1 . Children’s Discovery Museum

General Information about Group Play

Group Play $7/person

We offer scholarships to low-income schools and youth organizations, subject to availability. Participation in a post-visit survey is required.

Scholarships are for Group Play admission fees and/or transportation. Transportation invoices (发票) must be received within 60 days of your visit to guarantee the scholarship.

We require one chaperone (监护人) per ten children. Failure to provide enough chaperones will result in an extra charge of $50 per absent adult.

Group Play is for groups of 10 or more with a limit of 35 people. For groups of 35 or more, please call to discuss options.

The Museum is open daily from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm.

Group Play may be scheduled during any day or time the Museum is open.

Registration must be made at least two weeks in advance.

Register online or fill out a Group Play Registration Form with multiple date and start time options.

Once the registration form is received and processed, we will send a confirmation email within two business days.

●Teachers and chaperones should model good behavior for the group and remain with students at all times.

●Children are not allowed unaccompanied in all areas of the Museum.

●Children should play nicely with each other and exhibits.

●Use your indoor voice when at the Museum.

3 . Last summer holiday, Aunt Emily took us to a safari park (野生动物园), not far from Liverpool.

I was very happy to go as I had never been to a safari park before. It’s a very interesting park, full of wild animals running freely.

When we got there, we bought our tickets and drove into the park. We were very excited at the thought of going to see the lions. But to get to the lions’ place we had to go through the monkeys’ land first. And that was an unforgettable experience because they climbed all over the car, ate apples and bananas, and threw all kinds of things at us. They seemed very unfriendly.

Anyway, we went on our way to the lions’ place where we had to lock ourselves in the car as we knew lions could be dangerous. A lion came up very close to us. Then it was on the bonnet (车盖). It looked calm but we felt terrified. Aunt Emily, who isn’t very brave, started to call for help. The kids started crying. Only my brother, George, stayed cool. I sounded the horn (喇叭) but nobody heard us.

In the end a guard arrived in his car, and the lion just got off our car and started smelling the guard’s hand as if nothing was the matter.

5 . Xi'an enjoys a reputations as a “Living History Museum” due to its rich, diverse collection of historical and cultural treasures. Apart from the Terracotta Warriors, there are also some other attractions in the city. Here are some of them.

Ancient City Wall

Xi'an City Wall was built in the 14th century in the Ming Dynasty as a military defense system. Now it is one of the oldest and best preserved Chinese city walls. The wall is now a landmark, dividing the city into inner and outer areas.

Giant Wild Goose Pagoda （塔）

Situated in an ancient temple, the pagoda built with layers of bricks was built in the Tang Dynasty. It is traditional Chinese architecture. One of the main functions of the pagoda was to store Buddhist scriptures（经文） and figurines brought to China from India by the famous monk and traveler Xuan Zang, who stayed here for 19 years translating Buddhist scriptures.

Shaanxi History Museum

The Shaanxi History Museum, built in 1991，is home to over 370,000 precious relics unearthed in Shaanxi over the years, The museum consists of three main sections. Its collections range from bronze ware（器血）to pottery ware, gold and silver ware and mural paintings from the Tang Dynasty tombs.

The Muslim Quarter

One of the highlights is its local snacks when you tour Xian. The best food destination is the Muslim Quarter，which has a history of several hundred years. Consisting of a number of food streets, the area has become a famous attraction in the city for its rich and authentic Muslim cultural atmosphere.

Located in southwest Anshun, Guizhou Province, Huangguoshu Waterfall is the largest and most wonderful group of waterfalls in China. With splendid scenery, the waterfall was included in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's largest waterfall group in 1999. It is 77.8 meters high and 101 meters wide, with 17 smaller waterfalls.

Best time to visit: May to October

Admission: 180 yuan(March 1 to Oct. 31); 160 yuan off-season(Nov. 1 to Feb. 28)

Kanas Lake, lying in a valley in the Altai Mountains, is located near the very northern tip of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous(自治的)Region. The lake is famous for its fantastic natural landscape and mysterious local legend. It is surrounded by thick layers of forest, and the color of the water changes according to different seasons, weather and depth. Kanas Nature Reserve founded in 1980 is now considered a paradise(天堂)for travelers and hikers.

Best time to visit: June, September

Admision: 150 yuan(April 1 to Oct. 31); 80 yuan of-season(Nov. 1 to March 31)

Jiuzhai Valley in Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, is a magical fairyland in nature that enchants tourists with mountains, forests, lakes, waterfalls and crowded wildlife.   During autumn, colorful leaves are reflected in the clear waters. Lakes vary in color according to their depths, angles and surroundings, striking a lively contrast with the blue sky and snow-white clouds.

Best time to visit: September to October

Admission: 220 yuan(April 1 to Nov. 15); 80 yuan(Nov. 16 to March 30)

Changbai Mountain in southeastern Jilin Province is located on the border(边界)between China and North Korea. Considered as the most famous mountain in northeast China, Changbai Mountain has rich biodiversity(生物多样性). With an average altitude of 2,000 meters, the mountain is well-known for its snowy scenery, cool summers and many mineral springs.

Admission: 100 yuan for adults; 50 yuan for children

Hours: 8 a. m. to 4p. m.

7 . Four Best Hikes in the World

There's nothing like getting out and getting some fresh air on a hike. No matter whether your idea of a hike is a leisure walk or climbing the highest mountain on Earth, we've got you covered. Below are four best hikes in the world.

Torres del Paine W Circuit

Location (位置): Patagonia. Chile

Distance: 37 + miles

Time: 5~6 days

Best time to go: October to January

The W Circuit is one of the most recommended hikes you'll find. Not only will you appreciate the diverse landscapes and striking granite pillars (花岗岩柱子), but you'll probably meet some new friends along the way.

Grand Canyon Rim - to - Rim Hike

Location: Arizona, the United States

Distance: 48 miles

Time: 1~3 days

Best time to go: May to June, September to October

There's no better way to experience one of the greatest wonders in the world. Located in one of the USA's most beautiful parks, the views are absolutely appealing. Just make sure you're prepared for the challenge.

Trek to Petra

Location: Jordan

Distance: 47 miles

Time: 5~ 6 days

Best time to go: October to April

Take the road less traveled through the Kingdom of Jordan and experience one of the seven wonders of the world. Hike through canyons, gorges and ridges, and see tombs and temples along the way all while avoiding crowds of tourists.

Yosemite Grand Traverse

Location: California, the United States

Distance: 60 miles

Time: 6~7 days

Best time to go: July to September

Known for some of the best hiking in the world, Yosemite National Park is famous for its views and huge sequoia (红杉) trees. Praised by National Geographic, the Yosemite Grand Traverse will take you through waterfalls and green mountaintops.

8 . Travel allows us to experience the world. But as we travel, we are also leaving our footprint on every place we visit. This is why culturally immersive (沉浸) travel is so important. Because the wrong kind of travel negatively affects the world. One of the reasons we started this blog was to help others travel better and feel comfortable getting off the beaten path, interacting with locals, and take you “Beyond the traditional Bucketlist”, if you will.

People who only get 2-weeks off per year are often just looking for an easy destination with a beach to relax on. This isn’t travel. This is a vacation. But “Immersive Travel” or “Cultural Travel” is an entirely new type of trip. It is about experiencing and preserving the various traditions around the world. It’s about being open to new experiences and willing to step into another’s shoes. Cultural travel is jumping in with both feet and leaving your idea about what your trip should be behind you. It’s eating local dishes and sleeping in guesthouses. It’s building genuine connections with locals. It’s learning about the history of a country and leaving your trip with a greater understanding of the place you came to see and the people who live there.

Often times in today’s age, “travelers” will visit a country just to snap some photos of the famous sights to post on Instagram or to drink the night away, or even just to relax on a tropical beach. But that kind of vacation can be harmful to the very communities you’re traveling to.

Beyond supporting the local communities and the preservation of local customs and traditions, you’ll also experience some personal benefits through cultural travels. There’s simply no way to travel this way with a closed mind. You’ll get to know different cultures intimately and understand them a lot better. You’ll also become less judgmental of others the more you travel.