I Like Travelling

Hangzhou is recognized as the “City of Well-Being” in China. Hangzhou made its name     1     (know) to the world in 2016 by hosting the G20 Summit.     2     (bless) with pleasant climate and few wars, Hangzhou has gradually formed its own urban character.     3     busy Shanghai, you will slow down and relax once you are here. It seems that Hangzhou people don’t have many things to rush to in their     4     (day) life. No wonder Hangzhou is expanding annually by 500, 000 to 600, 000 people.

The lifestyle, however,     5     (lay) down by two historical men of letters. One was Bai Juyi,     6     rebuilt the West Lake and made a new bank     7     (benefit) the locals. People love him. When it comes to him, it doesn’t sound like one is talking about a person who lived a thousand years ago. The other was Su Shi. His open-minded     8     (personal) and diligence for his people left many much-told tales.     9     (seeming), mentioning his name gives people joy even after a thousand years.

Surely, it is even     10     (brilliant) in 2023 when it hosts the 19^th Asian Games.

The Getty Center sits on a hilltop in the Santa Monica Mountains,     1    (tower) above the city of Los Angeles. The museum was    2    (origin) constructed to house the vast art collection belonging to oil tycoon J. Paul Getty. Today, the modernist complex    3    (stock) with so many art works that the exhibit arenas can show just a part of them at a time, making the artistic special exhibitions a highlight of any visit to the Getty.

The Center’s award-winning architect, Richard Meier, did    4    outstanding job of creating a public space that has surprised many visitors. Visitors go to the Getty thinking they are visiting a museum with works of art on the inside.    5    they discover instead is a work of art with a museum inside. Meier took some basic materials metal, stone and glass. Working with a billion-dollar budget, he combined them     6     (create) a work of architecture that can excite visitors as much as the art collection inside    7    (do). Around every corner and at every turn, there is a new view    8    store for guests. And then, just    9    they think they have seen it all, a new fountain or landscape pops up.

In addition to museum tours, the Getty also provides various free on-site tours, including tours of the gardens. These     10    (explore) are a must for anyone interest in learning more about Meier’s techniques and ideas.

8 . What makes a work of architecture great? Most people would argue that aesthetics (美感) are the most important.    1     However, Roman architect Marcus Vitruvius Pollio believed that we should also consider durability and function when assessing a structure. The Rostonville Library in my city is a great example of Vitruvius’s principles.

Constructed entirely of granite—a hard and tough stone, the library is durable. It can withstand environmental pollution. For example, it is resistant to acid rain. Moreover, its granite structure is stable so it’s more likely to survive an earthquake.    2     It uses solar energy for heating and a rooftop garden for cooling.

    3     Providing free access to print and digital information, it conveys a feeling of openness and accessibility. Furthermore, the entire library is on one level, and it has an open design—there are no inner walls or dividers. In addition, large windows let in plenty of natural light, so it’s easy to see and get to each department within the library.

Finally, the library is beautiful, with aesthetically pleasing details both inside and out. The large windows are copper-framed (铜框的). The copper color provides an interesting contrast against the color of the granite structure and it will remain as the copper ages. Growth from the rooftop garden, which reaches down the sides of the building, adds to the aesthetics of the building.     4    

Durability, functionality and beauty make the Rostonville Library a great structure. Architects who follow Vitruvius’s principles help to make the city more pleasant to live in.     5    

9 . Trees, plants and flowers are all around us and we enjoy their beauty every day. We are so used to them that we may even take them for granted without realising how much inspiration they have given us. In fact, nature has inspired many of the most fascinating designs around us.     1    

People who are interested in exploring the relationship between art and science will enjoy Singapore’s ArtScience Museum. Shaped like a lotus flower, it appears to float above the waterfront promenade(滨海步道) with the water surrounding it. Its roof collects rainwater and channels it 35 metres down to a waterfall in the centre of the space.     2     Visitors are often amazed to find themselves in an urban building that so truly captures the beauty of natural forms.

Based on the form and process of termite(白蚁) mounds(土堆), Harare’s Eastgate Centre is a superb example of biomimicry(仿生学). It has a “skin” covered in holes.     3     At night, the heat absorbed by the wall during the day warms the cool air, creating a suitable temperature so that people can stay inside comfortably. The design reduces the need for traditional air conditioning and heating systems, saving a lot of energy and costs.

    4     The surface of the apartment building is covered in panels that contain algae. The panels can capture heat from the sun and convert it into energy that powers the building. And that’s not all — the algae inside the panels can be harvested and used to produce fuel. Therefore, the building not only uses less energy, but also reduces damage to the environment.

Great buildings like these enables us to live in closer harmony with nature.     5     It may be challenging to meet the needs of today while protecting the world of tomorrow, but even the simplest organisms can help teach us how to achieve this.

10 . Central Park

Explore Central Park, one of the largest city parks in the world and one of the most famous symbols of New York. Let’s have a look at its main sights.

Central Park is New York’s largest city park and one of the biggest in the world, with an area of 843 acres (about 3.4km²). This park is home to man-made lakes, waterfalls, grass and wooded areas. You will also find the Central Park Zoo, among other attractions in this greenspace of New York.

Besides being the city’s primary green lungs, Central Park is also a favorite spot for many New Yorkers. It is perfect for sunbathing, going for walks, or doing any outdoor sports. Something that we found curious is seeing so many people running with their babies in prams (婴儿车).

To get to know some of the wildest parts of Central Park we suggest walking. However, to get a general feel for the whole park, the best thing to do is hire a bicycle and enjoy the scenery.

If you decide to hire a bike, you will find lots of bike rental stores around Central Park that are not very expensive.

From 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends.

From 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on weekdays.

Entry to the Park is free. But if you visit some parts like Central Park Zoo, you need to buy a ticket.

Subway: Line 5, 6, 7, A, B, C and D．

Bus: Line M1, M2, M3, M4 and M10.

Metropolitan Museum of Art (447 m)

Guggenheim Museum (564 m)

American Museum of Natural History (688 m)

Whitney Museum of American Art (1 km)

The Frick Collection (1.3 km)