The Silk Road seems rather familiar to people, but not everyone knows about the Hexi Corridor (河西走廊) and the Qilian Mountains.

The    1    (long) of the Hexi Corridor is about 1,000 kilometers. It’s    2    golden channel in the history of cultural exchange between China and the West. In ancient times, the Silk Road passed through here to Central and West Asia. The Qilian Mountains is the source of some rivers       3    flow in the Hexi Corridor.

    4     (dominate) by the continental highland climate, the Qilian Mountains’ climate is mostly dry and cold with frequent winds. The glaciers (冰川) in the mountains are major water resources of the Hexi Corridor. More than 3,000 glaciers    5    (exist) in the mountain range are equal    6    tens of billions of cubic meters of water. The animals, plants and people along the Hexi Corridor highly depend on the melting water from the Qilian Mountains    7     (survive).

However, due to climate change, glaciers in the Qilian Mountains are decreasing    8     (rapid). As the important source of water, the glaciers’ change is crucial to the region’s    9    (sustain) development. The Qilian Mountain National Park, one of the country’s first pilot national parks,    10     (complete) in 2020 to better protect these areas.

Beijing is a city that straddles(跨越)the divide between the ancient and the modern. It is home     1     more than 3,000 years of fascinating history, and a place     2     fully embraces the fast-paced development of modern life, with high-rise 21st-century architectural wonders standing side by side with cultural relics of the past.

This integration of styles     3     (be) strikingly typical at Zhihua Temple, built in 1444 during the rule of emperor Zhengtong. Though much smaller now than at its peak of 20,000 square meters, the temple is a somewhat     4     (hide) treasure.

    5     (remarkable), the temple museum offers a collection of remains and statues. You might even forget you’re in the 2lst century, if not for the smooth curve of the modern Galaxy Soho building looming over the mythical beasts(神兽)seated on the ridges(屋脊)of the temple roofs.

Yet     6     they belong to completely different     7     (era),   appearances and purposes, they are both equally representative of this city. Seeing the two together is a perfect example of the idea of how respecting our history, while still     8     (look)to the future, can create a truly unique cityscape.

The development of this city, which is carefully designed     9     (protect)the past while embracing the modern world,    10     (mean)there is always something new to discover here, and I could be photographing Beijing for the next 50 years and still not have scratched the surface, which is part of its beauty.

Featuring a winding route, heavily-wooded mountains and red, yellow and blue lines, Liyang No. 1 Road in Liyang City, east China’s Jiangsu Province, is one of the most well-known scenic roads in China.

The 365-kilometer road connects 98 villages, over 220 rural tourist attractions, and seven     1     (surround) counties and cities. Viewing platforms, campgrounds, cafes and other facilities were built along the road to make it a     2     (good) experience for tourists.

Nestled near mountains and Taihu Lake, Liyang     3     (consider) an important hub in the Yangtze River Delta region and boasts a superior ecological environment. But in its hilly northwest,     4     the “Liyang Rural Tourist Highway’s Road to Happiness” is located, the development of tourist resources has lagged behind due to geographical barriers.

Therefore, Liyang No. 1 Road is not only a local landmark, but a gateway     5     (offer) people the chance to experience nature just     6     hopping (跳上) in their car. Visitors can cruise No. 1 Road to Tianmu Lake,     7     national 5A tourist attraction, to enjoy the breathtaking     8     (view).

Liyang No. 1 Road is also called “Rainbow Highway” because of the red, yellow and blue lines     9     (paint) in some sections. It was the first road in China with three colored dividing lines, and has     10     (successful) applied for national intellectual property certification.

Shennongjia is one of the most popular scenic spots in China. It is said to be the place     1     the Emperor Yan once lived. Some visitors hope that they may even encounter the legendary “wild man”. They do not actually see any wild man,       2     they’re attracted by Shennongjia’s natural wonders and rich biodiversity. Shennongjia’s beauty     3     (vary) over the year as nature takes     4     (it) course. Tourists can enjoy flower blossoms in spring, be shaded from the summer heat, appreciate red leaves in   autumn and go skiing in winter.

Official data showed that tourist     5     (visit) to Shennongjia Forestry District reached more than 15.5 million last year. And the forest area aims     6     (increase) that annual figure to over 30 million in the near future. The journey to Shennongjia will take up to five hours from nearby Yichang and Shiyan cities. By July, it’s estimated that Shennongjia will be linked to a newly built high- speed railway,     7     (make) the mountainous region more     8     (access).

    9     Nov. 1 to Dec. 31, tourists can buy a discounted ticket of the six major scenic areas in Shennongjia for 99 yuan, about 40 percent of     10     original price.

Sayram Lake, known as a pearl on the mountain, is the     1     (large) and highest alpine lake in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. The lake lies in a mountain basin in the western part of Tianshan Mountain.     2     is the only way to Ili prefecture.

In ancient China, the lake     3     (call) the “clean sea.” It is also known as the “Atlantic Ocean’s last teardrop,” because it is the farthest place     4     the warm and humid (湿) air current of the Atlantic Ocean reaches.

    5     (locate) 2,073 meters above sea level and measuring 30 kilometers long and 25 kilometers wide, the lake covers     6     area of 460 square kilometers. The main source of the lake is ground water, in addition to some snow and river water. The lake rises     7     3 to 5 centimeters every year. Its area also     8     (continue) to grow.

The water in the lake is clear and peaceful,     9     (attract) flocks of ducks and swans. Flourishing cedar (雪松) trees cover the whole mountain. Herds of horses and sheep graze on the grassland. The lake has become a top     10     (choose) for lovers to take wedding photos and spend their honeymoons.