2 . Benefiting from the 5,000 years history, many ancient cities exist in the vast land of China. Here are 4 ancient cities in China and each has their unique features.

Shangqiu Ancient City

●History: 4,000 years

●Opening Hours: 08:00-17:30 in winter; 08:00-18:00 in summer

●Ticket Price: ¥70 per combo ticket (组合票)

Situated in the Yellow River Valley, Shangqiu area is considered the birthplace of Chinese civilization. The best time to visit it is around the Chinese New Year, when the grandest temple fair at Shangqiu is held to worship the God of Fire.

Ancient City of Pingyao

●History: 2,700 years

●Opening Hours: 08: 00-17:30

●Ticket Price: Free entry

It has no charming landscape, green mountains or clear waters. What is unique there is the well-pre served ancient city with a grand City Wall, traditional residences, time-honored shops, and even the previous government office.

Fenghuang Ancient Town

●History: 467 years

●Opening Hours: all day; 08: 00-17:30 for Tuo River day cruise;18:00-22:30 for night cruise

●Ticket Price: Free entry

Constructed in 1556, Fenghuang Ancient Town is another historical city in China known for ethnic diversity. Generations of Miao, Tujia and Han people live here, and it now accommodates28 ethnic groups in total.

Huizhou Ancient City

●History: 2,240 years

●Opening Hours: 08:00-17:00

●Ticket Price: ¥95 for one adult; ¥140 for one adult and one child; ¥230 for two adults and one child.

Huizhou Ancient City is famous for its unique architectural style since the old days. The Huizhou-style building is one of the most important architectural schools in China, using bricks, wood, and stones as the raw materials.

3 . On an early winter morning, as roosters crow to greet the dawn, and a wisp of smoke rises above the farmhouse roof, villagers in South China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region have started a busy day ahead of the Spring Festival.

“We’ve kept a running list of deals and ingredients for the big dinner on New Year’s Eve”, said 32-year-old Pan Zaoxiang in Longji township. Dressed in her holiday best — the traditional clothing of the Yao ethnic group, Pan was born and raised in Dazhai village, located in the core area of the famous tourist attraction of Longji Rice Terraces (梯田).

The village has been named among the Best Tourism Villages of 2022 by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) for its breathtaking agricultural view, but Pan said they used to struggle to make ends meet. Surrounded by mountains, Dazhai village was very hard to get to, with only one narrow mud path zigzagging down the hills. Daily necessities and products for farm work could only be delivered by carts. “When I was a child, I longed for the outside world, but that usually took a day and a night to reach the nearest downtown on foot,” said Pan.

Facing the harsh living conditions and the deteriorating ecological environment, the Dazhai villagers turned to the mountains and the massive land cultivated by the elder generations. By cooperating with tourism companies from the tourist city Guilin, villagers became stakeholders (股东) in developing the land into a unique terraced landscape. “My family plants nearly 10,000 mu of rice on the terraced fields, and that means a year-end bonus of over 10,000 yuan,” Pan said.

Villagers like Pan also sniffed out the growing business opportunities in catering and accommodation as more visitors poured in. During this year’s Spring Festival, around 230 homestays across the village are expected to be fully booked, said Yu Qiongtong, Party chief of Dazhai. “I have prepared an abundance of local cuisines and specialties such as sausages, chilies, and sticky rice in bamboo to welcome tourists during the upcoming new year,” Pan said.

Celebrations and various kinds of activities will also be held to present the rich history of the Yao ethnic group. Tourists from home and abroad have great interest not only in the beautiful landscape but the culture, said Pan.

4 . When you stay at one of the eight Universal Orlando Resort hotels, it’s hard to tell where relaxation ends, and exhilaration begins. That’s because you’re close to the parks. And when you’re in the parks, you’re close to your hotel! That means you can take the day your way, without the hustle and hassle of planning everything down to the minute. So, you can do what you want- when you want. This is how you do Universal. No matter which one you choose, the fun keeps going. Check out the privileges that make every moment count.

Premier (高级的) hotel guests, skip the regular lines at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure.

Hotel guests get in early each morning.

Universal Studios Florida: May 27-May 28, 2023 (Up to 1 hour earlier)

Universal’s Islands of Adventure: March 6-June 30, 2023 (Up to 1 hour earlier)

Universal’s Volcano Bay: Jan 1-May 26, 2023 (Up to 1 hour earlier)

May 27-June 30, 2023 (Up to 1 hour earlier)

Want to shop without carrying your purchases around? There’s free merchandise delivery from our shops to your Universal hotel. We’ll hold your purchases near the exit so you can easily pick them up on your way out. Your items will be ready for you at least 3 hours after purchasing during regular store hours, from 11 a.m. to midnight. Home delivery is also available via FedEx for an additional fee. Ask the cashier about this service.

Our hotels are almost this close to the theme parks and Universal City Walk. And you can hop on free water taxis or shuttles.

Keep it simple when you dine and shop by charging purchases across the Resort to your room key card.

6 . Down House, home of Charles Darwin:

Fun fact

Charles Darwin, his wife, Emma, and their children lived at Down House for 40 years from 1838. Several rooms appear as if the family still live here: with croquet sets thrown into an under-stairs cupboard, a half-played game of backgammon on a side table and Emma’s knitting(毛线) left on a chair in the drawing room. Upstairs, an exhibition showcases Darwin’s voyage aboard HMS Beagle, including a reconstruction of his cabin. Outside, visitors can explore the sheltered gardens which Darwin used as an open-air laboratory, and the greenhouse in which he planted rare plants and devised botanical experiments.

No room at Down House escaped Darwin’s experiments. In the drawing room he once placed a jar of earthworms on the grand piano to see whether they could hear.

Getting there

A 15-minute drive from the A21/Farnborough. Free parking. The R8 bus from Orpington stops nearby (except Sundays) or the 146 bus from Bromley North and South terminates (终点站) in Downe village, half a mile from the property. The nearest railway stations are Chelsfield or Orpington, about four miles away.

Value for money?

It’s ￡12 (adult), ￡7.20 (child), or ￡31.30 (family with 2 adults). Under 5s go free.

Opening hours

Open daily 10am-6pm from 30 March to 30 September; daily 10 a.m. — 5 p.m. between 1 to 31 October. Opening times vary through the winter (check website for details).

Verdict(评价)

8/10. An unstuffy educational, gentle day-trip attraction with friendly, knowledgeable staff.