2 . Architects often spend months or even years perfecting a design to express their ideas more clearly, convey additional information, or outline the right proportions for a building. However, the urgent issue of climate change is placing new demands on their work. For example, in July, Super Typhoon Doksuri battered China, affecting more than 2.66 million people in Fujian Province alone.

Green architecture that conserves energy and reduces carbon dioxide emissions offers a solution, and concerted efforts have been made in diverse research fields over the past three decades to minimize heat loss. In addition, new buildings have to be tailored to the needs of people’s lifestyles.

Ren Jun, a professor at Tianjin University’s School of Architecture, who designed the first near-zero energy house in China in December 2019, said, “You can construct low-energy, environmentally-friendly houses, but if the interior design and environmental quality don’t meet residents’ requirements, these properties won’t be suitable to live in.”

The near-zero energy house, located-in Banbidian village in Beijing’s southern district of Daxing, won the International Design Award in the United States in January last year. The 400-square-meter property, which stands at the entrance to the village, runs on solar power gathered from rooftop panels, with the addition of a small amount of power from the grid (电网).

Ren said the first obstacle to conserving energy in the property was heat retention, which he attempted to achieve by keeping the indoor temperature at a certain level. The property is divided into five areas: a solar garden in the front yard, a central lounge, a water courtyard, a sponge zone, and a back room. For the exterior walls, Ren used three types of insulation (隔热层), including plastic foam, each about 25 centimeters thick.

Ren also looked for ways to deal with emissions at the house. He decided to install a ventilator, which pipes air that is polluted and replaces it with fresh air from outside in every room at the property.

Ren said it would take three to five years before more ultralow or near-zero energy buildings appeared in Chinese cities.

3 . My trip to Antarctic (南极洲) fulfilled a personal goal and dream of mine-reaching all seven continents. I’ve had the _______ to travel to some amazing places for work and pleasure throughout my life, but I had yet to _______ Antarctica.

Several months ago, I was ready to book the trip. To get _______, though, I needed a plan. For me, one of the _______ things I wanted to see was the Antarctic _______, which survives in the worst environment on Earth. So I _______ my trip to Antarctica based on the best time to see baby penguins (企鹅).

I am a self-described bookworm (书虫), and this was the perfect trip to relax and _______ new knowledge. I was able to _______ a variety of seals, birds, whales and penguins. A highlight during my _______ was when I got within a couple of feet of a ________ penguin, something that I will never forget. While I didn’t ________ it, this inquisitive creature decided to come to check me out. ________ took over me. It was ________ amazing to see Antarctic wildlife up close and personal. I was also surprised at how the wildlife ________ with me. These were priceless ________ that I was able to make on my Antarctic trip.

On Oct 2, 2023, the fourth day of the Mid-Autumn Festival and the National Day holiday, a rural coffee shop in     1     eastern province of Zhejiang sold more than 7,100 cups of the drink. It broke     2     (it) own record of selling more than 5,100 cups during the Labor Day holiday in May.   

The Dark Blue X Cafe in Hongmiao village, Meixi town, Anji county, was built on the grounds of an     3     (abandon) mine that     4     (be) idle (闲置的) for more than 10 years. The scenery attracts tourists from nearby cities such as Shanghai, Hangzhou, Zhejiang’s capital, and Huzhou, also in Zhejiang.

Described by netizens as an “Iceland-like site in Anji”, the heart-shaped mine shaft (矿井) is 108 meters deep and filled with rainwater, which reflects the deep blue sky.

There are more than 300 coffee shops in Anji, a mountainous county     5     a population of about 580,000 in the north of the province, surpassing Shanghai in terms of per capita cafes. The county was declared by Lonely Planet magazine as “China’s City of Coffee in 2022.”

Local authorities spent a long time planning the transformation of the mine into a new business opportunity. For example, Shen Yongtian, secretary of the local Party branch, made a fact-finding visit to Shanghai’s Zhujiajiao Water Town,     6     the camping industry was growing rapidly.

According to Shen, early last year, a group of college students proposed building a cafe in     7     (cooperate) with the village. Their diligent research and innovative plan set them apart from all other competitors. “Their detailed proposal was rather     8     (persuasion) and convincing,” Shen said.

    9     (promote) rural vitalization (振兴) further, villages in Anji have widely adopted a model called “Two investments and three returns”, in which residents and the village     10     (collective) invest capital and resources, and in return they earn rent, wages and dividends (分红) from operations managed by cooperating companies or entrepreneurial teams.

Lushan National Park, in the south of Jiujiang City, Jiangxi Province, is a well-known tourist attraction both in China and abroad. It has appealed     1     countless visitors on account of its natural views and cultural relics.

The national park covers an area of 500 square kilometers and has more than 90 mountain peaks (山峰). The tallest one of these is Hanyang Peak which has a     2     (high) of 1,473.4 meters. The park-owes its reputation to its     3     (wonder), elegant and impressive highlights such as waterfalls and rocks. There are 12 main scenic areas, together with 37 attractions. The major     4     (spot) include Wulao Feng, Sandie Spring, etc.

Wulao Feng,       5     is located in the southeast of Lushan, is 1,436 meters above sea level. Its five parallel mountain peaks once formed a single one, and standing on the top, you will     6     (reward) with an amazing view of the distant mountains, trees, lakes, and a seemingly endless sky.

Sandie Spring     7     (lie)below Wulao Feng and drops through three rough tiers (层) with a fall of 155 meters. The upper part is like snow     8     (fall) down to the pond; the middle reach wanders and twists, dancing in the air;the lower level looks like a dragon running in the pond. This is thought     9     (be) the best of the Lushan waterfalls. It is said that you are not     10     true visitor here if you miss Sandie Spring.

7 . Northern Ireland’s capital and largest city--Belfast--has become a top tourist destination. Here are a few of the attractions that bring in guests from around the globe.

Botanic Gardens

Belfast Botanic Gardens started out as a private park in 1828 but opened to the public in 1895. Construction on the garden’s famous Palm House, a building of glass and iron, started in the 1830s. A wide variety of plants can be found there, including one that is over 400 years old!

Open: 9:00 am - 4:30 pm. (Closed from Nov. 15th to Feb. 15th next year.)

Admission: Individual: $9 (adult), $5 (kid under 14)

Family: $21 (Parents & up to 3 kids)

Belfast City Hall

Belfast’s City Hall, located in the center of the city, is a good place to begin touring. The grand building, which opened in 1906, houses exhibits that are related to Belfast’s politics and government. Outside, the gardens are full of impressive statues and memorials.

Open: 8:00 am - 5:30 pm. (Closed on Dec. 23rd - 25th & Jan. 1st - 3rd.)

Admission: Individual: $10 (adult), $6 (kid under 14)

Family: $24 (Parents & up to 3 kids)

Ulster Museum

The largest museum in Northern Ireland is Belfast’s splendid Ulster Museum. It has been called Northern Ireland’s treasure house of the past and present. From mummies to moon rocks, the museum possesses impressive art, natural science and history collections.

Open: Weekdays: 8:00 am -5:30 pm. Weekends: 10:00 am -3:30 pm.

Admission: Individual: $8 (adult), $4 (kid under14)

Family: $19 (Parents & up to 3 kids)

St. George’s Market

Award-winning St. George’s Market was built in the 1890s and is Belfast’s last remaining market housed in a Victorian building. Visitors will find approximately 200 stands selling food, clothes, antiques, crafts and more. Go early for the market’s famous breakfast, and try a specialty coffee or tea while listening to live music.

Open: Weekends: 5:30 am-3:30 pm.

Admission: FREE

8 . Have you ever thought about traveling to new places, but you can’t afford it? If so, consider a work exchange program. Basically, you work a few hours each week in exchange for free housing. Both meals and other benefits are often thrown in. The jobs range from cleaning to computer work. Hosts around the world list volunteer opportunities through different work exchange programs.     1    

One-benefit of the more popular programs is that they assist you in different ways. For example, Workaway’s site lists more than 50,000 places to choose from. And Worldpackers pride themselves on their attention to safety and security.     2     They also provide a 24/7 support network for volunteers and hosts.

    3     You can gain new skills in creativity, leadership, languages and more. You can make yourself completely involved in a new culture. You’ll make new friends because you stay in one place for a while and work. Practically anyone at any age can join a program and travel throughout the year.

Your length of stay depends on your host. It can be from one week to many months.     4     This gives you plenty of free time to explore the area.

When it comes to work exchange opportunities, the sky’s the limit! You can help on a dairy farm in Ireland.     5     Or you might help at a South African surf camp. The opportunities are endless!

Consider a travel work exchange. It might be the most exciting trip you ever take!

9 . Where will you go next? Our editors and explorers pick some most exciting destinations for the year ahead. Grab your bags and go!

Mostar, Bosnia

Partially destroyed during the Bosnian War (1992-1995) , history-rich Mostar still bears scars of the past. Wander around and you’ll pass newly renovated apartments next to buildings riddled with bullet holes. Local and intemational artists regularly decorate the abandoned structures with colorful murals. Mostar’s most tangible image of peace is the 16th-century Stari Most, rebuilt in 2004. It connects the city’s predominantly Christian Croat west side with the mainly Muslim Bosniak east.

Tohoku, Japan

Less than three hours by train from Tokyo, home of the 2020 Summer Olympic Games, Tohoku features pristine forests, gorges and crater lakes, thousand-year-old temples and shrines, and venerable local festivals— yet less than 2 percent of international travelers come here. For skiers, Tohoku regularly records some of the planet’s heaviest snowfalls, and resorts such as Appi Kogen are exhilaratingly uncrowded.

National Blue Trail, Hungary

Hungary is a dream hiking destination thanks to the country’s National Blue Trail. It’s part of the nearly 6, 500-mile European long-distance walking route E4, which begins in Spain and ends in Cyprus. So, while you could use the Blue Trail as a launchpad for an epic, cross-Europe trek, Hungary’s historic route is best experienced as a singular destination.

Zakouma National Park, Chad

Home to a rapidly growing African elephant population— some 559 in 2019 and a thousand expected by 2024-Zakouma National Park is an under-the-radar African safari destination. The park’s location, in southeastern Chad, one of the world’s least visited countries, makes Zakouma a best-kept secret— one worth sharing to help ensure its continued success.

10 . Whether you’ re a fearless adventurer seeking a scenic climb or a beginner outdoorsman eager to be close to nature, these four camping destinations will change your life.

Laugavegur, Iceland

Before snow falls upon the changeable rhyolite (流纹岩) mountains, book a cottage or a tent in the camp city as wild camping is not permitted here. Professionals advise hiking from north to south, which takes you across lava fields, wildflower-spotted grasslands, and to the twin glaciers (冰川) Eyjafjallaj kull and Mydralsj kull. Along the way, the mountains covered with various colors will appeal to you.

High Atlas Mountains, Morocco

Morocco’s most typical range is a bucket-list camping destination for daring travelers. Pass through remote Berber villages and walk a long way from hot desert to snow-capped peaks. You can follow ancient animal paths, though guides in this area are highly suggested. Many will employ the use of a camel to help with the load.

Tierra del Fuego, Chile

Tierra del Fuego is an explorer’s dream. Take a cross-border journey from Argentina to Chile through Radman and set up camp along one of the glacial lakes Blanco or Ofhidro. Animals like beavers are common in this area, and so are condors (秃鹰). Bed down in the grasslands beneath Jebel M’ goun, an extremely quiet peak.

Main Range, Kosciuszko National Park, Australia

Whether you fill your days with passing over the country’ s highest mountains, watching snowfalls or fishing in the glacial lakes, make sure to spend an evening appreciating the starry sky, which is certain to inspire awe (敬畏) in anyone witnessing this sight.