1 . When you visit America, you will see the word “motel” on signs and notice boards. It is made up of “motor” and “hotel” and it is really a hotel for people who arrive by car (however, you don’t need a car to stay at one). You have to pay when you arrive for your room, which usually has a bath. Meals are not provided, but there will certainly be a cafeteria (自助餐馆). Along the main roads there are a lot of motels. Some provide television in every bedroom while others have swimming pools. Motels are especially useful when you are in the country, far from a town or city. You will also find them in the big National Parks.

In these great National Parks, you may meet guests you don’t expect to see. An American friend told me a little story. In the middle of a moonless night she heard strange noises outside her motel window in the Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. Thinking it might be a thief, she jumped out of bed, opened the door and crept(悄悄地缓慢行进) towards a dark shadow. As she got close, she saw the thief. She was dreadfully frightened: It wasn’t a human thief—it was a big black bear. The bear was turning over some empty tins(罐) with its paw, looking for tasty bits of food. My friend decided to leave that particular thief alone!

There are also, of course, places called “rooming houses”, where they receive lodgers (房客). You will see such signs as Tourists or Rooms Rent, and you could try one of these. A word of warning—looking for a room in New York during the tourist season is like looking for gold on the moon!

2 . I live in Xizhou in Yunnan Province, on the historic Tea Horse Road. I have to admit that when I first heard that Paul Salopek was going to walk the entire globe on his own two feet, I was blown away. I couldn’t imagine that there could be such an unusual person in the world.

Last May, I met Paul. He told me that it was his first time in China. He talked to me with great excitement about the history, migrations, and discoveries in my region of China. He spoke of the Shu-Yandu Dao (the Southern Silk Road), the travels of the 17th-century Chinese explorer Xu Xiake, the Tea Horse Road and the early 20th-century American botanist Joseph Rock. He also talked of Xuanzang. Paul considered many of them heroes and in a sense Chinese pioneers of slow journalism.

I decided to accompany Paul on his walk toward Yunnan. On September 28, 2021, we set out. Our days were simple: walk, eat, sleep, and repeat. We woke up at sunrise, set off in high spirits, and rested at sunset, dragging ourselves into exhausted sleep.

We met many people on the road. Some were curious, surrounding us and watching us; some gave us directions; some invited us into their home to take a rest; some spoke of the charm of their hometown. We met many beautiful souls, simple souls and warm souls. We were walking with our minds.

Together, we were impressed by the biodiversity of the Gaoligong Mountains. As I walked on ancient paths through mountains, I seemed to hear the antique voices of past travelers urging me to be careful on the road.

Looking back on the more than 200 miles I walked with Paul, I came to a realization. Walking for its own sake, while healthy and admirable, is only a small part of the benefit of moving with our feet. A deeper reward is rediscovering the world around us, shortening the distance between each other, and sharing each other’s cultures.

3 . Florence, Rome, Venice. Beautiful cities to be sure, not to mention some of the planet’s most visited travel destinations. Yet this popularity means that for many, Italy’s premier hotspots are too expensive and overcrowded to visit. If you want to enjoy a true taste of Italy without the tourists, read our list of secret Italian towns you need to visit.

Treviso, Veneto

Treviso is like a small Venice with fewer tourists and crowds. Its historical walled centre is dotted with medieval churches, cobblestone streets, red-brick palaces and tiny old canals that connect buildings, gardens and piazzas.

Bologna, Emilia-Romagna

Bologna is one of the coolest towns in Italy. It is mostly frequented by students--Bologna is home to the oldest university in Europe and a whole lot of gastronomy fans, since it’s known to be the Italian food capital. Once you arrive, don’t forget to taste the delicacies of the area, such as lasagne, tortellini and, you guessed it, bolognese.

Castelluccio, Umbria

Castelluccio is the highest village in the Apennine Mountains at 1,452m (4,764ft) above sea level. It’s a charming village with lovely squares that offer amazing views over the mountains and fields that blossom with violets and red poppies. The best time of the year to visit Castelluccio is in spring--from late May to early June.

In this region of Yunnan, the Naxi people make up the    1    (major) of the population. Many tourists visit the region these days,    2     (hear) of the fascinating culture of the Naxi and other ethnic groups. It’s    3    (possible) not to fall for the city of Lijiang, with its maze of cobbled streets. Some tourists have been lucky enough to be put up by friendly Naxi people, so if you     4    (offer) accommodation, think it over before you book into a guesthouse.    5     (accommodate) by a local family is a good way to learn about another culture. Exploring the old city is    6    experience not to be missed. You may think you will get lost in the tiny streets,    7     don’t let this stop you!    8     (go) on down the cobbled streets towards the river, and it’s very likely    9    you will come    10    musicians playing traditional instruments.