1 . China is a colorful country with amazing places and cultures. In this blog, we will introduce five most attractive places that you can’t miss if you are planning to go for a travel in China!
Beijing
Beijing, the capital of China for over 850 years, is the first choice for many travellers. A perfect combination of classic elegance and modernity, it is the best Chinese destination to give you a better understanding of the country. You can wander around the Forbidden City to feel the dignity of the city; or you can walk along the criss-crossing hutongs and enjoy yourself in everyday local life.
Xi’an
If you want to feel the history of China over the past 1,000 years, you can go to Beijing; however, if you want to experience the 5,000 years’ history of this ancient, oriental land, Xi’an is the best travel destination in China. As one of the four major capitals of ancient civilisation (together with Athens, Cairo, and Rome), Xi’an is the home of Chinese civilisation. The Silk Road starts from here, stretching through West China to the Mediterranean.
Guilin
Guilin, a peaceful city lying in the hilly south-western area of the country, is among the top Chinese destinations for its extraordinary natural scenery. The unique karst landscape with its four features, namely green hills, clear water, fantastic caves, and oddly-shaped rocks, makes it a famous tourist attraction.
Chengdu
Visiting the lovely giant pandas must be on everyone’s to-do list when planning a tour of the best Chinese destinations. Many cities have zoos with space for pandas, but the best place to get close to them is Chengdu for sure! Visiting Chengdu is also a treat for food lovers. Jin li Street is a great place to have a taste of well-known Sichuan food. Besides, you can also enjoy the comfortable atmosphere.
1. What can you do in Beijing?| A．Enjoy the oddly-shaped rocks. | B．Have a taste of Sichuan food. |
| C．Walk around the Forbidden City. | D．Learn the history of the Silk Road. |
| A．Beijing. | B．Xi’an. | C．Guilin. | D．Chengdu. |
| A．Another attractive place in China. | B．The introduction to karst landscape. |
| C．Tips for travelling around the world. | D．The contact information of a museum. |
2 . A family vacation may be a good opportunity to relax and enjoy ourselves. Destinations nestled in nature with plenty of breathing room and easy access to fresh air are trending. Here are four destinations with an eye towards the great outdoors.
Woodloch Resort, Pennsylvania
Considering meals, drinks and activities are all included, it is worry-free to travel at Woodloch Resort. With vast rural grounds, its location and safety measures make it easy to be socially distant. You can sail on the lake, hike, swim or enjoy family-friendly games and entertainment. Comfort food classics served three times each day should satisfy even picky eaters.
Ocean Lakes Family Campground, South Carolina
Camping is a time-honored tradition. Families may bond over simple pleasures such as eating burgers grilled over an open fire and stargazing. Ocean Lakes Family Campground in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, sits on nearly a mile of beachfront. Each site is roomy enough for a large camper. Mini-golf, a waterpark, and bike rentals are a few of the many family friendly recreational options.
Hull-O Farms, New York
Develop a connection to the land when you stay on a working farm. Take part in simple agricultural tasks such as picking fruit, gathering eggs and milking cows. Kids can enjoy the outdoor environment with healthy freedom that their parents might not be able to allow them in a crowded city. Hull-O Farms is a 7th-generation family farm. Guests may reserve one of three comfortable houses and participate in farm life as much or as little as they please.
Shenandoah Valley, Virginia
Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley is not far from Philadelphia and New York. You’ll find a slower pace as you travel along scenic country roads through mountains, valleys and forests.
You can hike in Shenandoah National Park, explore large caves» or rent a boat moving down the Shenandoah River.
1. Which destination offers all-inclusive service?| A．Shenandoah Valley. | B．Woodloch Resort. |
| C．Hull-O Farms. | D．Ocean Lakes Family Campground. |
| A．People can camp on the beach. |
| B．People can enjoy all kinds of foods. |
| C．People can take part in farm life. |
| D．People can row a boat along the river. |
| A．In a novel. | B．In a biography. |
| C．In a farming magazine. | D．In a travel brochure. |
3 . Regenerative tourism is concept that is gaining attraction in the travel industry. It is different from sustainable tourism in that it goes beyond just minimizing the negative impact of tourism. It is a philosophy that aims to not only minimize the negative impact of tourism but also to actively contribute to the regeneration of local ecosystems, economies, and cultures.
The concept of regenerative tourism is not new. Native communities around the world have been practicing regenerative tourism for centuries. However, it has gained renewed interest in recent years due to the growing awareness of the impact of tourism on the environment and the need for sustainable travel practices, particularly post-pandemic-indeed it could even be argued that, as the global tourism industry and those who depend on it start to recover, tourism in itself is a regenerative act.
One example of regenerative tourism is ecotourism. Ecotourism involves traveling to natural areas with the aim of learning about and conserving the environment. It involves activities such as hiking, bird watching, and wildlife viewing. Another example of regenerative tourism is community-based tourism. Community-based tourism involves staying with local communities and participating in their cultural activities, such as our Buffalo Curd Experience in Sri Lanka, or our Rice Wine Trek in Laos. Regenerative tourism can also involve the use of sustainable and regenerative practices in the tourism industry itself. For example, hotels can use renewable energy sources, reduce their water consumption, and use sustainable materials in their construction.
The benefits of regenerative tourism are many. However, carrying out regenerative tourism practices requires a shift in mindset and a commitment to sustainability. It requires tourism businesses to not only minimize their negative impact but to actively contribute to the regeneration of the environment and communities. It requires tourists to be conscious of their impact and to choose travel options in line with their values.
In conclusion, regenerative tourism is a promising concept that has the potential to transform the travel industry. By actively contributing to the regeneration of local ecosystems, economies, and cultures, regenerative tourism can create a better future for both people and the planet.
1. What is the aim of the regenerative tourism?| A．To attract more investments. |
| B．To highlight the advantages of tourism. |
| C．To protect conventional economy and culture. |
| D．To promote a renewable and sustainable tourism. |
| A．Tourism industry has globally boomed. |
| B．People have suffered from the pandemic. |
| C．People show more concern about environment. |
| D．Regenerative tourism has been practised for long. |
| A．The definition of ecotourism. |
| B．The illustration of regenerative tourism. |
| C．Environmental conservation practices. |
| D．Reasonable doubts about regenerative tourism. |
| A．Regenerative tourism has a bright future. |
| B．Tourists can choose whatever travel they like. |
| C．Travel industry is able to transform regenerative tourism. |
| D．Regenerative tourism can be practiced in traditional ways. |
4 . Cruising (乘船游览) the Rhine; a family trip
Create family memories during our popular Rhine River cruise!
Days 1& 2 — Leave for Zurich, Switzerland
Depart from the US on a flight to Zurich and transfer to Basel to get on MS Amadeus Queens, where each adult and child will receive a special Welcome Package with general information about the cruise. The travel director will be on board to offer suggestions on independent activities. Then the ship will depart from Basel for Strasbourg and the passengers will gather for a welcome party and dinner on the ship.
Day 3 — Strasbourg
Choice 1— Strasbourg Panoramic Tour
This tour shows the most important city of France’s Alsace Region and the capital of the European Union. After the tour, you can enjoy a guided walk through Strasbourg’s historic center and visit Notre Dame Cathedral.
Choice 2 — Culinary Strasbourg
It offers insight into the city’s culinary heritage. Strasbourg is famous for its cooking throughout France. In “Winstubs”, small wine bars, typical of Strasbourg, traditional dishes can be enjoyed.
Day 4 — Speyer/Heidelberg
Choice 1—Technic Museum in Speyer
Explore inside an original huge plane and study the inner workings of a sea rescue boat. You’ll find the largest space flight exhibition in Europe, showing the Russian spacecraft Buran, a real moonstone, spacesuits as well as classic cars, fire trucks, motorcycles, and other exhibits.
Choice 2 — Heidelberg Castle and Town
Explore historic Heidelberg and visit the red-walled castle. See beautiful views of the Neckar Valley and the city below.
Choice 3 — Hike Heidelberg’s Philosopher’s Way
Hike the famous “Philosopher’s Way” for impressive views of Heidelberg Castle and the old town. Take a rest in Philosopher’s Garden while enjoying the view along with snacks and drinks.
1. What does the Welcome Package provide?| A．Tips on independent activities. |
| B．A guide to MS Amadeus Queens. |
| C．The introduction to the river cruise. |
| D．Information about the welcome party. |
| A．Culinary Strasbourg. | B．Strasbourg Panoramic Tour. |
| C．Technic Museum in Speyer. | D．Heidelberg Castle and Town. |
| A．Travel in classic motor vehicles. | B．Get some knowledge of space. |
| C．Go hiking on a well-known path. | D．Explore the historic castle and town. |
5 . Travelling is undoubtedly one of the most valuable learning experiences one can have. Whether it’s the people you meet or the things you see, travelling provides more valuable life lessons than school.
Travelling forces you out of your comfort zone.
School provides a safe environment where you feel comfortable with people who share similar cultures and backgrounds. Meanwhile, travelling means new foods, cultures, languages, people, and places to explore.
Travelling allows you to see and experience new ways of life.
Moving to a new place far away from home requires you to adapt to a new culture, language, and customs. Overcoming these challenges and accomplishing things you never thought possible will build your confidence and self-esteem(自尊心).
Travelling helps you be comfortable with uncertainty and the unexpected.
If there’s only one thing you can be sure of while travelling, it’s that trips don’t always go according to plans. There are plenty of things that can go wrong and that can force you to change your plans. Travel teaches you to be flexible, go with the flow, and accept uncertainty.
In conclusion, travelling is an enriching experience that provides valuable life lessons that cannot be learned in a classroom. It helps you grow as a person, build confidence, appreciate different cultures, and become more adaptable to change.
| A．Travel with an open mind. |
| B．Travelling helps you build confidence. |
| C．It pushes you out of your comfort zone. |
| D．Instead of being told something, you experience it. |
| E．Travellers love to make plans, but they also like to break them. |
| F．This skill is necessary in life as plans often change unexpectedly. |
| G．Nothing compares to experiencing a different way of life firsthand |
6 . Normally museums exhibit only a small proportion of their collections, but the Boijmans Van Beuningen gallery in Rotterdam is the first in the world to display the whole lot.
Housed in a huge mirrored, bowl-shaped depot (仓库) attached to the museum in the Dutch port city, its collection of 151,000 artworks by artists including Vincent van Gogh and Oscar-Claude Monet will be accessible to visitors from Saturday.
“It is the only fully accessible depot, public depot that is open in the world,” museum director Sjarel Ex told AFP as media toured the building to Tuesday ahead of the opening. “What happens here is that you do not follow the script that was written by a curator (馆长). You see things by accident, and you feel that you are discovering things.”
“Normally, only some 6 to 10 percent of collections at major museums around the world like the Boijmans Van Beuningen are on display, and the rest kept in closed storage depots,” said Ex. That will now change for the Rotterdam institution. Visitors will even be able to watch works being restored. “If you do not show the works, people will stop talking about and thinking about an art work. As a result, it is very likely that it is into oblivion—out of sight,” he said.
The project, whose cost was around 92 million euros has mainly been covered by private donations, features five different temperature zones for different types of artworks. The depot was originally created to solve a very serious problem—the possibility of flooding in a low-lying country where a third of the land sits below sea level. The old basement below the museum was likely to let in water, making it unsuitable for storage. “Every building is a moment in time, so this celebrates for sure the climate,” said its architect, Winy Maas. “Why? Because it’s the reason for the existence of this building—the former archives (档案馆) were under water. It was flooding, so we have to bring it up.”
1. What makes the Boijmans Van Beuningen gallery special?| A．It lies on a site below sea level. |
| B．Most of its collections are donations. |
| C．It has the most collections in the world. |
| D．It is the world’s first museum to exhibit all collections. |
| A．Collections are not supposed to be shown. |
| B．The curator can guide visitors around the museum. |
| C．The depot is open to the public occasionally. |
| D．Visitors discover the collections in person. |
| A．Memory. | B．Honor. | C．Forgetfulness. | D．Preserve |
| A．A Museum Opens Its Entire Art Collections In The Globe First |
| B．The Boijmans Van Beuningen Gallery Held Its First Exhibition |
| C．A Dutch Museum Was Rebuilt After Being Damaged By Flood |
| D．Major Museums In The World Will Display The Whole Collections |
7 . Best royal palaces in Europe you can visit
There are some royal palaces in Europe that they often open their doors to the public.
Drottningholm Palace, Sweden
This breathtaking 17th century palace in Drottningholm is not only the residence of the Swedish royal family, but it’s also a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to its impressively preserved castle and theatre. The palace and park are open to the public year-round.
Royal Palace of Oslo, Norway
The official royal residence for the Norwegian royals, this beautiful palace boasts neoclassical architecture and landscaped gardens complete with ponds and eye-catching statues. During the summer months the palace opens to the public on guided tours, which include beautiful staterooms (会客厅), the Bird Room, the Great Hall and the Family Dining Room.
Royal Palace of Madrid, Spain
While the Palacio Real is officially the royal residence, nowadays the Spanish royals choose to live in the Zarzuela Palace instead, with the Madrid palace used mainly for state ceremonies. There are over 3, 000 rooms in this breathtaking palace making it one of the largest palaces in the world. Highlights include the royal kitchens and the painting gallery, while the Changing of the Guard ceremony never fails to be a hit with tourists.
Palace of Versailles, France
If you seek after a palace that’s luxurious (豪华的), then the Palace of Versailles needs to be on your list. France hasn’t had a royal family since the French Revolution in 1789, but this palace offers a glimpse into how the former royals lived, as well as serving as a museum paying tribute to France’s rich history.
1. What is special about Drottningholm Palace?| A．It is open to the public. | B．It is redecorated. |
| C．It’s the residence of French royal family. | D．It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site. |
| A．The painting gallery. | B．A history museum. |
| C．Beautiful staterooms. | D．An impressive castle. |
| A．The changing of the Guard ceremony. | B．The process of French Revolution. |
| C．The history of Spanish royals. | D．The way of the former royals’ life. |
8 . Planning a trip to New York City can be exciting and interesting. In here you’re always a moment away from history. Explore New York City’s greatest parks through free and low-cost local tours.
Central Park
As one of the most famous parks in the world, Central Park is a man-made wonder. Not only is it the first public park built in America, but it is also one of the most frequently visited parks, with over 25 million guests per year. Set in the middle of busy Manhattan, its grounds serve as a safe harbor, not only for athletes and musicians but also for lots of migratory(迁移的)birds each year.
Washington Square Park
Washington Square Park, located in the heart of Greenwich Village, is a very popular and often crowded square. It was originally known as Southeast Square. In 1825, the square was renamed in honor of George Washington. People from all backgrounds gather to this large square dotted with trees.
Robert Moses State Park
Robert Moses State Park is located partly on the mainland and partly on Barnhart Island. Visitors reach the park through a tunnel(隧道) under the Eisenhower Lock. The park offers many recreational opportunities, including wooded campsites and cabins, some of the best fishing in the Northeast, picnic areas, a swimming beach, tennis courts and a year-round nature center.
Van Cortlandt Park
Van Cortlandt Park, in the northwest Bronx, is the third largest New York City park. Over half of the park is forested and it has the largest freshwater lake in Bronx. There is a lot of history in the park: It contains the Bronx’s oldest building, which was built in 1748~1749. The park has the oldest municipal golf course in the United States, the Van Cortlandt Golf Course, founded in 1895. It has a National Historic Landmark trail, the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail.
1. Which park is in the middle of Manhattan?| A．Central Park. | B．Robert Moses State Park. |
| C．Washington Square Park. | D．Van Cortlandt Park. |
| A．Play golf. | B．Visit a history museum. |
| C．Have a swim. | D．Appreciate migratory birds. |
| A．It is accessible through the Eisenhower Tunnel. |
| B．The whole park is full of trees. |
| C．It has the largest freshwater lake in the US. |
| D．A famous trail is located here. |
9 . Top 5 Travel Destinations in China
★ Yunnan — a colorful wonderland
Yunnan is the most diverse (多种多样的) and colorful area in China. You can admire different views, such as snowcapped mountains, rainforests, highland lakes, historical sites and amazing minority villages. It is famous worldwide for the Old Town of Lijiang, which has a history of over 800 years.
★ Guilin — the place to go for classic Chinese countryside
“East to west, Guilin is best.” Guilin’s countryside scenery (风景) draws millions of tourists from near and far every year. Its unique limestone ( 石灰岩) scenery is known as “the most beautiful on earth”. The Li River is the most beautiful sight in Guilin, which attracts many photographers in spring and fall.
★ Chengdu — the city of cute giant pandas
Giant pandas are so cute that many travelers want to see these lovely animals. Though there are giant pandas in zoos in many places around China, the best place to see them is in Chengdu. Visitors can also take part in volunteer programs to take care of giant pandas.
★ Tibet — nothing but pure beauty
Tibet is an attractive destination for many tourists. It is best known for rich Tibetan culture, unique
Tibetan architectural structures, extremely large grasslands, herds (群) of sheep, blue skies, clear water and fresh air.
★Zhangjiajie
Zhangjiajie is famous for its high peaks (山峰), clear rivers, thick forests and diverse plants and animals. It is a must-see scenic area in China. Many foreign travelers’ attention was attracted to it through the filming of the movie Avatar.
1. What is Yunnan famous for?| A．The Old Town of Lijiang. |
| B．The rich Tibetan culture. |
| C．The highland lakes. |
| D．The unique limestone scenery. |
| A．Exploring minority villages. |
| B．Seeing herds of sheep. |
| C．Climbing the high peaks. |
| D．Admiring countryside scenery. |
| A．Yunnan. | B．Guilin. | C．Chengdu. | D．Tibet. |
10 . I like flying to a foreign destination to visit the attractions during holidays, like millions of people are doing nowadays. The world has an amazing variety of must-see sights, from breathtaking natural scenery to impressive old cities, but too many of us are visiting them at the same time is putting pressure on these delicate and ancient places. Therefore, a number of beauty spots and historic sites have been introducing charges or restrictions on the tourists, which is meant to reduce overcrowding that can do harm to the surroundings of a place, protect old buildings in danger, and tidy up the mess that visitors leave behind.
The famous Italian city of Venice has, for example, introduced an entry fee of up to €10 for short-stay tourists. Citizens in Venice have long complained that the city is too crowded with tourists. Now, passengers arriving by cruise ship will have to pay a “landing tax”. Mayor Luigi Brugnaro says, “It would increase much-needed income to keep the city clean.”
Many cities in Europe have already charged a tax on tourists who stay in hotels and guest houses. This tax raises money to help protect the environment, pay for maintenance(维修) costs, or promote tourism. In Rome, new laws have been introduced to bring down bad tourist behaviour, such as forbidding drinking water from fountains and attaching “love padlocks” to bridges. Now the rules work well.
As more of us can now afford to travel, tourist destinations are getting busier, so maybe new laws and taxes on tourists are to be a necessary part of the sightseeing experience and benefit the beautiful attractions a lot.
1. How does the author lead in the topic of the passage?| A．By showing figures. | B．By presenting facts. |
| C．By asking questions. | D．By making comparison. |
| A．Overcrowding of tourists. | B．Lacking of maintenance. |
| C．Extra charges and restrictions. | D．Too much rubbish left by the tourists. |
| A．Visitors staying in hotels for nights. |
| B．Visitors hoping to keep the city clean. |
| C．Visitors damaging the ancient walls. |
| D．Visitors arriving by cruise ship. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Negative. | C．Supportive. | D．Unconcerned. |
