feudal society life in China in the first half of the 18th century through the rise and fall of a big family. Of the four novels, A Dream of Red Mansions is regarded as an encyclopedia of traditional Chinese culture and represents the peak of classical Chinese novels. All the four novels were adapted for the stage and the screen. Meanwhile, the four novels were translated into many foreign languages, funtioning as a key channel for the Westerners to learn about Chinese culture. 7.
中国书法（calligraphy）是一门独特的艺术，是世界上独一无二的艺术瑰宝。中国书法艺术的形成、发展与汉文字的产生与演进存在着密不可分的关系。汉字在漫长的演变发展过程中，一方面起着交流思想、继承文化的重要作用，另一方面它本身又形成了一种独特的艺术。书法能够通过作品把书法家个人的生活感受、学识、修养、个性等折射出来，所以，通常有“字如其人”的说法。中国书法不仅是中华民族的文化瑰宝，而且在世界文化艺术宝库中独放异彩。
Chinese calligraphy is a unique art and the unique art treasure in the world. The formation and development of the Chinese calligraphy is closely related to the emergence and evolution of Chinese characters. In this long evolutionary process, Chinese characters have not only played an important role in exchanging ideas and transmitting culture but also developed into a unique art form. Calligraphy works well reflect calligraphers’ personal feelings, knowledge, self-cultivation, personality,
and so forth, thus there is an expression that “seeing the calligrapher’s handwriting is like seeing the person”. As one of the treasures of Chinese culture, Chinese calligraphy shines splendidly in the world’s treasure house of culture and art. 8.
中国龙是吉祥的生灵，象征着力量、智慧、好运和掌控风和水的威力。龙被尊崇为雨神，在干旱或水灾发生时，人们会去当地的龙王庙烧香祈求情况的好转。龙对雨水和海浪的控制也和其在12生肖中的地位密切相关。这12种动物的顺序是按各自最活跃的时间点确定的。龙对应于7点至9点，此时最有可能会雾气蒙蒙，而龙却能腾云驾雾。 The Chinese dragon is an auspicious creature, symbolizing strength, wisdom, good luck and power over the elements of wind and water. The dragon was worshiped as the God of Rain, and in times of drought or floods, locals would visit a dragon-king temple and burn incense to pray for more favorable conditions.The dragon's power to control rain and waves is also closely related to its rank in the 12 zodiac animals.The sequence of the 12 animals is determined by the time of a day when each animal is most active.The dragon corresponds to 7 am to 9 am, when it is most likely to be foggy, allowing the dragon to ride atop clouds and mist. 9.
茶之为物，能引导我们进入一个默想人生的世界。采茶必须天气清明
的清早，当山上的空气极为清新，露水的芬芳尚留于叶上时，所采的茶叶方称上品。因此，茶是凡间纯洁的象征，在采制烹煮(infusion)的手续中，都须十分清洁。采摘烘焙(fermenting)，烹煮取饮之时，手上或杯壶中略有油腻不洁，便会使它丧失美味。所以也只有在眼前和心中毫无富丽繁华的景象和念头时，方能真正的享受它。(节选自林语堂《茶与交友》)
There is something in the nature of tea that leads us into a world of quiet contemplation（沉思）of the life.Picked at early dawn on a clear day,when the morning air on mountain top was clear and thin,and the fragrance of dews was still upon the leaves,tea is still associated with the fragrance and refinement of the magic dew in its enjoyment.Tea is then symbolic（象征的）of earthly purity,requiring the most fastidious（严苛的）cleanliness in its preparation.From picking,fermenting（发酵）and preserving to its final infusion（过滤）and drinking,easily upset or spoiled by the slightest contamination（污染）of oily hands or oily cups.Consequently,its enjoyment is appropriate in an atmosphere where all ostentation（虚饰）or suggestion of luxury is banished（驱逐）from one’s eyes and one’s thoughts.（Excerpted from “Tea and Friendship” by Lin Yutang） 10.
胡同即狭窄的街道或巷子，在中国北方的城市很常见，其中又以北京的胡同最为著名。在北京，很多街区是这样形成的：四合院(Chinese
quadrangle)彼此相连形成胡同，进而胡同彼此相连形成街区。胡同是北京文化要素的代表。由于北京悠久的历史和六朝古都的地位，几乎每个胡同都有其轶事趣闻(anecdotes)，一些胡同甚至还与历史事件紧密相关。与紫禁城、颐和园和天坛所代表的宫廷生活和精英文化(elite culture)相比，胡同反应了北京的平民文化。
Hutongs are a type of narrow streets or alleys, commonly associated with northern Chinese cities, most prominently Beijing. In Beijing, many neighborhoods were formed by joining one Chinese quadrangle (siheyuan) to another to form a hutong, and then joining one hutong to another. Hutongs represent an important cultural element of the city of Beijing. Thanks to Beijing’s long history and status as capital for six dynasties, almost every hutong has its anecdotes, and some are even associated with historic events. In contrast to the court life and elite culture represented by the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, and the Temple of Heaven, the hutongs reflect the culture of grassroots Beijingers. 11.
中国文化是世界上最古老的文化之一。这一文化覆盖东亚广袤的地域，各省、市甚至镇之间的风俗传统都差别很大。中国文化的最重要组成部分包括文学、音乐、武术、烹饪、宗教等。中国文化有着悠久的历史，不同时期的文化在历史上有着不同的地位。但大多数社会价值观源自儒家学说和道家学说。中国文化对世界上其他文化的发展有着重
要影响。
Chinese culture is one of the oldest culture in the world. The culture covers a large geographical region in eastern Asia with customs and traditions varying greatly between provinces, cities, and even towns. The key components of Chinese culture include literature, music, martial arts, cuisine, religion, etc. Chinese culture has a long history, and the culture in different times has different positions in history. But most social values are derived from Confucianism and Taoism. Chinese culture has an important influence on the development of other culture in the world. 12.
重视教育和尊敬师长是中国悠久的传统美德。中国的第一部教育学专著《学记》(Record of Learning)提出了“教学为先”的思想。三千年前的周代，国家设立了不同规模不同层次的学校，由官员兼任教师。春秋时期，孔子开办了私学，并提出人无论贵贱都有受教育的权利。对教育的重视决定了教师的地位。中国民间有许多尊师的说法，如“一日为师，终生为父”。现在，中国还把每年的9月10日定为“教师节”。 It is a long-standing traditional virtue to value education and respect teachers in China. The first monograph about education in China, the Record of Learning, brought up the idea of “education is the top priority”. Three thousand years ago, in the Zhou Dynasty, the government set up schools of different scales and levels with officers as teachers. In the Spring and Autumn Period, Confucius even ran private schools with a