The Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company (TMACC) issued 30,000 free birthday month tickets in 2021 to local tourists,     1     (allow) each visitor to experience breath taking views of Cape Town from above the clouds. “We are     2     (excite) to play a role in making the top of the mountain accessible to everyone for their birthday,” says Giselle Esau, executive manager of Brand and Marketing at TMACC. A return ticket up the cableway would     3     (normal) be charged at R390, but the TMACC birthday month special allows all South African citizens     4     (travel) up Table Mountain for free. Every year, thousands of local     5     international tourists travel to Cape Town to visit Table Mountain. So TMACC also has special offers positioned for local and for eign students and position offerings that accommodate children and the elderly,     6     has helped ensure that     7     (visit) to the mountain extend the reach beyond the barriers of affordability. “The mountain belongs     8     all of us, and everyone should     9     (give) an opportunity to experience it. Drawing in local tourists could also be an opportunity to aid the     10     (recover) of local tourism industry.” says Esau.

2 . We just got back from a weeklong trip through New Mexico where we traveled through desert landscapes, hiked up mountains, and walked through dry creek beds. We experienced nature and wildlife that was vastly distinct from what I’ve seen before.

We’ve lived in Atlanta for 25 years so it was quite a change from our “city in a forest”. My husband and I were joined by our adult so n who now lives in San Diego and is a little more familiar with the west. We like to visit national parks and explore interesting ecosystems.

In New Mexico, everything seemed striking and amazing. Starting in Albuquerque, we took a tram up the Sandia Peak in the Sandia Mountains, where we had fantastic views as we watched parasailers float off into the unending sky. We then drove to Abiquiu, the town where artist Georgia O’Keeffe was so inspired. We stayed at a lovely home pretty much in the middle of nowhere. First,   we noticed the breathtaking setting. Then we noticed the ants: billions of tiny ants were marching all over the outside of the property. They were carrying off a few of the native bees that had fallen to the ground near the house.

Once we were awakened in the middle of the night by howling (嚎叫) that was both strange and musical. We were told about the coyotes (郊狼) that share the area, so we weren’t surprised when we woke up the next morning to some pretty impressive pawprints right outside the back door. On our final morning hike before heading south in the state, we even spotted a large snake curled up on the path, enjoying the warm morning sun. We stayed far out of its way but certainly watched our steps a little more carefully.

We talked about sustainability throughout the trip. In the past several decades, there’s been so much noticeable change in our travel adventures. That will be great to keep the skies cleaner and save energy. And the coyotes and snakes can be left to dance and enjoy in peace.

3 . 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

4 . For some experienced Chinese travelers who have visited many destinations at home and abroad, their focus has changed toward exploring the less traveled domestic road and sharing their stories online.

Tuotuo and Susu are known for their first-person video blogs about less visited destinations in China. The couple’s short videos attract over 1.66 million followers on Sina Weibo, many of whom are youngsters with an urge to travel.

The couple has traveled to quaint villages where tourists seldom visit. For example, they visited Laozhai village in Lingshan county, Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region (自治区). The ancient Yao ethnic group village only has about 200 residents (居民) in 48 households.

During their travels, Tuotuo and Susu dine and rub shoulders with the locals and enjoy rural life. “These travels allow us to meet many interesting Chinese people and experience their unique lifestyles,” said 33-year-old Tuotuo.

However, the couple’s travels aren’t always without challenges. For example, when they visited a cattle-farming family in Yangdong village, Liping county, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong autonomous region in Guizhou, they had to drive on a winding road and a bumpy mud path, but the wonderful view of fields proved to be worthwhile.

“It’s like a Land of Peach Blossom in modern society. Their material life may not be as good as those in big cities, but they lead a life of ease and comfort,” Tuotuo said.

“Rather than common scenic areas, frequent visitors prefer in-depth travel and are interested in the local lifestyles and local people. For them, tourism has become a kind of lifestyle, and lifestyle has also become an essential part of tourism,” said Liu Simin, vice president of tourism at the Beijing-based Chinese Society for Future Studies.

7 . Festivals Around the World

Saint Patrick’s Day

Time: March 17

Place: Ireland

Saint Patrick’s Day is the traditional death date of Saint Patrick. In Ireland, celebrations include parades as well as dressing in green. The limitation on eating and drinking alcohol (酒)is canceled for the day, which has resulted in the holiday’s tradition of having various foods and drinking alcohol.

San Fermin Festival

Time: July 6-14

Place: Pamplona, Spain

The most famous event during the San Fermin Festival is the Encierro, or the Running of the Bulls (公牛), where the bulls are led through the street to the bull ring by runners at 8: 00 from 7 to 14 July. The week-long celebration includes many other traditions and events—you may also find yourself covered with flour and eggs and the streets are filled with music and dancing.

Burning Man

Time: Last Monday in August until the first Monday in September

Place: Black Rock City, Nevada, USA

You are expected to bring everything you will need for that week and you won’t spend money once you’re there and will take your rubbish with you when you leave. Over 60,000 people attend every year.

Oktoberfest

Time: 16 days from late August until the first weekend of September

Place: Munich, Germany

More than 6 million people from around the world attend Oktoberfest every year and drink large amounts of beer which has been made from 6 breweries (啤酒厂) in Munich. Attendees hang out in large beer tents dressed in Bavarian costumes and there are amusement rides and traditional foods.