4 . Some places are to be appreciated and visited during the winter months, with fresh layers of snow transforming already beautiful landscapes into wonderlands. Read on to discover these winter resorts around the world that are enough to wake you up.

The falls are especially impressive in winter. It has two impressive layers, reaching up to 36 feet and 69 feet, and it’s quite dramatic to see the golden light reflected off its steep water at sunset. If you want to catch a sight of the polar lights on your trip, you can also see it from September to mid-April in Iceland.

Tromso is a charming fishing village and energetic university town. Located on the Norwegian Sea off the northern coast of Norway, Tromso is particularly suitable for winter holidays as it is a popular gateway to the Arctic Circle. Surrounded by picturesque glaciers (冰川), the winter landscape of this region is unforgettable. You can also take part in many guided tours designed around the local Sami culture and maritime history.

As Canada’s first national park, Banff National Park offers excellent views of the snow- covered Canadian Rockies. Located about two hours’drive from Calgary, the park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with cross-country skiing opportunities.

Crater Lake National Park, about a four-hour drive south of Portland, Oregon, is especially notable during the winter when the volcano lake is covered in snow. Crater Lake was formed as a result of a volcanic eruption some 7,700 years ago and is now a must-see for travelers seeking natural experiences, such as camping and cross-country skiing.

5 . 2 Days Xi’an-Luoyang Tour by Bullet Train

Tour Overview

Xi’an and Luoyang are two of the four most famous ancient capital cities in China. Taking a bullet train from Xi’an, one will arrive in Luoyang in about 2.5 hours.

Day 1: Xi’an-Luoyang by Bullet Train

AM: At around 7:00, a local driver will pick you up from the hotel. Then you’ll transfer to North Xi’an Railway Station for the bullet train to Luoyang. Upon your arrival in Luoyang, you’ll meet a local guide holding a name board.

The guide will lead you to visit the Longmen Grottoes, which is a treasure house of ancient stone-carving artworks. There are over 100 thousand stone statues along the two banks of the Yi River.

PM: After lunch. you will pay a visit to the Museum of Luoyang Eastern Zhou Royal Horse and Chariot Pits. The Eastern Zhou Dynasty is the last slavery dynasty in Chinese history. The last stop is Luoyang Museum which is a historical museum of China and houses over 1,700 cultural and historical relics in 5 showrooms.

Accommodation: Hotel booked by your own

Day 2: Luoyang-Xi’an by Bullet Train

AM: After breakfast on your own, please meet your driver and guide in the hotel at 9:00 and then drive for about 1 hour 20 minutes to Shaolin Temple, the birthplace of Chinese Zen Buddhism and Shaolin Martial Arts. Here you will see the Kungfu show performed by Shaolin monks.

PM: Finish the sightseeing, you will take the bullet train back to Xi’ an. Your 2 days Xi’ an-Luoyang tour ends here.

Tour Price Per Person

6 . The most scenic train journeys

Semmering Railway, Austria

Route: Gloggnitz to Mürzzuschlag

Distance and duration: 25.5 miles, 45 minutes

Best time to ride: Year round

Constructed between 1848 and 1854 by more than 20,000 workers, the Semmering Railway travels through a picturesque wonderland as the train crosses the 965-metre-high Semmering Pass.

Centovalli Railway, Switzerland and Italy

Route: Locarno to Domodossola

Distance and duration: 32 miles, two hours

Best time to ride: June to August

The “Hundred Valley” Railway is a spectacle of waterfalls, chestnut groves, lush landscapes and vineyards: the Alps at their charming best. Highlights of this journey include the Isorno Bridge near the village of Intragna and the valley connecting Re and Intragna.

Mittenwald Railway, Austria and Germany

Route: Innsbruck to Zugspitze

Distance and duration: 51.5 miles, three hours

Best time to ride: Year round

The Mittenwald Railway is a beautiful border-crossing route that travels past shining lakes and glorious mountainous landscapes on its journey between Austria and Germany. And it also takes you towards the peak of Zugspitze, Germany’s highest mountain at 2,961 metres.

Glacier Express, Switzerland

Route: Zermatt to St Moritz

Distance and duration: 180 miles, 7.5 hours

Best time to ride: November to January

On the Glacier Express, the chances of meeting a millionaire are higher than average as you travel between the eastern and western Swiss Alps, through awesome mountainous landscapes and two of Switzerland’s best-known resorts. It’s perfect for ski enthusiasts.

Many Russian visitors have flocked (涌入) to Heihe in Northeast China’s Heilongjiang province to have breakfast after a visa-free policy was launched for cross-border travel between Heihe and Russia’s Blagoveshchensk     1     September 21.

As one of China’s pioneering border cities, Heihe city and the Russian city of Blagoveshchensk     2     (be) a mere few hundred meters apart on foot, with a swift 7-minute boat ride connecting them. Local residents emphasize that the cost of living in Russia is 5 to 6 times     3     (high) than in Heihe.

In Northeastern China, the morning markets are famous for their high-quality yet affordable offerings. They boast a wide selection of fresh, premium produce,     4     (include) vegetables, meats, eggs, and seafood, as well as reasonably priced footwear, head-wear, general merchandise, and local specialties. Over time, these markets     5     (become) a favored destination for tourists looking to experience the authentic (正宗的) local lifestyle.

In late autumn, with golden leaves and the arrival of frost in Northeast China, Heihe     6     (witness) temperatures ranging from -2 ℃ to 9 ℃ during the day. People wore thick coats and layered clothing to beat the cold. When it came to breakfast, there was a     7     (prefer) for warm and hearty soups.

With the resumption of the China-Russia reciprocal visa-free group tourism,     8     number of inbound (入境) and outbound (出境) individuals at the Heihe Port has     9     (significant) increased, driving economic growth in the border city.

According to statistics, during the recent Mid- Autumn Festival and National Day holidays, Heihe welcomed over 600,000 visitors,     10     is a remarkable 184.9 percent compared to the numbers in 2019. The number of inbound and outbound tourists reached 14,683, with more than 2,000 arrivals in a single day.

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the famous tourist city—