1 . Still waiting for your letter to arrive by owl (猫头鹰)? Don’t worry. You can still lose yourself in the magical world of Harry Potter, just by following this four-day route.
Day 1 Overview Edinburgh
It was in Scotland’s capital city that J.K. Rowling started to plot the adventures of Harry and his fellows. With stoned streets, winding alleys(小巷) and medieval(中世纪的) architecture, the city certainly has a few things in common with the settings from the books and films. She wrote the early chapters in various cafes around the city’s Old Towns.
Day 2 Overview travel to Fort William
Travel by train from Edinburgh to Glasgow and from there, and you can take the West Highland Line to Fort William. This is a great way to see some famous spots from the window, including the mysterious Rannoch Moor, the place where Death Eaters board the train in the movie Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows.
Day 3 Overview all aboard the Hogwarts express
Witness the sweeping cinematic scenery straight out of the eight successful films by booking a seat on the Jacobite Steam Train, which travels from Fort William to Mallaig along the West Highland Line. Stop for lunch in Mallaig and then make the return journey to Fort William. Please be sure to book the steam train in advance, as it is a very popular experience. It opens for the season in April.
Day 4 Overview lakes and valleys
In the films, mysterious, misty landscapes frame(衬托) the background of Harry’s tale, so it’s no surprise that the producers chose the Highlands for many scenes. Spend a day wandering through some of these beautiful spots and feel the magical atmosphere.
1. Where did J.K.Rowling first start to create Harry Potter?| A．In Mallaig. | B．In Edinburgh. |
| C．In Glasgow. | D．In Fort William. |
| A．Have lunch earlier than usual. | B．Learn about the return ticket. |
| C．Make a reservation beforehand. | D．Take a training course in April |
| A．Day 1. | B．Day 2. | C．Day 3. | D．Day 4. |
2 . The following small European villages will provide you with a chance to experience the beauty of nature and a sense of adventure, from climbing a mountain to taking a dive in the ocean.
Deià, Spain
Hidden between the towering Tramuntana Mountain and the blue Mediterranean, the village’s natural beauty inspires not just writers and painters, but adventure-seekers, too. From this peaceful village, cyclists can ride across this mountainous but bike-friendly region. After working up a sweat, they can go to the best beach, Cala Deià, in Spain. Its waters are perfect for giving the tired muscles a break with a relaxing dive.
Mürren, Switzerland
In Mürren, the fun starts before you arrive. This beautiful Swiss village sits on a Bernese Oberland mountain shelf so high that travelers must arrive by cable car. Like many mountain resort towns these days, Mürren offers year-round activities. Besides downhill skiing in winter, brave climbers can enjoy themselves from June to October, with or without a guide.
San Gimignano, Italy
In the Middle Age, wealthy families of this hill town went on a tower-building competition. At one point there were more than 70 towers, some of which were nearly 200 feet in height. Initially built as defenses in wars with neighboring villages, the towers became symbols of wealth and fame. Today, the village draws both history and wine lovers. Visitors can enjoy the famous white wine, Vernaccia di San Gimignano, at the tasting centers which overlook the surrounding grape hills.
Chipping Campden, England
Arguably the loveliest village in England, Chipping Campden isn’t just a photographer’s dream. It is also known for the annual Olympic Games in summer, a 400-year tradition that copies the Greek Olympics. It includes horseracing, coursing, jumping, backswords and country dancing. But the highlight is the wrestling that thankfully has never caught on anywhere else.
1. What can visitors do in Mürren?| A．Ski and climb mountains. | B．Ride bikes and dive in the sea. |
| C．Enjoy the Olympic Games. | D．Learn from writers and painters. |
| A．Deià. | B．Mürren. | C．San Gimignano. | D．Chipping Campden. |
| A．Horseracing. | B．Coursing. | C．Wrestling. | D．Jumping. |
3 . China is one of the best tourist destinations with many great museums, which will show you the Chinese civilization for the past thousands of years.
The Palace Museum, Beijing
There are always long lines at the gate, but it’s worth the wait. The palace Museum had been the Chinses imperial (皇帝的) palace from the Ming dynasty to the end of the Qing dynasty.
When you wander in the museum, you will be amazed at this largest palace complex in the world! It has about 1,807,000 rare and valuable artworks that witness the 5,000-year Chinese civilization.
Opening Hours:
April 1 — October 31: 8:30 — 17:00
November 1— March 31: 8:30 — 16:30
Closed on Mondays (except for national holidays and July-August)
National Museum of China, Beijing
This is the second most-visited museums in the world. Opened in 2003, the museum is devoted to educating the art and history of China through its collections, exhibitions, and academic researches.
Here you'll find the most brilliant masterpieces in China. It is now holding approximately 1,400,000 amazing objects. These objects are like storytellers who reveal Chinese history from the Yuanmou Man of 1.7 million years ago to the end of the Qing Dynasty.
Opening Hours:
9:00 — 17:00
Closed on Mondays
Museum of Terracotta Warriors and Horses (兵马俑), Xi'an
The Museum of Terracotta Warriors and Horses is featured with thousands of life-sized terracotta figures of warriors and horses. They are arranged in battle formations and different from each other with individual characteristics.
Thousands of treasures still remain to be unearthed at this archaeological (考古的) site, and more mysteries of the Qin dynasty will be revealed someday in the future.
Opening Hours:
March 16— November 15: 8:30 — 18:00
November 16— March 15: 8:30 — 17:30
Shanghai Museum, Shanghai
Visiting Shanghai Museum is ranked No. 2 out of 10 things to do in Shanghai. Perhaps, this is the most modern museum in China, housing a diverse collection of around 1,020,000 artifacts that chart the nation's history.
There are eleven galleries in three exhibition halls, covering most of the major categories of Chinese art: bronzes, sculpture, ceramics (陶瓷制品), paintings, calligraphy, seals, jade, coins and Ming and Qing furniture.
Opening Hours:
Monday to Sunday: 9:00 — 17:00
1. Which museum houses the largest collection?| A．The Palace Museum . | B．The National Museum of China. |
| C．The Museum of Terracotta Warriors and Horses. | D．The Shanghai Museum. |
| A．It is the most popular museum in the world. |
| B．It used to be part of the emperor's palace. |
| C．It shows Chinese history of all times. |
| D．It opens every day except Monday. |
| A．Its collections date back to the age of the Yuanmou Man. |
| B．The masterpieces are arranged in its many galleries. |
| C．It focuses on the archaeological findings of one dynasty. |
| D．Sculpture, ceramics and paintings are on show there. |
