1 . Chinese people may not be that familiar with sports tourism, but it is one of the fastest growing parts of tourism, because an increasing number of people are expressing their curiosity in sports events during their trips even if sports are not the key reason for their travel.     1    

Sports tourism refers to tourism involving participation in or watching sports events and staying in an environment different from the usual tourist hotels or resorts.     2     At that time, people traveled to Olympia to watch or participate in Olympic races. Modern sports tourism, on the other hand, surfaced in the 1990s.

    3     There is also a lack of research to study its true potential. However, given that Chinese authorities attach great importance to people’s health, sports tourism, in many ways, can meet people’s demand for both leisure and physical activity.

Also, sports tourism will eventually promote the consumption (消费) upgrading, which will in turn lead to deeper cooperation between the tourism and cultural departments.     4     It can not only meet tourists’ demand for outdoor activities, but also deepen their understanding of the heroic deeds of the people who sacrificed their lives for the nation.

Sports tourism is a booming industry today, with an annual growth rate of about 15 percent globally.     5     The rapid growth of sports tourism will help meet people’s leisure needs and boost the high-quality development in China.

When garden designer Jane Gates moved to the Sussex countryside in 2015, she fell in love with a traditional black barn conversion, and set about creating a droughts-resistant garden around it.     1     she didn’t know was just how quickly her garden would become relevant to today’s changing climate.

Over the years, Gates     2     (experiment) with plants that suit this dry and hot place and made some interesting     3     (discover).     4    (Surprise), some plants, known for loving water, have proved adaptable to drought. Others have struggled. However, many plants specifically     5    (choose) for drought tolerance have enjoyed the heat.

Gates’ garden is a big gravel (砾石) one. On occasion she stands by the floor-to-ceiling windows     6    enjoys the scene. Gravel     7    (use) as a layer for the plants to grow through, joining the paths with the planting. The feeling is of a     8    (relax) space, with the light colour of the gravel comparing beautifully with the black of the barn. Gates recommends gravel as a cover on the top for     9     reason that it locks water in the soil below in summer, while keeping it away from plants in winter, which can damage them. This helps some plants do a bit better in adapting     10     climate extremes.

3 . When you think of wildlife holidays in the UK, Scotland is probably the first destination(目的地) that comes to mind, with quite a few breathtaking natural sites that offer a wonderful base to watch wildlife.

It was the first national park established in Scotland. The Loch Lomond at the center of the park is the largest body of freshwater in the UK. The largest land mammal (哺乳动物) in Britain, red deer can be found in the park. Keep an eye out as you pass through forests, woodlands and open hills.

The Isle of Staffa is famous for its dramatic rock formations, and for the cave known as “Fingal’s Cave”, Staffa provided inspiration to Felix Mendelssohn, the German musician. He visited in 1829 and, afterwards, composed his Hebrides Overture. The island is also famous for its adorable seabirds—puffins, which are known for their vibrant beaks (鸟喙) and big personalities.

The Cairngorms National Park is in northeast Scotland. With an area of 1,748 square miles, the park covers the Cairngorms range of mountains and surrounding hills, and is the largest national park in the UK as the second national park in Scotland. Over 25% of the UK’s endangered species make their home in the park’s ancient pine forests, among which you can find the red squirrel—the UK’s only native squirrel (松鼠) species.

4 . I live in Xizhou in Yunnan Province, on the historic Tea Horse Road. I have to admit that when I first heard that Paul Salopek was going to walk the entire globe on his own two feet, I was blown away. I couldn’t imagine that there could be such an unusual person in the world.

Last May, I met Paul. He told me that it was his first time in China. He talked to me with great excitement about the history, migrations, and discoveries in my region of China. He spoke of the Shu-Yandu Dao (the Southern Silk Road), the travels of the 17th-century Chinese explorer Xu Xiake, the Tea Horse Road and the early 20th-century American botanist Joseph Rock. He also talked of Xuanzang. Paul considered many of them heroes and in a sense Chinese pioneers of slow journalism.

I decided to accompany Paul on his walk toward Yunnan. On September 28, 2021, we set out. Our days were simple: walk, eat, sleep, and repeat. We woke up at sunrise, set off in high spirits, and rested at sunset, dragging ourselves into exhausted sleep.

We met many people on the road. Some were curious, surrounding us and watching us; some gave us directions; some invited us into their home to take a rest; some spoke of the charm of their hometown. We met many beautiful souls, simple souls and warm souls. We were walking with our minds.

Together, we were impressed by the biodiversity of the Gaoligong Mountains. As I walked on ancient paths through mountains, I seemed to hear the antique voices of past travelers urging me to be careful on the road.

Looking back on the more than 200 miles I walked with Paul, I came to a realization. Walking for its own sake, while healthy and admirable, is only a small part of the benefit of moving with our feet. A deeper reward is rediscovering the world around us, shortening the distance between each other, and sharing each other’s cultures.

8 . Imagine you are a citizen of Athens, enjoying a warm Mediterranean night in the Theater of Herodes Atticus. You are wearing jeans and a T-shirt, listening to a great concert. Now rewind this picture 1,839 years. You are in the same seat, only you are watching classical Greek entertainment.

The city of Athens is a fun mix of the old and the new, the classic and the modern. Often a little shop is located next to the ruins of a temple, which is only a block from a large, air-conditioned hotel. The great city of 2,500 years ago is still visible today.

Ruins are the most obvious sign of ancient Athens, and the most famous of these is the Acropolis (卫城). The Acropolis is a large hill that was the center of life in Athens. On its slopes were temples, monuments, and theaters. From the top, you can see how the urban area of Athens stretches out in every direction.

On the top of the Acropolis is the Parthenon. This was once a huge temple to Athena, the city’s patron. It was first completed in 432 B.C., but has been damaged and destroyed several times. However, visitors can still see the “tricks” used in building the Parthenon. The columns along the outside lean inward, and are slightly fatter in the middle. The temple is also higher in the middle than on the sides. All these effects make the Parthenon look perfectly straight from a distance.

Only a block away from the Acropolis is the neighborhood of Plaka. The area, with its little shops and restaurants, is very popular with both tourists and locals, and is an important part of modern Athenian culture. Many great thinkers, writers, and political leaders lived in ancient Athens. The ruins of their homes and favorite spots are scattered throughout the busy port city. The hill where St. Paul addressed early Christian Athenians is located near the Acropolis. Great thinkers such as Perikles and Demosthenes spoke to the civil assemblies held at the Pnyx Hill. Today the Pnyx is an open-air theater for light and sound shows.

Tourism is very important to people who live in modern-day Athens. Thousands of people come every year to see these ruins and to tour the many museums that house artifacts from ancient times. This provides many jobs and brings money into Athens, which helps the city pay for improvements. Athenians take pride in the achievements of their ancestors, and people from all around the world come to admire them. By looking around the city today, we can imagine what life was like in ancient Athens.

10 . The British Museum is filled with some of the world’s most famous historical items. If you love history, it’s a good place to visit. It is said to be the top museum in London. The museum has millions of objects, making you worry about your first visit.

Advice on your visit

If you need help in exploring the museum’s displays about 80,000 objects from a total collection of 8 million items, try joining a guided tour. There are various free tours. You can also rent audio guides.

Ticket information

Entry to the museum is free, but access to some exhibitions will charge you. The museum limits the number of people in the museum to ensure there’s room for you to safely enjoy your visit. You’re advised to book a free ticket to guarantee the entry. Self-led groups of 10 or more people will need to book a group ticket. School groups should contact the box office to book their visit to the museum.

Opening times

Daily: from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm (Fridays: 8:30 pm)

Last entry: 4:00 pm (Fridays: 7:30 pm)

The museum is closed from 24 December to 26 December.

Cafes and restaurants

Court Cafés: from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm

Great Court Restaurant: from 11:30 am to 5:00 pm

Transport

Bicycle racks are available inside the gates of the main entrance on Great Russell Street. If you’re planning to visit by car, please be aware that the museum doesn’t offer parking facilities. There is a taxi rank on Great Russell Street at the museum’s main gates. Going to the museum by bus or subway is very convenient, which can be your first choice.

For more information, visit the British Museum’s website.