1 . Temples have long served an important role since the early years of civilization. Whether you are seeking a sense of spiritual enlightenment or looking to learn more about a certain religion, these beautiful temples are worth a stop on your vacation.

Situated on a steep cliff in Bhutan’s Paro Valley, the “Tiger’s Nest” earned its nickname from an 18th-century tale detailing Buddhist master Padmasambhava arriving to the site on a flying tiger. The journey to the cliffside is quite the challenge, requiring guests to climb two hours on a steep trail.

Neighboring the tallest waterfall and set against the lush trees of Nachi, Seiganto-ji dates back to the 4th century. Seiganto-ji is now the first stop on the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage, where individuals travel to 33 Buddhist temples throughout the Kansai region of Japan.

This Buddhist and Taoist temple was built to honor the god of literature and the god of war, and the inscriptions found in the temple hall imply its construction may have taken place around 1847. It is still highly active and visited by local worshippers, so it’s asked that any visitor coming to the temple is prohibited from taking photos out of respect.

Penang is often touted(吹捧) for its sandy beaches and emerald blue waters, but it’s also home to the largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia. A melting pot of cultures, the temple’s architecture showcases Chinese, Thai, and Burmese styles throughout its stunning seven stories. It’s estimated there are 10,000 statues of Buddha depicted throughout its main pagodas(宝塔).

The revitalization (复苏) of abandoned properties in rural China is on the rise. Each     1     (locate) in remote Chinese towns, the following three striking hotels are far from the hustle of the city.

WuYuan Skywells Hotel in Jiangxi province, a previously neglected 300-year-old mansion, was     2     (incredible) restored to its former glory, while maintaining its regional architectural feature Tianjing, a narrow and tall courtyard pulling sunlight inside,     3     introducing elements of modern comfort.

Similarly, by the end of 2022, designers     4     (restore) the Bamboo Craft Village near Chengdu city, preserving the construction traditions to build an extremely     5     (impress) roof. Seen from above, the shape of this building is like a figure “8” or the infinity sign “∞”.

The Treewow Tribe in Zhejiang province     6     (feature) houses that are surrounded by a sea of bamboo trees to provide tourists     7     comfortable privacy. Notably, the free-form roof imitates the free-flowing lines of nature, gracefully     8     (invite) the green landscape into the private space.

Marrying the charm of traditional Chinese designs and the     9     (rich) of modern living, these hotels will definitely offer you     10     unforgettable experience and a perfect getaway.

4 . 4 Most walkable cities in Europe

Seville in Spain takes the top spot as Europe’s most walkable city, offering the shortest walking route between the top four tourist attractions.Visitors can explore the impressive Plaza de Espana public square, before wandering over to the UNESCO-listed palace of Real Alcazar and Seville Cathedral. After that, it’s only a short trip on foot to visit the beautiful Barrio Santa Cruz neighbourhood.

Venice is well-known as a heaven for pedestrians (行人), so it’s no surprise it ranks as the second best location for walkable city breaks. There are endless alleyways to explore, as well as plenty of beautiful bridges over the crisscrossing canals that the city is famous for. Just under half an hour of walking here will take you on a tour of the impressive Grand Canal, Doge’s Palace, St Mark’s Square, Basilica and bell tower, all in only 1.3 miles.

Nestled along Portugal’s picturesque coast, Porto comes in third with its top attractions all covered by a 30-minute walking route. Meander along the Dom Luís I Bridge over the Douro River, head to the Clérigos Church Bell Tower and enjoy a riverfront walking place along the Cais da Ribeira. The Stock Exchange Palace is also just a short walk away.

Florence, Italy, secures its place as the fourth most walkable city in Europe thanks to its stunning attractions that can be seamlessly explored on foot. A 1.6 mile route covers the awe-inspiring Piazzale Michelangelo; the famous Uffizi Gallery; the Piazza del Duomo where you will be amazed at the magnificent Florence Cathedral; and the Galleria dell’Accademia, home to Michelangelo’s masterpiece, the statue of David.

5 . The romantic Rhine, which flows more than 700 miles from Switzerland to the North Sea, is one of the most popular cruising(巡游) rivers in Europe, with many options available. Take a look at things to do in Rhine River!

Amsterdam

Many Rhine River Cruises begin or end in Amsterdam. This city is popular among multiple age groups and types of travelers for its relaxing atmosphere. Grab a bicycle and enjoy an afternoon of cafes, art, and historical sites. The Anne Frank House is a popular attraction in Amsterdam. Be sure to check if your river cruise can help with advance tickets as the lines are consistently long, though.

Neuschwanstein Castle

This fairytale castle is in the heart of Bavaria, Germany. Situated in the Black Forest, and conjuring up (唤起) visions of princes and princesses, it is an extremely popular tourist attraction. It was in fact one of the inspirations for Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty Castle. If your Rhine River cruise includes a stop in Munich, there’s a good chance that visits to Neuschwanstein will be available.

Strasbourg

If you’re looking for a classic European country town, this is the stop for you Strasbourg has a typical French feel, with cobblestoned streets, small shops, and of course a cathedral. Be sure to visit picturesque Petite France, the historic quarter of town, and Rohan Palace to walk in the footsteps of Marie Antoinette, the last queen of France before the French Revolution. Strasbourg is also a delightful place for visit for Christmas markets.

Basel

Sharing three international borders: Switzerland, Germany, and France, Basel presents a fascinating combination of cultures, cuisines, and languages. You can enjoy several wonderful historic sights in Basel, within a short distance from each other, and don’t miss a walk through the Botanical Gardens.

6 . Philip Guston Now, a major retrospective (回顾展) of Philip Guston (1913-1980), one of America's greatest modern painters, presents the full scope of the artist’s 50-year career. Organized by the National Gallery of Art, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Tate Modern, London, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the exhibition is on view in these museums from March 2 through August 27, 2023.

Related programs offer both in-person, and virtual opportunities to get inspired by Philip’s art.

●Lectures

Introduction to the Exhibition

March 5, 2023, 12:00 p.m.

Registration is required and opens on February 24, 2023, at noon on nga.gov/lectures.

Harry Cooper, head of National Gallery of Art, presents Philip Gaston’s life and work.

Philip Guston and the Mural Impulse

Spring 2023, date TBA (to be announced)

Registration is required and will be available at nga.gov/lectures.

This discussion is a unique chance to view one of Gaston’s largest murals (壁画), and to hear from scholars and artists who have considered his work. The program will be introduced by Kristen Fusselle, fine arts program manager at the General Services Administration.

·Workshops

Virtual Studio

July 26, 2023, 10:00 a.m.

Registration is required and will be available on nga.gov/community.

Join museum educators and artists in a virtual studio session inspired by the exhibition Philip Guston Now. Virtual

Studio is designed for anyone interested in making art, and we welcome participants of all skill levels.

7 . William Lindesay, renowned Great Wall expert and conservationist, and his wife Wu Qi have traveled across the globe by the back paths, providing their sons Jimmy and Tommy a unique environment for personal growth.

Sunhats, backpacks, sneakers and trekking poles — these are the day-to-day must-haves of the family. This East-meets-West couple started traveling while their younger son was still in nappies in 2003. Most of their trips, most of which are far from the hot spots recommended by travel guidebooks, seem more rigorous than leisurely — heritage study in the Mongolian deserts, a 53-kilometer hiking tour of New Zealand, a one-day climb of three English summits and a six-day train ride from Beijing to Moscow.

“Real travel may be hard, uncertain, uncomfortable, but there’s a feel-good factor when you pass a test of some kind,” Lindesay wrote in the family’s newly published travel memoir Pages of Discovery.

Lindesay attaches great importance to learning out of the classroom, saying that children might score well on school tests, but that experience of the world outside, in distant lands, with different languages, scripts, political structures, and religious beliefs, is the real testing ground.

Children in this international family did not have the same pressure to perform on school tests, but they had “homework” on the road. Wu asked her sons to write travel diaries, collect tickets, draw maps and summarize travel tips. She says such habits, though they might not directly improve test scores, will pay dividends in later life.

These experiences certainly shaped their sons’ characters and influenced their chosen study at university. One read world history, the other international relations. The two brothers also share an interest in historical monuments, and the Great Wall in particular. They are now planning to follow in their father’s footsteps with a new 4,500-km hike on the Great Wall.

“My parents view the world as a big classroom, and my brother and I are the biggest beneficiaries,” Jimmy says.

8 . While attractions like the Shard and the London Eye offer excellent perspectives, they’re always busy and ticket prices are steep. But with a little insider knowledge, you can save your pounds and bag your skyline photos without the crowds through accessing the following viewpoints.

London is mostly flat, but if you know where to look there are a few hills that provide natural (and free) high points offering city views with a side order of fresh air.

One of the most central is Parliament Hill on Hampstead Heath — at 98m, one of London’s highest natural viewpoints. From here, on a clear day, you can sit on the park bench that featured in movies like Run Fatboy Run and Notes on a Scandal.

Entry fee: free

If you exit left out of Westminster station, battle your way over the bridge and then turn right, past the view of Big Ben and walk along the south side of the Thames, you’ll come to a medieval (中 世纪的) church.

While you might be interested in British garden design, it’s the 14th-Century tower that’s the main attraction for photographers. Climb the 131 steps of the narrow spiral staircase and you’ll emerge onto one of the finest riverside viewpoints in the city — with views across to the Palace of Westminster on the right.

Entry fee: Adult f16, or Tower only 4

If you want to soar over London in a glass pod, the obvious place to go is the London Eye. But a cheaper and crowd-free alternative is to ride the IFS Cloud Cable Car.

The views are impressive at any time, but the Cable Car stays open late, so you can even enjoy magnificent sunsets from the west — facing side or admire the twinkling city lights after dark.

Entry fee: E6 one-way

London has no shortage of rooftop venues (场所) offering knockout cityscape views, so it can be hard to pick just one or two. But for location, angles and a great experience, it doesn’t get much better than Seabird, on the 14th floor of the Hoxton hotel in Southwark with nothing to block views on three sides.

Entry fee: Buy a drink: draught beer costs ₤6.50 or small glass of wine is ₤9; a portion of olives costs ₤5.

10 . There are hundreds of worthy destinations in the country catering to all tastes. At the top of that list is Chengdu, the perfect jumping-off point for those in search of a mix of stunning natural scenery, wildlife and some of most incredible food on the planet. In recent years the city has expanded its offerings, including a number of new projects tourists will want to experience.    1    

It’s the happiest city in China.

If visiting a place with happy locals is a priority for you, there’s no better city to hit than Chengdu. It has been voted the happiest city in China for 12 continuous years by an annual survey conducted by Oriental Outlook.    2    

It has got one most beautiful bookstore in China.

The new location in Dujiangyan is the second Zhongshuge bookstore in the provincial capital.    3     Inspired by Dujiangyan’s ancient irrigation system, the new bookstore has its own features. The beautiful environment of the bookstore can attract more people who do not love books, and awaken their interest and memory in reading.

There’s a spectacular new massive airport.

One of the world’s most eye-catching new airports, Chengdu’s Tianfu International Airport is as modern as it gets. Beginning operations in 2021, Thantu Airport is the largest civil airport.     4     Travelers can experience a series of cutting-edge technologies at Tianfu, including facial recognition software and self-check-in booth.

    5    

There’re plans to turn Chengdu into a “Western China Science City”. Travelers visiting the “Science City” can expect to see many examples of eco-conscious and new wave architecture created by some of the most famous firms in the world. Among these is the world’s first “Unicorn Island”, the country’s next high-tech unicorn. There will also be a low-carbon Future Science and Technology City.