【推荐1】The following are some markets which have become tourist attractions.

Wiener Christkindlmarkt, Austria

Known as Viennese Dream Christmas Market, Wiener Christkindlmarkt, or Rathausplatz, is one of the Austrian capital’s oldest and most traditional attractions. It has a 150-square-meter children’s ice rink (溜冰场). Tree of Hearts, a giant maple tree with hundreds of shinning red hearts, is a hot favorite with visitors to have a picture.

Open time: November 10 — December 26

Basel Christmas Market, Switzerland

Basel Christmas Market is divided into two different sections at Barfusserplatz and Munsterplatz. Family attractions include the Christmas fairy tale tree at Munsterplatz with activities such as gingerbread and candle decorating, a star workshop and a festive train.

Open time: November 23 — December 23

Strasbourg Christmas Market, France

One of Europe’s oldest Christmas markets, Strasbourg began back in 1570, drawing in over two million people every year. Place Klebe is probably its most popular place thanks to the great Christmas tree.

Open time: November 24 — December 24

Brussels Winter Wonders, Belgium

Brussels really comes to life at Christmas time thanks to Winter Wonders, which is more like a festival than a market. A light and sound show, ice skating, and pleasure ground rides are among the activities to enjoy, while visitors can also stare in wonder at the huge Christmas tree set up in Grand Place.

Open time: November 11 — December 31

【推荐3】Where To See Pandas

Dujiangyan Panda Base

Pandas: about 20

Activities: panda viewing, and panda keeper program

Suitable for: those who want a less-crowded panda base or to join in a one-day volunteer program

If you’re looking for close contact with pandas, a panda keeper program is the best choice. It offers the perfect opportunity to see and serve those lovely creatures.

Dujiangyan Panda Base focuses on breeding, wilderness training, and releasing pandas into the wild. Only 1. 5 hours from Chengdu, it is the most easily-accessible panda base offering a panda keeper program.

Wolong Panda Base

Pandas: about 30

Activities: seeing pandas, panda keeper program, hiking in wild panda habitat

Best for: those who take part in a volunteer program in a peaceful environment

Compared with Dujiangyan, Wolong Panda Base is much further away from Chengdu. Thus, it is less frequented by visitors. Besides, Wolong National Nature Reserve is considered to be the real hometown of wild pandas. Hike in Dengsheng Gorge, learn about the habitat of wild giant pandas, and try tracking a wild panda.

Giant Panda Breeding Research Base

Pandas: about 50

Activities: seeing pandas and cubs, watching panda breeding movies

Best for: people who have limited time, and are only interested in seeing pandas. Giant Panda Breeding Research Base is one of the largest panda reserves with 50 giant pandas. It specializes in baby pandas and their care.

September is the best time to see adorable newly-born cubs and naughty year-old panda cubs. Visiting the panda playground in the morning will brighten your trip. You might see them snoozing on tree stumps, gamboling with one another, or crunching on bamboo shoots. . .

Guangzhou Chimelong Safari Park

Activities: seeing pandas, 1-hour Little Panda Keeper Program

Best for: families with kids, foreigners in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong

Chimelong Safari Park is considered to be the largest wildlife theme park in China. The only visitable panda triplets are the stars there. During your visit, you can have meals at a panda-themed canteen where pandas play next to the windows.

Kids over 5 years old have the chance to join in a 1-hour Little Panda Keeper Program. They will learn about pandas, make a panda cake, and visit the panda house.

【推荐2】If you ever get sick of polite society and think you’re up for the challenge of living out there, take a look at these four of the world’s most remote communities.

Tristan da Cunha

Tristan da Cunha is officially the most remote inhabited archipelago (群岛) in the world, sitting 1,750 miles from the nearest land in South Africa, with a permanent population of less than 300. The islands were discovered by Portuguese explorer Tristão da Cunha in 1506. Eventually, the islands came under the control of the United Kingdom.

Ascension Island

Ascension Island is found in the South Atlantic Ocean, about 1,000 miles from South Africa in 1501. The island is home to an airfield used by the U.K. and U.S. militaries, both of which greatly contribute to the island’s total population of about 880 people. It is impossible to become a citizen of Ascension Island without an employment contract.

Foula

Foula is only 2.5 miles by 3.5 miles and is home to a mere 31 people. The island’s inhabitants traditionally made their living from fishing, but in recent years tourism and sheep herding have developed as tax contributors.

Easter Island

Easter Island, famed for its iconic stone statues, is also one of the most remote communities in the world. The island is 15.3 miles by 7.6 miles and has at least 4,000 residents. Today many residents make a living catering to the tourists who flock there to explore the nature, history and culture of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

【推荐3】Four of the Washington Monuments in the U.S.

Baltimore, Maryland

This monument was designed in 1815 by American architect Robert Mills, who would later go on to design Washington, D.C.’s monument. Construction began diat same year and was completed by 1829. The monument, an extremely large landmark column, stands 178 feet and 8inches high with 227 steps inside that lead to the structure’s balcony. Climb to the top and you’ll get an impressive view of Charm City.

New York, New York

A monument to George Washington can be found in New York City’s Union Square Park.That sculpture, which shows a seated Washington with his right arm outraised, is the oldest sculpture in the collection of New York City parks. Moneyed citizens of New York started trying to get a sculpture to the first president built in 1851, commissioning (委托) sculptor Henry Kirke Brown, who also did a sculpture of Abraham Lincoln for Prospect Park in Brooklyn. The statue was set up in the park in 1856.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia’s Washington Monument, which shows Washington on a horse at the top of a sculpted fountain, was completed in 1897. The monument reflects how local people wanted Washington’s legacy to be understood at the time: On the top level sits Washington riding a horse,while the next level includes figures during his time, including a Native American man.The bottom level shows plants and animals from the country that Washington helped create.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

This monument, built in 1885, stands near Marquette University. It features a standing Washington, aged 43, dressed as a Continental Army officer holding a sword. Like Philadelphia’s monument, the figures below Washington are symbolic. In this case, a woman and a child look up at him, symbolizing “history or education”.