As a truditional Chinese folk art, the Sugar FigureBlowing Art have a long history. But it is graduallydisappearing in the process of economicdevelopment in China. It is said that this folk drt wasformed in the Song Dynasty; at that time it wancalled opera candy. The Sugar Figure Blowing Art uses sugar as its basic material, and theartists have their own ways to boil sugar and blow it into various figures. Artists heat up sugarto proper temperature, then pull some syrup and knead it to a ball. Then they make differentshapes by using different skills and paint bright colors on the figures. This art is really acombination of hand, eye, heart, breath, and the timing of temperature skill.If there is oneskill you couldn’t perform well, the whole procedure will be a failure.

　　香囊(scented sachet)，古代也稱“香袋”，通常是用布縫制或彩色絲線編織的 袋子，里面塞滿香草(aromaticherbs)。香囊最初用來吸汗、驅蟲和避邪。香囊不僅 有用，而且可作裝飾品。它們的形狀和大小各異，有圓形、橢圓形和其他形狀。它 們通常配有精致的圖案，每個圖案都象征著特別的含義。例如，雙魚或成對蝴蝶 圖案象征男女之愛;蓮花或牡丹花(peony flower)等圖案象征女性;松樹和仙鶴 圖案象征長壽;石榴(guava)圖案象征很多孩子。漂亮的香囊不僅是裝飾品，而且 含有豐富的文化和歷史內涵。

　　Scented sachets, also called “fragrant bags” inancient times, are bags usually sewed with cloth orweaved with multicolor silk threads and stuffed witharomatic herbs. The fragrant bags were originallyused for absorbing sweat, repelling insects andwarding off evils. Scented sachets are not only useful, but also ornamental. They come indifferent shapes and sizes, such as round, oval and many others. And they are normallydecorated with elaborate patterns, with each pattern symbolizing a special meaning.Forinstance,a double-fish or double-butterfly pattern smybolizes the love between a man and awoman;patterns like lotus or peony flowers symbolize women;pine and crane patternssymbolize longevity and a guava pattern is the symbol of lots of children.A nice scentedsachet is not just an ornament,but more of something that contains cultural and historicalrichness.

　　長期以來，飲酒(white spirit)在中國人的生活中一直扮演著重要的角色，無論是帝王還是百姓。飲酒是中國文化的一部分。中國人的祖先在作詩、寫散文時喜歡飲酒，在宴會上還會向親戚朋友敬酒。但飲酒不僅屬于文化人，也是普通人生活中不可缺少的一部分。人們在各種場合飲酒，如生日宴會、餞行宴會、婚禮宴會(wedding banquet)等。搬進新房或生意開業時，也會邀請人們來吃飯、飲酒。

　　Drinking white spirit has been taking an importantrole in Chinese people's life from emperors toordinary people for a long time. Drinking white spiritis a part of Chinese culture. Chinese ancestorsenjoyed drinking white spirit while writing poems orproses and they also toasted their relatives and friends at the feast.But drinking white spirit isnot only for scholars，it is also an indispensable part of Chinese ordinary people's life. Peopledrink white spirit on various occasions, such as the birthday party，farewell dinner，weddingbanquet, etc. When someone moves into a new house or starts doing business，he/she willinvite people for dinner and drinking white spirit.