Elephant Trunk Hill lies     1     two rivers meet, one of them is the famous Li River of

Guilin city in Guangxi, and it is the symbol of Guilin. The hill was     2     (former) named Li Hill and resembles (像) a giant elephant standing in the river, drinking water through its trunk. Thus, the mountain was named Elephant Trunk Hill.     3     (date) back to as early as the Tang and Song dynasties, the hill has been a famous tourist     4     (attract) over 1,000 years of history. The scenic area combines unique rocks, beautiful waterways, special caves and numerous cliff stone carvings, which make it enjoy a high reputation worldwide.

Ranging     5     historical significance to cultural richness, we are grateful to witness such a breathtaking landscape. The     6     (commerce) value of this site is undeniable, attracting visitors from all corners of the globe who take advantage of its beauty.    7     (be)frank, few places offer such a diverse blend of natural and historical elements. Visitors may occasionally complain about crowds, but     8     response from the authorities has been positive, aiming to enhance the overall experience. The     9     (reject) of modern developments preserves its natural beauty. The site continues to inspire future generations to come. Energetic and flexible, it     10     (adapt) to the changing times while maintaining its essence (本质).

Yours,

Li Hua

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism recently unveiled 10 nation a-level Yangtze River themed tourist routes. Yichang city in Central China’s Hubei province,     1     the Three Gorges Dam lies, is an important part of the routes.

Visitors can take a cruise from downtown Yichang to the tribe, enjoy traditional ethnic group singing and dancing, rub shoulders with inheritors of intangible cultural heritage and go     2    (hike) along the Yangtze River. Yangtze River, one of the “mother     3    (river)” of China, symbolizes the nation’s rich history and culture, with its awe-inspiring currents and picturesque views along its banks.

During the May Day holiday, Yichang received over 6.07 million tourists, with     4     increase of 67.22 percent over 2022. The total tourism revenue(收益) reached about 4.15 billion yuan($599.1 million), increased     5     88.21 percent compared with 2022.     6    (locate) in the Xiling Gorge between the Three Gorges Dam and Gezhouba Dam, the Tribe of the Three Gorges scenic area welcomed 89, 900 tourists, with a total tourism revenue of 11.86 million yuan during the holiday.

Since the May Day holiday, the country     7    (see) a boom in its domestic tourism, and destinations along the river are     8    (extreme) popular among travelers. At present, photos, short videos and live streams about the beauty of the Yangtze River are being shown online to a     9    (globe) audience. The China Cultural Center is holding events     10    (promote) river tourism resources in Paris and Tokyo.

7 . People who visit Huangsiyang village in Huizhou, Guangdong province, are shocked by the grand scale of its ancient residential buildings. Covering an area of 220,000 square meters, the village was named “Huangsiyang” to express gratitude for the emperor’s kindness. With a history of over 500 years, the village’s architecture dates back to the late Ming Dynasty.

As part of a Guangdong provincial project that targets the high-quality rural (乡村的) development, Huangsiyang has made great efforts to promote its heritage protection and cultural tourism, which have breathed new life into the village. Yang Shouqiang, a village official, explained that the ancient village has more than 20 historical sites, making it the most well-preserved and largest ancient residential group in Huidong county. Yang said the village has attached great importance to education and culture, having produced over 20 examinees who passed the provincial-level exams after being invited to sit for the imperial examinations — the ancient form of the gaokao, China’s college entrance exam.

From 2022 to last year, a total of 65million yuan was invested in the protection and development of Huangsiyang ancient village. Recent surveys have shown significant improvements in the village’s surroundings and internal environment after it took measures to restore architecture and rivers, and improve lighting and other basic facilities. At the same time, the village introduced high-quality homestay (民宿) projects. These homestays preserve the original architectural style of the ancient buildings.

The village has attracted many tourists from the Guangdong — Hong Kong — Macao Greater Bay Area, who take part in team building activities and enjoy unique experiences. The increasing number of visitors to the village is also increasing sales of local snacks and agricultural products. Online promotions of these products have also brought in more tourists to nearby villages.

8 . Four of the Best Ski Resorts (胜地) For the Holidays

It’s known for the most prized but frightening downhill on the ski racing calendar. By day, you can enjoy 230 kilometers of runs over the Kitzbuhel Alps, and drop into numerous mountain huts to fill up on hearty Tyrolean classics such as dumplings and cheese spatzle.

Holidays hotel: The Tennerhof is a good place for you to stay.

Griesenauweg 26, 6370 Kitzbuhel, Austria; +43 535663181

The historic town at the foot of Mont Blanc is a foodie (美食家) heaven with beautiful huts and mountain restaurants across its 41 kilometers of ski runs.

The atmospheric center around the Viale Monte Bianco is a mix of cozy cafes and designer shops, and is a perfect place to wander.

Holidays hotel: The Hotel Chalet Svizzero is a great option in a good location. Perfect for couples.

Strada Statale 26, 11, 11013 Courmayeur, Italy; +39 016584817

A four-time winner of the “World’s Best Ski Resort” award, it combines high-class hospitality (好客) with more skiing than most can handle, at a starting altitude of 2,300 meters, stretching through the famous resorts of Les Menuires, Meribel and Courchevel.

Holidays hotel: The five-star Hotel Pashmina is a wonderful choice.

Place du Slalom, 73440, Val Thorens; +33 479000999

Wengen, reached by rack railway, shares a ski area with Grindelwald — not the dark wizard from Harry Potter but the scenic village at the foot of the Eiger’s infamous North Face.

Just across the valley is the old village of Murren, home to Piz Gloria on the Schilthorn (2,971 meters), where the cable car station and revolving restaurant are familiar to James Bond fans as baddie Blofeld’s mountain-top hideaway in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.

Holidays hotel: The Maya Caprice is your best choice.

Schonegg 1333D, 3823 Wengen; +41 338560606

10 . Ancient builders across the world created structures (建筑物) that are still standing today, thousands of years later. Roman engineers built thick concrete barriers (混凝土屏障), for example. Mayan builders created structures to their gods, and Chinese builders raised walls against enemies.

But there are many recent structures that are already starting to fail. The concrete that makes up much of our modern world lasts around 50 to 100 years.

A growing number of scientists are breaking apart pieces of buildings and reading historical texts, hoping to learn how they have stood for thousands of years. The research has turned up a surprising list of materials that were mixed into old buildings. They include tree skins, volcanic ash, rice and even beer. These unexpected materials could have the ability to get stronger over time and “repair” cracks when they form.

Is ancient Roman concrete better? Many researchers have turned to the Romans. Starting around 200 BC, the Roman Empire was building concrete structures that have stood the test of time. Now, scientists think they have found an important reason why some Roman concrete has held up structures for thousands of years.

Admir Masic, an environmental engineer said this power comes from thick pieces of limestone (石灰石) throughout the Roman material that is not mixed in well. Researchers used to think these thick pieces were a sign that the Romans were not mixing up their materials well enough. Instead, the scientists found when cracks form, water enters the concrete. That water causes the leftover lime to create new chemical changes that can fill in the broken sections.

Finding out how to copy these features (特征) could have real influences today. Today’s builders cannot just copy the ancient processes. Even though Roman concrete lasted a long time, it could not hold up heavy buildings. “If we add 50 or 100 years to concrete’s lifetime,” Admir Masic said, “we will pull down less and require less material in the long run.”