1 . “I first saw the Great Wall on a map in 1967 when I was only 11 years old. I spent a long time trying to work out how long the Great Wall was, but I failed. I thought I would surely go there one day,” said William Lindesay, a Great Wall researcher from the UK.

The Englishman did what he said. He came to China in 1986 with a plan to run the whole length of the Great Wall. But that year his goal was not achieved. William came back a year later and realized his dream. In 1990, he decided to live in China. Then he bought a farmhouse near the Great Wall.

“Many people wonder why I’m obsessed greatly by the Great Wall. The first reason is that it’s beautiful, and the second thing is that it’s outdoors. There’s history in the outdoors. You need to move to discover it. And the third point is it’s fun. The Great Wall is in my mind every day,” said William.

William’s younger son Thomas said, “I often describe my childhood as ‘wild’, staying at the foot of the Great Wall almost every weekend. It’s amazing because not many people get to see such world heritage all the time, and I got to see it all year around.” His elder son James said, “Living here has a lot of effect on how I see the Great Wall. It’s almost like my backyard, so I should protect it.”

William has published 11 books about the Great Wall in 30 years. He has also completed several photo projects on the Great Wall. “It made me so happy when our film was shown on the BBC. For the first time we got an hour and a half to open the eyes of the British , and show them what the Great Wall is. We received lots of emails from people saying that they really enjoyed it and didn’t know that China was so beautiful. I became a ‘Great Wall ambassador (大使)’,” said William.

3 . Nowadays, new restaurants tend to pop up overnight and disappear soon after opening. But the following restaurants have been open for hundreds of years and continue to bring in customers as historic landmarks.

St. Peter Stiftskeller

Location: Salzburg, Austria

Established in 803

As the oldest restaurant in the world, the St. Peter Stiftskeller has served a great number of top officials and famous people including Mozart and Columbus. The restaurant’s kitchen offers a mix of perfect Austrian classics and new European dishes using locally-grown food materials. The Mozart-feature feast held every week is a major feature of the restaurant.

Bianyifang

Location: Beijing, China

Established in 1416

The original Bianyifang was established as a small workshop, which produced duck and chicken dishes in Mishi Hutong, Beijing. In 1827, its owner Sun Zijiu enlarged the business to a bigger restaurant, serving Peking Duck as well as Spanish and French Style Duck Liver. The restaurant still maintains the traditions of Beijing dishes from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

Sobrino de Botín

Location: Madrid, Spain

Established in 1725

Sobrino de Botín remains in its original building with the same interior from the 18th century. The restaurant, which was originally named Casa Botin, was opened by a French cook named Jean Botin and his wife. The Botins never had children and passed the restaurant on to Mrs. Botin’s nephew and was renamed Sobrino de Botín as “sobrino” means “nephew” in Spanish. Sobrino de Botín has attracted many writers and has been mentioned in novels by Ernest Hemingway.

La Tour d’ Argent

Location: Paris, France

Established in 1582

La Tour d’ Argent is a high end, one Michelin star rated restaurant that claims to have served King Henry IV. At one point, the restaurant got one of the restaurant world’s highest achievements, three Michelin stars — it lost one star in 1996 and the second one in 2006.

6 . Top Sunny Christmas Destinations

You’re imagining what your dream Christmas will be like, walking on a perfect beach with your toes sinking into the warm, soft sand instead of wearing layers of winter clothes. If you prefer summer, now is the time to visit NH Hotels web and plan your ideal warm holiday for Christmas. Here, we’ve selected a list of some of the most attractive sunny Christmas destinations around the world.

Buenos Aires, Argentina — Sizzling Summer Celebrations

At the heart of Argentina’s summer season, Buenos Aires comes alive with Christmas festivities. As the city sizzles under the South American sun, you’ll find locals celebrating with all the passion and their talents that define their culture. Christmas Eve, known as “Nochebuena,” is the highlight, and Argentines gather with friends and family for a grand feast that often includes asado (barbecue) and traditional holiday desserts. One of the most unique aspects of a Buenos Aires Christmas is the lively street celebrations, with fireworks lighting the night sky and tango dancers rushing to the streets.

Sydney, Australia — Beachfront Bliss

Down under, Christmas falls in the middle of summer, making Sydney an ideal destination for sun-seekers. The city is famous for its dazzling Christmas lights displays, including the iconic lighting of the Christmas tree in Martin Place. Bondi Beach is a popular spot for beachgoers, where you can spend Christmas Day enjoying the sun, surf, and a picnic on the sand.

Bali, Indonesia — Tropical Paradise

Bali, with its lush landscapes, pristine beaches, and rich cultural heritage, offers a unique tropical Christmas experience. While Christmas isn’t a traditional Balinese holiday, many resorts and restaurants embrace the festive season with special events, dinners, and decorations. You can enjoy a beachfront Christmas dinner, explore ancient temples, or simply relax under the sun.

Cancún, Mexico — Mexican Christmas Magic

Cancún, on the eastern coast of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, is a hotspot for those seeking a festive Christmas. The holiday season here is marked by exciting Mexican traditions. Cancún’s amazing beaches and crystal-clear waters provide the perfect backdrop for a tropical Christmas celebration.

Huang Yang, a native of Zibo city, recently returned home for a visit. He wanted to have some barbecue, only     1     (tell) there was no seat in four different restaurants. Thanks to social media recommendations, Zibo barbecue has become     2     overnight success, with large numbers of visitors     3     (crowd) into the city. Taking advantage of the barbecue craze, Zibo has gone all out to promote local tourism resources, while working to ensure the     4     (safe) of visitors and the quality of tourism products.

The new tourism offerings include special barbecue-themed bus services,     5     take visitors from train stations straight to barbecue restaurants, barbecue-themed tourism routes and free access     6     local scenic areas. To provide visitor with a happy experience, volunteers have been working at bus     7     (station) to provide information on transportation, accommodation and tourism routes. Market regulator have carried out inspections on barbecue restaurants to ensure food safety.

Since the spring festival of 2023, Zibo     8     (see) an 800 percent increase in accommodation bookings for the coming May Day holiday     9     (compare) to 2019, ranking first in Shandong province in terms of growth rate. The local tourism authority has begun to make longer-term plans, Zibo will work to develop its rich historical and     10     (culture) resources into unique cultural brands.