Beijing is a city bridging the ancient and the modern. From Buddhist temples to museums, narrow hutong     1     royal palaces, it is home to more than 3,000 years of glorious history even down to its layout, with the city keeping its carefully     2     (build) system of ring roads.

But for all its ancient buildings, Beijing is also a place     3     welcomes the fast-paced development of modern life, with 21st-century architectural     4     (wonder) standing side by side with historical buildings of the past.

It is a distinct visual contrast (反差) that shouldn’t work,     5     somehow these two very different worlds make a good combination.     6     (visit) several times over the last 10 years, I     7     (amaze) by the co-existence of old and new, and how a city was able to keep such a rich heritage (遗产) while constantly growing. As a photographer, I have spent the last two years     8       (record) everything I discovered.

The     9     (remark) development of this city, which is consciously designed to protect the past while stepping into the modern world,     10     (mean) there is always something new to discover here, and I could be photographing Beijing for the next 50 years.

4 . I grew up in Michigan and have loved boats since I was young. I’d go out on my dad’s fishing boat, and every birthday I’d get a miniature boat with a viewing window. In Michigan, we’re _________ by lakes and I soon discovered that I loved diving and _________ skipped school days for the beach.

Three years ago, I _________ put forward an idea of running glass-bottom boat tours to an investor. It started in 2018. At present, My sons _________, manning the deck(甲板)and phones. We head out on the Cheboygan river and Lake Huron. We sail past lots of places of_________, with a historian on board explaining the history. We often scan the river to see what we can find.

One weekend this year, I met a _________ client. I thought I should find something to show him and managed to find a giant shell. Then I saw a green bottle. I swam to my boat, took a photo and then opened the bottle. It was full of water and had a paper inside. I _________ the paper and saw the date —November 1926. We were all amazed. The note_________: “Return this paper to George Morrow.” I was so excited to have found it.

We made sure to keep the paper safe. Before leaving the harbor, I posted a picture on my Facebook page and didn’t expect what followed.

The next morning, my phone _________ with messages. While I was driving home, I got a phone call from Michele Primeau. She told me she was George Morrow’s daughter. I didn’t believe her __________. She said her dad would float notes in bottles when he went on vacation or __________ them in walls when redecorating. She __________ he had posted this one on his 18th birthday.

In autumn, Michele came to visit. She brought some of his writing and the handwriting matched. She __________ I keep the message and the bottle.

It now sits in a display case in my shop. That Facebook post now has 87,000 __________. In a hard year, the discovery has brought purejoy.__________a Scuba diver(水肺潜水员), this feels like a lifetime achievement.

5 . 4 Most walkable cities in Europe

Seville in Spain takes the top spot as Europe’s most walkable city, offering the shortest walking route between the top four tourist attractions.Visitors can explore the impressive Plaza de Espana public square, before wandering over to the UNESCO-listed palace of Real Alcazar and Seville Cathedral. After that, it’s only a short trip on foot to visit the beautiful Barrio Santa Cruz neighbourhood.

Venice is well-known as a heaven for pedestrians (行人), so it’s no surprise it ranks as the second best location for walkable city breaks. There are endless alleyways to explore, as well as plenty of beautiful bridges over the crisscrossing canals that the city is famous for. Just under half an hour of walking here will take you on a tour of the impressive Grand Canal, Doge’s Palace, St Mark’s Square, Basilica and bell tower, all in only 1.3 miles.

Nestled along Portugal’s picturesque coast, Porto comes in third with its top attractions all covered by a 30-minute walking route. Meander along the Dom Luís I Bridge over the Douro River, head to the Clérigos Church Bell Tower and enjoy a riverfront walking place along the Cais da Ribeira. The Stock Exchange Palace is also just a short walk away.

Florence, Italy, secures its place as the fourth most walkable city in Europe thanks to its stunning attractions that can be seamlessly explored on foot. A 1.6 mile route covers the awe-inspiring Piazzale Michelangelo; the famous Uffizi Gallery; the Piazza del Duomo where you will be amazed at the magnificent Florence Cathedral; and the Galleria dell’Accademia, home to Michelangelo’s masterpiece, the statue of David.

6 . Do you want to see majestic lions roaring, rare rhinos running and colorful birds flying? You’ll find this incredible display of nature in the Kenya Lake System in the Great Rift Valley.

First stop

Fly into Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. This great city is known for its fashion markets and beautiful art. And be sure to pick up some rich Kenyan coffee while you’re there! Then head for the countryside.

Plan your trip

The largest of the three lakes in the system, Lake Nakuru, is less than 175 kilometers from Nairobi. But Lakes Bogoria and Elementaita are equally worth a visit. You can stay at one of several choices of luxurious cabins in the valley. And if you sign up for a trip, be sure to put flamingos, the white and pink birds, at the top of your list.

Paradise

The Kenya Lake System is shallow and alkaline (碱性的). That means it supports vegetation such as green algae, a food source for many waterfowl. Hundreds of species of birds flourish here, using this area as a major breeding and nesting ground. Water buffalo, leopards, monkeys and the endangered Rothschild giraffe also make this area their home.

Other sights

Wildlife isn’t the only natural wonder in the Great Rift Valley. The valley marks a place where the earth is divided far below the surface. This rock separation below ground leads to noticeable features above ground. Walking around Lake Bogoria especially, you will see steam rising from hot springs.

Other activities include golfing, horseback riding and hiking. The fun doesn’t stop when the sun goes down, either. The river valley is far from city lights, so many visitors gaze at the stars shining above.

If you are ready for a wildlife experience, don’t hesitate!

7 . It’s never too early to get thinking about this year’s big trip.But where should you go? Well, National Geographic has revealed its“Best of the World”list for 2023,offering a few pointers as to the travel experiences over the next 12 months or so. This year’s Nat Geo list is split into four categories as follows.

Explore the biodiversity of Botswana.

Witness rewilding in the Scottish Highlands.

Go on a foodie biking tour of Slovenia.

Visit Big Bend National Park in Texas, USA.

Take part in sustainability programs in the Azores.

Head to Egypt to visit the new Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo.

Watch films and down craft beers in Busan, South Korea.

Visit the International African American Museum in Charleston, USA.

See the Longmen Grottoes’ stone statues in Hunan, China.

Go on an Alpine rail trip in Switzerland.

Help conserve turtle populations in Trinidad and Tobago.

Head to San Francisco, USA, for city-view campfires and urban hiking trails.

Bird-watch in Colombia.

Visit football stadiums in Manchester, UK.

Take a women-led sustainable tour in the Dodecanese Islands in Greece.

Spend a long weekend on the Great Lakes in Milwaukee, USA.

Go on a new high-speed train in Laos.

Explore Black heritage in Ghana.

Okay, so it might not all be up your street — but it’s undeniably a spectacular range of stuff.You can read more on National Geographic’s official page here — and get pumped for a year of life-changing travel experiences.

8 . Speciality Museums in Europe

National Railway Museum, York

Home to locomotives(火车头)and a collection of engineering brilliance, we celebrate the past, present and future of innovation on the railways. Immerse yourself in stories from centuries of railway history and explore a million railway-related objects to know the importance of it during times of war.

Opening hours: Wednesday-Sunday 10:00 AM-5:00 PM

FREE ENTRY

Maritime Museum, Jersey

You can’t fail to enjoy the Island’s shipbuilding past with songs and stories of the sea. Full of interacting items experience life aboard ship in a cabin. Lots to open, press, turn and even design a ship by yourself. Then follow the story of Jersey’s seafood, beach and seaside entertainment.

Opening hours: Daily 10:00 AM-5:00 PM

Admission: $40 per adult; $25 per child(6-18 years).

Anne Frank House, Amsterdam

The Anne Frank House is a museum dedicated to Jewish wartime diarist Anne Frank. As a visitor, you experience this story through an audio tour, quotes, photos, videos, and original items.

Opening hours: Daily 9:00 AM-10:00 PM

Admission: $30 per adult/youth; $25 per child(4-12 years)

Vasa Museum, Stockholm

The Vasa ship capsized and sank on its first voyage in 1628. After 333 years on the seabed the mighty warship was recovered and put into the museum. The story of the king’s beautiful, yet terrifying ship fascinates people of all ages.   

Opening hours: Daily 10:00 AM-5:00 PM

Admission: $38. Free entry for children.