Hangzhou will build a world-class ecological and cultural tourism corridor in connection with Anhui Province’s Huangshan City. Five towns in Hangzhou’s Chun’an County and five towns in Huangshan’s Shexian County    1     (include) according to the prepared plan. In ancient times, they were part of Huizhou region where the Xin’an River runs through. Dating back to the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907), a trail    2    (link) Hangzhou’s Tianmu Mountain and Huangshan’s Yellow Mountain was formed to exchange goods     3     the two regions.

Over the years, Hangzhou and Huangshan     4    (preserve) their unique architecture and local ways of life in old villages, making this area popular with tourists. The villages have resisted the winds of change    5     swept across many other parts of China. In addition to architecture, also, the natural environment is being protected, with sewage(污水)    6    (treat) and new infrastructure being built.

These improvements are attracting more tourists and creating     7     engine for the local economy. Moreover, for those who love hiking, jogging or cycling, the Thousand Islands Lake in Chun’an County is an ideal destination    8     it boasts 1, 078 islands, winding roads and charming villages.

In     9    (add), Hangzhou will also increase forest coverage along the river in partnership with Huangshan, which perfectly matches President Xi Jinping’s concept of “Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets” to highlight a     10    (harmony) relationship between ecological protection and economic development.

3 . Not every architectural landmark is grand in scale, with splendid decorations, or amazing colors. Suzhou Gardens may just be the opposite.

When a group of monks during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) first constructed Lion Grove Garden, they may have just wanted to enjoy a quiet place, hidden away from urban noise, while in the following centuries, this charming garden - most notable for its waterside rockeries resembling the shape of lions—has attracted a constant stream of celebrity guests, who have left a long list of poems, paintings and historical anecdotes (轶事).

In recent years, nine of the best-known classical gardens of Suzhou, including Lion Grove Garden, Humble Administrator’s Garden and Great Wave Pavilion, were registered into the World Heritage List. As UNESCO remarks, “Classical Chinese garden design, which seeks to recreate natural landscapes in miniature (缩略图), is nowhere better illustrated than in the nine gardens, which reflect the profound natural beauty in Chinese culture and inspire people to pursue harmony with the world.”

Nowadays, relevant administrations have been trying to restore the historical landscapes of Suzhou’s classical gardens. Consequently, last year, a new project was launched allowing tourists in small groups to reserve places to enter the garden in the early morning before the regular opening time. Their visit ended with them completing the last step in making a traditional folding fan, adding a poem about the garden on its surface. The experience was also regarded as a way to help people understand the wisdom, elegance and philosophical worldview of the ancient Chinese literati (文人).

The delicate beauty of the gardens still flows via the canals that snake across Suzhou. Hardly felt, their strength in shaping the city’s character seems to last forever.

6 . Fort Smith National Historic Site

At the Fort Smith National Historic Site you can walk where the Mexican-American War and the Civil War soldiers drilled, pause along the Trail of Tears, and stand where justice was served to some of the most horrible outlaws (歹徒) of the Wild West. The park includes:

Trail of Tears Overlook

Walk along the great Arkansas River and enjoy exhibit panels that tell the story of the Five Civilized Tribes that were forcibly remove to Indian Territory. The walking path begins from the parking lot and follows along the Arkansas River to Belle Point.

Belle Point (Site of First Fort Smith)

Established in 1817 at an area overlooking the meeting point of the Arkansas River and the Poteau River, it had been named Belle Point, French for “beautiful place,” by 18th-century French fur trappers. Visitors will enjoy a scenic view of the two rivers and are able to walk the foundation remains of the First Fort Smith.

Commissary (杂货店) (Site of Second Fort Smith)

The oldest building still standing in Fort Smith is the Commissary, the site of the Second Fort Smith. During the Federal Court period, Judge Parker’s private office was located upstairs. Today, you can visit the Commissary as it looked in the 1850s when it supplied the army with food items. You can also see the reconstruction of the Fort Smith Gallows where a surprisingly large number of outlaws met their fate at the end of a rope.

Visitor Center

The Visitor Center is located in the historic barracks (兵营) / courthouse / jail (监狱) building. The barracks was built in 1851 and was changed into a courthouse and jail in 1872. In 1888 a new jail building was built next to it. Here visitors can see Judge Parker’s restored courtroom, the “Hell on the Border” jail, as well as exhibits and videos on the operation of the Federal Court and its impact on Indian Territory.

Price: $10 (Adults 16+), FREE (Ages 0-15), $35 Annual Pass

The Marble Chapels are an absolute must when visiting Patagonia. The stunning caves are located in the middle of General Carrera Lake, which makes them accessible only by boat. The Marble Chapels arc layers of calcium carbonate formations resulting from wind and water slapping the rocks. The best time to visit is in the austral summer, from December to March.

Yosemite National Park, USA

One of California’s crown jewels, Yosemite National Park is an outdoor playground for nature enthusiasts. The protected park is approximately3108 square kilometres, and it features towering sequoias, dramatic waterfalls, beautiful mountain ranges and sheer granite towers. May or June is the best time to see the waterfalls.

Great Barrier Reef, Australia

One of the world’s greatest spectacles also happens to be one of the most vulnerable. Whether you choose to view this global treasure from a helicopter or go diving to enjoy close encounters with tropical fish, it’s hard not to notice the direct impact of climate change. Warmer temperatures have led to amounts of coral bleaching. If the damage continues at the rate, more than 90 percent of the living coral will erode within the next decade.

Blue Grotto, Malta

Malta is known for year-round warm weather, ancient cities, dazzling beaches, and the Blue Grotto: a series of caves that form high arches along the southern coast of the island. On a clear day, you can see the fluorescent colours reflected on the cave. Try to book a boat tour early in the morning when the sea is calm, the sun is bright, and there are fewer crowds.

9 . The Dead Sea might be the most famous saline body in the world, but it’s by no means the only one. Here, we uncover some other salt lakes around the world.

Dead Sea

The most famous of the lot, the Dead Sea—also known as the Salt Sea—is a natural place to start. It’s technically not a sea at all, but a land salt lake. Its waters are mainly drawn from the Jordan River, and the high salinity (盐度) means no life can survive here, so don’t expect any colorful fish. However, much amusement results from the sea’s buoyancy (浮力): Bring some reading material to the waters and lie back—nature will do the rest.

Lake Assal

Surrounded by black volcano rocks, Lake Assal takes the title of being the lowest point in Africa. Vast salt fields mark its edges; the lake has long been at the centre of the area’s salt trade, on which the region’s African locals still rely. Though the area might not be suitable to live in, the waters are rich in minerals and related to health benefits.

Great Salt Lake

The biggest salt lake in the western hemisphere, and the one that gave Salt Lake City its name, the Great Salt Lake finds its home in northern Utah. What makes the lake well-known is not only the lake’s blue and green waters and white-sand beaches, but also Great Salt Lake State Park and Antelope Island State Park, both offering super hiking and biking trails, and great long views.

Don Juan Pond

Don Juan Pond might not win any prizes for its beauty—at four inches deep, it’s little more than a pond, but it is worth visiting. Its salinity content of almost 40 percent   makes it   one   of   the   saltiest   bodies   of   water   on   Earth, meaning it doesn’t freeze even when Antarctic temperatures drop to -50℃. And with suggestions that water in a similar form could exist on Mars, there’s more than one reason for scientists to study this fascinating dry, cold environment.

Jiuzhaigou is officially known as Jiuzhai Valley in English,     1    is a nature reserve in the north of Sichuan Province. It is known as the habitat of giant pandas although it is extremely hard to see a panda in the park and mainly for its many multi-level waterfalls    2    colorful lakes. It    3    (become) a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992.

    4     (lie) 350 km north of Chengdu, Jiuzhai Valley offers    5     (impress) views of lakes, waterfalls, and mountains. The name means “Valley of Nine Villages”, coming from the 9 ancient Tibetan villages that call it home. Its     6    (high) point is 4,700 m above sea level, with the main sightseeing areas between 1,980 m and 3,100 m.

The park is the natural habitat for the giant panda and the Sichuan golden snub-nosed monkey (金丝猴). However, because of the park’s size and    7    number of tourists, the chances    8     (see) them are slim. About 20 pandas reportedly live within the park.

For environmental protection reasons, no personal transport, not even bicycles,     9    (permit) within the park. However, with a bus pass you can take a bus to all of the sites within the park. Every few minutes a bus will come to a site to pick up the    10    (passenger).