3 . If you could travel in time, where would you go? Perhaps you would watch an original performance of a Shakespeare’s play in Elizabethan England? What about hanging out with Laozi in the Spring and Autumn Period? Or maybe you’d voyage far ahead of the present day to see what the future holds.

The possibility of time travel is indeed appealing. Stories exploring the subject have been around for hundreds of years. Perhaps the best known example is the science fiction novel The Time Machine, which was written by H. G. Wells and published in 1895 for the first time. It was adapted into at least two feature films of the same name, as well as two television versions, and a large number of comic book adaptations. It is generally credited with the popularization of the concept of time travel using a vehicle that allows an operator to travel purposefully and selectively. The term “time machine”, coined by Wells, is now universally used to refer to a vehicle transporting people into the far future.

But could time travel actually be possible? Some scientists say yes, in theory. They propose using cracks in time and space called “wormholes”, which could be used as shortcuts to other periods. Einstein’s theory of relativity allows time travel in extreme circumstances. And British physicist Stephen Hawking said you could travel into the future with a really fast spaceship—going at nearly the speed of light. Though building such a spaceship would of course be no simple task.

Even if you could travel into the past, there is something called the “grandfather paradox”. It asks what would happen if a time traveller were to go back in time and have his own grandfather killed for some reason, and therefore prevent himself from being born. If the time traveller wasn’t born, how would he travel back in time?

And would you really like to visit the future? In H. G. Wells’ book, the main character travels into distant time where he arrives at a beach and is attacked by giant crabs. He then voyages 30 million years into the future where the only living thing is a black object with tentacles (触角). If that’s what’s in store, maybe we are better just living in the present day after all.

4 . Do you like travelling? Do you want to get some information about it? If so, don’t miss the following books about travelling

Journeys of a Lifetime

Compiled from the favorite trips of National Geographic’s travel writers, Journeys of a Lifetime spans(跨越) the globe to show the best of the world’s most famous and little-known destinations, from ocean voyages in Antarctica to horse riding in the Andes. Offering all kinds of possibilities, every continent and every possible form of transport is covered.

Destinations of a Lifetime

Destinations of a Lifetime takes you on a photographic tour of the world’s most impressive destinations. Hundreds of the most amazing locations—both natural and man-made—are shown with vivid images taken by the world-class photographers. Destinations of a Lifetime includes all the information: when to go, where to eat, where to stay, and what to do to ensure the most interesting experience.

World’s Best Travel Experiences

Popular actor and award-winning travel writer Andrew McCarthy writes the foreword(序言) to this great book which offers 400 excellent destinations chosen by National Geographic’s family of global contributors. This broad, general interest travel title will attract active travellers looking for the next great trip as well as many readers who simply love dreaming of visiting faraway, peaceful destinations.

Lonely Planet’s Ultimate Travel

This collection of the 500 most unmissable sights and attractions in the world has been ranked by Lonely Planet’s global community of travel experts, so big sights such as the Eiffel Tower and the Taj Mahal compete for a prized place in the top 10, making this the only list you’ll ever need.

Do you like travelling?     1    (stay) healthy while     2    (travel) can help to ensure your trip is a happy and enjoyable one. When travelling abroad, you can make full use of the following tips which can make your trip much easier.

It’s necessary for you     3    (get) a signed passport and visa. Also, before you go, fill in the emergency information page of your passport! Make two copies of your passport identification page. This will help you a lot if your passport is     4    (steal). Leaving one copy at home with friends or relatives     5    (be) a good idea.

Read the public announcements or travel warnings for the countries you plan     6    (visit). Get yourself     7    (inform) of local laws and customs of the countries to which you are travelling.   

Don’t accept the packages     8    (give) to you by strangers. It’s no use     9    (take) too much money or unnecessary credit cards.     10    (make) enough preparations in advance can help you succeed in travelling.

There are     1     kinds of theme parks,   with different parks for almost everything:   food,   culture,   science,   cartoons,   movies,   history,   and so on.     2     and whatever you like,   there is an     3    (极好的) theme park that will appeal to you.

Disneyland,     4     maybe you are most familiar     5    , will bring you into a magical world and make your childhood dreams     6    (实现). Dollywood is unique because it shows and celebrates America’s     7    (传统的) southeastern culture.   Here you can have     8     learning all about America’s historical southeastern culture. Chimelong Ocean Kingdom is one of the leading ocean-themed     9    (公园) in the world. If it is ocean     10    (娱乐) that you are looking for,   come to Chimelong Ocean Kingdom!

9 . Top Silk Road Attractions

Terracotta Warriors (兵马俑)

Type: History Museums, Historic Sites

Recommended Length of Visit: 3 hours

As the eighth wonder of the ancient world, it has a history of more than 2, 200 years. Oriental mummies (东方木乃伊) wait for you to discover their mystery.

Mogao Grottoes (莫高窟)

Type: Buddhism, Historic Sites

Recommended Length of Visit: 3 hours

Considered as the eastern Louvre Museum, Mogao Grottoes is a glorious treasure of ancient Buddhist cave art. The history of Mogao Grottoes can be traced back to the “Five Hu — 16Kingdoms” period (AD 304-439).

Big Wild Goose Pagoda (大雁塔)

Type: Culture & History, Buddhism

Recommended Length of Visit: 2 hours

For hundreds of years, this great pagoda has always been the symbol of Xi’an. It is famous for the great traveler Xuanzang of Tang Dynasty who traveled from China to India to learn the Buddhism and got back to China with many precious Buddhist scriptures (佛经).

Qinghai Lake

Type: Lake

Recommended Length of Visit: 5 hours

Known as the largest inland lake, as well as the largest salt water lake in China, it is the most visited and famous attraction in Qinghai Province. Here, you not only enjoy the fantastic natural beauty, but also experience the amazing culture here.

Please click here to add the attraction to your favorite list. Let us plan a private Silk Road Tour for you!

10 . August is one of the most popular months to travel for Chinese. Choosing the perfect destination for an August vacation isn’t easy. We looked at airfare trends, climate data, and cultural calendars to select 4 vacation spots that are some of the best places to visit this August.

Mackinac Island, Michigan

Visitors can enjoy the sunny weather while boating, fishing, and sailing. On land, you can hop between historic sites like Fort Mackinac and Fort Holmes, both key sites in the War of 1812.

And sweet teeth will have something to celebrate too: the Fudge(软糖)Festival, which takes place every August and allows the many fudge shops on the island to show off their best work.

Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts

Martha’s Vineyard is praised as one of the most classic summer getaways in the United States. The charming island south of Cape Cod is dotted with simple and elegant New England homes, relaxing sandy beaches. The sunny summer weather in August sets the perfect stage fora boat outing or a shopping trip to the town’s shops of all kinds.

Krakow, Poland

Krakow, Poland, is the perfect mixture of history and nightlife.

Tourist favorites in Krakow include Wawel Cathedral, St. Mary’s Basilica, and the Schindler’s Factory museum, each of which gives a glance into Poland’s religious and political history. After the sun sets, enjoy Krakow’s world—famous har and restaurant scene, and don’t forget to pop into a cafe for a late-night snack.

Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya

Every year, one of the grandest wonders in nature is performed here—the Great Migration.

The annual migration sees more than 2 million wildebeest(羚羊), zebras make the dangerous journey across the Serengeti in search of greener fields. Along the way, predators(食肉动物)such as lions and crocodiles lie in wait for the incoming foods, providing tense scene for brave sightseers and nature lovers.