1 . Galapagos Islands: Paradise for Animals

A trip to the Galapagos Islands will be the journey of your lifetime. The Islands are a group of 12 volcanic islands and numerous islets and rocks, off the Pacific coast of Ecuador. The area of the islands is 3,086 square miles, consisting of 13 major islands, of which 5 are inhabited. The islands are hilly, rising to a height of 5,000 feet. Even though the Galapagos Islands were formed about 4 to 5 million years ago, volcanoes are still active.

The islands have been known by many different names, including the “Enchanted Islands” because of the way in which the strong and swift currents make navigation difficult. Legend has it that there are sea monsters living on the islands. They control the sea. The islands are also named Giant Land Tortoises for those giant tortoises that live there.

The Island s interesting volcanic geology, as well as its rich plants and animals have been admired and studied by numerous travelers, scientists, and naturelovers. Scientists are still faced with a mystery how such a large diversity of species could develop in a remote location like the Galapagos Islands.

Galapagos has been called “a living museum and showcase of evolution”. The Islands are famous for their unique species, which are not found elsewhere. Best known are the huge tortoise and some species of lizards.The animals on the islands influenced British nature scientist Charles Darwin’ s ideas about evolution. He visited the islands in 1830. It was here that he made the major part of his observation that led to his theories on evolution and The Origin of Species. Many scientists have since carried out research on the islands.

The Galapagos Islands are ideal for adventure activities, whether your favorite adventures are snorkeling, kayaking, hiking or others, the Galapagos has activities for everyone.

2 . The Best US National Parks You’ve Never Heard of

Dry Tortugas National Park

Located 70 miles west of Key West, this group of seven islands is a great destination to enjoy some of Florida’s nature. The islands are composed of coral reefs (珊瑚礁) and sand, and they are famous for the birds and sea life. Tourists can also enjoy Fort Jefferson, which dates back to the 19th century.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Theodore Roosevelt National Park is divided into two units, a northern unit and a southern unit. Between the two sections, this park gives tourists the opportunity to experience some of North Dakota’s unique scenery, including the Badlands, canyons (峡谷) and more. The hiking trails (小径) allow tourists to see some of this country’s natural wonders and amazing wildlife.

Isle Royale National Park

Isle Royale is one of the special parks in the US. The island is only accessible by boat. Once there, you can enjoy the unique wilderness that has been protected in a special way. The island has a beautiful coast that can be explored by boat. You can also explore the island by hiking its many trails. Another unique feature of the island is the ships that have been destroyed at sea.

Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Guadalupe Mountains National Park extends from the low desert to the high mountains. Tourists to this park can enjoy over 80 miles of trails throughout the park, which travel through canyons, woodlands, springs, mountainous wilderness and more. It is also home to the Salt Basin Dunes, which are an amazing windswept landscape.

5 . The Hangzhou Xixi National Wetland Park in East China’s Zhejiang Province, founded in 2005, is the country’s first national wetland park.

Situated in the western part of Hangzhou, Xixi is only 5 kilometers away from the West Lake, a renowned UNESCO World Heritage site in the city.

Water is the soul of Xixi. With an area of 11.5 square kilometers, the park is mostly covered by streams, ponds, lakes and swamps, with six long rivers forming a tangled network of waterways. Nearly 70 percent of the park is water and the length of waterways inside the park surpasses 100 kilometers.

Additionally, about 85 percent of the land in Xixi is covered by plants such as reeds, willows and persimmon(柿子)trees and a variety of wildlife living among them, making Xixi a great platform for animal and bird watching, scientific research and education.

Because of its abundant water resources and species, Xixi Wetland is an important part of Hangzhou’s ecosystem and helps purify water, relieve flooding, regulate the climate and maintain biodiversity. Nestled in an urban area of the city, it is dubbed “the natural purifier of Hangzhou”.

As well as providing a haven for people to enjoy the region’s natural charm, Xixi Wetland is also a cultural treasure trove(宝藏)which has been depicted and extolled by scholars throughout history.

Xixi was a land of idyllic beauty and a place of seclusion(隐居)in the eyes of ancient people. Inspired by the elegance of Xixi, many literati(文人)—including Su Dongpo, Tang Bohu, Dong Qichang and Yu Dafu —created numerous literary works about the place. Some of them are showcased on the inscribed boards and tablets dotted throughout the wetland park.

The Xixi Wetland was not quite so well-known to people until the famous Chinese film director Feng Xiaogang used it as a backdrop for part of his 2008 film If You Are the One, adding the wetland to the list of must-visit tourist attractions in Hangzhou.

Today, the pristine(未开发的)scenery, the rustic(淳朴的)charm of a country lifestyle and the ancient traditions of Xixi lure tourists from around the world.

7 . Beijing and Xi’an 5-Day Itinerary

This itinerary is top recommended if you are the first time to China. It connects the two classic must-visit cities that allow you to learn most about Chinese civilization and late-imperial and modern-era history.

■ Day 1: Beijing (visit the Forbidden City with a hutong walking tour)

■ Day 2: Beijing (go to the Great Wall and learn about the sacrificial culture in the Temple of Heaven)

■ Day 3: Beijing (visit the famous royal garden — the Summer Palace, and take & bullet train to Xi’an)

■ Day 4: Xi’an (the Terracotta Army with a hands-on terracotta-warrior-making experience and a walking/biking experience on the City Wall)

■ Day 5: Xi’an (visit a famous pagoda and museum to learn about Chinese history)

In Beijing, discover the imperial past in the Forbidden City, which used to be the home of China’s 24 emperors. Hike on the Great Wall to see the watchtowers and majestic natural mountain views.

Stroll around old hutongs, where you could catch a glimpse of the traditional daily lifestyle of Beijing’s local people.

For a more in-depth travel experience, you could visit a local family’s home and learn some Chinese culture and philosophy of living.

The famous Terracotta Warriors is the must-visit attraction. The highlight of the visit would be a hands-on experience of making your own clay warriors. You would learn more about the making, preservation, and story behind the Terracotta Warriors.

Walk on the 600-year-old Ancient City Wall and catch a full view of the city. If time permits, the sunset time would be the best for a stunning view. For learning about Chinese history, Shannxi History Museum and Big Wild Goose Pagoda are worth visiting.

All our tours can be adjusted based on your needs. Just contact us at https://www.chinahighlights.com/travel guide/.

9 . Libraries are places to preserve cultural heritage, develop information resources and carry out social education. Let’s look at some of the most beautiful libraries in the world.

The library is one of the most beautiful libraries in the world. Opened in 2011, this library is an important site for concerts, theatrical performances and film screenings. The design of the library is unique. The building is supported by 27 laminated (层压的) wood arches that hold the roof up.

The library is one of the largest and most important libraries in Italy. It preserves one of the most important collections of Greek, Latin and Asian manuscripts (手稿) in the entire world. Some of them are the most precious pieces. The library specializes in Venetian history and classic philology. Its collection of antique maps is also very significant.

Thanks to a recent restoration, a station that was once in ruins underwent an architectural change. The library might seem unremarkable from the outside, but the innovative project and its division into a train station, public library and cultural center have certainly made this building worth a visit.

The library is the main source of literary archives (档案), ancient manuscripts and rare books at Yale University, and it’s visited by students and researchers from around the world. Completed in 1963, the library is home to the Bollingen Prize for Poetry which is awarded biennially, and the Windham-Campbell Prizes which are awarded annually for fiction, literary essays, poetry, and theater.