1 . 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.

2 . 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.

3 . 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!

4 . The New York See It All Tour is exactly what it sounds like: an all-inclusive guided tour of New York City.

One of the most famous parks in the world, Central Park is a man-made wonder. Not only is it the first public park built in America, but it is also one of the most frequently visited parks, with over 25 million guests per year. Set in the middle of busy Manhattan, its grounds serve as a safe harbor, not only for athletes, and musicians but also for lots of migratory birds each year. One can spend an entire peaceful day wandering its grounds, gazing upon nearly 50 fountains, monuments, and sculptures or admiring its 36 bridges.

Hudson River Park is a waterside park on the Hudson River that extends from 59th Street south to Battery Park in the New York City district of Manhattan. Bicycle and pedestrian paths, including the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway, span the park north to south, opening up the waterfront for the public to relax. The park includes tennis and soccer fields, children’s playground, dog run, and many other features.

Washington Square Park, located in the heart of Greenwich Village, is a very popular and often crowded square. People from all backgrounds gather to this large square dotted with trees.

The Central Park Zoo is a small 6.5-acre zoo located on Central Park in New York City. The zoo began in the 1860s, making it the first official zoo to open in New York. The zoo was improved in 1934, with the addition of many new buildings ranged in a quadrangle around the sea lion pool. Finally, the zoo was repaired in the mid-1980s and reopened in 1988, replacing the old-fashioned cages with naturalistic environments.

5 . “Smart cities promise to bring better lives, faster transport, cleaner air and lower crime, all through the intelligent use of connected technology, ” said experts, “and after huge investment in the field, China is leading the way.”

“China’s smart cities market increases about 30 percent year­on­year in 2018, and all the provinces have begun development and construction for smart cities, with more to follow,” said an expert.

“Although most cities have started a smart city project, there is no globally unified thinking on the concept and operation of smart cities,” said Franco.

Alibaba is now involved in dozens of pilot projects across China, with its open AI (人工智能) platform Tianqing for the ET City Brain system officially launched in September. Set up by its cloud computing subsidiary (子公司), the Brain looks to make the city “think” through AI and cloud computing technologies, and help make the best of public services in real time.

Since introducing the technology, Hangzhou’s traffic jam has fallen from the fifth­worst in China in 2016, all the way to 57th place this year. “Now our experiments are mostly for government use, but we truly expect our open AI platform to enter more areas and help citizens live, work and entertain better,” said Hua.

In McKinsey Global Institute recent report smart cities: Digital solutions for a more livable future, they find cities can use smart technologies to improve some key quality life by 10 to 30 percent—numbers that translate into lives saved, fewer crime incidents, a reduced health burden, and carbon emissions.

6 . How cool can libraries be in an era (时代) of iPods and Kindles? More than you think.Only if you know where to go.

Central Library: Seattle, Washington, United States

The Central Library in Seattle is modern and fashionable and has tourists from around the world paying visits and taking tours. It was designed by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas and American designer Joshua Ramus. Tours began in 2006, two years after its opening. The library holds various art exhibitions, book signings and other events, while visitors can stop by the Chocolate cart for a coffee and scan through the gift shop anytime.

Trinity College Library: Dublin, Ireland

The Trinity College Library in Dublin is the oldest library in Ireland, founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth Ⅰ. It is the largest single library in the world, also known as the Long Room, which contains more than 200,000 of the library’s oldest books.The Long Room houses one of the oldest harps (竖琴) in Ireland. Dating back to the 15th century, the old harp is the model for the symbol of Ireland.

Geisel Library, University of California: San Diego, United States

At first glance, it looks like a spaceship. Architect William Pereira, who helped design actual space launch facilities at Cape Canaveral in Houston, Texas, designed the library in 1970. It has been featured in sci-fi films, short stories and novels. The library hosts “Dinner in the Library”, which invites readers for cocktails, and also a special speech from distinguished authors.

TU Delft Library: Delft, Netherlands

The library at the Delft University of Technology was constructed in 1997 and has more than 862,000 books, 16,000 magazine subscriptions and its own museum. The building itself exists beneath the ground, so you can’t really see the actual library. What makes it interesting is the roof, which is a grassy hill. The roof covers 5,500 square meters. And it has become one of the most striking and greenest structures in the area.

9 . I picked up my two best friends and we were off on a road trip. I had just returned to America from a year abroad in China. So, naturally I wanted to take a trip to Canada.

Montreal, the second largest city in Canada, is a four­hour drive from my home in New Hampshire. We felt a thrill as we crossed the border into Canada. It was the first time I had ever driven across an international border. We turned on the radio to try and find some Canadian stations.

After dropping off our bags at our hotel, we were immediately walking down the famous St.Catherine’s Street. While we walked, two things surprised us: how cold it was and how well everyone dressed. The streets of Montreal are like a fashion show. Both men and women look like they stepped out of the pages of a magazine.

All of that fashion has to keep them warm since Montreal is so cold. Last year it broke the record for the most snowfall in North America. To hide from the cold we went into a small diner because we wanted to order Poutine, a very popular snack in Montreal. It is French fries covered in cheese and brown gravy (肉汁). It is delicious.

However, we had a hard time ordering the dish since the official language of Montreal is French. It is actually the fifth largest French­speaking city in the world. But since the rest of Canada speak English, plenty of people were there to help.

We spent the rest of the weekend going to many historical churches and monuments in Montreal. But at night we’d head to the very modern dance clubs and bars. Montreal is a city that sits between the past and the future and the traveller can choose whichever direction he wants to go.

10 . Welcome to the 4-Day Wonderful Life Experience

This 4-day sightseeing tour covers the most famous elements(元素)of China: the historical sites, natural scenery, unique culture, and lovely giant pandas.

Day 1　Beijing Arrival

Your guide will meet you in the arrival hall. An experienced driver will transfer you to your hotel. Your guide will help you to check in.

You may start your first day wandering through Tian’anmen Square and arrive at the Forbidden City to have a little adventure in the previous emperors’ home. After lunch at a local restaurant, you’ll explore the centuries-old hutongs to get a taste of the locals’ lifestyle: making dumplings in a local family’s home, trying your hand at Chinese calligraphy, or applying Peking Opera facial makeup.

Day 2　The Summer Palace and the Great Wall

Freshen up in the morning and start your day at the Summer Palace, enjoying the over-200-year-old royal garden. Take a pleasant boat ride on the lake and take a walk in the long corridors(走廊)to view the beautiful paintings on the ceilings.

After enjoying some Beijing Roast Duck for lunch, we’ll go on our tour to visit the Great Wall at Mutianyu. Walk through the watchtowers, enjoying a wonderful view of the wall winding across the mountains. The cable car to a good section of the Great Wall is included.

Day 3　The Terracotta Army(兵马俑)

At 7 in the morning, you will be driven to the airport for your flight to Xi’an. Your guide will be waiting for you and will transfer you to your hotel.

Everything in Xi’an is about history. The Terracotta Army, with each figure being unique, has guarded Emperor Qinshihuang’s tomb since 210 BC.

After lunch, you’ll visit the over-600-year-old ancient city wall. Walking along the Xi’an City Wall provides a good view of the city.

Day 4　One-Day Panda Keeper Program

In the morning, you’ll get onto a high-speed train to Chengdu, where you can get close to giant pandas. You will get very close to them and learn more about them during the Panda Keeper Program in the Dujiangyan Panda Park. Under the guidance of an English-speaking member of staff, you will clean the panda enclosures, feed a panda by hand and make cakes for them.

After the tour, the driver will transfer you to the airport at 9 pm, and take you all the way to the security gate for your convenience.

China visas provided PLUS a free dinner or a snack tour.

Valid:Nov. 20, 2019—Dec. 2, 2020

Please click here for more detailed information.