1 . It’s a familiar plot in movies and books: A bright-eyed man moves to the big city in search of fame and fortune. In the noises and lights, all hopes and dreams come true. But why do we stick to this old story? In Four Lost Cities, author Annalee Newitz explores ancient settlements to find out why people flood into big cities — and why they leave.

The book is divided into four enjoyable, snack-sized sections, one for each city. Each section is accompanied by a handy map, drawn by artist Jason Thompson in an engaging cartoon style.

Rather than dry history, Newitz makes a special effort to highlight the oddities and innovations that made these cities unique. Take Catalhöyük, the oldest city they feature, which boomed between 7500 and 5700 BC in what is now Turkey. This ancient city existed for nearly 2, 000 years despite lacking things that we might consider necessary for a city, such as roads, special public spaces or shopping areas.

The section on Cahokia (AD 1050 to 1350) —located in what is now Illinois — offers an unexpected reason for a city’s emergence. Many people link cities with capitalism and trade. Cahokia’s 30-meter-tall pyramids, 20-hectare (公顷) squares and a population (at the time) bigger than Paris suggest that spiritual revival (复苏) can also build a large city. Cahokia and Angkor, which reached its peak from AD 800 to 1431 in what is now Cambodia, also show how cities can form when power gets concentrated in a few influential people.

Each city, of course, eventually fell. But Newitz also reveals something else: Collapsing infrastructure (基础设施) provided the final push that kept people away. Here we spot our potential future, as climate crises and political instability threaten our own urban networks. But Newitz’s vivid imaginings, bright language and boundless enthusiasm manage to keep the tone optimistic. These cities did end, yes. Yet the people lived on.

4 . The Junction Campground

The Junction Campground is a great spot for river-based camping along one of Australia’s best-known rivers, near Grafton. Paddling the beautiful Nymboida River is a great way to explore the rainforest-lined riverbanks and rocky cliffs of Nymboi-Binderay National Park.

Craigmhor Mountain Retreat

Set in 1, 000 acres of wilderness, Craigmhor is a perfect base for bush walking, mountain biking, fishing, and bird watching. Within easy driving distance of Sydney, Craigmhor is the ideal location for overseas visitors or urban people to experience the Australian bush.

The Stone Cottage

Said to be Albury’s oldest house, the Stone Cottage warmly welcomes visitors with its exposed stone walls and an open fireplace. Set well back from the street in a spacious enclosed garden (ideal for pets), the two-bedroom self-contained house is perfect for small families and couples.

Located behind the main home, the Stone Cottage’s Kitchen Cottage turns on the charm as much as the larger house. Private from the main house, the one-bedroom self-contained cottage has a veranda (游廊) which looks out over an established herb garden, ideal for couples.

Instead of asking guests to wake at a certain time for a prepared breakfast, guests of both cottages receive a selection of breakfast cuisines as they like, allowing sleep-ins and lazy mornings.

Pets are welcome.

Country Barn Retreat

Situated in a peaceful location and perfect for short stays, Elaine and John offer this amnazing self-contained two-bedroom Country Barn Retreat, overlooking rural views and surounded by lovely gardens.

Sleeping up to four adults in this comfortable cottage where you can relax by the cosy wood fire in winter.

Fully equipped kitchen. Lounge and dining area with air-conditioning and fans to keep it cool in summer. Pet friendly, however, you would need to make arrangements with Elaine or John first.

5 . East of England tour

Tour itinerary(行程)

Sunday 7 August:Check into our three-star hotel for the trip, Bamsdale Lodge, near Rutland Water.Enjoy a welcome dinner and talk by BBC Gardeners’World magazine Associate Editor, David Hurrion.Monday 8 August: First to Cottesbrooke Hall & Gardens in Northamptonshire for a gardener-led tour,plus lunch. Then to the private garden of The Old Vicarage, Burley, where owner Sandra Blaza will share her gardening passion. Later, enjoy a welcome drink, dinner and a talk by Nick Hamilton, owner of Barnsdale Gardens.

Tuesday 9 August: Bamsdale Gardens consisting of 37 gardens in many styles offer inspiration for all.Nick Hamilton will be on hand to show you round. In the afternoon we’ll visit wonderful Elton Hall in Cambridgeshire for a tour of the private gardens with the head gardener and have free time to explore the formal gardens. We’ll have dinner at the hotel.

Wednesday 10 August: Boughton House, Northamptonshire, will open exclusively(专门地) for us,starting with a two- course lunch, and a talk and Q&A with our special guest Adam Frost. After lunch,we’ll take a tour of the gardens with the head gardener.

PLEASE NOTE: Thus is a busy itinerary involving a great amount of walking, with little or no access to assistance. Please bear this in mind when booking this tour.

Sun Moon Lake is located in the central region of Taiwan. It covers     1     area of 7. 7 square kilometers and has an average water     2     (deep) of 40 meters.

According to legend, a white deer contributed to the discovery of the lake. Three hundred years ago, a group of     3     (farmer) were hunting when they discovered a large white deer running to the northwest. They followed this     4     (amaze) creature for three days and nights, but it finally disappeared in the forest. On the fourth day, after they had moved through the forest, they came upon an impressive view. They     5     (see) a beautiful lake shining brightly in the sun. A small round island covered with trees divided the lake     6     two parts. One part was like the sun and the other part was like the moon, so they called it Sun Moon Lake.     7     (attract) by the fertile soil and beautiful scenery there, they decided to settle down and began a new life.

Sun Moon Lake is the     8     (large) natural lake in Taiwan. With a pleasant climate, it is a top choice as a summer destination. The beauty of the lake lies in its still water,     9     clearly reflects the surrounding mountains. It is     10     (extreme) attractive at night, when the water is bathed in moonlight.

Because of a layer of thin fog, it gives the appearance of a place existing only in legend.

7 . We drove to the Needles district of Canyonlands National Park—a very remote, dry, mountainous place in Utah. I went there when I was about 10 years old, but I can only recall certain things: how cold it got that night as we slept in the tent, the small insects that covered the mountain beside us, and having to use the bathroom in an outhouse.

Huge rocks are hanging dangerously on the jagged mountainside, and you know they have to fall eventually. We stopped at Newspaper Rock, a National Historic Site where prehistoric people sketched drawings onto sandstone from B. C. time to A. D. 1300. With only a short fence surrounding it, it seems unavoidable that modern-day people would feel the urge to carve their names into this precious historic landmark.

The sky is the bluest I think I’ve ever seen; it’s a beautiful backdrop to the orangey-red cliffs lining the horizon. And the silence—I’ve never experienced a quieter place. When I first got out of the truck at our campsite, I stood still and held my breath, and all I could hear was the ringing in my ears.

In my opinion, only at night can you witness the true beauty of the Canyonlands: the stars. Since the Needles district is an extremely dry place about 80 miles away from any major city’s lights, it offers the clearest view I’ve ever seen of the night sky. It is incredible how many stars you can see out there. I climbed on top of a nearby rock formation and lay on my back just soaking (沉浸) it all in. It was like looking through a window straight into the universe.

I wanted to sleep outside beneath the stars, but then the temperature dropped to 40 degree and I discovered massive ants crawling on the ground, so I quit that. The next morning, I discovered a nearby camper passed out on the rock formation in a sleeping bag. How he managed to brave the temperatures and the ants, I have no idea.

8 . World’s Incredible Railways

Running for about 193 kilometers. West Highland Railway Line is one of the “greatest hits” of the landscapes Scotland offers.The line can be enjoyed through the comfortable Caledonian Sleeper might train from London to Fort William, with the last stretch of the journey accompanied by breakfast. Remember to keep an eye out for stags(雄鹿)as they survey their kingdom.

Widely regarded as one of the world’s greatest rail journeys, it runs weekly over a 2,979-kilometer route crossing the length of Australia from Adelaide in the south to Darwin in the Northern Territory. Each trip takes more than 53 hours, including extended stops in remote towns such as Coober Pedy for passengers to experience the Outback during off-train tours.

For centuries, known as “The Roof of the World”, Tibet was visited only by the hardiest travelers and explorers, but the opening of the remarkable Qinghai-Tibet Railway in 2006 created a permanent connection with the Chinese rail network. The 1,956 kilometer route from Xining to Lhasa tops out at the Tanggula Pass, 5,068 meters above sea level. With its opening, direct trains run to Lhasa from Beijing in 40 hours and Shanghai 47 hours.

The TranzAlpine takes four and a half hours to cover just 224 kilometers. Its famous “open-air carriage(客车厢)” is the real highlight. This open-sided car allows passengers to experience the fresh mountain air first-hand and take amazing landscape photos. Passengers can also now listen to a GPS-based audio commentary in English, enjoying stories about places along the route, the country and its culture.

10 . In March 2020, when I stood alone in the middle of the main road to the Lake District, it felt like the end of the world. As a local farmer, I’ve grown used to the heavy traffic. But suddenly, everything changed. The lockdown brought quietness to the area, and I did feel a sense of relief to be done with the noise for a while.

Just off the main road is Matterdale, where I live with my family. We own a farm and our work focuses on tending farm animals. Like many who live in tourist attractions, we have been annoyed by some visitors. My farming would have been significantly easier without people parking in gateways, walking through the fields of lambs with loose dogs scaring them, or abandoning their tents along the river.

Despite my complaints, however, I would never reject visitors’ presence. I do understand their need for rest after months of urban life. In fact, I think I need them too. Of course, communities like ours rely on the income that tourism creates. But to me, there is something more personal. I once took my kids to the lake. Near the shore, we saw boys and girls playing together. A young dad was holding his kid’s hand as she tiptoed through the shallows. An elderly couple were sitting in the shade, admiring the view. I found myself content knowing that I was sharing this landscape with others.

As lockdown restrictions have relaxed and visitors started to come back, I wonder how we can coexist happily. For those who are reading this, I hope that my words can encourage you to respect the communities you visit, and understand the responsibilities that come with visiting those places. Our love can coexist, even if it sometimes makes life a little crowded.