2 . Los Angeles native Randall Bartlett sat under the rooftop of a traditional Chinese scholar’s studio, occasionally turning a page of his book. The scene was in the reopened Liu Fang Yuan garden at the Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens. For him, the garden brings to life the Chinese philosophies he learned from books.

Phillip E. Bloom, director of the Center for East Asian Garden Studies, said the idea for Liu Fang Yuan goes back to the 1980s with the initial aim of creating a collection of Chinese plants, but after research, they realized plants alone were not sufficient to demonstrate the essence of a Chinese garden. Eventually, it was decided to model a garden on 16th and 17th century scholarly retreats(隐居处)in Suzhou.

The decision was made partly due to the fame of Suzhou classical gardens, but also because similarities were found between the Huntington and Suzhou gardens. Bloom said that Henry Huntington, founder of the Huntington Library, was a successful US businessman who used his fortune to collect rare books, artworks and to create gardens. “Many Suzhou gardens were also created by rich people who tried to pursue a scholarly lifestyle,” he added.

To preserve the character of the Suzhou gardens, the Huntington Library sought help from Suzhou, giving rise to collaboration between US and Chinese architects, contractors and designers. In all stages of construction, artisans(工匠)from Suzhou came to work on details of the venue.

After three years of expansion from 2018 to 2020, Liu Fang Yuan reopened to the public with 4.6 hectares of new landscape, making it one of the largest classical-style Chinese gardens in the world. The additions include courtyards displaying penjing, a scholar’s studio, a pavilion(亭子)situated at the garden’s highest point, etc.

Now, it is meaningful to see how people from local communities interact with the garden. “A lot of volunteers come to different lectures and exhibitions about Chinese culture hat we hold regularly,” Bloom said. By exposing its visitors to arts and literature, Liu Fang uan goes beyond international boundaries and bridges the cultural gaps between the two ountries.

Hangzhou will build a world-class ecological and cultural tourism corridor in connection with Anhui Province’s Huangshan City. Five towns in Hangzhou’s Chun’an County and five towns in Huangshan’s Shexian County    1     (include) according to the prepared plan. In ancient times, they were part of Huizhou region where the Xin’an River runs through. Dating back to the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907), a trail    2    (link) Hangzhou’s Tianmu Mountain and Huangshan’s Yellow Mountain was formed to exchange goods     3     the two regions.

Over the years, Hangzhou and Huangshan     4    (preserve) their unique architecture and local ways of life in old villages, making this area popular with tourists. The villages have resisted the winds of change    5     swept across many other parts of China. In addition to architecture, also, the natural environment is being protected, with sewage(污水)    6    (treat) and new infrastructure being built.

These improvements are attracting more tourists and creating     7     engine for the local economy. Moreover, for those who love hiking, jogging or cycling, the Thousand Islands Lake in Chun’an County is an ideal destination    8     it boasts 1, 078 islands, winding roads and charming villages.

In     9    (add), Hangzhou will also increase forest coverage along the river in partnership with Huangshan, which perfectly matches President Xi Jinping’s concept of “Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets” to highlight a     10    (harmony) relationship between ecological protection and economic development.

The natural beauty of Fanjingshan ensures its place among the country’s top nature reserves.

Flowers are coming out pretty at    1    foot of Fanjingshan in early April, while white snow is still attached to the mountaintop.    2    (it)green and fresh vegetation(植被)is a major feature of Fanjingshan,    3    stands northeast of Tongren city in southwestern China’s Guizhou province. Fanjingshan is home to more than 7,100 species of wild plants and animals. There are more than 40 different    4    (type)of forests as well as endangered animals.

The Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve was established in 1978. It    5    (recognize)as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1986. The reserve covers an area    6    more than 77,500 hectares and was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2018.

To protect biological activity more    7    (effective), the Fanjingshan administration has set up observation stations and put in    8    (monitor)equipment. Experts say Fanjingshan has an advantage in its application to become a    9    (nation)park in that it is the only natural habitat for the Guizhou snub-nosed monkey and the Fanjingshan fir, both of which have been rated as    10    (threaten)species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

National Geographic explorer Paul Salopek has just hiked across Erlang Mountain in Southwest China’s Sichuan province. This is just a start of his     1    (ambition) plan of trekking (跋涉) in China.

As a trekker with global footprints, Salopek is committed to experiencing different cultures all over the world and     2    (record) the lives of people he encounters on his journey. China, a large country with diverse natural and human landscapes,     3    (be) an important stop on Salopek’s global trek.

Starting in September 2021, Salopek set off from Yunnan province and     4    (plan) to walk through many regions.“My route is not always to famous tourist landmarks,”says the explorer, who likes to visit grassroots areas     5    (find) real life.“It could be someone’s dinner table,     6    the sight of an old ethnic Bai weaving at home.” Because every step of the way is new to him, Salopek tries to keep an open mind about     7     he can seek memorable things.

Salopek is also witnessing China’s achievements in the fields of ecology, wildlife conservation.“I hiked across other places    8    (empty) of their wildlife by human beings. The Gaoligong Mountains represents a chance for comfort,” Salopek says while hiking across the mountains.

Salopek is still currently    9    the road, walking across China,     10    journey in China is being recorded by a film crew for a 10-episode documentary series entitled The Forever Walk: China.

7 . When the Italian traveler Marco Polo came to Hangzhou in the 13^th century, he thought he was in the most charming (迷人的) city in the world. And Hangzhou often __________ “Paradise on Earth”, remains as __________ today.

It was named one of the top ten “Foreigners’ Favorite Cities in China” on Nov. 6, according to a survey jointly (共同地) __________by a magazine and a government department.

The West Lake is __________ the most famous landmark in the city. It is __________ by low mountains on three sides. Su Dongpo, a great poet of the Song Dynasty, best described the __________ by comparing it to the famous beauty Lady Xizi. He said, “How charming she looks whether richly made of only slightly so!”

Hangzhou is a city with a history of more than two thousand years, so there are dozens of __________ sites around the lake, many of which have __________ to build the romantic nature of the city. The Broken Bridge is one of the best examples. It isn’t __________ broken. It got its name because after it snows and the __________ comes out, the snow on the sunny side of the bridge melts (融化) first, while the rest __________ . Thus, from a distance, the bridge appears to be __________. Legend (传说) has it that a young man named Xu Xian and the White Snake, a spirit (妖) who changed into a beautiful woman, __________ and fell in love on the bridge during a rainy day.

Hangzhou’s romantic characteristics are shared by both the local people and __________ from home and abroad. Once you are here, you’d feel blessed by nature. Isn’t it like in paradise on earth to __________ a cup of green tea in a quiet teahouse beside the West Lake?

8 . Planning a family trip? Let the professionals handle it.

In the ever-evolving world of travel, using a travel professional to decode your family vacation options can really pay off. Here are several things to bear in mind:

Before the pandemic, planning a vacation took time, knowledge, patience and perseverance. While the pace of change has slowed, keeping track of the global landscape can still be incredible.     1     He or she uses his or her experience and skills to make even the most complicated travel schedule a reality.

    2     Some get paid by travel suppliers such as a hotel or restaurant. Others charge consulting fees sometimes determined by the number of people traveling and the complexity of the trip. Still, others rely on a combination of both. Families also benefit from top agents’ access to upgrades and value-added options. Should your trip take an unwelcome turn, a good agent will have your back to help with canceled flights, health challenges or the need for a last-minute shift in the travel schedule.

If you are eager to visit a Disney resort; understand the evolving nature of the cruise world; visit a ski resort or explore a specific city, region or country, using an agent with that specialty can give you a bonus.     4     They’ll know how to book the best cabins, sort through meal and activity options and provide insight into how each member of the family might make the most of the sailing.

Whether you’re traveling with the kids or with the extended family for a milestone birthday or anniversary celebration, you no doubt hope to return with treasured memories rather than tales of a trip gone wrong.     5    

With more families learning and working from home, a good agent can help zero in on destinations and lodging options that can maximize your current lifestyle.

9 . Avebury is near the far more famous Stonehenge. What is interesting about it is that a village has grown up around the stones, unlike Stonehenge, which stands alone. Avebury and Stonehenge are just two of about 1,300 stone circles all over the UK. Many of them are in fantastic locations, like Castlering in Cumbria, from which you can see England’s highest mountain; and the Ring of Brodgar in the beautiful Orkney Island, off Scotland’s northern coast.

Some of them are UNESCO World Heritage sites, and several have local stories connected to them. For example, the Merry Maidens in West Cornwall is a group of nineteen stones. According to the story, they were young women — maidens — who were turned into stone for dancing on a Sunday.

Early historians thought that the stone circles were temples for the people who arrived in the UK in about 500 BC. Later research has shown that they are far older than that, at least 4,000 years old. Stonehenge could have been built 5,000 years ago, but it’s still nowhere near as old as the nearby wooden circle built about 10,000 years ago. Some experts believe they acted like calendars and have shown that some stones line up with sunrise or sunset on the longest and shortest days of the year. Others believe they were places for the dead bodies of the local rich and powerful.

We may never know why they were built, but each one leaves the visitor with a strong sense of the shortness of our existence in the sea of history. There are groups of stone circles and other prehistoric (史前的) monuments throughout the British Isles, so wherever you are staying you should include at least one in your tour.

10 . Whether you’re traveling to the next town over or to the other side of the world, careful planning goes a long way toward ensuring your trip is a success. The right preparation helps you avoid potential disasters, such as having your credit card declined or running out of clean clothes to wear.    1    .

Make your reservations for flights and accommodations. Once you’re sure of where you want to go and when you want to go, where you want to stay and how you want to get around, make your reservations. For flights, book around two months out.    2    You don’t want them to be booked or almost-booked, because then prices skyrocket.

Set a travel budget.    3    It’s easy to overspend when you’re traveling if you don’t plan ahead, so start your planning by breaking down how much you want to spend on transportation, food, accommodation, sightseeing and any other activities you hope to include in your trip.

    4    If you’re going abroad, you may be required to get a visa. Besides, check the website of your intended country’s consulate or embassy to see what is required for you to enter the country. Visas may take weeks or even months to finalize, so check early in the planning process.

Pack appropriate clothing for your destination and trip. Check the weather at your destination 2-3 days before you depart. This will let you know what type of clothes you need to bring.    5    Will you be expected to wear a suit for a conference, or will you be able to bathe in a bathing suit on the beach?