facial makeup ）是具有民族特色的一种特殊的化妆方法。由于每个历史人物或某一种类型的人物都有一种大概的类型，就像唱歌、奏乐都要按照乐谱（music score ）一样，所以称为“脸谱。关于脸谱的来源，一般认为脸谱来自假面具。京剧脸谱是广大戏曲爱好者非常喜爱的一门艺术，国内外都很流行，被大家公认为是中国传统文化的标志之一。
Peking Opera Facial Makeup
Peking Opera facial makeup is a kind of special makeup method with national characteristic. Since every historical figure or a a certain type of person has an approximate style, like singing, playing music accroding to the music score, it’s called “facial makeup”. As to the facial makeup’s origin, it is generally considered that it’s from mask. As one of the favorite arts of the traditonal opera lovers at home and abroad, Peking Opera facial make up has been regarded as one of the symbols of Chinese traditional culture.
三、 历史 汉字
汉语是一种很古老的语言。大量文献记载说明，汉字起源于新时器时代（the Neolithic Age）仰韶文化时期，最早的汉字已有近4,000年的历史。汉字在其漫长的发展中演化出不同的书写形式，例如篆书（seal script）、隶书（official script）、楷书（regular script）和行书(cursive handwriting)。中国书法家笔下的汉字往往以字形的夸张取得艺术效果，例如一些旅游胜地的石刻碑文。
Chinese Characters
Chinese is a very old language. A host of documental records shows that Chinese characters originated in Yangshao Culture Period of the Neolithic Age, and its earliest characters date back to nearly 4,000 years ago. During their long history of development, Chinese characters have evolved into many different script forms, such as seal script, official script, regular script and cursive handwriting. Chinese calligraphers usually render their Chinese characters in a way that is exaggerated in form to yield artistic beauty, such as those in stone inscriptions seen at some tourist resorts.
四、 人文
花木兰
花木兰是中国著名古诗《木兰辞》中描绘的一位替父从军的英雄。因木兰的父亲年事已高，不能经受奔波劳苦，木兰又没有兄长可以代替老父，于是她把自己乔装成男子代父从军。虽然这个故事是否真实不得而知，但是千百年来，花木兰作为孝顺的典范而深受中国人的尊敬。1998年，美国迪士尼公司将花木兰的故事改编成了动画片，受到了全世界的欢迎。
Hua Mulan
Hua Mulan is a heroine who joined the army for her father, according to what is described in a famous Chinese ancient poetry The Ballad of Mulan . Mulan’ father is too old to bear suffering from the bitterness, and she doesn't have an elder brother to go and fight instead of the old father. So Mulan decides to disguise herself as a man to join the army for her father. Hua Mulan has been highly respected as a filial model by the Chinese people for hundreds of years, even though it is unknownn whether the story has any factual basis. In 1998, her story was adapted into an animated cartoon by Disney of the United States, and the cartoon was very popular all over the world.
五、游玩
上海
上海，位于东海之滨，长江出海口处，是中国最大的城市，拥有超过两千万的人口。上海作为旅游胜地以其历史地标，如外滩、城隍庙、现代化的浦东天际线、东方明珠电视塔（Oriental Pearl Tower ）而闻名，并享有新世界文化和设计中心的声誉。如今，上海是中国大陆最大的商业和金融中心，被称为世界增长最快的经济体典范。
Shanghai
Shanghai, located on China’s eastern coast and the mouth of the Yangtze River, is the largest city in China, with a population of over 20 million. The city is a tourist attraction famous for its historical landmarks such as the Bund, City God Temple, the modern Pudong skyline toghter with the Oriental Pearl Tower. Shanghai also enjoys a reputation as a new cosmopolitan center of culture and design. Today, Shanghai is the largest center of commerce and finance in mainland China, and has been described as the showpiece of the world's fastest-growing economy.
六、美食
北京烤鸭
北京烤鸭是北京的招牌菜，它的独到之处在于不仅味道鲜美，而且含有丰富的营养价值，被誉为“天下美味”，驰名中外。北京烤鸭需经过约45分钟的烤制，烤出的鸭子以皮质酥脆（crispy skin）、肉质鲜嫩为特色，这是其受欢迎的最大原因。在众多的北京烤鸭店中最知名的两个是全聚德和便宜坊，这两家烤鸭店都已经有上百年的历史了。
As a specialty of Beijing cuisine, Beijing roast duck is unique in not only delicious taste, but also rich nutritional value. Acclaimed as the “No. 1 Delicacy under Heaven”, it has won fame both at home and abroad. It takes about 45 minutes to roast a duck. The roasted duck is characterized by crispy skin and tender meat, which form the biggest reason for its popularity. The most famous brands among popular roast duck restaurants are Quanjude and Bianyifang, both of which have a history of several hundred years.
七、热议
无手机焦虑症 近来，无手机焦虑症（nomophobia ）成为人们讨论的一个热点话题。无手机焦虑症指的是人们对于脱离手机的恐惧。研究发现，很大一部分人在远离手机的时候都会感觉不舒服。据此，专家建议，如果你痴迷于手机，那么你应该试着放下手机，特别是在和家人或者朋友一起出去的时候。持续专注于手机也会给人际关系造成阻碍。
Nomophobia
Recently, nomophobia has become a hot topic among people. Nomophobia refers to the fear of being out of mobile phone contact. Surveys have found that a large percentage of people tend to feel uncomfortable when they are away from their phones. In view of the above, experts suggest that if you are obsessed with your cell phone, you should try to put it aside, especially during family time or when you hang out with your friends. Keep focusing on using the mobile phones will cause impairment to interpersonal relationships.
八、流行
电子书 现在人们习惯于使用智能手机（smart phone）、平板电脑（tablet PC）或者专门的电子阅读器来阅读。电子书（E-books ）越来越为人们所接受。电子书是一种数字形式的书，它可以包含文字、
图片或二者兼有。从传统意义上讲，电子书是纸质书的电子化，但其实许多电子书并没有纸质的对应物，电子书已成为一种新型书籍。电子书以数字形式存储，因此人们随时都可以阅读。
E-books
Nowadays people are used to reading on smart phones, tablet PCs, or specialized e-readers. E-book, a kind of book in digital form that may contain texts and images or both, is increasingly gaining ground. Traditionally, it refers to the electronic version of a printed book. However, many e-books actually do not have printed equivalents and have become a new kind of books. With e-books being stored digitally, people can read them at anytime.
九、思索
“光盘”行动 “光盘（Clear your plate ）”行动是一个提倡节约粮食的公益活动。提出该活动的志愿者们建议人们外出就餐时吃光或者把剩饭剩菜打包带回家，从而形成一种勤俭节约（diligence and thrifty） 的社会好风气。如今，随着社会经济的快速发展，人们对节约粮食的号召通常不削一顾。而“光盘”行动显然是在提醒人们：节约粮食仍是需要被奉行的一种美德。“光盘”行动取得了良好的开端，但关键还要持之以恒。
“Clear Your Plate”Campaign “Clear Your Plate”Campaign is a public welfare activity called for saving food. The volunteers who put forward the activity advise people to eat up all the dishes or take the leftovers home while going out for dinners, so as to cultivate the good social morality of diligence and thrifty. Nowadays, with the fast development of social economy, people even do not spare a galance for the call of saving food, while the “clear your plate” campaign is definitely reminding people that saving food is stil a virtue which people need to pursue. “Clear Your Plate ”Campaign goes well at the beginning; however, the most important point lies in perseverance.
十、经济 网络购物 如今很多人都会借助互联网在家里舒舒服服地购物，网络购物已成为人们最喜爱的购物方式之一。对于消费者来说，网络购物不仅方便，选择范围广，价格具有竞争性，而且更容易获取商品信息。对于商家来说，网络提供了更多的客户和更大的市场空间。对于整个市场经济来说，这种新型的购物模式可在更大的范围内、更广的层面上以更高的效率实现资源配置（allocate resources）。
Online Shopping
These days, lots of people can do their shopping in the comfort of their homes with the help of the Internet. Online shopping has become one of people’s favorite ways of shopping. For consumers, online shopping offers not only convenience, broader selection and competitive pricing, but also easier access to goods information. For businesses, the Internet brings in more customers and offers a larger market. For the entire market-oriented economy, this new type of shopping method can allocate resources with greater efficiency on a broader scale in a more extensive dimension.
一、习俗 春节
春节是中国最重要，也是最热闹的古老节日之一。春节象征着团结、兴旺以及对未来寄予新的希望。据记载， 中国人过春节已有四千多年的历史。中国是个多民族的国家，各民族（nationality ）过春节的形式各有不同，但是无论在中国的那个地方，人们都会在春节期间全家团圆，吃年糕(New Year cake)、饺子以及各种丰盛的饭菜。人们张灯结彩，燃放鞭炮，并互相祝福。
The Spring Festival
In China, the Spring Festival is one of the most significant and lively ancient festivals, which symbolizes unity, prosperity and new hopes for the future. It is recorded that the custom of celebrating the Spring Festival has lasted for more than 4,000 years. As a multi-ethnic country, different nationalities in China have various ways of celebrating the Spring Festival. However, wherever in China, people will have a family reunion during the festival, eating New Year cakes, dumplings and various hearty meals, decorating the houses with lanterns and festoons, setting off firecrackers and blessing each others.
二、艺术 京剧脸谱
京剧脸谱（Peking Opera facial makeup ）是具有民族特色的一种特殊的化妆方法。由于每个历史人物或某一种类型的人物都有一种大概的类型，就像唱歌、奏乐都要按照乐谱（music score ）一样，所以称为“脸谱。关于脸谱的来源，一般认为脸谱来自假面具。京剧脸谱是广大戏曲爱好者非常喜爱的一门艺术，国内外都很流行，被大家公认为是中国传统文化的标志之一。
Peking Opera Facial Makeup
Peking Opera facial makeup is a kind of special makeup method with national characteristic. Since every historical figure or a a certain type of person has an approximate style, like singing, playing music accroding to the music score, it’s called “facial makeup”. As to the facial makeup’s origin, it is generally considered that it’s from mask. As one of the favorite arts of the traditonal opera lovers at home and abroad, Peking Opera facial make up has been regarded as one of the symbols of Chinese traditional culture.
三、 历史 汉字
汉语是一种很古老的语言。大量文献记载说明，汉字起源于新时器时代（the Neolithic Age）仰韶文化时期，最早的汉字已有近4,000年的历史。汉字在其漫长的发展中演化出不同的书写形式，例如篆书（seal script）、隶书（official script）、楷书（regular script）和行书(cursive handwriting)。中国书法家笔下的汉字往往以字形的夸张取得艺术效果，例如一些旅游胜地的石刻碑文。
Chinese Characters
Chinese is a very old language. A host of documental records shows that Chinese characters originated in Yangshao Culture Period of the Neolithic Age, and its earliest characters date back to nearly 4,000 years ago. During their long history of development, Chinese characters have evolved into many different script forms, such as seal script, official script, regular script and cursive handwriting. Chinese calligraphers usually render their Chinese characters in a way that is exaggerated in form to yield artistic beauty, such as those in stone inscriptions seen at some tourist resorts.
四、 人文
花木兰
花木兰是中国著名古诗《木兰辞》中描绘的一位替父从军的英雄。因木兰的父亲年事已高，不能经受奔波劳苦，木兰又没有兄长可以代替老父，于是她把自己乔装成男子代父从军。虽然这个故事是否真实不得而知，但是千百年来，花木兰作为孝顺的典范而深受中国人的尊敬。1998年，美国迪士尼公司将花木兰的故事改编成了动画片，受到了全世界的欢迎。
Hua Mulan
Hua Mulan is a heroine who joined the army for her father, according to what is described in a famous Chinese ancient poetry The Ballad of Mulan . Mulan’ father is too old to bear suffering from the bitterness, and she doesn't have an elder brother to go and fight instead of the old father. So Mulan decides to disguise herself as a man to join the army for her father. Hua Mulan has been highly respected as a filial model by the Chinese people for hundreds of years, even though it is unknownn whether the story has any factual basis. In 1998, her story was adapted into an animated cartoon by Disney of the United States, and the cartoon was very popular all over the world.
五、游玩
上海
上海，位于东海之滨，长江出海口处，是中国最大的城市，拥有超过两千万的人口。上海作为旅游胜地以其历史地标，如外滩、城隍庙、现代化的浦东天际线、东方明珠电视塔（Oriental Pearl Tower ）而闻名，并享有新世界文化和设计中心的声誉。如今，上海是中国大陆最大的商业和金融中心，被称为世界增长最快的经济体典范。
Shanghai
Shanghai, located on China’s eastern coast and the mouth of the Yangtze River, is the largest city in China, with a population of over 20 million. The city is a tourist attraction famous for its historical landmarks such as the Bund, City God Temple, the modern Pudong skyline toghter with the Oriental Pearl Tower. Shanghai also enjoys a reputation as a new cosmopolitan center of culture and design. Today, Shanghai is the largest center of commerce and finance in mainland China, and has been described as the showpiece of the world's fastest-growing economy.
六、美食
北京烤鸭
北京烤鸭是北京的招牌菜，它的独到之处在于不仅味道鲜美，而且含有丰富的营养价值，被誉为“天下美味”，驰名中外。北京烤鸭需经过约45分钟的烤制，烤出的鸭子以皮质酥脆（crispy skin）、肉质鲜嫩为特色，这是其受欢迎的最大原因。在众多的北京烤鸭店中最知名的两个是全聚德和便宜坊，这两家烤鸭店都已经有上百年的历史了。
As a specialty of Beijing cuisine, Beijing roast duck is unique in not only delicious taste, but also rich nutritional value. Acclaimed as the “No. 1 Delicacy under Heaven”, it has won fame both at home and abroad. It takes about 45 minutes to roast a duck. The roasted duck is characterized by crispy skin and tender meat, which form the biggest reason for its popularity. The most famous brands among popular roast duck restaurants are Quanjude and Bianyifang, both of which have a history of several hundred years.
七、热议
无手机焦虑症 近来，无手机焦虑症（nomophobia ）成为人们讨论的一个热点话题。无手机焦虑症指的是人们对于脱离手机的恐惧。研究发现，很大一部分人在远离手机的时候都会感觉不舒服。据此，专家建议，如果你痴迷于手机，那么你应该试着放下手机，特别是在和家人或者朋友一起出去的时候。持续专注于手机也会给人际关系造成阻碍。
Nomophobia
Recently, nomophobia has become a hot topic among people. Nomophobia refers to the fear of being out of mobile phone contact. Surveys have found that a large percentage of people tend to feel uncomfortable when they are away from their phones. In view of the above, experts suggest that if you are obsessed with your cell phone, you should try to put it aside, especially during family time or when you hang out with your friends. Keep focusing on using the mobile phones will cause impairment to interpersonal relationships.
八、流行
电子书 现在人们习惯于使用智能手机（smart phone）、平板电脑（tablet PC）或者专门的电子阅读器来阅读。电子书（E-books ）越来越为人们所接受。电子书是一种数字形式的书，它可以包含文字、
图片或二者兼有。从传统意义上讲，电子书是纸质书的电子化，但其实许多电子书并没有纸质的对应物，电子书已成为一种新型书籍。电子书以数字形式存储，因此人们随时都可以阅读。
E-books
Nowadays people are used to reading on smart phones, tablet PCs, or specialized e-readers. E-book, a kind of book in digital form that may contain texts and images or both, is increasingly gaining ground. Traditionally, it refers to the electronic version of a printed book. However, many e-books actually do not have printed equivalents and have become a new kind of books. With e-books being stored digitally, people can read them at anytime.
九、思索
“光盘”行动 “光盘（Clear your plate ）”行动是一个提倡节约粮食的公益活动。提出该活动的志愿者们建议人们外出就餐时吃光或者把剩饭剩菜打包带回家，从而形成一种勤俭节约（diligence and thrifty） 的社会好风气。如今，随着社会经济的快速发展，人们对节约粮食的号召通常不削一顾。而“光盘”行动显然是在提醒人们：节约粮食仍是需要被奉行的一种美德。“光盘”行动取得了良好的开端，但关键还要持之以恒。
“Clear Your Plate”Campaign “Clear Your Plate”Campaign is a public welfare activity called for saving food. The volunteers who put forward the activity advise people to eat up all the dishes or take the leftovers home while going out for dinners, so as to cultivate the good social morality of diligence and thrifty. Nowadays, with the fast development of social economy, people even do not spare a galance for the call of saving food, while the “clear your plate” campaign is definitely reminding people that saving food is stil a virtue which people need to pursue. “Clear Your Plate ”Campaign goes well at the beginning; however, the most important point lies in perseverance.
十、经济 网络购物 如今很多人都会借助互联网在家里舒舒服服地购物，网络购物已成为人们最喜爱的购物方式之一。对于消费者来说，网络购物不仅方便，选择范围广，价格具有竞争性，而且更容易获取商品信息。对于商家来说，网络提供了更多的客户和更大的市场空间。对于整个市场经济来说，这种新型的购物模式可在更大的范围内、更广的层面上以更高的效率实现资源配置（allocate resources）。
Online Shopping
These days, lots of people can do their shopping in the comfort of their homes with the help of the Internet. Online shopping has become one of people’s favorite ways of shopping. For consumers, online shopping offers not only convenience, broader selection and competitive pricing, but also easier access to goods information. For businesses, the Internet brings in more customers and offers a larger market. For the entire market-oriented economy, this new type of shopping method can allocate resources with greater efficiency on a broader scale in a more extensive dimension.