The Most Beautiful Cherry Valley

Taihu is located in the south of the Yangtze River Delta. Among the numerous lakes on the north of the Yangtze River, Taihu is the largest. Here, there is a lake island famous for     1     (it) cherry blossoms. Yuantouzhu is a peninsula (半岛)extending into Taihu. It is named after a giant stone     2     comes out of the lake and looks for all the world like a turtle with its head     3     (hold)high. There are more than 30,000 cherry trees and more than 100     4     (variety) planting in Yuantouzhu.     5     mid-March to mid-April every year, it is the best time     6     (enjoy) the beautiful cherry blossoms. Pink clouds of cherry blossoms cover the tree, complemented by the rippling water and flurries of falling cherry flowers. The history of cherry planted in Yuantouzhu can     7     (trace) back to the 1930s. The cherry blossoms on either side of Changchun Bridge were planted at that time. In March 1988, more than 400 Japanese friends came to Yuantouzhu and planted 1,500 cherry trees with the citizens of Wuxi. Since then, more than 10,000 Japanese friends     8     (return) to plant yet more cherry trees.

Yuantouzhu therefore became     9     cherry viewing resort in China, leaving people     10     (forgettable) memory here every year.

Against a backdrop of misty green forests and     1     its buildings on stilts (桩), which are above the River Tuo, Fenghuang is a picturesque place to spend a day or two. Its winding allays, lined with traditional shops and temples, lead to narrow wooden bridges and stepping-stones that cross the river.

Although the town can get extremely busy with continual tour groups,     2     has managed to preserve much of its traditional     3     (architect). Wandering off the main streets allows you to get a sense of     4     it would have been like before the tourists began to visit and taste the local delicacies including bamboo rat, frog and snake.

Fenghuang itself does have a section of rebuilt Ming city walls     5     (run) along its riverbank, but it’s the Miaojiang Great Wall     6     is the main draw here. Built in 1554 during the Ming dynasty defence against the Miao, the wall     7     (destroy) partly by Miao ethnic group and then rebuilt under the Qing rulers, who also     8     (seek) to strengthen their power through the control of China’s southern minorities. Nowadays only a section is     9     (access), but it’s still     10     impressive sight, offering great views of the surrounding countryside.

People from the UK are called “British” which means that the UK is also referred to     1     Britain or Great Britain. People are sometimes confused by     2     these different names mean. Studying the history of Britain will help you solve the puzzle. The United Kingdom has a long and interesting history to explore,     3     can help you understand much more about the country and its traditions. Almost everywhere you go in the UK, you will     4    (surround) by evidence of four different groups of people who took     5     at different times and left behind their influences. Their chief     6    (achieve) included building towns and roads and making changes to legal systems.

There is so much more to learn about the interesting history and culture of the United Kingdom. Studying the history of the country will make your visit much more     7    (enjoy). The capital city London is a great place to start, as it is an ancient port city that has a history     8    (date) all the way back to Roman times. There are     9    (count) historic sites to explore and lots of museums with ancient relics from all over the UK. The UK is     10     fascinating mix of history and modern culture, with both new and old traditions. If you keep your eyes open, you will be surprised to find that you can see both its past and its present.