2 . Lake Titicaca is a freshwater lake in the Andes mountains on the border of Bolivia. It’s the largest lake in South America. Dotted along the lake’s western corner, you can find dozens of artificial islands. Several thatched (茅草的) houses and structures sit on each island, some of which are only 30 meters or so wide, although larger ones exist.

The floating platforms are built by piling layers upon layers of mixed totora roots and reeds (芦苇). The totora plant is necessary to life on the lake. Its strong root fibers are used to make houses, boats, roofs, mattresses, and more, as well as used to make tea, traditional medicine, and tasty dishes known as “lake banana”.

So the story goes, this unusual living arrangement came out in the pre-Columbian era when the ambitious Inc a Empire began invading (入侵) into the mainland villages of Uros. The Uros villages moved to Lake Titicaca where they built these floating platforms. If invading Inca came their way, the Uros could push these artificial islands out to the middle of the lake and flee their attack.

The threat of the Inca Empire has long passed, but the tradition remains strong. Even today, it’s estimated that around 1,300 Uros live on some 100 constructed islands on Lake Titicaca. Maintaining the lifestyle isn’t easy. While totora is a tough material, the thatched organic material degrades due to the forces of nature over time, meaning the islands and homes are in a constant state of repair.

However, the traditional way of life isn’t without its modern benefits. Many of the islands have solar panels that power lights, radios, and television satellites. The lake’s artificial islands have also become a must-see spectacle for tourists, with some locals even renting out their totora-thatched homes to travelers on online rental website Airbnb.

4 . Some people travel to relax, while others for experience. But are you tired of the high-priced or crowded tourist attractions in big cities? Here are a few perfect places to go for relaxation.

China’s Silk Road

Traveling to China’s Silk Road is a journey of contrasts: Han and Uyghur ethnicities(维吾尔族), Eastern and Central Asian cultures, natural and man-made wonders, dry desert and Alpine Mountain scenery. The scenery is more beautiful when the flowers come out and green grass covers the earth.

Qinghai Lake

Qinghai Lake is the shining jewel of northwest China. The lake is quieter and more peaceful when it is decorated with yellow grasslands and snow-covered mountains. Standing on the banks, you will have a wide view of the scenery. This huge lake and quiet environment will make you feel at peace and in natural beauty.

Daocheng

Daocheng is a popular stopover point on the journey to Yading, a place where you can appreciate the nature of the Tibetan minority culture. In autumn, the red bushes combined with the yellow leaves under the clear blue sky are believed to exhibit the colors of heaven. The temples in these mountains represent the local culture.

Yangtze River

The Yangtze River tour is blessed with beautiful natural landscapes and places of interest to be seen along the way. The ship frequently stops and you can explore the attractions of different cities along the riverbank. The Yangtze River in October is painted with bright fall colors. Also, the weather in October is quite comfortable and cool.

5 . Do you want to see majestic lions roaring, rare rhinos running and colorful birds flying? You’ll find this incredible display of nature in the Kenya Lake System in the Great Rift Valley.

First stop

Fly into Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. This great city is known for its fashion markets and beautiful art. And be sure to pick up some rich Kenyan coffee while you’re there! Then head for the countryside.

Plan your trip

The largest of the three lakes in the system, Lake Nakuru, is less than 175 kilometers from Nairobi. But Lakes Bogoria and Elementaita are equally worth a visit. You can stay at one of several choices of luxurious cabins in the valley. And if you sign up for a trip, be sure to put flamingos, the white and pink birds, at the top of your list.

Paradise

The Kenya Lake System is shallow and alkaline (碱性的). That means it supports vegetation such as green algae, a food source for many waterfowl. Hundreds of species of birds flourish here, using this area as a major breeding and nesting ground. Water buffalo, leopards, monkeys and the endangered Rothschild giraffe also make this area their home.

Other sights

Wildlife isn’t the only natural wonder in the Great Rift Valley. The valley marks a place where the earth is divided far below the surface. This rock separation below ground leads to noticeable features above ground. Walking around Lake Bogoria especially, you will see steam rising from hot springs.

Other activities include golfing, horseback riding and hiking. The fun doesn’t stop when the sun goes down, either. The river valley is far from city lights, so many visitors gaze at the stars shining above.

If you are ready for a wildlife experience, don’t hesitate!

6 . Four Unique U.S. National Parks

Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

If you’re looking for interesting red and pink rocks, you can’t do better than Bryce Canyon. The national park is known for its attractive rock formations and hoodoos (石林). Some of the best places to visit in the park are the Natural Bridge, Fairyland Canyon, or any of the scenic viewpoints throughout the park.

Death Valley National Park, California and Nevada

It’s the hottest and driest national park in the country, but it’s also a place of beautiful desert sights and interesting natural phenomena, like the sailing stones on the Racetrack Playa. Depending on where you are in the park the climate can be extreme—it's home to snowy mountains, dry desert, colorful flower fields, and cool lakes. You might also recognize it as the planet of Tatooine from the original Star Wars movies.

Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona

Arizona offers way more than just the Grand Canyon. This ancient forest in the middle of the desert isn’t what you’d typically expect-it’s way more interesting. The forest became fossilized (石化) over time as minerals like quartz slowly replaced the wood remains. The result is multi-colored stone logs (原木) that are too amazing to pass up. Just don’t take home any free souvenirs-many visitors are fined by taking rocks.

Great Basin National Park, Nevada

Great Basin National Park might be one of the best parks in the state of Nevada. Just a visit to the Lehman Caves or the Lexington Arch (a rare, giant, above-ground limestone arch) will have you convinced. It’s also known for having some of the darkest skies in the continental U.S., so astronomy lovers will jump at the chance to see the night sky when they visit.

It wasn’t until the rise of the Ming Dynasty in 1368 that the Great Wall of China we know today    1    (build). The Ming Dynasty   had to   deal with   a   great   number of attacks   from   minority tribes(部落), so it made extensive additions to the wall.

The    2    (long) and complexity of the Ming wall beat all the former ones. The dynasty also    3    (add) double and triple walls in some places    4    (strengthen) previously built structures and confuse attackers. In fact, in many places the wall is wide enough on top for someone to drive a car on it,     5    (reach) about 6.7 meters. Although the wall has a remarkable girth(周长), it’s not visible from outer space     6     the old myth says. If that were true, major highways would be visible too — many are much     7     (large) than the Great Wall.

Construction on the Great Wall was     8     ongoing and successful effort under the Ming Dynasty until the 17th century, when it could no longer defeat the efforts of the Manchu. This takeover,    9     brought down the Ming Dynasty and gave rise to the Qing Dynasty,     10    (effective) stopped the Great Wall’s development, which spanned more than 2,000 years.