1 . Must see in Guangxi
A Broad Spectrum of Scenery
What you will find here is beyond towering mountains, dense forests, and picturesque scenery. This alpine (高山的) scenic spot spreads across 17,008 hectares, with over one-third being primeval (原始的) forest. Its natural landscape can be magnificent but quiet, special but elegant. The high humidity makes the sea of clouds a common scene here thanks to the mountain climate. And the scenery varies with the season. Here, you can appreciate splendid blossoms in spring, avoid summer heat in the cool canyon, step on red leaves scattered on the ground in autumn, and get stunned by the rime ice in winter.
A Hotel in Nature
Chaoranpai International Hotel is only 2 kilometers away from the Lijiang River Source Grand Canyon. By taking both the ecological design and standards of 5-star hotels into account, this hotel has integrated modern services and nature, especially bamboo. The hotel also offers entertainments such as go-carting, cosplay of counter strike, and Chinese-style tea houses. Besides, the mountain itself is like a natural oxygen bar.
A Heaven of Fauna and Flora
Mao’er mountain is abundant in rare animals and plants. Inhabited by 2,484 species of plants and 345species of vertebrates, this place can serve as a natural gene bank. And surprisingly, a rare alpine wetland featuring
evergreen broad-leave d trees has found a way of surviving in the dwarf forest at a high altitude.
Two ways to get there
1. Take a train and get off at Xing’an Bei station, and take the shuttle bus that goes directly to the Mao’er mountain.
2. Take the Guilin-Xing’an bus from Guilin bus station, get off at Baizhupu station (Zibai Road Intersection), and take the shuttle from Baizhupu to Gaozhai, which is at the foot of the Mao’er mountain.
Travel Tips
Entrance ticket:160 yuan for adults (half price for children under 12)
Opening hours: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Recommended duration of visit:2-4 hours
Location: northwest of Xing’an county, Guilin
1. What is the characteristic of natural landscape in Guangxi?| A．Crowded but elegant | B．Magnificent but quiet |
| C．Special and desolate(荒凉的) | D．Common and lifeless |
| A．The alpine scenic spot | B．Xing’an Bei station |
| C．Mao’er mountain | D．Chaoranpai International Hotel |
| A．240 yuan. | B．320 yuan. |
| C．400 yuan. | D．480 yuan. |
2 . 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.
Parliament Hill
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
The Garden Museum Tower
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
The IFS Cloud Cable Car
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
Seabird, Southwark
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.
1. Where can you go if you want to photograph the 14th-Century tower?| A．The London Eye. |
| B．The south side of the Thames. |
| C．The rooftop venues. |
| D．A place near St Paul’s Cathedral. |
| A．Parliament Hill. |
| B．The Garden Museum Tower. |
| C．The IFS Cloud Cable Car. |
| D．Seabird, Southwark. |
| A．They are free. |
| B．They are well-known. |
| C．They are not crowded. |
| D．They are not cheap. |
