As the bus drove across Sydney Harbor Bridge, the city’s famous Sydney Opera House     1       （come） into sight. White as a pearl, as if numerous seashells lined the shores, the great building seemed to bloom like a graceful lotus（荷花）. The sky above matched     2    （it） beauty. The iron structure of Sydney Bridge looked like a giant’s arm, embracing the opera house, crowning it the jewel of the sea.

The boat-ride afterwards was     3    （extreme） amazing as well. Plates of food, drinks and various desserts provided a feast fit     4     a king. The boat that transported passengers glided through the water,     5    （send） ribbons of waves and gentle ripples（涟漪） through the sea. The quiet harbor’s mix of hills, houses and beautiful ships gave the air a pleasant harmony.

The University of Sydney was another harbour. It was the place     6     the famous Harry Potter series was shot. The towering ancient buildings, with their fantastic carvings, gave me

    7     magical feeling in the afternoon sun. Their beauty was matched only by the blossoming roses on the ground, making the university quite     8    （enjoy）for studying.

Another     9    （attract） was Bondi Beach. The white sand was made smooth by the waves. The blue sea-line was met with on-going waves, blue water, clear skies and laughing people. I had my slippers     10    （put）on, so I walked down into the shallows to feel the sand and water flow over my feet.

As the bright sun cast my shadow upon the sand, I realized that this unforgettable land had made a deep impression on my heart.

Guilin is considered one of the most beautiful landscapes in the world with its blue rivers, and rolling mountains. It has a rich ethnic tradition that     1     (attract) millions of local and foreign tourists every year and has served as the     2     (culture) center of the region since over 1,000 years ago.

Guilin was at the top of my must-see list last October. I took a boat down the Lijiang River to Yangshuo. I spent roughly four hours on the boat     3     (wind) down the river. The river is so famous for its     4     (beautiful) that it’s even printed on the 20-yuan note. As I watched a water buffalo cool off in the water and fishermen float past on their bamboo rafts, I suddenly felt very far     5     (remove) from the hustle and bustle of Shanghai.

Though every place I visited was beautiful, none was more picturesque     6     Yangshuo. It’s a paradise (天堂) for anyone     7     loves nature and the great outdoors. The mountains were the main reason why I’d traveled to Guilin, so I wanted to make sure I was outside exploring as much as possible and the best way to take it all in was     8     bike.

It was difficult to avoid crowds in Guilin during the October holiday. However, I found once I headed off the beaten track, I     9     (surround) by a sense of peace and calm set against one of     10     (nature) most amazing background.