1 . In September, thousands of monuments, civic buildings and private homes throw open their doors to offer a rare glimpse of normally of-limits spaces. Here are some less-known treasures around the UK.

Gladstone’s Library in Hawarden will be running special tours as part of the Open Doors-Wales festival. It was built as a memorial to prime minister Wiliam Gladstope, Take a tour of beautiful Reading Rooms housing 150,000 books.

September 16, 10 am-2 pm, booking required.

The atmospheric Britannia Panopticon will be showing off its collection of theatrical relics, props and costumes. Sample Victorian items at the world’s oldest surviving music hall without booking.

September 15 and 16, 11 am-5 pm and September 17, 12 pm-5 pm

Visitors to Stowe Gardens will be offered a rare chance to see inside the 18th century Gothic Temple. Though it’s normally rented as a holiday let, its circular rooms and mosaic ceilings will be open to prebooked visitors for one weekend.

September 16 and 17, 10: 30 am-4: 30 pm, free of charge

As part of Scotland’s Doors Open Days festival, Edinburgh University’s Appleton Tower will be offering tours of the world-leading School, including a visit to the study suite on Level 9 which offers far-reaching views of the Edinburgh skyline.

The Ancient City of Pingyao, originally named “Gu Tao”,     1    (construct) during the Western Zhou Dynasty. In order to defend from invaders (入侵者), a wall was built     2     the city in 1370. More than 300 years later, gate towers were built     3    (celebrate) a visit by Kangxi Emperor.

The three most historic sites in Pingyao, often referred to as the city’s Three Historic Treasures,     4    (be) the ancient brick-made city wall and the Zhenguo and Shuanglin temples.

The first of these historic treasures, the ancient city wall is 6,163 meters long and separates the city into two parts — an old city enclosed within the walls     5     the newer modern section of the city. The old town still looks as it     6    (do) during the Qing Dynasty, with antique streets and buildings along     7    (age) roads. Walking along the alleyways, one can appreciate the symmetrical (对称的) design of the city and     8    (it) stylish man-made cave houses. In the northeast corner of the city is the second treasure: Zhenguo Temple. Its Wan Fo Hall is the third oldest wooden building in China and houses numerous     9    (value) painted sculptures. The third treasure is Shuanglin Temple. Built during the Qi Dynasty, the temple boasts more than 2,000 painted clay statues     10     were created during the Yuan and Ming dynasties.

Japan’s decision to discharge nuclear-contaminated water into the sea has reduced the confidence of Chinese travelers    1    (want) to visit the country, and is expected to deliver a “heavy blow” to Japan’s tourism industry in the long term, experts and academics said.

Ignoring regional and international concerns about the safety of its decision, Japan began dumping    2    (treat) radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean on Aug 24.

As one of the major sources of tourists to Japan, China announced on Aug 10 that group tours would be resumed to the country, along with77 other overseas destinations.

Travel portal Trip.com Group said that as of Aug 17 searches for group tours to Japan exceeded    3    for Thailand and Singapore — the traditional top choices for Chinese travelers.

Travel agencies and industry insiders had also forecast that Japan would see a surge in the influx of Chinese travelers for the upcoming    4    (nation)Day holiday, which runs from Sept 29 to Oct 6 this year.

Trip.com said that as of Aug 17, bookings to Japan for the holiday had seen    5    five-fold month-on-month increase.     6    , news about the discharge of the nuclear-contaminated water has raised concerns among Chinese travelers heading to Japan,    7    (especial) regarding their personal health and food safety.

Xu Xiaolei, Chief Brand Officer of CYTS Tours Holding Co in Beijing, said that the company    8    (see) routine changes in bookings and    9    (cancel) for travel to Japan. Nevertheless, he warned that travelers may be taking a “wait and see” approach ahead of the holiday.

“Many travelers to Japan, especially young people, want to enjoy the seafood. Japan’s discharge of nuclear-contaminated water may have a greater influence on these young travelers,” he said. “We will adjust our tour products to cater for our    10    (client) needs and follow-up the situation in Japan.”

He said he expected tourism to Japan would experience some fluctuations in the next two or three months.

5 . Walled Cities Of The World

There are numerous historical walled cities across the world, whose walls date back several centuries. These walls were fortification (碉堡), a necessity throughout medieval eras for defense. They have been preserved as historical monuments and popular tourist attractions in the modern time.

York, England

The city of York is a medieval city situated in the north of England. Historically, the city was ruled by the Romans, Angles, and the Vikings before being incorporated as part of the Kingdom of England in 954. Located in the city are walls built in 71 AD which have been restored and extended with time.

Xi’an, China

The city of Xian is one of the oldest cities in China. It prospered economically as the eastern last station of the Silk Road. The existing walls were originally built in 770 BC and reconstructed in the 14th century under the Ming Dynasty. The walls are well preserved and are a major tourist attraction in the city.

Quebec City, Canada

Quebec City was a colonial (殖民地的) town which was fortified by the settling Europeans. The walls began to be built in 1608 under both British and French regimes (政权). A fort was constructed by the British as an additional defensive measure and remains undamaged to date. The city’s fortifications were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.

Mexico City, Mexico

Historically, the City of Mexico gained importance as the Aztec Capital. The Spanish then drove out the Aztecs and rebuilt it as the Spanish Capital. The walls protecting the city were built in 1521. Mexico City is also home to numerous colonial-era buildings which together with the walls are major tourist attractions in the city.

6 . Have you heard of these four monuments?

Carhenge. Floralis Genérica. Traffic Light Tree. Hand of the Desert — these are four unusual monuments from around the world you might like to visit.

Carhenge is in Alliance, Nebraska (USA). As the name suggests, it has a lot in common with Stonehenge, the famous stone circle on Salisbury Plain. But while Stonehenge was built with stones, Carhenge was created with cars. The monument was made in 1987 by a local artist Jim Reinders and his family. He used old cars and even an ambulance. At first, the people of Alliance didn’t like it, but they soon changed their minds after it became popular with tourists, who brought lots of money to the town.

Floralis Genérica is a massive statue of a flower. It stands in a pool of water in front of the National Museum of Fine Arts in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Eduardo Catalano, a native of Argentina, gave the statue as a gift to the city in 2002. Every morning, the flower opens. Ask anyone who has seen it and they’ll tell you that watching it open is an unforgettable sight. In fact, many people believe it is one of the most beautiful statues in the world.

The Traffic Light Tree is situated at Heron Quay, in one of London’s financial districts. The tree has 75 sets of traffic lights. It was created by French artist, Pierre Vivant, and was installed in 1998. A computer controls the lights, which are turned on and off randomly. The roundabout where the tree is was voted the most popular roundabout in the UK in a recent survey.

The Hand of the Desert is in the Atacama Desert in Chile. The sculpture was designed by the Chilean sculptor Mario Irarrazabal. From a distance, it looks as if there’s a giant in the sand who has stuck his hand out of the ground.

If you’re looking for something new to see, you know where to go!

7 . Some travelers are itching to escape the season’s bitter weather. If you want to find the locale that best suits your winter vacation, use these ideas to start planning your getaway.

Honolulu - Oahu

As temperatures begin to drop in other parts of the world, Hawaii’s capital city remains comfortable thanks to average highs in the low to 80 degrees. Visit Chinatown for festive Chinese New Year celebrations, or marvel at the Honolulu City Lights, a month-long Christmas display at Honolulu’s city hall. Keep in mind that winter is the island’s high season, so make your reservations early and expect to share the sand with lots of other sun-seeking travelers.

Sydney

Sydney’s summer begins in December and lasts through February, making this a popular destination for tourists escaping the Northern Hemisphere’s chilly winter weather. Average daytime temperatures hover between the mid-70s and low 80s. This time of year also features a packed events calendar, with can’t-miss sporting events and celebrations like the KPMG Australia Sail Grand Prix and Sydney’s famed New Year’s Eve fireworks display. Remember to book your tickets early, as this can be a pricey and popular time to visit Australia.

Galápagos Islands

Winter in the Galápagos Islands is marked by warm weather and ample opportunities to view wildlife, snorkel and scuba dive. Although this is technically the wet season, the sun shines most days and rain showers are brief. Plan on visiting in December to see newly hatched giant tortoises and male marine lizards displaying vivid colors. For a bit more action, arrive in February to celebrate Carnival on Santa Cruz Island. To read more, click here.

8 . Things To Remember On Your First Solo Travel Adventure

If you’ve ever thought about just taking a trip yourself instead of waiting for someone to join you, you’re not alone.     1     However, do you count yourself among the many who have tried it? If you’re planning your own solo trip, here are four important things to keep in mind.

    2     Since you’re traveling solo, how you choose to explore it is entirely up to you. This is your chance to do whatever you want whenever you want because this time, you’re running the show.

Don’t be afraid to talk to random people. Though there is someone who poses a threat, it’s important to remember that not everyone is out to get you.     3    That’s because you’re a novelty, a person from another country who is visiting theirs. Therefore, instead of putting on your headphones or instantly seeing them as weirdos, use this spontaneous chat as a chance to meet the locals or get recommendations for things to do during your trip.

It’s okay to have bad days.     4     It happens and it’s completely okay to take some time to process whatever it is you’re feeling. Take yourself to a movie or spend the day dong something relaxing like writing in your journal or reading on the beach.

It’s okay to start small.     5     Start by doing a staycation in another part of town, spending a few days in a new locale a bus or train ride away. Just do whatever you’re comfortable with and see how it all feels for you.