Stops on a Literary Tour

A sign in the window of the Elephant House indicates it is Harry Potter’s birthplace. Author JK Rowling spent fateful hours completing Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone there-the first book in the series. It’s still a cafe and you can still drop in for a cappuccino and a sandwich, a pizza or a plate of sausage. (https://elephanthouse.biz)

Though the Georgian city of Bath, with its Roman Baths and UNESCO World Heritage status, proudly claims Jane Austen as a favorite resident, Jane was actually unhappy there. Jane was happier in Chawton Cottage, where she published one of her most famous novels-Pride and Prejudice.(https://janeaustens.house)

The most famous writer in the English language- arguably the most famous writer in the world-is better known through his works than through his biographical details. Fans in search of the poet can visit his hometown, Stratford-upon-Avon. (https://www.rsc.org.uk)

If, like the 19th-century Romantic poet William Wordsworth, the sight of a field of golden daffodils(水仙花)has ever cheered your lonely hours，visit Dove Cottage in Grasmere. It was on a walk with Dorothy in the Lake District countryside nearby that he spotted the famous field of nodding flowers that inspired his poem, Lonely as a Cloud, known by most people simply as The Daffodils.(https://wordsworth.org.uk)

Despite difficult times, there is a great spirit of survival and hope for people living in the Bayou State.

Dustin LaFont, whose nonprofit, Front Yard Bikes, supports hundreds of students in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, every year as they ride towards a brighter future. “It’s very important in Cajun(卡津人的)culture to take care of your neighbor.”

Ranked as one of the poorest states in America, Louisiana often bears coastal storms and hurricanes. And on top of sky-high poverty and crime rates, the combining effect has been disastrous for residents-especially for young people. In Baton Rouge, roughly one in every four residents lives in poverty.

“Our kids in South Louisiana grow up knowing they have to be strong from day one,” LaFont said. “You can go from having a house, having a family, and then all of a sudden, it’s gone like a magic. Our mission is to create safe spaces that empower our kids to learn about their inner worth as they learn, grow, and build.”

In 2010, inspired by local kids who gathered in his yard for tips, tools, and bike parts, LaFont formed what neighbors called the “Front Yard Bike Shop.” He later formalized the group as an official nonprofit. Today, Front Yard Bikes is headquartered in a brightly painted building near the community park. Dozens of kids now gather after school in this safe place to ride, play, and help out in the garden. LaFont recently opened a bike repair shop where older students can get certified in mechanics, receive hands-on training and gain employment at the store to help build their resume for future work. The group also takes weekly rides to area businesses and landmarks to learn about the city and its opportunities.

Front Yard Bikes serves nearly 400 young people a year. To date, 50 students have been certified in mechanics, and 2,000 kids have benefited from the program.

Zhang Yufu and some 100 other truck drivers in Yunnan province were given a special assignment on Aug 3, 2021, by the company — to follow a herd of 14 Asian elephants.

Experts said the team’s work marked a significant breakthrough in efforts to guide the animals back to their habitats. Crossing the river meant the herd was heading toward more suitable habitats, which would also help increase stability and security for the animals.

Since the 14 wild Asian elephants left their habitat in 2020 and kept wandering toward the north, they had drawn attention from across China and the world. Authorities in Yunnan had fed the elephants tons of food and used police cars, trucks, diggers and drones to guide the herd away from city areas, and eventually lead them back to their habitat safely.

The Asian elephant is listed as an “endangered” species and is under top-level protection in China. Yunnan is the only habitat for wild Asian elephants in China. By building 11 nature reserves, the population of the Asian elephant in China has risen from 170 in the 1970s to over 300 in 2021, according to the Yunnan provincial forestry and grassland department.

Although climate and a willingness among the elephants to move were key factors in the herd moving toward home, the efforts of scientists and workers also played a major role.

For example, the water flow per second rate of the Yuanjiang River rose greatly in August 2021, compared to May that same year when the herd first crossed it. To avoid danger, the Yuxi headquarters decided to guide the elephants across the Yuanjiang Bridge near National Highway 213. The local government also sent workers to promote safety in areas populated by 73,000 people.

“Although the herd broke away from the designed route a number of times, it finally crossed the bridge, with the safety of humans and the animals secured,” said Yang Yingyong, executive deputy commander of the headquarters.