1 . Afternoon tea, the most typical of English customs, is, perhaps surprisingly, a relatively new tradition. The custom of drinking tea became popular in England during the 1660s thanks to King Charles Ⅱ and his wife, and it was not until the mid-19th century that the concept of “afternoon tea” first appeared.

Afternoon tea was introduced by Anna, the Duchess of Bedford, in the year 1840. At that time lunch was taken early but the evening meal was served fashionably late at eight o'clock, leaving a long period of time between the two meals. The Duchess would become hungry in the afternoon, so she asked that tea and cake be brought to her room around four o'clock. This became a habit of hers and later she began inviting friends to join her.

This palace tea party was such a success that it soon spread to London and other places in UK as a fashionable social event. During the 1880’s, upper-class women would dress up for their afternoon tea, also known as “low tea” because tea was taken while seating in low, comfortable chairs or sofas.

While Low Tea was largely a game for the upper class, “high tea” was a necessary meal for working class families. During the second half of the Victorian Period, working families would return home late tired and exhausted. As the most important meal of the day, the table would be set with meats, bread, butter, cheese and of course, a pot of good, strong tea to lift their spirits. Because it was eaten at a high, dining table, it was called “high” tea.

To experience the best of the afternoon tea tradition, treat yourself with a trip to one of London’s finest hotels. There are also a wide selection of old-fashioned tearooms offering afternoon tea experience.

We provide very British afternoon tea experience trips during your stay in London. Just tell your tour guide when you want to taste the culture and we will arrange everything for you with a very reasonable charge. It’ll be a once in a lifetime experience. Don’t miss it.

2 . Getting around Venice by travelling along its water ways is a delight for all visitors. Apart from offering unforgettable views of the architecture, the city's transportations are convenient, efficient, and also relatively inexpensive.

PASSES

Instead of paying EUR 7 per ride, a better option is to purchase one of ACTV's passes, which offer unlimited travel for 1 day (EUR 20), 2 days (EUR 30), 3 days (EUR 40) or 1 week (EUR 60). For children and young people between the ages of 6 and 29, ACTV offers a special "Rolling Venice" 3-day pass (EUR 29).

BY GONDOLA

Considered by many as the most symbolic feature of Venice, today gondolas circulate most often on canals in the centre of the city, carrying tourists on rides at fixed rates, which tend to be rather high. A 40-minute ride costs around EUR 100, but may be shared by as many as six passengers.

BY RENTAL BOAT

It is possible to rent a boat to travel around Venice's canals. A boating permit is not required, but you will need to pass a basic turning and docking test before being allowed to rent a boat. Rates start at EUR 30 per hour.

BY WATER TAXI

Getting around by water taxi in Venice is most costly, but can be a convenient option when you are in a hurry or need to carry a lot of luggage. The initial charge is EUR 15, then EUR 2 per minute. If you have more than one bag per passenger, there is a charge of EUR 3 for each additional piece.

Note: There are only four fueling stations for boats in Venice. Make sure you note their locations before heading out.

Winter is approaching! Come to the Harbin in the northeast of China and enjoy the Ice-Snow World! Here you can appreciate illuminated ice at night, and check out snow in the daytime. This is a good place to toss water and watch it turn into ice instantly. Find a safe place with no one nearby, and enjoy the unique sight. Moreover, in winter, the Songhua River turns into “thousands of miles of ice” and becomes a natural ice-skating rink. The frozen river offers opportunities for many different winter activities. Wanna book a room? Call 0451-88456888.

Shennongjia is said to be the place where the Emperor Yan once lived and impresses visitors with its vibrant ecology, rich biodiversity and the natural beauty of karst landforms. There are waterfalls, pools and a 17-meter-high arch “bridge” crafted by nature after years of rain erosion. You can hike in a forest, climb a mountain and explore a large, dark cave to listen to the sounds of swallows nestling. Some visitors hope that they may even encounter the legendary yeren (“wild man”) here in Shenlongjia. The booking line is 07196548542 or send a email to www.shenlongjiabooking.com.

An about 2-meter-wide alley, or “Liu Chi Xiang” in Chinese, now attracts floods of visitors in East China’s Anhui province. It serves as enlightenment, inspiring people to observe public morals and cherish harmony, especially in disputes and conflicts. Tickets sell only at the entrance gate.

In the Qing Dynasty , Minister Zhang Ying received a letter asking for his final judgement on a dispute between two families’ house boundary about a wall. Zhang wrote a poem back saying, “Looking at the ten thousand mile-long Great Wall. Long gone is its builder Emperor Qinshihuang.” Eventually, both families decided to move their wall about one meter back, which created the “alley” between the houses.

8 . Bringing science to life

From tornadoes to Tesla coils (特斯拉线圈) and ancient boats to futuristic robots—the interactive and award-winning exhibits at the Museum of Science and Industry (MSI) bring science to life for guests of all ages.

It’s been more than 25 years since the 727 landed at MSI. In a newly reimagined exhibit, Take Flight, you can see a section of the 727 as it looked on its first flights in 1964. Talk to United Airlines pilots who volunteer at the exhibit, share stories about their career and answer questions about how planes fly.

Marvel: Universe of Super Heroes celebrates Marvel history with more than 300 artifacts including original comic book pages, sculptures, interactive displays, and costumes and props from Marvel’s films.

With multiple interactive units, archival (档案的) media, videos narrated by Bill Kurtis and nearly 200 artifacts, the U-505 Submarine exhibit is a treasure trove (宝库) of history as well as a National Historic Landmark.

Colleen Moore’s Fairy Castle is virtually a museum within our museum, a collection of miniature (微型的) treasures of fantastic proportions in every room, from inch-square books signed by the world’s greatest authors to statues nearly two thousand years old.

10 . Top 4 Places in Europe to Experience a Warm Winter

Capri, Italy

It’s where cliffs (悬崖) and monuments stand tall over dreamy blue waters. Soft sun and warm waters go with you whether you visit the Blue Grotto (the most famous sight in the island) or spend a day in the seaside village of Pizzolungo. Make the most of the weather by walking along the Gardens of Augustus.

Crete, Greece

As November calls it an end and December begins, people of Crete get busy in gathering oranges. The largest island in Greece never runs out of warmth even during the height of winter. If you are a Northerner, you would appreciate the calm Mediterranean Sea and the uninterrupted days of golden sun. Before you settle down at village bars (酒馆), get an understanding of the place by visiting the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion that houses collections spanning (跨越) 5, 500 years.

Cyprus

Spending a European winter on this Mediterranean island is not just about climbing mountains, watching birds, and sunbathing on blue-flag beaches. You ought to enjoy a Christmas dinner with stuffed turkey and roast lamb and take part in parties on New Year’s Eve in downtown Limassol. When you have such lovely weather by your side, you won’t mind wandering into the trails of history by visiting the Katos Pafos Archaeological Park and the Baths of Aphrodite.

Monaco

Its winter may be mild, but its offerings are wonderful. While the French Riviera is amazing, Monaco Dance Forum in December is enriching. In fact, the Monaco Cathedral is a great masterpiece that deserves admiration. If you are not in for spending your time in the famous Monte Carlo Casino, make the most of a sunny day and spend time at the Exotic Gardens or the famous Oceanographic Museum.