In the countryside of Jiangxi Province, Mount Lushan was once one of the famous cultural centers of ancient China. In fact, its historical importance meant that it     1     (honor) as a World Heritage Site in 1996.

    2     (locate) about 20 kilometres south of Jiujiang City, it runs eastwards to the Mufu Mountains. Dahanyang Peak is the highest peak of Mount Lushan,         3     (rise) 1, 474 metres above sea level. To the north, it offers     4     (impress) views of the Yangtze River, while to the south it overlooks Poyang Lake.

As early as the Eastern Han Dynasty,     5     well-known Taoist leader named Zhang Daoling travelled to the mountain. During the Jin Dynasty, the Donglin Temple was built on the mountain, across    6     many temples began coming up from then on, until there were over 300 of them.

However, Mount Lushan didn’t become truly famous     7     the Song Dynasty when it was rebuilt by Zhu Xi, the founder of Neo-Confucianism(理学). Thanks to his efforts, this place became one of the Four Great Academies of China. By the 19th century, it had become into an     8     (extreme) large place, with its own temples, study halls, and libraries. Overtime, countless writers and artists    9     (sing) praises for the mountain, leaving over 900 works of art.

Nowadays, with its beautiful views and famous temples, the mountain range is a popular tourist     10    (attract).

On social platform Xiaohongshu, data shows that the number of city walk-related topic posts     1     (increase) by 700 percent over the past three months.

A city walk is     2    form of urban tourism originating in the UK. Unlike traditional sightseeing,     3    aims to hit famous attractions, usually by vehicles with tense schedules, city walk is about “roaming” (漫步) around a city on foot, feeling the atmosphere and     4    (find) unusual things. Such walks generally take you to places     5    you can have real interactions with the local people, eat at small but authentic restaurants, and gain a deeper understanding of the history and culture of the city.

By “roaming” on foot, city walkers can better feel the texture and listen to the     6    (breathe) of a place. They seek pleasure     7    (much) through connection than consumption, which indicates a deep cultural curiosity.

The appeal of a city walk lies in the young generation’s changing attitude     8     life. While roaming along the road, you can     9    (complete) focus on yourself and listen to your inner voice and care for what you feel, which is a way     10    (love) yourself and benefit your mental health.

5 . The Greek historian Herodotus is said to have made one of the earliest lists of the Seven Wonders of the World. These were man-made structures, including the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. More recent times saw natural alternatives to these wonders of classical architecture proposed: waterfalls, mountains, canyons, reefs. Dramatic landscapes, features and wildlife, and the pleasure and excitement they offer to visitors, are staples (主要部分) of tourism.

As environmental awareness has risen, attitudes to such sightseeing have changed. Yes, it is exciting to visit remote forests or spot rare species.But travelling to very distant destinations is carbon-intensive when flights or long road journeys are involved, and conservation can be made more difficult as well as assisted by sightseers. There is a balance to be struck, and some governments and businesses around the world try to maximise the benefits while minimising the harm. Colombia, for example, recently introduced laws aimed at promoting sustainable tourism.

Most of us understand better than ever that there are costs as well as benefits associated with exploring. One of the six pledges (誓言) proposed by an environmental campaign launched last month, The Jump, is to “holiday local”, taking short flights once every three years and long flights very rarely. Fortunately, the UK’s 15 national parks, 86 areas of outstanding natural beauty (known in Scotland as national scenic areas), and countless other landscapes that are without formal status, but beloved nonetheless, mean that there is no shortage of special places for domestic nature tourists to visit--while a host of European beauty spots are accessible by rail.

One recent survey found that Windsor Great Park and Kew have become Britain’s most popular attractions, while Covid has created difficulties for indoor spaces which do not apply to outdoor ones.

As we face an environmental emergency that grows ever more dangerous, it is essential to cultivate (培养) appreciation for nature that surrounds us. In a small way, holiday outings to watch dragonflies, kingfishers or seals, or be surrounded by trees that are coming into leaf, could help us to focus on what matters.

9 . 72 hours in Beijing

Traveling to China is no longer a luxury for many foreign passport holders. The Chinese government has permitted a 72-hour visa free policy that offers access to visitors from 53 countries including the US, France and Austria. Let’s start with the capital of China, Beijing. Here’s a pick of the best in Beijing.

The Forbidden City

Lying at the heart of the capital, the Forbidden City, or more accurately, the Imperial Palace, was home to 24 Chinese emperors during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Twice the size of the Vatican, it consists of 999 rooms that served the emperors and their concubines (嫔妃). Also, it’s the largest and most well-preserved wooden palace complex in the world.

The Summer Palace

Located in northwestern Beijing, the Summer Palace is by far the city’s most well-preserved royal park. With its huge lake and hilltop views , the palace offers you a pastoral (田园的) escape into the landscape of traditional Chinese paintings. The Summer Palace was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1998.

798 Art Zone

This would be on the top of my list! Named after the 798 factory that was built in the 1950s, the art zone is home to various galleries, design studios, art exhibition spaces, fashionable shops and bars. You could easily spend half your day wandering around the complex, feeling the contrast of the present and the past.

The Temple of Heaven

Originally constructed during the Ming Dynasty, the Temple of Heaven was a sacrificial temple used by emperors to appease (安抚)the heavens in order to bring prosperity to their people and ensure the harvest in the coming year. The ceremonial processions traditionally started from the south gate. Enter the long hall and navigate through the crowds, the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests will soon come into view with its three-tiered roof and stunning blue glaze.