1 . Chinatown, lying in Downtown L.A. near the city’s cultural center, is one of L.A.’s most popular tourist destinations.

I had been heading to Chinatown for about 6 years to hang out until 2012, when I became a member of the neighborhood. After moving in, I started to explore every corner of this amazing place.

A MECCA FOR FOOD

In Chinatown, a mix of new and old restaurants meets everyone’s needs. You can find dim sum at Ocean Seafood and tasty banh mi at Golden Lake Eatery. The cuisine in Chinatown goes beyond Asian food. People are still lining up for fried chicken at Howlin’ Ray’s.

Early birds should stop by Philippe The Original, a local restaurant that’s beloved for French Dip sandwiches, but also serves a good classic American breakfast. Night owls will want to head to Full House Seafood on Hill Street, which is open late into the night.

CHINESE AMERICAN MUSEUM

Food is far from the only reason to visit Chinatown. People interested in history will want to start their trip at the Chinese American Museum (CAM), lying just outside of Chinatown at El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument. The museum is housed in the Garnier Building, the oldest surviving Chinese building in a major area of California.

CENTRAL PLAZA

A big statue of Bruce Lee has become a must-photograph site in Chinatown’s Central Plaza. The late martial arts star once had a studio in Chinatown at 628 W.College St.

Nearby is Dragon Chasing Pearl, which was originally painted on the wall in 1941 by Tyrus Wong. The artist, who passed away in December 2016 at age 106, was famous for his work in films, particularly as the lead artist on Disney’s Bambi.

2 . Find yourself at the doorway of any one of the countless temples or ancient buildings in China, and you may see an attractive but just piece of wall, only slightly larger than the entrance. It is Zhaobi, or spirit walls, which have a _________ history, with evidence _________ the earliest examples at more than 3000 years old.

Zhaobi can be _________ outside the entrance of a variety of buildings, and during the Western Zhou dynasty, they were _________ as a symbol of the social position. They were used for only the _________ members of society, such as the king. Seeing Zhaobi outside a building would let passers-by know that this was the house of someone of extreme _________, while also serving the _________ function of _________ as a form of privacy by blocking the _________ from any prying (窥探的) eyes. With the passing of time, Zhaobi came to play a role in fengshui, a practice which __________ achieving harmony and balance in all things. As well as __________ this spiritual protection, their location would allow energy to __________ better.

__________ further forward in time, Zhaobi became a form of expression and __________ with poetry, paintings and characters representing luck appearing on the __________. Recently many companies have __________ Zhaobi to practice the principles of fengshui, __________ that such a structure surely can bring __________ luck and wealth to their business.

It is __________ that these attractive structures give us a __________ of life at a particular time in history.

3 . While it’s wonderful to share a special trip and new experience with friends or family, there’s an attractive case for travel alone from time to time. Solo travel can work for anyone.     1    .

You needn’t discuss with others.

It can be challenging to talk over a trip and time away from work with another busy person in your life,     2    . Usually, these challenges can be overcome by simply planning far in advance. However, if you can’t find a travel partner on short notice, it may be the perfect time to pack your bags and go anyway.

You’re your own great partner.

    3    , you may be surprised at how enjoyable it can be. Just accompany yourself. Depending on the destination, a solo trip can be a powerful and life-changing experience. Imagine sitting on a peaceful beach at sunset or taking an inviting morning hike alone. You can enjoy such a hike without making conversation with anyone.

Meet new people.

If you are a born open person, traveling alone can be a wonderful way to meet locals and make new friends. Often, people who are alone appear more approachable (亲近的) to others.     4    . You could even join a group of like-minded people for yoga on the beach. The key is to keep an open mind while keeping safety in mind, especially in a foreign land.

    5    .

For some reason, service at hotels and restaurants seems better when you’re traveling alone. People tend to admire those who travel by themselves.

Yours，

Li Hua

8 . Travel is one of the most exciting experiences a human being can have. Imagine how Italian traveler Marco Polo must have felt when he found himself on Chinese soil, seeing a way of life quite different from anything he’d seen before.

And how great must it have been to listen to Zhang Qian when he returned to China from his journey through Central Asia and West Asia? His brain must have been packed with everything he’d seen and heard, leading to the founding of the Silk Road.

Some people have traveled all over the world, and travel is a way of life to them. They perhaps know what to expect before they travel. That’s why the best travel is when it’s for the first time. Imagine a person who has always wanted to travel to the United States. Of course, they’ve probably seen the Statue of Liberty a thousand times on TV, and the White House, and all the other famous sights. But none of that would compare to the excitement of looking out of the window as the plane lands, watching the cities and streets of the real America come into view.

Although travel is often just for recreation, it’s also educational. We may not know that we are getting an education, but we still are.

We’re learning every day: new words in a new language, new people, and new ways of life. But this learning takes place in the school of the world, not the classroom. As we get to know foreign places, we come to understand that there are many different ways to live, and that the way we live isn’t necessarily the best way.

9 . My husband, our children and I have had wonderful camping experiences over the past ten years.

Some of our _______ are funny, especially from the early years when our children were little. Once, we _______ along Chalk Creek. I was _______ that our 15-month-old boy would fall into the creek (小溪). I tied a rope around his waist to keep him near to our spot. That lasted about ten minutes. He was _______, and his crying let the whole campground know it. So _______ tying him up, I just kept a close eye on him. It _______ — he didn’t end up in the creek. My three-year-old, however, did.

Another time, we rented a boat in Vallecito Lake. The sky was clear when we _______, but storms move in fast in the mountains, and this one quickly _______ our peaceful morning trip. The _______ picked up and thunder rolled. My husband stopped fishing to ____________ the motor. Nothing. He tried again. No ____________. We were stuck in the middle of the lake with a dead motor. As we all sat there ____________, a fisherman pulled up, threw us a rope and towed (拖) us back. We were ____________.

Now, every year when my husband pulls our camper out of the garage, we are filled with a sense of ____________, wondering what camping fun and ____________ we will experience next.