1 . When considering places to visit in China, thoughts invariably drift to the same old sites, like the Great Wall, the Terracotta Army and the Bund. Look a little farther, however, and you can find some truly fascinating scenery and settings you’ve probably never heard of.
Houtouwan — A village like no other
Located on Shengshan Island, Houtouwan was once home to a fishing community. In the 1990s, however, much of the population left as the fishing routes dried up and opportunities arose on the mainland. Left completely to Mother Nature’s designs, Houtouwan has been transformed into a truly fascinating ghost village over the years, like the set of a horror movie!
Houtouwan is not an easy place to get to. From Shanghai, you will need to transfer between land and water vehicles several times to finally reach there.
Crescent Lake — An oasis in the desert
Out west, there’s a whole different world to be explored — Crescent Lake. It is part of a literal oasis in the desert that surrounds Dunhuang in Gansu. The crescent-shaped body of water has been preserved so visitors can enjoy one of nature’s true rarities.
Crescent Lake is located just a 15-minute taxi ride from Dunhuang.
Old Dragon’s Head — The Great Wall you’ve never seen before
One of the most unusual places to explore the Great Wall is Old Dragon’s Head, where the wall meets the sea in Qinhuangdao. The waves crashing against the stones stirs up a certain poetry. After checking out the wall, you can relax yourself on the beach.
Old Dragon’s Head is part of the Shanhai Pass section of the wall. It can be reached by taxi from Qinhuangdao train station.
Panjin Red Beach — The world’s most beautiful marshlands
Red Beach, located in Panjin, Liaoning province, forms part of what is the biggest wetland in the world. The weeds of the beautiful marshland area are flaming red. Stilted walkways have been installed so visitors can explore without harming the otherworldly weeds.
From Panjin train station, bargain with the local taxi drivers to take you directly to Red Beach.
1. Why did the villagers leave Houtouwan?| A．To look for another fishing route. | B．To preserve its natural beauty. |
| C．To seek a better life on the mainland. | D．To make room for a film base. |
| A．Houtouwan. | B．Old Dragon’s Head. |
| C．Crescent Lake. | D．Panjin Red Beach. |
| A．They’re all wonders of nature. | B．They’re all not-so-famous. |
| C．They’re all inconveniently located. | D．They’re all well-preserved. |
2 . SHARK CONSERVATION IN SOUTH AFRICA
Take a two-week trip that you will never forget as a volunteer with sharks on a beautiful stretch of South Africa’s coastline. Head out to sea to witness one of the world’s most powerful (and most misunderstood) creatures on this inspiring project, enjoying watching them from both above and below water.
The DAY-BY-DAY schedule
Day 1: Arrive in Cape Town on a Sunday. You will be collected from the airport and spend your first night in a guest house in the city centre.
Day 2: You will be collected bright and early from the guest house and taken down to the project. The drive takes about 90 minutes. You will receive a welcome and head out to sea to witness your first sharks!
Day 3+: Most days you will be out on the boat with the sharks, depending on weather. Help out with the full range of tasks on the boats, and in conservation initiatives on land too.
Last day: On the final day of your project you will be taken back to Cape Town for your onward travel.
The price is £829,including the voluntary work programme with accommodations, airport transfers, one night in a guest house in Cape Town, breakfasts daily and lunches when on the boats. Your trip can be extended at a cost of £ 375 per week.
It is an amazing experience! Some volunteers planned to stay for 4 weeks, extended to 6 weeks and still didn’t want to come home. If you’d like to chat about this holiday or need help, we’re very happy to help.
Call us at 01273 823 700.
Email us at rosy@responsibletravel.com.
1. When will you really begin your shark watching trip?| A．On a Friday. | B．On a Saturday. |
| C．On a Sunday. | D．On a Monday. |
| A．Sail on the ocean. |
| B．Return to Cape Town. |
| C．Buy some souvenirs. |
| D．Dive with sharks. |
| A．£ 375. | B．£ 750. | C．£ 829. | D．£ 1,204. |
3 . Where to go?
Here are some of the best places across the UK for your whole family to enjoy the quality time together in nature.
Drove Orchards (果园), Thornham, Norfolk
Drove shines a bit brighter each autumn, when it starts delivering fruit. Many of the fresh apples and pears there are ready-picked as well as PYO (short for pick-your-own). Also juice made from the orchards' special varieties of apples is strongly recommended.
Opening time: 10 am-4 pm daily until the end of October (booking not necessary but checking what's fruiting before visiting at droveorchards.com)
Blooming Green, Linton, Kent
Blooming Green is a "no-dig" flower business, selling flowers directly to customers and opening for PYO activities from summer to the end of October. In November and December there are wreath-making (花环制作) workshops, where participants pick their favorite flowers.
Opening time:10 am-4 pm on Saturdays only (with pre-booking of one-hour slots, bloominggreenflowers.co.uk)
Towerbrook Farm, Banwell, Somerset
Like many other farms, Towerbrook Farm offers pick-your-own and cut-your-own service. But it's the first place that offers dig-your-own Christmas trees, meaning you can take your tree back after the holiday and replant it there, which allows you to avoid sending your tree to the recycling centre.
Opening time: 8am-4pm daily between 20 November and 30 December(pre-booking not necessary)
Shute Fruit, Bishopsteignton, South Devon
As well as selling preserves made from kinds of berries (浆果), Shute Fruit also manages an extensive pick-your-own operation. There you can pick your own sloe berries. If you are a fan of sloe gin, a kind of alcoholic drink, whose alcohol content is between 15 and 30 percent, ask the farm for recipes to make your own sloe gin at home.
Opening time: 11 am-5pm daily except rainy days and Mondays, until the end of October (booking not necessary, shutefruit.co.uk)
1. If you go to Drove Orchards，what can be recommended to you?| A．Delivering fruit. | B．Tasting freshly squeezed apple juice. |
| C．Planting Christmas trees. | D．Picking your own apples at 8 am. |
| A．Thorham. | B．Linton. | C．Banwell. | D．Bishopsteignton. |
| A．Their relevant Information can be got from the same website. |
| B．They have the same opening time. |
| C．They all offer pick-your-own service. |
| D．They needn't be booked in advance. |
4 . Shopping in Paris, France
Every visitor to Paris goes shopping. Street markets, elegant passages, beautiful department stores, bookstalls along the Seine, fine museum shops―Paris is the perfect place for shoppers.
Covered Passages
You can combine shopping and sightseeing by visiting some of the beautiful covered passages of Paris. These 19th-century glass-roofed arcades (商场) were wildly popular for a while. Today about 20 remain, offering a variety of shops and restaurants, as well as interesting architecture and design.
Markets
Paris is best known for its wonderful markets. Open air markets, covered markets and market streets all offer fresh delicious food. They’re great fun and worth visiting, even if you’re not planning on cooking.
Flower Market
The Marche aux Fleurs (Flower Market) is just upstairs from the Cite station. Come any day of the week to enjoy the flowers, whether you buy or not. On Sunday, the flower market becomes a pet market.
Designer Shops
All of the great French fashion houses have shops in Paris, of course, and the great department stores sell all sorts of good French stuff. If you want to see a street full of top design, stroll down Avenue Montaigne.
Flea Market
For a real shopping adventure, take the Metro to Porte de Clignancourt station on Saturday, Sunday, or Monday from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm for an adventure in the vast Marche aux Puces de Saint-Ouen, also known as the Clignancourt Flea Market, with several thousand stalls, shops, and vendors selling everything from used blue jeans to paintings and furniture.
Museum Shops
Most of Paris’ great museums have museum shops selling art, books and souvenirs of high quality at very reasonable prices.
1. What can the visitors learn about when visiting covered passages?| A．The history of life. |
| B．The style of buildings. |
| C．The benefit of travelling. |
| D．The development of cities. |
| A．On Monday. |
| B．On Friday. |
| C．On Saturday. |
| D．On Sunday. |
| A．Designer Shops |
| B．Flea Market |
| C．Covered Passages |
| D．Museum Shops |
5 . Singapore is a very modern country in Southeast Asia. If you’ve been traveling in its capital city, Singapore, it can be a shock when it comes to accommodation prices. For backpackers they have no choice but to stay outside of the central area. If you are a visitor, I think it’s best to stay in the historic central area to make the most of your time. For first-timers I have put together this list of the best areas to stay in Singapore.
Chinatown
Chinatown is where the original community of Chinese immigrants settled in Singapore. The area is lined with Chinese stores, markets, and great places to eat for all budgets. It lies next to the downtown area and there is a variety of accommodation choices, from hostels (招待所) to 5-star hotels.
Little India
Little India is where most of the original Indian migrants made their home. Today it is still famous for temples, markets, and lots of places to eat delicious Indian foods. It’s the most popular spot for backpackers and there are some good mid-range choices here.
Kampong Glam
A short walk from Little India is the Kampong Glam area. This is where Arab traders set up shops, with street names such as Haji Lane, Baghdad St, and Arab St. The neighborhood is now one of the trendiest in Singapore.
Changi Airport
With one of the biggest airports in the region, the chances are you might just be passing without time to stay. Changi Airport is awarded as one of the best in the world, so if you have to do an overnighter at an airport, then you couldn’t have a better experience than at Changi. I didn’t get any sleep but it was an enjoyable stay for an airport.
1. What will make backpackers disappointed in Singapore?| A．The remote location of the hotels. | B．The system of accommodation. |
| C．The high charges of the hotels. | D．The accommodation with poor facilities. |
| A．Chinatown. | B．Little India. | C．Changi Airport. | D．Kampong Glam. |
| A．It witnesses a noisy environment. | B．It has gained a fairly good reputation. |
| C．It offers passengers worse service. | D．It is the biggest airport in Singapore. |
6 . East Yorkshire has typical unpredictable British weather. So here are some ideas to keep everybody happy when the weather is not the most ideal.
William's Den, North Cave
The outdoor and indoor areas are suitable for children of all ages to have fun. There are nests to explore, rope bridges to cross, a tree-house and a slide. The attached Kitchen provides fresh food made from locally sourced ingredients serving a selection of treats.
East Riding Leisure Centres
Known for a fun learner pool alongside an incredible fun zone with two slides as well, it is perfect for kids to find their feet in the water, have fun and explore. Its 6 climbing walls offer a different challenge on each. This place is suitable for anyone over the age of 4 and you can refuel at cafe with fresh food, snacks and cakes.
Sewerby Hall and Gardens
When the weather’s not sure, take cover in the Hall and learn how life was in the early 1900’s for the residents and workers of the house. Then explore the zoo and meet the pigs, parrots and penguins! Kids of all ages are welcome.
Withernsea Lighthouse
There’s no limitation to the age of kids to climb Withernsea Lighthouse, which is 144 steps to the top, with full views of the East Yorkshire Coast at the top of it. Enjoy the museum on the ground floor and learn what life is like working and living in a lighthouse. The souvenir shop provides attractive gifts for visitors at a fair price.
1. Which one is unsuitable for kids of all ages?| A．William’s Den, North Cave. | B．East Riding Leisure Centres. |
| C．Sewerby Hall and Gardens. | D．Withernsea Lighthouse. |
| A．In William’s Den, North Cave and Sewerby Hall and Gardens. |
| B．In East Riding Leisure Centres and Withernsea Lighthouse. |
| C．In William’s Den, North Cave and East Riding Leisure Centres. |
| D．In Sewerby Hall and Gardens and Withernsea Lighthouse. |
| A．A geography textbook. | B．A science report. | C．A finance magazine. | D．A travel brochure. |
7 . Thinking about exploring the world again?
While travel is still just a dream for many, we know that some of you are now eager to pencil in your next adventure. We are now taking bookings for our 2021 and 2022 tours.
Mongolia
Dinosaur Hunting in the Gobi Desert
15 days I 28 August and 11 September 2021
A thrilling and unique adventure to find dinosaur remains in the wilderness of the Gobi Desert with professional paleontologists (古生物学家) from the Mongolian Institute. Fully join in fossil digging across key sites.
Vietnam
Caves, Conservation, Culture
11 days I 4 September 2021
Discover a different side of Vietnam in this wide-ranging tour that covers geology, wonderful landscapes, animal conservation, culture and history. Experience tropical (热带的) jungles, caves, happy villages and amazing achievements of underground engineering.
Japan
Nature, Culture, Science: Tokyo to Kagoshima
12 days I 17 October 2021
Travel the length of Japan in a journey that contains its must-see technology and nature, from the big city of Tokyo with New Scientist’s Rowan Hooper to hot springs, volcanic (火山的) islands and snowy mountains.
Iceland
Land of Fire and Ice
8 days I 30 October and 6 November 2021
Appreciate erupting geysers (间歇泉), glaciers and waterfalls on a trip of volcanic and geological adventure. Joined by geologist Oliver Shorttie, discover the best of Iceland with a chance to see the Aurora Borealis (北极光).
1. How long does the trip to find dinosaur remains last?| A．15 days. | B．12 days. | C．11 days. | D．8 days. |
| A．Dinosaur Hunting in the Gobi Desert. |
| B．Caves, Conservation, Culture. |
| C．Nature, Culture, Science: Tokyo to Kagoshima. |
| D．Land of Fire and Ice. |
| A．They last at least 10 days. |
| B．They are guided by geologists. |
| C．They provide a trip of volcanic adventure. |
| D．They offer a chance to see the Aurora Borealis. |
8 . Heritage sites are universally considered as the places where you can learn about the history of human development and social evolution. Therefore, if you have a keen interest in meeting your curiosity about it, the following on the UNESCO's World Heritage List will be a must-check list for you.
Dinosaur Provincial Park, Canada
The park is best known for its extensive fossil beds, within which 35 species of dinosaurs from about 100 to 65 million years ago have been identified. There are also fossilized remains of fish, reptiles, and amphibians. The area was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979.
Salonga National Park, Congo
This is the largest reserve in Congo, covering more than 14,000 square miles. The park was established in 1970. The thick forest provides habitats for various animals like parrots, elephants and monkeys. Park visitors observe the animals from motorized river boats. The park was entered into the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites in 1984.
Hadrian's Wall, England
This is a Roman barrier that guarded the border of Britain. Hadrian (ruled 117-138 CE) went to Britain in 122 and was the first to build a wall, 80 miles long, to separate the Romans from the barbarians (野蛮人). There was no intention of fighting from the wall top; the soldiers there were trained to encounter the enemy in the open. In 1987, Hadrian's Wall was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage site.
Easter Island, Chile
This place is famous for its huge stone statues. The first European visitors, the Dutch, named it Easter Island in memory of their day of arrival. The small and hilly island was formed by volcanoes.Easter Island was added to UNESCO's World Heritage List in 1995.
1. If you want to study fossils in college, which site would you like to visit?| A．Easter Island. | B．Dinosaur Provincial Park. |
| C．Hadrian's Wall. | D．Salonga National Park. |
| A．In 1995. | B．In 1979. |
| C．In 1987. | D．In 1984. |
| A．To keep a place for dinosaurs. |
| B．To defend themselves from attack. |
| C．To memorize Roman’s arrival in the place. |
| D．To provide natural habitats for wild animals. |
A remarkable example of classical French architecture, Chambord Castle is the largest castle in the Loire Valley of France. Built in 1519 as a hunting lodge for the royal court, the building was rarely lived in. There are one hundred rooms (of 440) open-to the public and dozens of staircases, including one said to have been designed by Leonardo da Vinci. The surrounding 21-square-mile nature park entertains with hiking and-biking routes and boat rentals.
LEEDS CASTLE, KENT, UNITED KINGDOM
Situated on two islands in the middle of a lake, Leeds Castle provides a grand and romantic experience. It has served as a royal residence for most of its 900-year history. The 500-acre English castle now hosts year-round cultural events, with three restaurants, a bed-and-breakfast and a yew tree maze.
MOSZNA CASTLE, POLAND
Moszna Castle was originally designed in Baroque style in the 17th century, but the later addition of a neo-Gothic brought Hogwarts appeal to the castle, especially at night when its 99 towers and glowing windows twinkle in the outdoor reflecting pool. Nowadays, art exhibits and indoor concerts attract visitors to the 365-room castle.
BRAN CASTLE, BRASOV, ROMANIA
Bran Castle originally dates back to the year 1212 and is mistakenly believed to be the home in Bram Stoker’s Dracula. The author never visited this fortress, commonly known as Dracula’s Castle, but it still attracts literature fans to its weakly-lit hallways for night tours and an annual Halloween party.
1. What can visitors-to Chambord Castle do?| A．Hunt in the nature park. | B．Go boating with friends. |
| C．Live in any of its rooms. | D．Admire da Vinci’s paintings. |
| A．CHAMBORD CASTLE | B．LEEDS CASTLE |
| C．MOSZNA CASTLE | D．BRAN CASTLE |
| A．CHAMBORD CASTLE. | B．LEEDS CASTLE. |
| C．MOSZNA CASTLE. | D．BRAN CASTLE. |
10 . Best Ski Resorts (胜地)
Stevens Pass—Washington
While American families have different choices when it comes to winter snow sports, many choose Stevens Pass. For some fun after the sun goes down, Stevens Pass offers night skiing under the lights until 10 p. m. If you need to get some work done, you can head to the Visitor Center where free Wii is offered for work from mountain experience.
Good to Know: Buy tickets 7+days earlier for the biggest savings.
Beaver Creek—Colombia
With full childcare choices and the best ski school for beginners, Beaver Creek is a perfect ski resort for families. For kids who aren't quite ready to ski, the Small World Play School is a good place to go to. Add in a Cookie Cabin, and you may never want to go down this mountain!
Good to Know: Every day at 3 p. m. enjoy Cookie Time—where cooks serve warm, delicious chocolate cookies!
Big Sky Resort-Montana
Big Sky is greatly designed for skiing lovers. The Lone Peak Playhouse offers childcare to kids aged six months to eight years old, so you can enjoy skiing while your kids play. Or, head to Chet's for board games and live music.
Good to Know: Kids aged six and under ski free.
Mt. Hood Meadows—Oregon
For beginners, start with Buttercup and Ballroom Carpet. Or, head to the Children's Learning Center, where kids as young as four can sign up for lessons. If you add in the healthy lunches, you can rest easy while your kids have a great full-day lesson.
Good to know： Kids can get a special two-hour beginner lesson for just $ 25, and equipment rental (设备租用)can be added for $10. Tickets can only be bought ahead of time.
1. What can visitors do at Stevens Pass?| A．Take skiing lessons. | B．Play indoor games. |
| C．Do voluntary work | D．Ski at night. |
| A．Both offer snacks. | B．Both offer childcare |
| C．Both offer live music. | D．Both offer board games. |
| A．$ 10. | B．$ 25. |
| C．$ 35 | D．$ 45. |
