In the 12th century, the Southern Song Dynasty moved its capital to Lin’an. Near Lin’an, on the banks of Lake Tai is the city of Suzhou. Given its location near the capital and its     1     (nature) beauty, Suzhou became a preferred place     2     (live). Thus, there were over 300 gardens     3     (build) here, and more than 60 are still in     4     (exist).

Among these gardens, the Humble Administrator’s Garden (Zhuozheng Yuan) is the largest and the most famous, and water pools take up     5     third of its area.     6     (surround) the water pools is a luxuriant (繁茂的) group of flowers, plants, and trees, all carefully chosen according to the way their seasonal colors reflect off the sparkling water below. As is typical of Suzhou gardens, this garden     7     (separate) into different sections, offering various kinds of spaces     8     diverse shapes and sizes that represent different moods and feelings.

Since it is such a large garden, no simple description of the garden will do.     9     you have to do is to walk among the water and plants, enjoy every moment,     10     find your own treasures depending on your mood that day.

Tibet was a region I was desperate to see,     1     its remoteness and my inability to go delayed my journey. Last summer, my brother and I finally decided to take the trip.

We set off at the Guangzhou train station and three days later, we arrived in Lhasa. The trip certainly took a while; however, we     2     (reward) with the most beautiful views and made friends along the way, all at a     3     (low) cost than flying.

We started our tour of Lhasa watching pilgrims(朝圣者)doing their morning prayers,     4    (comprehensive) exploring the palace. We had an incredible lunch at one of the best restaurants in Lhasa,     5     offered a beautiful view overlooking the Jokhang Temple.

Then we started our journey to the Qomolangma base camp    6     road from Lhasa. Along the way we stopped     7     (admire) the Yamdrok Lake. Its beauty was beyond     8    (describe).

About a week later, we arrived. We stayed in a guesthouse just next to the base camp and after dropping off our luggage,     9     (head) straight outside to see the Mt. Qomolangma. The tip of the mountain emerged through the clouds,     10     (astonish) us with its unbelievable height. The clouds parted and we watched the sunset over the peak.

Going against the tide of flocking to well-known yet generally jam-packed tourist destinations on vacation, a     1     (grow) number of holidaymakers in China tend to spend their leisure time at lesser-known resorts to seek unique, relaxing holiday experiences.

In recent years reverse tourism     2     (emerge) as a new trend among young holidaymakers in China. During the weeklong public holiday, which ended on Oct 7, large numbers of vacationers, especially young professionals who long to escape busy city life,     3     (avoid) popular holiday destinations in order to get the beaten track and enjoy some peace and quiet. According to data from online travel agency Qunar, the number of rooms     4     (book) at hotels in less-traveled cities during the holiday was up 30 percent year-on-year. Besides crowds, some vacationers chose less-traveled places to save on the cost of trips to popular destinations,     5     often involve expensive tickets, meals and hotel stays. In addition, lesser-known attractions are not     6     “commercial” and “standardized” as developed ones and are able to offer more authentic experiences and natural encounters, according to social media posts. And     7     (like) popular destinations, some underexplored places with little online     8     (expose) can offer more surprises.

Jiang Han,     9     senior researcher at the Beijing-based public policy think tank Pangoal, said that reverse tourism will become one of the future directions for the market     10     is an opportunity for growth comparable to the camping economy.

5 . The Seychelles — that remote island chain off the coast of northern Africa is heaven for scuba divers (水肺潜水). With more than 100 islands, most of which are uninhabited, and a relatively small amount of tourists impacting the oceans and beaches, the Seychelles has some truly best scuba diving.

Fisherman’s Cove Reef

If you’re a beginner diver who loves gentle drop-offs and sea turtles, make sure Fisherman’s Cove Reef is on your scuba diving radar. The site is very popular as there’s rarely a current, it’s very shallow, and has a colorful reef with everything from eagle rays to small leaf fish, which can be very difficult to find against the seagrass and coral.

Ennerdale Wreck

If you love wreck diving, head right for the Ennerdale, a British oil tanker that accidentally sunk in 1970. Because of the medium-to-strong current and depth, it’s for divers with advanced open water cert. They’ll be able to swim around the wreck’s propellers, penetrate the frame, and likely see reef sharks and the occasional bull shark.

Baie Ternay Marine Park

The shallow, protected area of ocean has healthy and varied coral, and a lively reef. Both snorkelers and beginner divers are likely to see sea turtles grazing on the seagrass, coaching reef fish, and small eels poking out of the sandy ocean floor.   

Aldabra Atoll

It doesn’t get much more remote than the Aldabra Atoll, a UNESCO site. The coral reef continues underwater, which makes all the island’s dive sites stunning. Advanced divers can do drift dives in a channel with a chance of seeing sharks, while beginners can stay closer to the reefs, checking the various species of marine life in the Indian Ocean off their must-see list. The island is home to nearly 100,000 giant tortoises, as well as several other rare species

6 . Camping tips: Which overnight wilderness experience is right for you?

If you’re an experienced backpacker, read no further. This article is for camping rookies, those who have never slept beneath the stars or haven’t pitched a tent since their youth but are seriously thinking about overnighting in the wilderness.

Car camping

At its most basic, car camping involves packing a tent, sleeping bag, fold-up chair, cooler and camp stove into your vehicle and staying at a drive-up campground. Nearly every national park, and many state and county parks and private facilities, offer drive-up campgrounds with restrooms, potable water, fire rings or pits, and maybe even hot showers. So there are lots of choices.

The downside of car camping is the fact that these campgrounds are often packed with other campers. Not a lot of privacy, they can be noisy, and possibly hinder your quest of communing with nature.

Backpacking

No vehicle required; just your feet and a good pair of hiking boots or shoes to get you to the next overnight spot. A multi-day hiking trip is without doubt the most immersive way to experience the great outdoors.

Different from maybe car camping, it requires the least expense and equipment. All you really need are a backpack, sleeping bag, water bottle, small first-aid kit, enough food to last the entire travel. It can be done just about anywhere on the planet.

Boat Camping

While this does involve owning or renting a watercraft or using a ferry or water taxi service to reach the overnight site, camping via canoe, kayak, raft or boat offers a similar get-away-from-it-all adventure as backpacking.

Experienced paddlers and boaters usually prefer to camp on their own along a secluded shoreline. But many adventure or wilderness outfitters offer guided trips that can last anywhere from a couple of days to two or three weeks. With a boat, you can sometimes camp places that not even backpackers can reach.

7 . Inspired by his mentor Louis Sullivan, an influential figure in the world of modernist architecture, Frank Lloyd Wright coined the term ‘organic architecture’ around 1908.

Rather than imitating nature or organic elements within the natural world, organic architecture is more concerned with re-interpretation of nature and harmony between the organic and the built environment. It ensures that the individual elements within buildings are put together to reflect the order within nature. Here are 4 of the most striking examples.

Casa Milà

Location: Barcelona, Spain

Year of completion:1910

Architect: Antoni Gaudi

Considered the greatest exponent of Catalan Modernism, Antoni Gaudi was devoted to nature and the Catholic religion. While he originally intended this organic building to have a religious purpose, it is now an apartment building. True to the organic style, it features honey shapes that seemingly emerge from the earth.

Learning Hub at Nanyang Technological University (NTU)

Location: Singapore

Year of completion:2015

Architect: Thomas Heatherwick

Earning the nicknames ‘dim sum basket building’ and ‘the Hive’, the Learning Hub consists of 12 eight-storey towers arranged around a public atrium. The organic nature of the building extends to its interior with features like gardens that are intended to encourage social interactions and study among students.

Falling Water

Location: Mill Run, Pennsylvania

Year of completion:1939

Architect: Frank Lloyd Wright

A classic of modernism and organic architecture, Falling Water sits on top of a waterfall. Frank Lloyd Wright designed it for the Kaufmann family who-though they had originally hoped for a view of the waterfall-came to love the home.

East Beach Café

Location: Littlehampton, UK

Year of completion:2007

Architect: Thomas Heatherwick

Located in a seaside area with an industrial history, East Beach Cafe resembles (像) a piece of driftwood. Forty meters long, seven meters wide and five meters high, it initially polarised locals, but has since been well-received by the whole community. It was the first building for Thomas Heatherwick who previously was better known as a sculptor.

8 . Guided tours at the National Museum at South Kingston

Out of Hours Titano Tours

Book a tour with one of our knowledgeable tour guides to get up close to all the main characters in our world-famous Dinosaurs gallery. You’ll get to learn how dinosaurs were first discovered, how they adapted to life on Earth and why they’re so important to our science today.

13:00-14:00 Weekends only.

Behind the Lens Tour

Have you ever wondered why wildlife photography can be used to make a difference to the natural world? Join our hosts for a special tour of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition and discover the stories behind the photos. We will introduce you to some surprising stories as well as the impact that these photos have had on wildlife conservation efforts.

9:00-10:00 Wednesday & Friday.

Behind the Scenes Tour: Spirit Collection

Go behind the scenes with our science educators for a look at the Museum’s fascinating zoology collection preserved. As we explore some of the Darwin Centre’s 27 kilometers of shelves, you’ll encounter treasures hidden among the 22 million animal specimens (标本)housed here.

14:00-15:00 Monday closed.

History of the Natural History Museum Tour

With stories stretching from Waterhouse to Darwin, you’ll get to journey through time and discover more about how the incredible ‘Cathedral of Nature’ became world-famous. What’s more, once the tour is finished, you will have the opportunity to visit the whole Museum at your own pace, newly equipped with your behind-the-scenes knowledge.

14:00-15:00 Monday to Friday.

10 . 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.