In the gentle winter sunlight, Gulangyu Island lies like a pearl in the ocean, quietly revealing     1     (it) unique charm. This small island is a witness     2     history. Every brick seems to tell stories of the past.     3     (original) named “Yuanshazhou” and also known as “Yuanzhouzi”, it     4     (refer) to as “Wulongyu” during the Southern Song Dynasty. Later, due to the sound resembling a drum, it was renamed “Gulangyu.” Famous for its natural landscapes and cultural heritage, Gulangyu boasts     5     (attraction) such as Sunlight Rock, Shuzhuang Garden, and more. Figures like Ba Jin and Lin Yutang found inspiration here,     6     (enrich) the island’s intellectual heritage.

During the winter, life here seems to slow down. In the early morning, it’s preferable to walk through the alleys     7     (surround) by European-style buildings. Breathing in the air filled with the smell of the sea     8     (bring) an extraordinary sense of freshness and joy.     9     walk to Sunlight Rock on the island offers a view of the entire city of Xiamen. In the afternoon, one can enjoy a rich cup of coffee in a café by the sea,     10     feels like being in a moving painting with the occasional fishing boat passing by. As the sun sets, the entire island is enveloped in a golden sunset. At this moment, Gulangyu becomes even more gentle and romantic.

2 . The Best Hotels in Edinburgh Close to the Must-See Sights

Edinburgh is home to some of the best hotels in Scotland. Here are some selected hotels, ranging from iconic five-star institutions to new apartment hotels.

The Balmoral Hotel

For luxury accommodation, the Balmoral hotel offers five-star service and fantastic views of Edinburgh Castle. It is in the city center and features the iconic clock tower. The Balmoral is probably the most famous hotel in the city and is famous for its hospitality. It is also popular with locals for afternoon tea.

Wilde Apart Hotel

Wilde Apart hotel is a modern, stylish hotel. The hotel features well-appointed (设备齐全的) serviced apartments that have fully equipped small kitchens, free WiFi, and car parking nearby. The apartments are ideal for those who are staying in the city for more than a night or two and would like to have a small kitchen to enjoy breakfast or lunch.

The Radisson Collection Hotel

The Radisson Collection Hotel overlooks the iconic Royal Mile. It’s just a short walk from attractions such as Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Park, and it’s within easy reach of local restaurants, shops, bars, and galleries. Everything you will want to see and do in Edinburgh is close to hand, and it’s five minutes from Waverly Train Station and airport links. The hotel’s design is modern.

Scotsman Hotel

Originally built as The Scotsman newspaper offices in 1905, Scotsman Hotel has been carefully restored into nine floors of rooms and suites with commanding views over the city. Located at the top end of North Bridge, the hotel occupies the prime real estate spot (黄金地段) in Edinburgh. Easy access to Waverley Train Station and airport shuttles, the hotel is probably the most well-appointed accommodation in terms of transport links.

We hope you love the Edinburgh hotels we recommend!

3 . The British Museum

Welcome to the British Museum to experience cultures across the globe, from the origin of human history to the present. The entry can be gained for free if applied on our website.

Book tickets and plan your day including exhibitions, facilities, access, food and travel. Book your free ticket to guarantee Museum entry and receive key information and updates before your visit.

Please note that galleries in the Museum may be closed for maintaining clean or private events. All planned closures will be listed on the Visit page. Occasionally we may need to close galleries at short notice for safety reasons. We regret that in these cases we’re not always able to inform the public in advance.

Families with children of all ages can enjoy a range of free gallery activities.

You can wander through selected galleries and complete five challenges. Find a variety of objects within the gallery, perform for a video using a phone or tablet, discuss an object, look closely at collection highlights, and pose for a photo shoot alongside the objects.

Involving the whole family, each trail dives into interesting objects. Trails include Journey Across Japan, Africa Around the World, Ancient Greece, Ancient Egypt, Fantastic Creatures and more.

This unique experience allows visitors under 16 to explore the museum in a fun way. Jobs in Roman Britain, best for ages 7-11, sees kids match modern objects with ancient objects; Sensory Support Backpack provides resources and ideas to support young visitors aged 3–11 with additional sensory needs in a busy museum environment; Little Feet, a backpack for kids under 5 for use in any area of the museum is also worth trying.

6 . We set off on our journey up Mount Wutai onto its peak to appreciate the mysterious and beautiful Bodhisattva Lights, ball-shaped lights floating in the whole sky with radiant beams. Seen from the foot of the mountain, the sky was gray and cloudy.     1    It sometimes appeared in white mist, and sometimes was completely covered by clouds.

On the mountainside, our clothing grew wet.     2     It slowed the horses down to a heavy pace. We spent the night at a small temple. The next morning we continued our climb in the rain. The road was more slippery than the day before, so we had no choice but to get down from our horses and walked on foot.

On the way, we were told the unusual phenomenon wouldn’t be observed in the rain. We sighed with disappointment.     3     And the sun set in the west, the clouds disappeared and the mist faded.

Eventually, we arrived at the peak, with the sky filled with stars. Late in the night, we got awake by a shout. “Get up. Hurry up to see the Lights!” We moved quickly, threw on a few pieces of clothing and ran out. It was cold, making our bodies shake from head to foot.     4    Just before our eyes, the mysterious phenomenon appeared.

Thousands of ball-shaped objects floated slowly in the distance, shining golden beams of light, as though the whole sky were filled with countless glowing lanterns. The balls moved across the sky at the same speed.     5     They were light and delicate. Meanwhile, we all just froze there, speechless with wonder, appreciating the incredible views.

8 . Not every architectural landmark is grand in scale, with splendid decorations, or amazing colors. Suzhou Gardens may just be the opposite.

When a group of monks during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) first constructed Lion Grove Garden, they may have just wanted to enjoy a quiet place, hidden away from urban noise, while in the following centuries, this charming garden - most notable for its waterside rockeries resembling the shape of lions—has attracted a constant stream of celebrity guests, who have left a long list of poems, paintings and historical anecdotes (轶事).

In recent years, nine of the best-known classical gardens of Suzhou, including Lion Grove Garden, Humble Administrator’s Garden and Great Wave Pavilion, were registered into the World Heritage List. As UNESCO remarks, “Classical Chinese garden design, which seeks to recreate natural landscapes in miniature (缩略图), is nowhere better illustrated than in the nine gardens, which reflect the profound natural beauty in Chinese culture and inspire people to pursue harmony with the world.”

Nowadays, relevant administrations have been trying to restore the historical landscapes of Suzhou’s classical gardens. Consequently, last year, a new project was launched allowing tourists in small groups to reserve places to enter the garden in the early morning before the regular opening time. Their visit ended with them completing the last step in making a traditional folding fan, adding a poem about the garden on its surface. The experience was also regarded as a way to help people understand the wisdom, elegance and philosophical worldview of the ancient Chinese literati (文人).

The delicate beauty of the gardens still flows via the canals that snake across Suzhou. Hardly felt, their strength in shaping the city’s character seems to last forever.

9 . For people who are planning a trip, a visit to a museum might not be the first thing they think of. After all, there are plenty of ways to appreciate the world’s civilization, gain exciting experiences and spend quality time with family and friends.     1    

Museums are where people learn something new, at every age! Are you interested in something specific?     2    . There, you will find yourself drawn in and inspired! Museums are a fantastic place to learn about a region’s history, scientific achievements, major cultural events, and of course, dinosaurs. They also design exhibitions related to visual arts, industrial innovations and anything that inspires an individual to learn about the past and create new paths to the future.

    3     They will surely be an exciting part of the educational experience with the main purpose to expose children to knowledge of various fields and expand their horizons. To achieve that, museums are working to create meaningful and engaging activities, interactive and knowledge-based.

Museums support tourism. They are tourism promoters in small towns and large cities. Museums aren’t a burden on tax revenue (税收) or a separate concern from other city projects.     4    Statistics show that museums support more than 726, 000 jobs in America.

Museums shape communities. They have activities and exhibitions through which visitors can learn about local history. Museums are places where a shared heritage is celebrated and a collective identity is formed. They provide an interesting public space where people meet and talk to each other.     5