【推荐2】China now has 52 sites included on the UNESCO World Heritage list, which was established to safeguard unique and irreplaceable cultural and natural sites around the world. Let’s have a look at some of them, which may give you some clues on your next travel plan.

The Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor is located in Lintong county, near Xi’an city, capital of Shaanxi province. A total of 8,000 life-size terracotta warriors, chariots and horses, and hundreds of bronze weapons have been unearthed from it. Many state leaders and experts worldwide believe that the discovery of the mausoleum is a major archeological find and can be called the eighth wonder of the world, paralleling Egypt’s pyramids.

Gulangyu Island, known in the local dialect as Kulangsu, is located on the entry of the Jiulong River, facing the city of Xiamen. The island was occupied by at least a dozen countries, including Great Britain, France and Japan. As a result, Western culture grew rapidly there in the 19th century, especially music. With such a harmonious blend of Western music and Eastern culture, Gulangyu is naturally referred to as the “island of music”. It is famous for its outstanding musicians and musical instruments.

Hoh Xil, which means “beautiful girl” in Mongolian, is located in the north-eastern end of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Hoh Xil National Nature Reserve is China’s largest and the world’s third largest uninhabited area. Because of the high altitude and fierce weather, it is impossible for people to live there, and therefore, it is a paradise for wildlife and home to more than 230 species of wild animals including endangered species such as the Tibetan antelope, which is recognized as the National Class I Protected animal.

Huangshan, known as “the loveliest mountain of China”, lies in the south of Anhui province in eastern China. The scenic area covers 154 sq km, and is famous for its peaks, rocks, pines, clouds and springs. It also has a rich cultural heritage. Xu Xiake, a famous traveler of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), visited Huangshan twice, and described it in a poem, calling it the best of all mountains in China. Today it holds the same fascination for visitors, poets, painters and photographers.

【推荐3】North American Train Routes for a Family Vacation

The Adirondack

Considered one of the top ten scenic train rides in the world, the Adirondack train route travels from New York City’s Penn Station to Montreal, Canada. The 10- hour trip is great for a weekend away in either Montreal or Manhattan. The route will take you past West Point Academy, the Hudson River Valley and fifty miles of Lake Champlain.

The Vermonter

The almost 11-hour trip from Washington. DC to St. Albans. Vermont takes you from the US Capitol, through the beautiful New England states of Connecticut and Massachusetts on the way to Vermont. As you travel through New England towns, you’ll be able to see some of the most beautiful scenery in this area, including rivers, falls and covered bridges.

The Downeaster

The Downeaster was established in 2001 and was expanded in recent years to include service to Freeport and Brunswick. Maine. The short ride (between three and four hours) includes a trip along the beautiful Maine coastline. With five round-trips offered daily, it’s a great way for Massachusetts families to visit Maine for a day or longer. Many of these routes carry volunteers to aid passengers with questions about local attractions and destinations.

The Pennsylvanian

Both New York City and Pittsburgh are great family vacation destinations and the Pennsylvanian route takes you through the beautiful Pennsylvanian landscape between the two major cities. The nine and a half hour trip travels through a variety of different terrains (地形) and stops along the way include Newark, Philadelphia, Harrisburg and Altoona. Connecting train service is available for those looking to travel to Cleveland, Chicago, and Toledo from Pittsburgh.

【推荐2】4 Highly Outstanding Awards in Architecture

Founded in 1979 by the Pritzker family, and funded by their Hyatt Foundation, the Pritzker Architecture Prize aims to honor a living architect or architects whose built work demonstrates a combination of those qualities of talent, vision and commitment, which has produced consistent and significant contributions to humanity and the built environment through the art of architecture. The annual award includes a grant of US $100, 000.

Established in 2016, the Architecture MasterPrize (AMP) was created to honor, celebrate and share the very best projects in the fields of architectural design, interior design, and landscape architecture. Unlike other awards, the AMP is open to submissions from all architects, across the world, whether students just beginning their journey into the discipline or those who have established experts in their field. Split into two categories—professional and student winners—the AMP has very quickly established itself as the home for innovative thinking, promoting new ideas.

Founded in 1834, the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) organizes a number of awards as a part of their program. The latest winner of the RIBA International Prize, Children Village, by Aleph Zero and Rosenbaum of Brazil, demonstrates exactly what the RIBA jury is looking for—a project which fits its environment perfectly, achieving precisely what was needed in the brief but going beyond this, into those rare levels of perfection.

The American Institute of Architects (AIA), founded in 1857, runs more than thirty award programs, with the Gold Medal being the most famous and prestigious. This is awarded annually to an individual, or a pair, whose work has created an influential legacy both practically, and also through architectural theory.