Tibet was a region I was desperate to see,     1     its remoteness and my inability to go delayed my journey. Last summer, my brother and I finally decided to take the trip.

We set off at the Guangzhou train station and three days later, we arrived in Lhasa. The trip certainly took a while; however, we     2     (reward) with the most beautiful views and made friends along the way, all at a     3     (low) cost than flying.

We started our tour of Lhasa watching pilgrims(朝圣者)doing their morning prayers,     4    (comprehensive) exploring the palace. We had an incredible lunch at one of the best restaurants in Lhasa,     5     offered a beautiful view overlooking the Jokhang Temple.

Then we started our journey to the Qomolangma base camp    6     road from Lhasa. Along the way we stopped     7     (admire) the Yamdrok Lake. Its beauty was beyond     8    (describe).

About a week later, we arrived. We stayed in a guesthouse just next to the base camp and after dropping off our luggage,     9     (head) straight outside to see the Mt. Qomolangma. The tip of the mountain emerged through the clouds,     10     (astonish) us with its unbelievable height. The clouds parted and we watched the sunset over the peak.

4 . The Best National Parks to Visit in Winter

While most parks tend to draw families in the summer and fall, there are also ideal spots for adventurous winter trips.

The country’s oldest and best-known national park takes on an almost otherworldly atmosphere in winter: the air filled with rolling steam, the strong colors of hot springs, the surrounding white landscapes, let alone the impressive wildlife during this time, like bison, wolves, and playful red foxes. Just book a guided hiking tour to get a ranger’s perspective on the park and local people.

With its giant red rocks and unique trees, you’ll feel like stepping onto a foreign planet as you spend hours hiking the Panorama Loop or Maze Loop. The park is recognized as an International Dark Sky Park, featuring virtually zero light pollution and the country’s best views of a starry sky.

A significantly lower number of visitors in winter means you can take in unblocked views of the South Rim, and get to see the rare beauty of the Grand Canyon dusted with snow. For those adventurous and daring, it is recommended to hike the Bright Angel Trail and take the chance to see the canyon’s wintertime wildlife, including mule deer, elk, and bald eagles.

Surprise! Not all wintertime national park trips need to involve snow. Virgin Islands National Park is most famous for its white-sand beaches. You can also hike inland to visit old sugar plantations, or venture out to the water to swim along with sea turtles and manta rays. You will definitely enjoy a different winter here.

5 . In 2008, I traveled to a remote region in southwest China to tell the story about the Nu River. The word “Nu” means “angry” in Chinese. Here many ________ lived in the mountains along the narrow river. There were ________ bridges over the river and most people from the villages had to ________ it by zip lines (滑索).

I went to a place closest to a town on a market day. When I got there, a stream of people was already crossing over the ________ waters of the river. They did it ________ or in pairs. Some of them even went with ________ in their arms, such as chickens and pigs. I even saw a goat.

With a camera around my neck, I hooked onto the return line and moved forward until I ________ midway above the river. The waters did look angry below me.

Hanging over the river, I ________ people crossing until those waiting to return home became very ________ . I pulled myself back to the roadside to let them pass, and then hooked onto the line again for another try. Suddenly, I saw a group of people were heading toward the zip lines with a ________!

“What’s the angle? “I asked myself, as I ________ my position. I wanted the river waters in the picture but that was not easy to do. Before I could check all the ________ they tied a rope around the cow, hooked it on the line, and gave it a push. Kicking its legs in the air, the cow ________ the steep line above the angry river.

I reached the line’s end just as the cow closed in. For a second, my camera was in the cow’s face. The view was ________ —completed by the angry river below.

Nowadays, these zip lines have been ________ by modern bridges and government housing projects have been designed to encourage the people to move down to the riversides.

6 . In December 2013, photojournalist Wood set out to become the first person to walk the length of the Nile River.

Wood’s journey began in Rwanda, took nine months and ________ 3,750 miles. It was necessary to make the trip on foot, he says, because “________ is the only way you can really get under the skin of a country.”

Wood acknowledges that his ________ was often dependent on the hospitality (好客) of local villagers. The people of the Sudan, he says, were probably the most ________ of all. Even sharing water, he says, ________ an incredible act of kindness.

“The biggest challenge was the sun ________ down. Most of the day I had to be ________ to the sun,” he recalls, “My guide had a catapult (弹弓). He would shoot pigeons. Other times we’d eat with villagers. The local ________ could vary, from grasshoppers to rats.”

The journey wasn’t without danger. Civil War in South Sudan ________ shortly after his arrival. He made it halfway through the country, to Bor—the front line of the war. It was there that he was arrested and ________ before an army commander, who told him he was not ________, and threatened to kill him if he crossed the border. He was evacuated (疏散)   to the capital, and flew to North Sudan.

“I ________ out 400 miles of the journey,” he regretted.

Had he made the trip ________, he would ________ have achieved a Guinness World Record. But he says it doesn’t matter.

“It was never about breaking records, it was about taking the biggest ________ in my life, and it was certainly that.”

Ireland’s beautiful countryside has always had a great influence    1    its people and traditions. The country has     2    long history of producing great writers and poets. Its beautiful countryside excites and inspires all,     3    (offer) something for each of the senses. The peaceful landscape of the “Emerald Isle” and its many green countries    4    (be) a true feast for the eyes, with its rolling green hills     5    (dot) with sheep and cattle. And down by the sea, the roar of the ocean    6    (wave) and cries of the seabirds make up the music of the coast. On a quiet morning in the mountains, feel the sun on your skin, and breathe in the sweet scent of fresh flowers while birds greet the new day with their morning song. With all this beauty,     7    is not surprising that Ireland has developed strong traditions    8     include music, dancing, and dining.     9    (have) a chance of experiencing this, stop by a village pub and relax with a glass of wine or a local beer.     10    (good) yet, enjoy a delicious traditional Irish Beef Stew. If you’re lucky, you might be able to enjoy some traditional music and dancing, too. And if you introduce yourself to a friendly face, you are more than likely to experience local culture and customs first-hand.

Xi’an, known as one of the “Four Ancient Capitals of the World”, together with Cairo, Athens and Rome, is always     1     (associate)with its long history and rich culture. It’s famous for a number of reasons. For instance, it ranks first among the 6 ancient capitals in China. It used     2     (be)the capital for 13 dynasties as long as 1,100 years. It was the eastern terminus of the Silk Road and a unique city.

Because of       3     (it)somewhat isolated location in the mid-west of China, much of the culture and history has been preserved and passed down     4     this day. The long history and rich culture can be best illustrated with     5     (quantity)of historic relics and cultural sites     6     have been discovered from inside and around this city.

During the past years, an increasing number of tourists from the western world     7     (show)interest in the mysterious China. However, most of them     8     (mere)know Beijing or Shanghai because Beijing is the capital and Shanghai is one of the most influential     9     (finance)centers. But if you want to explore China from the roots upward, Xi'an is the best choice. Being an ancient and modern city, it will surely bring you     10     surprise.

9 . Standing in the starlight under the Milky Way, the night sky is one of the most incredible wonders many of us have not seen which is under threat due to the constant march of human progress and consequent light pollution.

Below are some of my favorite dark sky destinations around the world.

■Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve, New Zealand

Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve is one of the best places in the country to view the night sky. Comprised of Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park Visitor Centre and the Mackenzie Basin, the Dark Sky Reserve was certified in 2012 to continue protecting the dark skies in the area.

Stargazing (观星) enthusiasts should plan a visit to Mr.John Observatory, tours to which must be booked in advance.

■The Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland

Most visitors road-trip Ireland s western Wild Atlantic Way to explore beyond hot spots like Dublin and Cork, but the route is also fast becoming a great region for stargazing, thanks to the efforts of local communities along the Way.

If planning a trip, keep in mind that Ireland does have wet months where overcast skies are more likely to affect your stargazing prospects.

■Wadi Rum, Jordan

Wadi Rum is also sometimes called the “Valley of the Moon,” though you’re more likely to compare it to Mars if you visit. Made famous for its otherworldly landscapes in movies like Prometheus, Star Wars, Rogue One and The Martian, Wadi Rum’s towering red rock formations are extremely interesting to explore by day-and offer protection from any distant light pollution once the sun sets.

Stargazing in Wadi Rum is a breathtaking experience, and reminds us how our ancestors experienced the night sky for thousands of years.

10 . Are you looking for a ski or snowboarding music festival? There are many world-class events, from dance festivals to comedy shows. Here are our best ski festivals.

Tomorrowland Winter

Alpe d’Huez, France

19 — 26 March 2022

Tomorrowland Winter is the winter edition of the legendary dance festival, bringing Tomorrowland’s set design and epic lineups (阵容) to the town of Alpe d’Huez tor a whole week.

The spot lies in a sunny highland, giving a breathtaking sparkle to its variety of slopes that are suitable for beginners, experts and everyone in between.

Snowboxx

Avoriaz, France

19 — 26 March 2022

Snowboxx is a week-long music festival and snowsports holiday rolled into one in the French mountain spot of Avoirazx. Previous artists who have performed the festival’s various stages around the slopes have included the likes of Craig David's TS5, Fatboy Slim and more.

But it’s not just the lineup that makes Snowboxx one of the most popular winter music festivals. The skiing meets the demands of beginners and experts alike, with plenty of easy slopes and more challenging ones to discover.

Altitude Comedy Festival

Mayrhofen, Austria

28 March 2022 — 2 April 2022

Altitude Comedy Festival is the world’s No.1 alpine (高山的) comedy festival, created in 2007 by comedians Andrew Maxwell and Marcus Brigstocke.

Taking place at one of Europe’s most beautiful and best-loved ski spots, the organizers welcome comedy fans and lovers of winter sports to join them and “ski all day, laugh all night”.

Snowdaze

Candanchu, Spain

18 — 19 March 2022

After the first impressive performance, Spanish snowsports and electronic music festival Snowdaze returns to the Pyrenees for a second edition in Candanchu.

Across the weekend, music lovers will once again take to the slopes by day, exploring the best that the Aragonese Pyrenees have to offer, before going downhill as night falls and partying to the sound of a lineup of DJs.