1 . When it comes to hiking, Greece has something for every kind of walker. The mainland boasts (拥有)well-maintained routes, while on the country’s islands you’ll find ancient paths dating back to Byzantine times connecting sleepy villages with beautiful sandy coves (小海湾). Here’s our pick of Greece’s best hikes.

16 kilometers(10 miles), 4 hours

Hiking the 16-kilometer Samaria Gorge is considered one of Crete’s must-do experiences, which is why you’ll rarely be without company. Nevertheless, there’s an undeniable raw beauty to Samaria, where vertical (垂直的) walls soar up to 500 meters and are just 3.5 meters apart at the narrowest point (150 meters at the broadest).

The hike begins at 1,230 meters at Xyloskalo just south of Omalos and ends in the coastal village of Agia Roumeli. It’s especially scenic in April and May, when wildflowers brighten the route.

8 kilometers(5 miles), 3 to 4 hours

The summit of Mt Ohi (Profitis Ilias; 1,398 m), lesser-visited Evia’s third-highest peak, is crowned by mysterious ancient dragon houses: 7th century BC architecture, made from rocks weighing several tons. From Myli, it’s an 8-kilometer hike to the summit (three to four hours).

It’s possible to stay overnight at the 1,000-meter-high refuge then hike up Mt Ohi to catch the sunrise(30 minutes), which makes for a magical experience. Contact South Evia Tours or Evia Adventure Tours for details.

14 kilometers (9 miles), 3 to 4 hours

This 14-kilometer downhill hike follows a centuries-old pathway from historic Delphi to the ancient port of Kirra, just east of modern Itea on the southern coast of mainland Greece.

The hike starts from the E4 long-distance starting point 100 meters east of the Hotel Acropole. Skirting the village of Crissa, it goes to the gulf (海湾) through Greece’s largest olive garden. After your three-to-four-hour hike, and lunch or a swim, you can return to Delphi by bus (around 2 euros).

5 kilometers(3 miles), 2 hours

An easy, enjoyable 5-kilometer(two-hour)round-trip hike escapes Lindos to reach the so-called Tomb of Kleobolus. Starting alongside Car Park 1 above the main beach, the route ends at a rocky hill topped by a circular tomb actually built during the 2nd century BC, long after Kleobolus ruled Rhodes.

This four-day walking tour will take you on amazing paths through the Andes Mountains on the way to the city of Machu Picchu. After reaching your destination, you     1    (have) a day to explore and be amazed by this ancient city. Especially amazing is the Incas’ dry stone method of     2    (build). Inca builders cut stones to exact sizes so that nothing     3    (need) to hold walls together other than the perfect fit of the stones.

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 enjoyable. The capital city London is a great place to start,     1    it is an ancient port city that has a history dating all the way back to Roman times. There are countless     2    (history) sites to explore, and lots of museums     3    ancient relics from all over the UK. The UK is a fascinating mix of history and modern culture. If you keep your eyes open, you will be surprised to find that you can see both its past and its present.

The Longji Rice Terraces cover tall mountains in Guangxi. They     1     (build) by local people a long time ago. The terraces increased the areas in which people grew rice. The flat terraces can catch the rainwater and prevent the soil from being washed away. With hundreds of waterways     2     connect with each other, rainwater moves down the mountains and into the terraces. These terraces also provide a perfect environment for birds and fish. Today, the Longji Rice Terraces attract thousands of visitors who come     3     (admire) this great wonder.

10 . Rainforests are home to all sorts of medicinal plants, food, birds and animals. Can you believe that a single bush (灌木丛) in the Amazon may have more species of ants than the whole of Britain! About 480 kinds of trees may be found in just one hectare of rainforest.

Rainforests are the lungs (肺) of the planet—storing carbon dioxide (CO₂) and producing oxygen (O2). Rainforests have their own perfect system for ensuring their own living; the tall trees make a canopy (树冠层) of branches and leaves which protect themselves, smaller plants, and the forest animals from heavy rain, serious dry heat from the sun and strong winds.

Amazingly, the trees’ leaves and branches, although close together, never actually touch those of another tree. Scientists think this is the plants’ way to prevent the spread of any tree diseases and make life more difficult for leaf-eating insects like caterpillars. To live in the forest, animals must climb, jump or fly across the gaps. The ground floor of the forest is not all tangled leaves and bushes, like in films, but is actually very clear. It is where dead leaves turn into food for the trees and other forest life.

They are not called rainforests for nothing! Rainforests can produce 75% of their own rain. At least 80 inches of rain a year is normal—and in some areas there may be as much as 430 inches of rain annually. This is real rain—your umbrella may protect you in a shower, but it won’t keep you dry if there is a full rainstorm. In just two hours, streams can rise ten to twenty feet. The humidity (湿气) of large rainforests contributes to the formation of rainclouds that may travel to other countries in need of rain.