【推荐1】Among tens of thousands of castles that were created across the world in the last one thousand years, some managed to distinguish themselves by their construction style, location, use, architecture, and involvement in various historical events. Here you can learn more about some of them.

Cité de Carcassonne

Cité de Carcassonne is a castle that was used to not only provide protection to the large garrison(驻防地)which had access to impressive suite of defensive buildings, but also to provide protection to the whole city of Carcassonn. With its 52 towers and 3km of walls, Cite de Carcassonne represents one of the most celebrated castles in France.

Lichtenstein Castle

Lichtenstein Castle is one of the most scenic and beautiful castles in Germany. Created on top of the hill cliff that hosted several medieval castles, this modern work of art was built in the mid-18th century by Duke Wilhelm of Urach and famous architect Carl Alexander Heideloff.

Tower of London

Tower of London is one of the most famous castles of all time. Created during Norman Conquest of England, this military(军事的)building in London was quickly redesigned to be a royal(皇家的)house, and went through rich history that marked it as one of the best-known castles in England.

Heidelberg Castle

As a landmark of the city Heidelberg in Germany, Heidelberg Castle is today considered by historians and architects as one of the most influential castles of the 13th and 14th century Europe. It guided fashion, architecture and engineering for centuries to come, becoming important focus point of countless artists from all around Europe and the World.

【推荐2】With the Forbidden City and Jingshan Park to its east, Zhongnanhai to its south, Beihai Park, also known as Northern Sea Park, is one of the oldest, largest and best-preserved ancient imperial gardenst (皇家花园) in China located in the center of Beijing.

Beihai Park is said to be built according to a traditional Chinese legend. The story is that once upon a time there were three magic mountains called “Penglai”, “Yingzhou” and “Fangzhang”. Gods in those mountains had a kind of medicine which would help humans gain immortality (永生). Consequently, many emperors constantly sought those mountains. I For example, Emperor Qin Shihuang had sent people to look for the magic mountains but they failed. Emperor Wudi, the fifth emperor of the Western Han Dynasty did similar things.

It was believed that different mountain-water combinations in ancient Chinese architecture led to totally different effects. So from then on, almost every emperor during the succeeding dynasties would build a royal garden with one-pool-with-three-hill layout near his palace. Beihai Park was surely built after this traditional style: the water of Beihai with Zhongnanhai is the Taiye Pool; the Jade Flowery Islet, the island of the Circular City and the Xishantai Island represent the three magic mountains.

Actually, Beihai Park was initially built in the Liao Dynasty (916-1125) and was repaired and rebuilt in the following dynasties including Jin, Yuan, Ming and Qing. The large-scale rebuilding in the reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) generally established the present scale and pattern. In 1925, it was first opened to the public, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world every year.

It is enjoyable to walk around the various scenic areas in Beihai Park. There are many places to visit, including the Bai Ta, Five-Dragon Pavilions, Nine-Dragon Wall, Yong’an Temple and so on. There is also a classy restaurant called Fangshan Restaurant where the Empress Cixi once dined.

【推荐3】“If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man,” Ernest Hemingway once wrote, “then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast.” Here are some places Hemingway frequented in Paris.

Harry’s New York Bar

One of the bars Hemingway frequented was Harry’s New York Bar. Sitting on Paris’ Right Bank near the Paris Opera, the bar opened in 1911 and served as a meeting place for foreigners in the city. The bar was originally in New York. Its owner, Tod Sloan, had it shipped across the Atlantic to Paris. The “Harry’s” in the name came from a waiter who bought it from Sloan in 1923. Harry’s is the birthplace of a number of famous drinks, from Paris 75 to Sidecar.

Address: 5 rue Daunou, 75002

Les Deux Magot

It was once the meeting place for famous writers in Paris, including Simone de Beauvoir and Jean-Paul Sartre. Hemingway also frequented the café, and even used it as a setting for his novel The Sun Also Rises.

Address: 6 Saint-Germain-des-Prés, 75006

La Closerie des Lilas

Hemingway wrote most of The Sun Also Rises here. La Closerie des Lilas was also the first place where Hemingway read F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby.

Address: 171 Boulevard du Montparnasse, 75015

Jardin du Luxembourg

When his family ran out of money, Hemingway would sometimes hunt pigeons (鸽子) in Jardin du Luxembourg. Having broken their necks, he would hide them in his son’s clothes. You don’t have to hunt pigeons to explore and experience the natural beauty of the second largest park in Paris, however.

Address: 6 Arrondissement, 75006