What could a poem writer and a movie director share? More than you think! Langston Hughes began writing poems in high school and soon became one of America's greatest writers. Most of his writing is about his experiences as an African American. He wrote poems about people who worked hard through life but still found things to be happy about. He wrote plays and books about justice(正义) for all people, and he wrote kids' books, too. The Sweet and Sour Animal Book is a book of his animal poems. Pictures and photos were used in the book.  "Hold fast to dreams”is a line in a famous Hughes poem. That's exactly what he did throughout his life.

 When Steven Spielberg was in middle school, he wanted to make a film. He had an idea for a movie, but no money. He started a tree-planting business and made his film with the money he earned. Spielberg never stopped making films, even after many film schools refused him. Today he is one of the most popular and important filmmakers in the world. His movies are about people who are adventurous(爱冒险的), brave, kind. His characters often fight for what is good. Some of his films are about his Jewish background, such as Schindler's List. Spielberg once said, “I don't dream that much at night because I dream for a living.”In different ways, both Hughes and Spielberg have encouraged people of all ages to reach for their dreams.

    Tony is from New York. His father has a store there. And his mother is a reporter. He's six years old now and begins to go to school this year. It's very near their shop and his father doesn't drive a car to take him to school. He walks to school early every day. So he's not late for class and his teachers like him.

    It's Tuesday today. Miss White is teaching them to count from one to ten. Tony is studying hard. Soon he can count them. Miss White is happy and asks, "How many people are there in your family, Tony?"

    Tony stands up and begin to count with his fingers, and then says, "Two, Miss White."

    "Who are they?"

    "My father and my mother."

    "Oh?" Miss White is surprised, "Two people in your family?"

    "Because now I'm not at home."

When we build a new house, we often buy something beautiful to decorate it. The painting is always the first thing we want to buy. People from all over the world mostly like western paintings. But as a Chinese, I think Chinese paintings are the best.

Chinese paintings are one of the oldest kinds of paintings in the world. Chinese artists first started painting over two thousand years ago, and painters in China are still using many of the same ways today.

Chinese painters usually paint natural scenes(自然景观), animals or people. We can only see buildings in Chinese paintings when they make up a small part of a natural scene.

There are two kinds of traditional Chinese paintings. The first one is the gongbi style. People need a lot of time to make this style of painting, because they paint everything in great detail(细节). This style often uses a lot of colour. Long ago, most painters in China used the gongbi style.

The second style of Chinese painting is the ink-wash painting(水墨画), Painters usually finish ink-wash paintings very quickly and they may not always have much colour. Ink-wash paintings have fewer details, because the painter is trying to show something with just a few brushstrokes(笔画). Most ink-wash artists do not work as painters. They paint as a hobby. But a good ink-wash artist can still become famous.

It's important for us to keep healthy. Li Ming gives us a good example. Meals was the time when family members got together. But now fast food and quick meals are threatening(威胁) such family get-togethers. Facing such a situation (情况), Li Ming has a good idea. Though his parents often go to work at night, he also eats the healthiest food. He learns to cook himself.

He takes exercise in the morning. He likes sports such as swimming, running and playing basketball. He goes to bed at ten in the evening and gets up at six in the morning. He can take care of himself. He takes a bath every day and washes his hands before meals. When he has meals, he eats all kinds of healthy food such as fish, eggs, vegetables and meat. He also eats much fruits. So he looks strong. Do you want to be a person like him?

Foreign travelers took a photo after practising Tai Chi at the Temple of Heaven on July 9.

The 144-hour visa-free policy(过境免签政策) helps foreigners know the true China. 

You might have heard"city bu city"(city or not city). A foreign blogger said this when he visited the Great Wall. It soon became popular. People now use it to ask if a place has the fashionable feel of a big city. There are many more foreign travelers like him in China. This is partly thanks to China's 144-hour visa-free transit policy. 

A popular policy

The visa-free transit policy means foreigners can visit China without getting a visa. It started in 2013. At first, it only worked in seven big cities. At that time, people could stay for only 72 hours. But now, people can stay in China for up to 144 hours. The policy works in more places now. People from 54 countries enjoy this policy. 

The policy helps draw(吸引)more travelers to China. This year, more foreigners visited China through visa-free policies. 

Seeing the real China

Reporters in the West often write untrue news stories about China. They call China"unsafe and underdeveloped". But now, this policy lets more people sec the real China. 

"This is the whole reason why we decided to come to this country—we wanted to see what it's like for ourselves, "Luke, an Irish travel blogger, said. He thinks Chengdu is really"good, beautiful and modern" .