2 . Mexico has more than just beaches. Several Mexican cities have been recognized as forming part of the heritage of humanity and are considered to be of outstanding universal value.

Oaxaca

Oaxaca and the nearby archaeological site Monte Alban have both been recognized by UNESCO. Oaxaca, the capital city of the state of the same name, was founded in 1529 and offers a good example of previous Spanish town planning. Oaxaca is considered one of Mexico’s best foodie destinations. Learn what foods and drinks you should try in Oaxaca.

Guanajuato

As a silver mining town in the past, Guanajuato seems special. The winding streets and small squares give it a more friendly feel than some of the other cities. This is a student town with a vibrant culture and an important cultural festival — the International Cervantino Festival which is held every October.

Puebla

Puebla is one of Mexico’s large cities, but its historical center can easily be explored on foot. It has some special historical structures such as the 16th-century cathedral and some other fine buildings with walls covered in tiles.

Morelia

Morelia, the capital of the state of Michoacán, was originally called Valladolid, but its name was changed in honor of independence hero José María Morelos y Pavón. The Museo del Dulce is a stop you shouldn’t miss in Morelia. Visits to nearby Patzcuaro or the reserves are also recommended on a trip to Morelia.

4 . A bridge is a structure constructed to connect two places without blocking the way beneath it. Below are four famous bridges in the world.

Bridge of Sighs

The Bridge of Sighs is in Venice, Italy, which was designed by Antonio Contino. The bridge’s construction was begun in 1600 and completed in 1603. The bridge was supposed to be the last view for prisoners, who would sigh at the beauty of Venice, before being taken to prison. That is why it is called the Bridge of Sighs.

Tsing Ma Bridge

The bridge is named after the two islands it connects-Ma Wan and Tsing Yi in Hong Kong. It has both a roadway and a railway and is the longest suspension bridge (悬索桥) with two decks. The bridge is 4518 feet long and 676 feet tall, which was designed by Mott MacDonald. The construction was begun in 1992 and completed in 1997.

Tower Bridge

The Tower Bridge is situated in London, which is a combination of the drawbridge (开合桥) and suspension bridge. Designed by Horace Jones and John Wolfe Barry, it was built between 1886 and 1894. The bridge stretches across the River Thames near the Tower of London. The drawbridge is drawn about 1,000 times a year.

Golden Gate Bridge

The Golden Gate Bridge joins the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, whose chief designer was Jbseph Strauss. The bridge has been named the most beautiful and most photographed bridge in the world. It is 8,981 feet long, 746 feet tall and 90 feet wide. Construction of the bridge was begun in 1933 and completed in 1937. In 1987, the bridge was named a California historic landmark.

6 . Best US National Parks for Road Cycling

It is one of the best places for road cycling in national parks. Note that you’ll be meeting this popular road with cars and RVs(野营车), so wearing bright clothing for increased visibility is a good idea.

•When? Summer

•Where to stay? Many Glacier Hotel

Crater Lake with its impressive Rim Drive is one of the best national parks for road cycling. Fed by snow and rain, this is the deepest lake in the USA. This collapsed volcanic peak is one of the most remarkable natural attractions in the country, a must-visit destination for any nature lover.

• When? Summer has the best weather

• Where to stay? Crater Lake Lodge

Theodore Roosevelt National Park consists of three separate units, but the best one for wildlife watching and cycling is the South Unit. Keep your binoculars close and watch for bison and wild horses, sightings of which are almost guaranteed.

• When? For the best weather conditions, visit in summer

• Where to stay? Medora

For cyclists, the park’s most interesting feature is the multi-purpose Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail. This is such an iconic feature in the park that a casual bike ride is a must for any visitor. Consider combining a bike ride with a journey on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. You can bike down the entire trail and simply catch the historic train back up.

• When? Spring and fall are most beautiful

• Where to stay? Stanford House

8 . For thousands of years, Chinese writers have travelled all over the country to take down notes about the geographical conditions of each city. Among them, well-known Chinese geographer and writer Li Daoyuan, in the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534), composed his book, Commentary on the Water Classics, after studying the original literary version, Water Classics. He later expanded the river records to 1, 252 from the original 137.

The book is now being studied again by Professor Li Xiaojie and his team from Fudan University. They have been using drawing software and 3D modelling to recreate the waterway situations on a map based on the book description. So far, they have completed research on four rivers.

“Ancient people knew really well how to apply the power of nature to technical considerations,”Li said, giving the example of Qianjin’e, one of the most famous ancient water conservation projects in Luoyang, Henan. In order to lead the river into the city for irrigation (灌溉) in ancient Luoyang, the officials built a canal branch by separating a northwest-southeast river. However, the canal water wasn't enough to support the citizens in dry seasons. To solve that, on the northern side of the canal branch, the officials built a reservoir (水库) and a channel to lead the water to the canal branch, where the waterways would converge and flow together to the city.

In Commentary on the Water Classics, a total of 2, 800 cities are recorded with details. Still, the process of recreation takes much effort. After doing a lot of text analysis and fieldwork, the team has gradually created the model with 3D modelling software based on repeated deductions (推论).

For Professor Li, the book is not only a record of the natural landscape over 1, 000 years ago, but also a detailed description of humanity and culture and a treasure for today’s reference.

9 . The United States is a large country. From the East Coast to the West Coast it is about 3, 000 miles wide. The Atlantic Ocean is on the East Coast and the Pacific Ocean is on the West Coast. Canada is the country to the north of the United States and Mexico is the country to the south. There are many rivers in the United States. The most important ones are the Mississippi River and the Missouri River in the central part of the country, and the Colorado and Columbia River in west. There are 50 states in the United States today.

The American people are of almost every race in the world. This is because of immigrations from abroad throughout American history. The population is now over two hundred million. English is the common language. The largest city in the United States is New York. It is on New York Bay and at the mouth of the Hudson River.