An adventure in Africa

After my parents and I     1     (drive) from Marrakesh to Merzouga, we saw the unending sand dunes     2     (stretch) before us, marking the beginning of the Sahara.     3     (see) the yellow roadside sign which reminded us of a “fragile natural environment” here, I made a resolution to respect and     4     (protect) the unique landscape. With sand dunes towering high above, wind     5     (blow) violently, the sun beating down and the sky being a deep shade of blue, I     6       (lose) in the wild beauty. Without any plant to be seen, the desert appeared     7     (complete) empty. In sight were only dunes, the colours of which contrasted strikingly     8     the blue sky. Eventually, we arrived at the camp, the night     9     (approach).

On our way to the camp in Amboseli National Park located on the border of Kenya, due to my     10     (father) carelessness, our car     11    (stick) in the mud. Luckily, with the help of two local people we soon got out of     12     (embarrass) and waved them goodbye.

At the       13     (park) space next to our hut, we were     14     (amaze) by the grand beauty of the plains, which seemed to come     15     (live) with its grand surroundings as well as the African wild life.

Chengde Mountain Resort

Chengde Mountain Resort lies in the north of Chengde City, Hebei Province in the north of China and covers an area of 5,640,000 square meters. First     1     (build) in the 42nd year during the reign of Emperor Kangxi in the Qing Dynasty, the whole construction of Chengde Mountain Resort     2     (last) a total of about 90 years. The resort is mainly composed of Palace Zone and Garden Scenery Zone.

Located in the south part of the resort, Palace Zone comprises rows of buildings in a perfect layout,     3     look like those in the Forbidden City in Beijing.     4     buildings fall into four groups: Central Palace, Pine and Crane Studio, Valleys and Pines, and East Palace.

Garden Scenery Zone is divided into the lake area, the plain area and the mountain area.     5     (lie) in the west and north of the plain area, the mountain area has an area of 4,435,000 square meters, accounting for four     6     (five) of the total area of the resort. The towering peaks seem as if they are natural blockades preventing the bitter wind from entering the zone and that seems to be     7     the weather here is regulated.

Unlike other royal gardens, Chengde Mountain Resort is a perfect     8     (combine) of quintessence of both the south and north gardens that follow the natural terrain and suit measures to conditions of mountains and waters for construction. It is an outcome of inheriting (继承) and     9     (far) expanding the architectural philosophy of Chinese classical gardens. It is a milestone of pride in Chinese garden history and a masterwork of Chinese classical garden art, claimed     10     the largest existing royal garden in the world.

Statistics     1     (release) by the China Tourism Academy (CTA) in March show Chinese people made only 87 million trips abroad last year,     2     is a mere 56 percent of the 2019 level. However, the CTA said the number could reach 130 million in 2024.

Traveling abroad seems to have become     3     (difficult) than before for the Chinese people because of the     4     (rise) requirements by some embassies. Many embassies still require every visa     5     (apply) to make online appointments three months in advance. And even after following all the procedures and fulfilling all the requirements, one may still have to spend some     6     (sleep) nights waiting for the visa, and get it, if any, just a couple of days before departure.

According to authorities, only 4,782 international flights operated between China and other countries and regions a week last year,     7     (account) for only 62.8 percent of the pre-pandemic level, with less than one-third being operated by foreign airlines.

Another factor that may prevent Chinese tourists     8     going abroad is people’s changing attitude toward spending money. With both the domestic and global     9     (economy) yet to recover to their pre-pandemic peak levels, people have become cautious about lightening their wallets, with overseas tours being the first     10     (delete) from a family’s budget.

This makes it important for foreign countries to take measures to attract more tourists from China—the world’s biggest source of tourists.

The popularity of ancient towns in the south of the Yangtze River, such as Zhouzhuang and Wuzhen, has aroused a nationwide trend in the construction of ancient towns. Lin Peng, the director of China’s Institute of Ancient Cities and Cultural Studies, pointed     1     that there are more than 2,800 developed or developing ancient towns in our country,     2     is definitely the highest number globally.

In ancient towns,     3     immersive (沉浸式) experience being mentioned here is historical and cultural characteristics — the “ancient” of ancient towns. Apart from visible “special buildings”, characteristics also include invisible “culture”. Tourists in ancient towns want to see the living     4     (condition) of local people, feel the vitality of town life, try characteristic local snacks     5     (influence) by geography and folk customs, and understand how long history     6     (shape) local culture. Out of modern fast-paced work and life, tourists want to awaken their inner softness with a slow-moving ancient town.

Touring ancient towns is for recreation, relaxation, and pleasure,     7     if all the ancient towns in different places are the same and cannot find their own     8     (unique), then ancient town tourism will     9     (eventual) decline. Let every ancient town become a unique historical imprint (印记), so that tourists can find their “poetry and distance” while     10     (wander) through the ancient towns. This is the soul that ancient towns need to regain.

Looking for the best vegetarian vacations in China? We’ve arranged China tours for vegetarians with acceptable cuisine. Eating out while traveling     1     a vegetarian won’t be tricky; instead, you can enjoy inspiring destinations and various cultures.

Previously most Chinese vegetarians were Buddhists & Taoists; but now more and more Chinese people focus more on     2     (they) health. By 2018, there had been more than 50 million veggies in China,     3     the number is still   increasing. The vast land of China     4     (offer) many fresh vegetables,   seasonal fruits,   noodles, rice, tofu and yummy dishes     5     are all fine for vegetarians.

On our     6     (guide) vegetarian food tours of China, you don’t need to worry about anything. There are many solutions if you’d like to focus on a meat-free trip. We select clean and     7     (high) rated vegetarian restaurants at every destination. Furthermore, your local guide will take you to discover and sample     8     wide range of unique vegan snacks and street foods at the traditional wet market and back streets,     9     (make) your vegetarian travel to China full of delights.

The other wonderful thing about vegan vacations in China, of course, is that immersive cultural     10     (explore) and real life adventure are always on the menu.

Chengdu is a nice lively city with a busy street life which people always find amusing. If you are traveling to Chengdu with children, a stop at one of the Giant Pnda Reserves will be     1     you must try. But that’s not all there is to see for children.

Kids will also enjoy     2    (take) a walk around ancient Jin Li Street, with its colorful market atmosphere, temples, the river and bridges. Stop at the teahouses, enjoy the markets, and try some    3    (taste) Sichuan dishes. Just around     4     corner you will find all sorts of Tibetan clothes and cultural objects, different from the usual souvenirs     5    (find) throughout China.

In addition, Chengdu can     6    (use) as a base for many one-day hikes in Sichuan Province. Besides the Giant Pandas,     7     the city is well-known for, there will be plenty to keep the kids busy in this area.     8    (certain), it is worth staying for a few days if you have the time.

Chengdu is also considered the gateway for travel into Tibet. Sichuan Province itself has a large Tibetan population and offers plenty     9     opportunities for interacting with minority cultures. Children can enjoy and learn from these     10    (encounter) here.

Before the lecture on ancient Chinese architecture, Li Wei, an expert in “dougong”, which translates as “interlocking wooden brackets (斗拱)” and refers to architectural elements used in traditional Chinese     1     (building), examined the complex designs, which showcase the precision and craftsmanship (手工艺) of ancient builders.

Wearing     2     traditional robe and a pointed hat, Li Wei appeared as a knowledgeable historian, ready     3     (share) insights into the architectural miracles.

The lecture     4     (focus) on the Forbidden City, which is one of the most symbolic examples of ancient Chinese architecture,     5     (date) back to the Ming Dynasty.

“Typically, I discuss architecture     6     (build) during the Ming and Qing dynasties, but for this special session, I will explore the early architectural influences that paved the way for these grand structures,” said Li Wei, who     7     (research) ancient Chinese architecture for more than a decade.

Li Wei’s passion for preserving the historical significance of ancient buildings aligns with the mission of the National Heritage Foundation,     8     is dedicated to the protection and promotion of China’s rich architectural legacy (遗产).

The foundation works tirelessly to ensure that these architectural treasures,     9     an integral part of China’s cultural heritage,     10     (preserve) for future generations.

During the peak (高峰的) holiday travel period beginning in spring, tourists booked all 16 rooms of the village home run by Paden Chodron, a 39-year-old member of the Tibetan ethnic group.

“The tourists are mostly young people, many of     1     are part of tour groups. They want to know about our     2     (tradition) lifestyle, like planting highland barley (青稞) and harvesting mushrooms. We also learn about their homes and their life,” Paden says.

He and his wife Baima Quzhen made their dream of starting a family hotel a     3     (real) ten years ago.     4     (locate) in Zhaxigang village in Lunang town in Nyingchi, Southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region, the couple’s hotel is now one of more than 50 households in the village getting good returns from improved highways and the nearby airport. The roads and communications have improved greatly,     5     (help) them open up to the outside world. More and more tourists are drawn to the beautiful environment and ethnic attractions of the area. Paden says his family enjoys     6     annual income (收入) of 100,000 yuan, tourism and farming included.

The Zhaxigang village successfully uses its ethnic heritage, natural attractions and connectivity     7     (develop) the important industries of tourism and animal feeding. Last year it     8     (give) several national-level honors.

As is reflected by residents like Paden, so far our Chinese government’s powerful and effective measures     9     (enable) local communities to be in line     10     the country’s increasing focus on shared and inclusive growth.

Millions of tourists have visited the resort island of Hainan province this summer. Visitors     1    (primary)consist of young people, while families with children are also returning in large numbers, resultingin a strong demand for facilities such as accommodations     2    (tailor)to family stays and theme parks.

Apart     3     the tourism scene in the cities on the eastern coast, the western regions of Hainan, including Changjiang Li autonomous county and Danzhou city, have also seen     4     boom in tourism activity. Wearing traditional Li costumes, and fishing in streams     5    (be)among visitors’ favorite activities. Danzhou has also attracted visitors by organizing sports events.

By Aug 19, Haihua Island     6    (receive)over 1 million tourists during the summer vacation. Dai Bin, president of the China Tourism Academy, believes that    7    (emerge)forms of tourism, such as self-driving tours, recreational vehicle trips, night travel, wellness retreats,    8    (education)journeys and sports-related activities, need to be better implemented in the tourism market.

Dai suggested     9    (prioritize)academic travel for young people, health-focused tourism for the elderly as well as introducing tourism products     10     suit visitors’ preferences while meeting their budgets.