China is generally a safe country to travel to, as long as you know     1     you’re going and stay on watch. As the world’s third     2     (large) country, it has vast landscapes that are waiting     3     (explore). There are billions of historical and contemporary stories of people that wait for you to discover. The list of sights to see is endless, therefore you’ll never get     4     (bore) while exploring China.

China     5     (visit) by travellers from all around the world, and is of no danger to any person who understands local cultures and obeys local laws. For     6     most part, China is a safe place to visit, and crowds in public places should not cause any worry. Of course, small risks are still present, including     7     (thief) in tourist areas, as well as at train stations and on sleeper buses and trains. As you have to carry your passport to purchase many things in China, be careful, and always have photocopies or digital copies.

As     8     many Asian countries, crossing the road     9     (safe) does pose a higher risk than usual, especially in smaller cities with fewer traffic lights. Even if you are crossing on a green light, ensure you look both ways and cross carefully, as there have been instances of tourists’    10     (injure) seriously by vehicles.

3 . Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area

The "World Wonder" and "Fairy Land on Earth" are names enjoyed by the Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area, which is famous for its colorful lakes, snow-capped mountains and valleys. It was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1992.

Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area includes the Huanglong Valley, Mounigou Valley and so on. The major scenery is concentrated in the 3.6-kilometer long Huanglong Valley that includes snow-clad mountains and the easternmost glaciers in China. The Mounigou Valley includes Erdao Lake and Zhaga Waterfall which is the biggest calcified waterfall in China.

Attention

The average temperature is around 7°C all the year round. It is misty in the morning and evening and rainy from May to August.

How to get there

Chengdu to Huanglong

Take a bus from Chengdu Chadianzi Bus Station to Songpan county, and the buses depart at 7:30, 9:30, 11:30 and 13:00. The bus fare is 109 yuan. After arrival. take a bus to Huanglong at 6:00, 7:00 or 14:00, and the bus fare is 25-29 yuan.

Jiuzhaigou to Huanglong

Visitors can hire a private car and the fare is around 400 yuan for a round trip.

Other information

Entrance Fee: 80—190 yuan

Huanglong Cable Car Ticket: 40—80 yuan

Opening Hours: 8:00—18:00

Recommended Time for a Visit: 1 day

7 . We had promised to do it for years. We would pack a car with cold chicken and drive south like we used to. But we never had a proper time to do it, somehow. My aunt Edna’s heart was failing. Aunt Juanita had to care for my uncle at home, and my mother, Margaret, did not leave home unless blown away from it by tornadoes. So I was surprised a few years ago when my 72-year-old mother told me to pick up all of them for the trip.

I found the three sisters in the yard, with suitcases in their hands. Edna packed some food including two gallons of potato salad for the two-day trip from Jacksonville, Alabama.

As I drove, they talked of childhood, dirt roads where the dark closed in like a cover on a box, and a daddy who chased the bad things away as soon as he walked in. When we arrived in Montgomery, they had ridden a horse named Bob, cooked a dead chicken named Mrs. Rearden, and fished beside a little man named Jessie Clines. As we drove across Mobile Bay they were remembering their mama and a groundhog that lived under the floorboards.

I wanted them to see the sunset from the Fairhope pier, and as we rolled down the bluff, I heard them go quiet. But the sunset was just a light to see. They were looking at the roses, which were flowering in a circle the size of a baseball field. There were more than 2,000 of them. My mother, who never even liked roses much, said, “Oh, my God.” Juanita looked as if she were about to cry. “So beautiful,” she said again and again. She stayed in the rose garden for a long time, till the sun disappeared totally. She saw the Fairhope roses six times on this trip. The last time, because she was tired , we sat in the car.

A year later, I spoke at Edna’s funeral. For the first time, I knew what I wanted to say in my mind, but the words crashed together inside my head and I lost the fine things I really wanted to say. Her daughters just hugged me, one by one, and thanked me for the roses.

9 . Beijing has four distinct seasons. Spring is time for the capital city to dress in blossoms. It might be common to enjoy the fragrance of flowers elsewhere, but in Beijing, they can be appreciated alongside the ancient buildings nestled among them. Here is a quick guide of the best routes of themed spring tours for visitors.

Winter jasmine

These golden-yellow flowers can be widely seen in Beijing in March. Their beauty is amplified by the red walls and green tiles of historical buildings.

At the northern gate of Beihai Park, winter jasmine provides a picturesque scene against the backdrop of water, hills and pedestrian activity and has been a lasting favorite of photographers. The blossoms are brought out by the nearby lake stones of various shapes and sizes.

In Zhongshan Park, winter jasmine breathes life into the solemn atmosphere of the royal site, where sacrificial ceremonies were once held during the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Yulan magnolias

Its flowering phase is very short, as if showing a never-say-die courage and pride. Many love the plant for the flowers that blossom before leafing. The best time to see it is usually from the last week of March to mid-April.

Yulan magnolias usually appear first along Chang’ an Avenue, and locals consider it a sign of the real approaching of spring. The blossoms look best on the western side of the avenue. Visitors should also look out for the spread of purple magnolias in the northwestern corner of the street, near the National Center for the Performing Arts.

The Summer Palace has a long history of planting Yulan magnolias. Every time they blossom, the longevity Hall is filled with fragrance.