The Qiaoxi Historical and Cultural Block in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, is perfect for visitors     1     (experience) China’s rich culture. The area is known     2     “Qiaoxi,” which means to the west of a bridge. Because its     3     (locate) is on the western side of Hangzhou’s famous Gongchen Bridge, an ancient structure     4     (lay) across the Grand Canal.

Once a busy market for local trade in ancient times and     5     industrial area in modern times, the Qiaoxi Block has now become a tourism district. Visitors can enjoy Chinese culture up close through a blend (混合) of     6     (tradition) business trade, scenic spots and residential areas. It is also a place     7     several museums meet together, including the China Knives, Scissors and Swords Museum, the China Umbrella Museum, and the China Fan Museum and so on.

    8     (walk) along the street, visitors can encounter street performances featuring local folk arts, or take their children to a Chinese medicine workshop,     9     try their hand at gaining cultural heritage skills at the Handicraft Dynamic Museum.

The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal     10     (list) on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2014, where the two heritage sites of the Gongchen Bridge and the Qiaoxi Historical and Cultural Block were included in the project as well.

5 . Although travelling alone may sound discouraging, solo travel is continuing to rise in popularity. There may be numerous reasons why someone is travelling independently. Here are our top reasons to travel by yourself.

Time for you

Some people say solo travel is the comfort and relaxation of having your very own. However, for those looking for some more adventurous “me-time,” solo tours also typically offer plenty of free time to go it alone. During your time at leisure, you have the freedom to do your own exploration, see the sights you want to see or simply relax and take it easy. With no-one to compromise with, it’s totally up to you.

Meet like-minded people

Solo travel doesn’t mean you have to travel alone. Solo travelers come from all walks of life, but they usually all share the same passion — a desire to see the world! It’s often the people you meet on holiday that are the max highlight of the entire trip and, even though you’re travelling alone, you’ll have amazing memories of the shared experiences you had together with people in your group. Take plenty of pictures to remember forever.

You’ll never be alone

Group travel is ideal for solo travelers as it offers the opportunity to a group of like-minded people, each interested in their chosen destination. Being part of a group provides extra security (especially key for independent female travelers who may feel anxious about being on their own) and for everyone there is the benefit of an expert local guide who is keen to share their knowledge. The guides also accompany you on tours and can offer suggestions on what to see and do in your leisure time to ensure you have an authentic and enjoyable experience.

So, if your friends and family are unable to join you on your dream holiday, don’t let that stop you. Travel Department is delighted to partner with Reader’s Digest and offer their readers an exclusive discount on 2023 & 2024 holidays. To discuss any questions or make a booking simply call 0203 966 0527.

6 . Many parents dream of their children growing up and seeing the world. But Edith Lemay, a______ of four from Canada, worried her children were running out of ______ to do that.

When her first child, Mia, was little, she ______ she would bump into (撞到) things, Lemay worried about her daughter’s ______ and brought her to a doctor. In 2018, Mia was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa (色素性视网膜炎), which meant there’s a chance Mia would be completely______ by midlife. Because the disease is ______ , Lemay’s other kids were at risk . Soon, two of her sons, Collin and Laurent, were ______ , too.

Fortunately, her daughter Mia is ____ about it. She says “Today my vision is good, so I’m going to ____ it. In the future, when ____ come, we`ll face them and find solutions.”

Lemay wanted to ______ her kids for what was to come and thought about ______ them Brailie (盲文), but a specialist had another suggestion. “He said the best thing I can do is______ their visual memories,” Lemay said. “And he was talking about reading books and seeing pictures of elephants in books. And that’s when it ______ . I was like, ‘We are not going to do that in books; we are going to see them in ______ life.’”

In March, Lemay, her husband and her four kids left Canada and ______ an epic journey, traveling the ______ for a whole year showing their kids the world, _____ it is too late.

Now, they’re in Bali already having crossed Africa. They plan to ______ their way through Southeast Asia. The family have made a list of fun activities they want to accomplish, so each kid can ______ their dreams come true.

7 . Having lived in Beijing for almost 12 years, I’ve had plenty of time to travel to different parts of the Great Wall in Beijing. Whether you’re planning to visit the Great Wall for the first time or the 50th, the following destinations are sure to make your trip to China even more worthwhile.

Yongtai Turtle City

The Turtle City, built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) as part of the Great Wall’s “YellowRiver Defense Line,” was completed in 1608. Today, this city is located in the Sitan Township in north central Gansu province.

Getting there: The drive to Yongtai Turtle City from down town Lanzhou takes about 2.5 hours. From Lanzhou Zhongchuan Airport, it’s only 1.5 hours.

Laoniuwan

As the locals say, Laoniuwan is where the Great Wall and the mighty Yellow River shak hands. Laoniuwan was built in 1467. Late summer or early fall is a great time to visit this place.

Getting there: Laoniuwan is difficult to get to by public transportation. The best option is to rent or book a car to take you from Datong to Laoniuwan.

Dushikou

Constructed during the reign of Emperor Jiajing (1507–1567), this single-wall section stands seven-meters-tall in some spots. It’s located in Chicheng in Hebei province. Dushikou is best visited in the summer, specifically July and August.

Getting there: Get on a bus to Chicheng and take a 45-minute taxi ride to Dushikou. Note that public transportation will take one or two hours longer than private car.

In some parts of northern China, “dikengyuan” in Mandarin, which means “ground hole courtyards,” is a type of cave dwellings (“yaodong”) commonly     1     (find) in the Loess Plateau in northern China. Academic literature mentions they came into     2     (exist) about 7,000 years ago.

The soil of the Loess Plateau,     3     these cave dwellings are built, is an effective substance that can keep people warm during the winter. More     4     (important), the yellow earth of the Loess is not only soft and easy     5     (dig) into, but also strong enough that it can hold together even without support.

While the size of the courtyard     6     (vary), the cave dwellings can go up to 12 meters long. After a ground hole is dug for the courtyard, the rooms     7     (carve) out from the four walls of the sunken courtyard.

Some scholars outside China consider the dwellings to be a natural adaptation to the climatic patterns in that region, with     8     (freeze) and long winters, and extremely burning summer heat.

While these houses have been around for thousands of years,     9     government only listed them as part of China’s intangible cultural heritage in 2011.

Many of these ancient homes, especially in the Shanzhou district of Sanmenxia City in China’s Henan province, have been restored and turned     10     tourist attractions.

9 . Greece is a lovely country filled with beautiful islands that many may visit. From the calming Rhodes to the adventurous Crete, there is no shortage of options. Here are four islands you can’t miss.

Tinos

Tinos is famous for its marble crafts, basket-weavers and delicious food. The waters here draw surfers from al over the world, with one of the coolest spots named Kolibithra Bay, where a Camper Van (露营车) has been transformed into an incredible bar sitting in the sand.

Astypalea

To find yourself in Astypalea, following the crowds will not work. The path less traveled is the way here, with the tourism-trade significantly lower here than many other Greek islands. This simply means the visitors can enjoy the farm-to-table meals, wild hiking tracks and ancient fishing villages.

Folegandros

Once ashore at Folegandros, follow a straight line to the village square and begin your visit in a comfortable chair outside a local cafe. The beaches here are made more of stones than sand, so it’s not the ideal destination for sunbathers. But the bars here are authentic and lively, the food second-to-none and the sunrise is worth staying up all night to witness.

Milos

Home to perhaps the most dramatic coastline of Greek Islands, Milos boasts over 70 unexplored beaches that flow into crystal clear water. Not yet a huge tourist attraction, the island allows travelers to escape the crowds while still bathing in the glow of the wonderful landscapes. Visitors can try the hot springs to get deep relaxation and enjoy themselves in the tiny boathouses that serve delicious coffee all day long.