3 . The Chinatown Storytelling Centre (CSC) is home to Canada’s first lasting exhibit (展览) space. Explore the history of Vancouver’s Chinatown through the events filled with stories from the people who lived, worked and played there.

Upcoming Events:

Teacher’s Tour of the CSC Vancouver’s Chinatown

Looking for some new field trip ideas for your students? Join us for a one-hour exploration of our “touchable teaching collection”. Learn about the diverse experiences of the Chinese Canadian community and how we’re using these stories in our school programs. Participants have the opportunity to win a free school trip!

A Passion for Music in Chinatown

Join Henry Young and “The Chinese Sinatra” Gary Lee for a delightful July afternoon of storytelling and music. Hear their charming stories. Towards the end of their talks, Henry and Gary will also be giving short live performances.

A Special Preview

Join us for a lively evening of storytelling with dance artists Andrea Nann and Sarah Chase. Andrea will share a part of their new work, Firehorse and Shadow. It contains elements of dance, shadow puppetry (皮影戏), photography, and story-telling to explore female figures with a focus on the yin and yang elements.

Chinatown Stories (Off-site)

Dr. April Liu, Manager at CSC, will lead a storytelling meeting using photographs and artifacts (手工艺品) from the CSC collection. Through stories and conversation, we’ll explore how each object carries indications of memory, music, and language to reflect Chinatown’s unique history and heritage. The activity will be held in December in Vancouver Public Library.

4 . Enthusiastic travelers may have already heard of “regenerative tourism” along with the idea of sustainability(持续性). Whenever we travel—no matter where or how—we are leaving an impact on the environment and the world surrounding us. While sustainable tourism takes positive steps toward limiting that footprint in order for us to protect environments for future generations, regenerative tourism takes this idea one step further.

Regenerative tourism means “the idea that tourists should leave a place in better condition than it was before”. For example, when visiting a garden, each person plants a tree to further build the environment instead of leaving no trace(痕迹).

In a way, regenerative tourism involves travelers to be active in their acts of sustainability. Another great example of this is any act of clean-up. This is especially popular on major beaches and in parks where there’s always rubbish to pick up and waste to remove. While travelers certainly don’t need to join in a community clean-up while on vacation (unless they want to), the idea of being involved is very much the same.

Joining in regenerative tourism has personal and environmental benefits. Jeffrey Skibins, an associate professor in entertainment and park management, says, “Many tourists report feelings of deep personal satisfaction and a stronger connection to nature. Additionally, conservation (保护) behaviors enable tourists to develop life-long learning around these issues and continue these behaviors at home.”

Regenerative means “to renew and revive”, which is exactly what many travelers are doing to help environments recover. Depending on where one plans to travel, there might be more ways to help than originally realized. By further encouraging damaged environments to be renewed through travel rather than being negatively impacted, we can slowly help to rebuild the world’s most beautiful landscapes.

5 . Famous for its sunny beaches and natural wonders, Miyako Island welcomes many visitors during holidays.

Scuba diving

Miyako Island is for diving(潜水), with a wealth of dive sites to explore, including many underwater caves. Even those without a diving license can have a try. Dive shops and tour operators also offer tours for beginners to explore Miyako Island’s underwater environment.

Snorkeling(浮潜)

Snorkeling is a must-try in Miyako Island. Plenty of space to dive close to the shore is a standout feature. For beginners, Aragusuku and Shigira are a good choice but advanced snorkelers may see Imgyo Marine Garden, Waiwai Beach and Shimojishima as their favorite spots.

The bridges

Irabu Bridge is the longest toll-free bridge in Japan. It connects Miyako Island and Irabujima, stretching for 3540m. Smaller bridges connect Irabu and Shimoji islands, giving visitors additional beach options. On Shimoji Island, there is a boardwalk around Tooriike and two dramatic marine ponds connected to each other.

Unique beaches

Yonaha Maehama Beach is the most famous beach in Miyako Island, where white sand stretches for seven kilometers. Sunayama Beach, known for its arch-shaped rock, is hidden in a small cove(湾), and one has to walk through lines of trees to get there.

Fresh island food

Delight your senses with delicious Miyako noodles, or fresh fruit. Okinawa has the highest mango production in Japan, and Miyako Island’s warm climate is suitable for growing fresh, juicy mangoes.

6 . Getting close to nature

The Lakes Aquarium

Lakeside, Newby Bridge, LA12 8AS

Located at Lakeside, on the south-western tip of Lake Windermere, the aquarium has a variety of strange and wonderful aquatic wildlife, as well as a small selection of land-dwelling creatures.

Cost: Adult £8.50

Children aged 3 to 15 £6        Children under 3 Free

Seasonal opening: Open daily from 10 am; Close 4:30 pm

Things to see

The lakes of Cumbria may appear peaceful on the surface, but they hide a whole world of fascinating and curious creatures, with many of them on display at the aquarium. There are sections covering both local lakes and those from further afield. In the Lake District section you can view native creatures such as crayfish(淡水龙虾) and perch(鲈鱼), as well as mammals such as harvest mice.

Children are encouraged to learn more about the water cycle and how this determines the landscapes we see around us. There is an Asian otter enclosure(围场) with feeding times and talks available. Watch out for the piranhas(水虎鱼) in the Americas section, and visit the creatures of the rainforests that include marmosets(狨猴) and boa constrictors(蟒蛇).

Guided tours

The advised maximum group size for a guided tour is 25 people—larger groups will be divided into more manageable numbers for guided tours. We recommend that you allow at least one to one and a half hours for the guided tour.

Useful information

While there is no cafe in the Lakes Aquarium building, there are two cafes in the buildings nearby. 1872 serves Starbucks coffee as well as sandwiches and sweet treats, and also has a selection of gifts available for purchase. Oscars in the station-building serves hot and cold meals with great views of the lake.

10 . Harry Potter fans, get ready for the journey to Hogwarts and beyond on an official guided tour of Warner Bros. This guided experience at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London — The Making of Harry Potter is the only tour of its kind, so if you’re a fan of the magical world, it’s a must-do.

What To Expect

Upon arriving, you will be greeted by an experienced guide who reveals the wonders you’ll encounter throughout your tour of the original sets and costumes from all eight of the Harry Potter films. You will be given your own personal headset to ensure you do not miss any of the fascinating behind-the-scenes facts.

Watch a short film in the cinema before you enter the Great Hall, Visit the original Hogwarts Express locomotive (火车头) and a recreation of Platform 9¾. Climb aboard the train carriage and pose with a luggage trolley as it disappears through the platform wall.

Once the tour comes to an end, you have the option to re-enter the studio at your leisure, find that perfect souvenir at the Studio Shop, or purchase a coffee at the Studio Tour Cafe.

Additional Information

Not wheelchair accessible.

Infants (婴儿) must sit on laps.

Travelers should have a medium physical fitness level.

This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers.

The total duration of the tour is 5 hours, comprising a 1-hour travel time to the studios, a 3-hour guided tour, and a 1-hour travel time back to London.

Cancellation Policy

If you cancel at least 3 days in advance of the scheduled departure, there is no cancellation fee. If you cancel within 2 days of the scheduled departure, there is a 100 percent cancellation fee.