How have you been? I’m having a good time on my holiday in Shangri-La. It is the name of a city in Yunnan, China. I decided to come here because I wanted to experience the real Shangri-La for myself, even if it’s different from the paradise we read about in the book. So far, I really like it here.

On Monday, I left Lhasa at noon, and after changing flights once, I reached Shangri-La at eight in the evening. That night, I was so tired that I had a quick bite to eat and then crashed at the hotel.

Yesterday, I went to the Potatso National Park. The park covers such a wide area that the ticket for the park includes a bus tour, as it is the only way to see all the major sites in one day. Just to give you an idea of how large the place is, imagine a park that spans across vast forests, wetlands, lakes, meadows, and several villages! On the bus, I made friends with the passengers around me, and they said that I had definitely picked the right season to visit the park. The autumn scenery, they said, would be absolutely picture-perfect.

On top of its beautiful scenery, the park is also famous for its rich biological diversity. Did you know that Potatso makes up less than one percent of China’s total land area, but it contains more than 20 percent of the country’s plant and animal species? I even saw two black-necked cranes (鹤) at the picturesque Bita Lake! Bita Lake is absolutely my favorite place in Potatso. Just imagine, a beautiful lake, blue skies, majestic mountains, and golden trees all around me. Spending time there can be an amazing experience, which gives me a good rest.

Tomorrow, I am going hiking at the Tiger Leaping Gorge. Fingers crossed that there will be good weather! Anyway, I need to get some sleep now since tomorrow’s going to be a long day, but I’ll tell you all about it when I get back!

Love,

Chris

I have many goals. The most important one is to travel around the world and I am trying my best to make it come true. The reason is     1     our world is so fantastic that I want to explore it. There are so many different things in the world     2     (experience). While     3     (travel), I can learn different languages and make friends with the local people. I believe I can achieve my dream.

3 . Many places around the world host marathons that aim to provide their runners with a special experience. If you’re planning to run a race，check out some of these beautiful marathon destinations.

Are you up for a challenge? Hosted at Cusco, Peru, the Inca Trail Marathon is regarded as one of the most difficult marathons in the world. With Cusco’s rich history of being once the capital of the Inca Empire, participants can explore several ancient archeological sites. During the run, participants will get to see the surprising landscape of the “Lost City of the Incas”, Machu Picchu, and the Sacred Valley.

Held in Greece, the Athens Marathon is perfect for those of you who are interested in history mythology (神话), and architecture. There are many tourist spots and historic sites to visit like the Parthenon and the Acropolis of Athens. During the race, audience will be cheering on the participants creating an atmosphere similar to the Olympics.

Held at Carmel，California，the Big Sur International Marathon is known as the world’s largest rural marathon. Before the race，participants generally visit the world — famous Monterey Bay Aquarium (水族馆), which owns rich animals. The Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park is another attraction stretching from 3,000-foot mountain ridges (山脉) to underwater canyons and rocky seaside cliffs.

Located at Limpopo, South Africa, participants can explore and check out the wildlife of the African savannah. The marathon is held in one of the “Big Five” game reserves in Africa. There are no fences or rivers that separate the runners from the African wildlife. Make sure to keep your mind clear You might find an elephant or even find yourself running alongside giraffes.

5 . Viator

Travel with an insider

What’s so great about Viator?

Traveling like an insider starts here.

7 . In the sprawling metropolis of Grayville, where skyscrapers touched the heavens and streets were constantly buzzing with life, there existed a unique place called “The Corner of Quietude”. It was neither a park nor a building. In fact, it was simply a street corner, marked by a single lamppost with a peculiar sign: “Speak softly, for this is a place of solace”.

Legend had it that anyone speaking beneath this lamppost, regardless of the surrounding noise, would find their words drowned out, replaced by an mysterious peace. Over the years, many had come to experience its magic. They spoke of heartbreaks, dreams, regrets, and wishes, seeking solace in its embrace.

Ella, a journalist new to Grayville, stumbled upon this corner during an assignment. Doubtful, she decided to test the legend. Whispering her deepest fears about her failing career and struggles in the big city, she was shocked when all she heard was a calming whisper, almost as if the world around her paused.

Ella dug into the history of “The Corner of Quietude”. She discovered that decades ago, a musician named Alaric had lost his voice and would visit the corner every night, playing his silent tunes on a violin, hoping to communicate through his music. Some believed that the corner absorbed Alaric’s yearning for expression and became a place for all who sought to voice their innermost emotions.

9 . The Burj Khalifa, Dubai

The Burj Khalifa is the tallest man-made structure in the world. It is located in Dubai, which is in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Burj khalifa is a skyscraper that has hotels, apartments, restaurants, and office space inside it.

The skyscraper is 828 meters tall, and it has more than 160 floors. There is an observation deck on the 124^th floor and another one on the 148^th floor. From the observation decks, visitors have an incredible view of the city and the Persian Gulf.

An architect from the US, named Adrian Smith, designed the building. Smith has designed many famous buildings around the world in places like China, Korea, the UK, Saudi Arabia, and the US. Workers from more than 100 countries helped to build the structure. They included people from India, Pakistan, and the Philippines.

It took six years to build the skyscraper. Construction workers began their work in January 2004. First, they had to dig a huge hole in the ground to create the building’s foundation. It took just over a year to get the ground ready. The workers started to build the tower in March 2005. More than a year later, in June 2006, the workers reached the 50^th level. Seven months after that, they reached the 100^th level. By July 2007, the skyscraper had 141 floors and passed the previous tallest building in the world to become the new tallest building. At the time, the tallest building was Taipei 101. However, the Burj Khalifa did not officially become the world’s tallest building until after it opened two and a half years later. There was a big launch ceremony to celebrate the opening of the building in January 2010.

The Burj Khalifa is just one of Dubai’s famous sights. The city has become a popular place for tourists in recent years, and it is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Middle East. Millions of tourists from around the world visit it every year.