1 . When it comes to travel, sometimes wandering is one of the most exciting things you can do. In a time when travellers are both more adventurous and eco-conscious than ever, it’s no surprise that there’s a wealth of new vocabulary to describe how we travel, when we travel and how the experience makes us feel. Here are eight of our favourite travel words that you may not have heard before.

We’ve kicked off a blog with the staycation, “a holiday in one’s own country”. The term first became popular in the mid-2000s, when the global financial crisis meant people had less income to spend on flash holidays and instead searched for cheaper local choices. Since 2020, the staycation is experiencing a revival (复兴). Benefits of staycations include cheaper travel costs, no spending hours in the airport and, of course, no need to worry about whether your passport expired (过期) last year.

Once upon a time, if you wanted to meet new people on your travels, you could stay at a hostel or with a host on Airbnb. Now, you can couch surf. And not just in “the staying at various friends’ houses until you find a new place to rent” sense: couch surfing is quickly becoming a hot new travel trend. Travellers can now choose to couch surf all across the world via a website which treats travel as a cultural exchange, allowing people to connect with willing hosts and crash on their sofas.

Given that single-use and climate strike were selected as the Collins 2018 and 2019 Words of the Year respectively, it’s clear that the climate crisis is very much on everybody’s mind. This desire to make more sustainable choices is also affecting the way we spend our vacation days. Ecotourism is another popular travel trend, defined as tourism that is designed to contribute to the protection of the environment. Examples of ecotourism include ditching short-haul flights, staying at eco-friendly resorts, or booking a staycation.

3 . Seagulls are flying overhead. Not far away, a boat is making a big noise. The sounds of people talking and laughing are everywhere. The smell of popcorn is carried on the fresh and pleasant wind blowing off the lake. Duluth is a city full of sights, smells, and sounds. My family visits it often, but each time it is a new adventure.

Duluth, Minnesota, was founded in 1870. Located at the southeast corner of the St. Louis County, on Lake Superior, Duluth is the third largest city in Minnesota, with a population of 86, 918. It was named after Daniel Sieur Du Lhut, a French explorer.

Native American settlements were first found in the area by French explorers in the late 1600s. Soon after, Duluth became an important trade and shipping center for the timber (木材) industry. In 1865, iron was discovered, making Duluth a major ore (矿石) shipping point. When the St. Lawrence Seaway opened in 1959, it became one of the Great Lakes’ leading ports for exporting grain.

Tourism is very important to Duluth. People are attracted to its natural scenery, as well as the museums, zoos, and of course, the many gift shops downtown. Duluth is the home of the Great Lakes Aquarium, which is the only all­freshwater aquarium in the United States. However, the Aerial Lift Bridge is the thing that most people want to see when they visit. Standing nearly 400 feet tall, it is a spectacular feat (功绩) of engineering. The Lake Superior Maritime Museum, where you’ll find more about ore boats, the lift bridge, and other things, is just a short walk away from the bridge. If you visit Duluth in the winter, you can go to Spirit Mountain to ski or snowboard.

From bridges to museums, zoos to shops, Duluth has it all. No matter what your interests are, Duluth has something for everyone.

4 . Torbjorn Pedersen is a Danish traveler who recently finished a trip around the world. But this wasn’t just any trip. Mr. Pedersen spent nearly 10 years ________ every country in the world.

As he began to plan his trip, he made a few ________: no flying, no visiting home, and spend at least 24 hours in every ________ . He hoped that he could ________ about $20 a day, and finish his trip in about four years.

It took him far longer. The first part of his trip was pretty easy. He ________ across Europe and North America, where his biggest ________ was not spending too much money. But as he ________ on to other parts of the world, things began to get much ________ . Mr. Pedersen says he had many difficult experiences. He was once ________at gunpoint and thought he might be killed. He also became ________ ill with malaria（疟疾）.

But he also had many good ________. Mr. Pedersen says that one reason he didn’t ________ was the help he got from people all over the world. “You might have to try 1,000 closed doors,” he says, “But there is always a（an）________ door somewhere. Never, ever give up.”

On July 26, 2023 Mr. Pedersen arrived back in Denmark after a 33-day boat ride. He was ________by about 150 people, including friends and family members. Mr. Pedersen says he plans to write a book and ________ what he learned in his travels around the world.

5 . Fly like superman!

Have you ever imagined how it feels when fresh air is in your face? Or to see the beauty of nature from the top? You can do it in a hot air balloon ride.

Hot air ballooning is the activity of flying in a basket hanging over a hot air balloon. Attractive parts of ballooning include the unusual quiet, the lack of a feeling of movement, and the bird’s-eye view. Since the balloon moves with the direction of the winds, the passengers feel absolutely no wind, except for brief periods during the flight when the balloon climbs or falls into air currents of different directions or speeds. Hot air ballooning has been recognized by the World Aeronautical Federation(WAF)as the safest air sport, and accidents seldom happen. However, you must follow some rules such as:

There are many regular (定期) gatherings of balloons and balloonists in Hidalgo around the year, which provide both a place for balloonists to interact as well as a place for visitors to entertain. You must try this activity at least once in a lifetime.

The recent hit in China is all about Harbin, Helongjiang. Numerous netizens have expressed their longing for this northern ice city,     1     (enthusiastic) declaring, “Harbin, I’m coming!”

Among those highlights,     2     journey of 11 kids from Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region has melted hearts across the Internet. Chinese netizens have been eagerly following their adventures online.

Fondly (深情地)     3     (describe) as “Little Tangerines (柑橘)” for their orange-colored coats, the kids also visited China’s northernmost town,     4     they sang the national anthem. The firefighters there had prepared snow sculptures and snowmen, eagerly expecting the     5     (arrive) of the “Little Tangerines”. Mr. Liang, the leader of the group, confirmed their coming in Mohe.

This study tour, under the spotlight of the entire Internet,     6     (draw) a lot of attention. The parents are grateful for the concern shown by netizens and the care provided by friends in the Northeast China. They feel more     7     ease with everyone’s collective support.

    8     was reported that the residents organized a fleet of about 300 private vehicles,     9     (provide) free rides to tourists. Despite the city’s freezing climate, its residents work diligently     10     (create) a warm environment for their guests.

In recent years, various regions in China     1     (take) advantage of their unique resources and developed a diverse and dynamic rural tourism industry according to local conditions. They have created     2     (innovate) development models, giving rise to a number of desirable rural tourism destinations. They have paved the way for Chinese rural development     3     combines culture and tourism, promotes harmonious coexistence between man and nature, and fights     4     both material and cultural prosperity (繁荣).

With different types and rich forms, rural tourism is     5     (gradual) becoming a new hotspot in the Chinese tourism market. The annual reception and the tourism revenue (收入) have seen significant growth,     6     (boost) the world’s tourism development.

For foreign tourists, visiting rural areas in China is not just about sightseeing, but an opportunity     7     (get) a view of Chinese culture and customs. The beautiful countryside in China holds     8     strong appeal for foreign visitors.

Nowadays, some foreign tourists have shown a     9     (prefer) for immersive experiences in rural areas, such as enjoying tea and traditional opera performances in rural villages in Zhejiang, watching face-changing and fire-spiting shows of Sichuan Opera in rural parks in Sichuan,     10     listening to folk songs in ethnic villages of Guangxi.