2 . I’m interested in the Renaissance (文艺复兴), so I like visiting ancient Italian cities. Ferrara is called City of the Renaissance. When I learned about this city on the Internet, I decided to pay a visit to it.

The city has a certain charm, but I find it isn’t as great as other Italian cities like Verona, let alone Venice or Rome. The Michelin Green Guide gives it two stars, which is right.

I first visited the city centre. The Cathedral and Castello Estense are at the heart of the city. Both have striking appearances. I visited the Cathedral first. Castello Estense is also worth visiting, which owes its name to the powerful Este family. It was built with bricks and surrounded by a moat (护城河). At the lower levels, the history of the city and the Este family are told through displays, and in another part the ceilings are shown through mirrors on the ground.

In the north, we can appreciate the Renaissance extension of the town, with straight streets and monumental houses. The famous Palazzo dei Diamanti lies here. When I was visiting it, it started to rain, so after taking a few photos quickly, I cut my visit there short. It had been raining for a few days. When the rain ceased, I went to visit the historical centre and the Renaissance buildings.

After leaving there, I visited several other interesting places such as palaces and the narrow streets of the downtown. After four hours in Ferrara I left by train to Mantua. There I had a much better time.

Visitors have flocked from far and wide     1    (visit) the world's largest ice and snow festival dubbed(称为) “Disneyland on ice” recently. This is China's Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival - a family friendly, fun-filled dream land     2    (fill) with intricately designed ice sculptures. Although visitors are treated     3     masses of ice sculptures throughout Harbin City, Sun Island and Ice and Snow World, are the two main areas. Ice and Snow World area is largely open at night, and     4    (feature) illuminated ice skyscrapers. This year, they've also added such a towering snowflake Ferris wheel(摩天轮)    5     visitors can take in the completeness of this impressive winter wonderland from the air. The festival has established     6    (it) as one of the best winter    7    (celebration) worldwide, and has been pulling in an estimated 28. 7 billion yuan()£ 3. 2 billion）per year.

One travel guide said, “I've always had     8     difficult time with winter, or at least the idea of it. I've associated winter with misery, irrespective of how I     9    (physical) react to the cold, and have gone to great     10     (long) to deny its very existence. Exploring China's Harbin Ice and Snow Festival brought me indescribable joy. ”

The city of Zibo had never seen so many visitors. As the sun began to set, the smell of sizzling (发出咝咝声的) meat     1     (draw) in even more hungry customers. The     2     (enjoy) sound of sizzling meat and joyful chatter echoed (回荡) through the streets as families and friends gathered around tables at barbecue restaurants, eagerly     3     (wait) for their meals. The small city in East China’s Shandong Province was packed with people moving to its numerous barbecue restaurants for     4     taste of the mouth-watering dishes.

The city was little known by outsiders before it went viral (走红) on Chinese social media platforms recently. Most visitors are young people,     5     travel to Zibo to experience the city’s barbecue culture and share it on social platforms. Barbecue restaurants in Zibo are     6     (usual) small and crowded, with customers sitting at outdoor tables or     7     (stand) around the grilling area. The fame of Zibo barbecue used to be limited     8     just Shandong Province. Behind Zibo’s sudden fame are the efforts and services of the local government. To promote Zibo-style barbecue, Zibo has launched two dozen “special barbecue trains”,     9     local tourism officials would serve visitors themselves. Netizens joke that the high-speed trains are packed with     10     (tour) and the air on the board is filled with cumin (孜然).

8 . Welcome to “Cash Poor Points Rich”, a new travel blog dedicated to sharing experience with credit card points and miles to help you get big travel but for small spend. With the right planning and maximization of available resources, traveling as a college student may be easier than you think.

Chengdu, China

If visiting a place with happy locals is a priority for you, there’s no better city to hit than Chengdu. It is home to pandas and spicy things. Moreover, the city’s abundance of cultural and historical sights, together with its laid-back lifestyle, make itself one of the most attractive and livable large cities too. Past travelers have spent, on average, ￥158 on meals and about a quarter of that on local transportation for one day.

Con Dao, Vietnam

Tourism is picking up in Vietnam lately, where you can travel for about ¥ 100 per day if you play your cards right. Con Dao Island Nation Park, a group of dramatic tiny islands off the southern coast, is a great destination to see sea turtles and other wildlife while exploring the area on foot. Its thick jungle will give you a good chance to uncover a paradise of your own.

Zakynthos, Greece

If you’re looking for an affordable European summer beach vacation, consider Zakynthos. Food is cheap and mouthwatering. There are plenty of free things to do. although the favorite is spending time on the beautiful beaches edged by electric blue water. There are countless options for swimming in the appealing sea, along with charming villages and museums to explore.

New Orleans, U. S.

New Orleans is an incredibly unique place in the U. S., full of fascinating history, absorbing culture, delicious food, and a constantly buzzing nightlife scene. There are actually a couple of hostels in and near the French Quarter that offer reasonable accommodation rates for students.