1 . New Zealand’s towering mountains, temperate rainforests and remote river valleys all fueled Sir Peter Jackson’s creative spirit when he was crafting (精心制作) the well-known films The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit film trilogies. Let’s explore New Zealand, the real Middle-earth.

Start in Hobbiton

The journey starts from the exciting urban center of Auckland to Matamata—the home of the Hobbiton Movie Set. Your knowledgeable guide will help you fully understand the history and the on-location filming processes around The Shire.

Journey to Mordor

Experience wilderness in Tongariro National Park—an area known for its mountainous, desolate (荒凉的) beauty. This region was used as the location for some of the filming of Mordor in The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Stand among the greenest of forests

Dewy (带露水的) scenery and natural spectacles (壮观的景象) are New Zealand’s biggest draw-cards and a sure reason why the country was chosen as the home of Middle-earth. Explore this magical world of tall trees, clear rivers and sweet bird songs on a short walk or famous multi-day hike. From Cape Reinga all the way down to Bluff there are national parks covering the country.

Discover Earnslaw Burn and the Misty Mountains Pathway

One of the most magical locations in The Hobbit trilogy is Earnslaw Burn. Here you will find sheer (陡峭的) walls of granite (花岗岩) rising 800 meters from the basin floor, and a glacier (冰川) creating a number of waterfalls from its meltwater that spill down from the cliff-tops.

3 . More than just shelter for weary travellers, these lodges (乡间小屋) double as a base for adventurers to explore the surrounding wilderness.

Puketui Forest Escape

Best for: Couples world

Enveloped in podocarp forest, Puketui feels a world away despite being a short drive from Taupō. Solar power keeps the lights on, water is sourced from a spring, heating is fed by a cosy, freestanding fireplace. Explore the forest via walking tracks, then walk to the house to stargaze. From NZ$399 (£208)a night B&B.

Awaroa Lodge

Best for: Wifi-free

Without wifi and phone or TV signal, you’ll have little to distract you at Awaroa Lodge. Available only by hiking or water taxi, the lodge produces its own power and grows organic food for the restaurant. It also protects the national park’s wetlands for the return of white herons (苍鹭) in 2020 after years of absence. From NZ$206(£108) a night.

Lake Moeraki Wilderness Lodge

Best for: Wildlife spotting

Wilderness Lodge at Lake Moeraki is surrounded by coastal rainforest and guests can join lessons in kayaking, star-gaze and feed giant eels with recycled waste. The members at the lodge protect unique Tawaki penguins and run guide d penguin-watching tours from July to December. From NZ$450(£235), includes breakfast, dinner, and twice-daily guided activities.

Timber Trail lodge

Best for: Fresh forest air

Timber Trail Lodge, is fantastic for weary cyclists and hikers, with cosy lounges (休息室) flooded with natural light during the day and then lit by the glow of the fireplace by night. Nearly all power is solar, rainwater is harvested and profits are spent on trail conservation. From NZ$390 (£205) a night, with all meals.

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.

We had a wonderful time in Mauritius. During our week’s stay, we     1     (rent) a small car to explore the island a bit more. Driving in Mauritius is easy, although the roads are quite small, and drivers always expect others       2     (watch) out for them.

We spent most of our days       3       (swim) in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. The water was actually as warm as the air, so taking a bath at sunset was really       4     amazing experience!

Because there were not enough road signs, we got lost several times, but       5     (general) we enjoyed our little adventure. We visited the gardens of the chateau Labourdonnais and had a       6     (taste) lunch at the restaurant there. We also explored Grand Baie, which means Big Bay in English, and also had a look around the newly-built mall, where we explored the local supermarket. The kids loved the shelves packed     7     the biggest chocolate jars     8     were wondering at the many exotic (奇异的) fruits and vegetables.

All in all, Mauritius offers     9     you and your family can’t afford to miss. And if you go there, let us know about your     10     (experience). Looking forward to hearing from you! Contact us here.

7 . Lovers often use flowers, chocolates, sweet gifts or grand declarations to express feelings deep in their hearts. But this year, you could let your love take off by traveling with that special someone on a romantic adventure. These are some romantic destinations which might bring new joy to your life and, most importantly, more fun and excitement to your relationship.

Stairs of the Turks, Sicily

Scala dei Turchi, or Stairs of the Turks, at Realmonte, southern Sicily, Italy. The Scala is formed by mud, a sedimentary rock (沉积岩) with a characteristic white color and is a popular tourist attraction and place to sun bath. In the film Malèna, the hero, 12-year-old Renato, always stare at the sunset here with his friends.

Somerset House in London

Located in central London, Somerset House is a popular filming location with its exterior featuring in several big budget Hollywood films. In the winter, its central courtyard is turned into an open-air playground for skating, as seen during the well-received film Love Actually.

Pokhara, Nepal

Pokhara is considered the tourism capital of Nepal. With two major hilltops as viewpoints to see the city and surrounding view, the city has recently added a bungee jumping site (the second in Nepal): Water Touch Bungee Jumping. Visitors also come here for adventure activities such as paragliding and skydiving. In the film Up in the Wind starring Ni Ni and Jing Boran, two young people climb up to the mountaintop and wait for the strong wind to carry them for paragliding. It becomes a moment of spiritual uplift.

Otaru, Hokkaido, Japan

A canal decorated with Victorian-style street lamps runs through Otaru. The city attracts many Japanese tourists as well as Russian visitors. Otaru is well known for its beer, fresh sushi and handicrafts like studio glass and musical boxes. At the poster of Japanese film Love Letter, Hiroko Watanabe stands among the snowy town and honors her dead lover.

8 . An immersive and slow-paced Citywalk is becoming trendy across China. In contrast to rushing past overcrowded tourist landmarks, the new trend has emerged as a popular alternative to explore bustling markets, ancient streets, and charming alleys at a leisurely pace.

The appeal of Citywalk caters particularly to the younger generation often caught up in demanding work schedules. As evidenced by the increasing popularity of hash tags like “City walk for vacation” on lifestyle sharing platform Xiaohong shu, with a staggering 465 million views and nearly 464, 600 engagements, the trend is truly capturing unbelievable attention.

Citywalk, or meandering through the urban landscapes, means the act of walking freely along city streets unburdened by exhaustive plans. It offers people an avenue to intimately experience urban culture and local traditions. Citywalk is not merely about sightseeing. It creates an opportunity for social interactions and deep connections with the cities. Citywalk routes are tailored to the specific interests of both out-of-town tourists and locals. For tourists, the focus is on sharing local customs and traditions, while for locals, discussions revolve around the city’s past, present, and future. The growing trend of Citywalk reflects a changing attitude towards life, embracing a warmer, more relaxed, and slower-paced lifestyle.

As Citywalk expands beyond first-tier cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, to second-and third-tier cities across the county, it brings fresh opportunities for the tourism industry, in such areas as dining, shopping, and accommodation.

Governments in Beijing and Shandong have recognized the potential of Citywalk, incorporating it into their action plans to promote cultural tourism and leisure activities. In Shanghai, public bus lines specially designed have been introduced to elevate the overall Citywalk for participants.

“By slowing down and delving into the narrow alleys, observing the lives of city residents, and immersing oneself in the context of museums and art galleries, one is entitled to embrace the pleasure of life,” said Luo Jun, a cultural tourism enthusiast.

9 . Four Great Theme Parks with New Attractions

Get ready for a new year filled with thrills, incredible entertainment, cutting-edge rides, and amazing new attractions at the country’s most popular theme parks.

Universal Studios Hollywood

Giant dinosaurs will walk the Earth and shock guests when you are experiencing Universal Studios Hollywood’s all-new Jurassic World Ride. The ride features dinosaurs such as T-Rex as big as five stories high. Ride enthusiasts take note: The technologically cutting-edge attraction features new principles of hydraulic (水压的) physics and promises an eye-opening prehistoric experience.

Busch Gardens

To celebrate Busch Gardens’ birthday, this park at Tampa Bay launched an impressive new coaster: Tigris. This steel coaster features a 150-foot skyward movement with twists and drops running 60 miles per hour along the 1800-foot steel track. Don’t miss the scariest roller coasters in America. It is designed to copy the quickness of the world’s largest and most powerful cat — the tiger.

Walt Disney World Resort

Lovers of classic cartoon characters will want to join Mickey on this adventure open at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida. Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway features amazing visual effects, a lovable theme song, and twists and turns ideal for the whole family.

Universal’s Islands of Adventure

As mysterious as Severus Snape, Universal’s new Harry Potter Coaster replaced the Dragon Challenge, which closed in 2017, and was launched in mid-2019. The ride is a technologically advanced and thoroughly surprising roller coaster that repeatedly launches you around the grounds outside Hogwarts — the fictional British boarding school of magic.