Chinese are enjoying greater     1     (convenient) in making outbound trips and more visa-free travel options,     2     mirrors the country’s economic     3     (grow) and increasing confidence and openness over the last 70 years.

According to the National Immigration Administration (NIA), about 1. 05 billion outbound trips     4     (make) by Chinese mainland residents from 2009 to 2018,     5     over 160 million in 2018 alone. In comparison, around 330 million trips were made between the year 1978, when China started     6     (it) reform and opening-up, and 2008.

The figure was about 17 million in the first three decades since the     7     (found) of the People’s Republic of China in 1949. The country’s policies on citizens’ private outbound trips have changed from being restrictive to     8     (gradual) easing and are now quite convenient, said Min Haiyun, head of the exit-entry department of the NIA.

The number of Chinese passport holders has grown rapidly over the past 70 years, he said.

In     9     first three decades since 1949, about 210, 000 passports were issued. In 2017, 26.74 million passports were issued, up 372. 3 percent from 5.66 million in 2007, and it surged to 30.08 million in 2018.

Today, around 13 percent of the mainland residents have held valid regular passports, and the number is expected     10     (exceed) 200 million at the end of 2019.

2 . In 2013, I realised that I needed a break from the office work, so I set out travelling. But I had no idea how much the decision would change me for the rest of my life!

Before travelling, I was always worried about what other people think of me. How I looked and dressed was really important to me. I was always worried about putting on weight, getting darker, wondering if I was good-looking enough to socialise and be one of the people I used to hang out with. It doesn’t matter now. I’m more confident with my colour, my weight, and how I dress.

I used to compete a lot even when I was still a kid. I always wanted to impress people with how smart I was, how I could handle any task… But now, why should I feel like I need to compete? I only need to impress myself. My life is already complete; I just have to make sure that whatever I do will be positive (积极的) and make me a better person.

I was a 24-year-old Filipina with a successful career (事业) and had all of the things I could buy. But when I started travelling, I was no one. I had to learn a lot of things when travelling and I loved it!

I thought the only skills I needed to improve were Microsoft Office and networking. Well, I can now proudly say that I know how to fix beds in a hotel style, how to cook breakfast for a lot of guests, and how to work in a restaurant!

Besides the skills I’ve learned volunteering, I have completed several certifications (资格证) to start making money to support my new lifestyle. I am now a yoga teacher, an Ayurveda massage therapist (按摩师) and an English teacher. Now, with the new skills and certifications, I can work wherever I want!

Mount Tai lies in the north of Taian city, in the middle of Shandong province. As one of the five most famous     1     (mountain) in China, it is recognised as the head of the Five Great Mountains. Many emperors climbed to the top in ancient China, for they considered it to be a symbol of Chinese power     2     (give) by nature. The     3     (early) activities could go back to Xia dynasty and Shang dynasty, so it preserved     4     good many of cultural relics and historic sites. Famous poets and celebrities were attracted here     5     thousands of poems and articles about Mount Tai are best known nowadays.

Mount Tai is regarded as a cultural and     6     (history) museum. It is a famous place both of Taoism and Buddhism. Mount Tai     7     (be) a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. In 2003, it attracted around6million visitors. A renovation project     8     (complete) in late October 2005,     9     aimed at restoring cultural relics and renovating (修复) damaged buildings of cultural significance.     10     (wide) known for its special ceremonies and sacrifices, Mount Tai has seen visits by many poets and literary scholars.

5 . Here are four art exhibitions in Paris which look at the poetry of Pablo Picasso, vintage (老式的) photography by Henri Cartier-Bresson, the history of technology and fashion design by Coco Chanel.

Musee National Picasso — Paris

On view at the Musee National Picasso — Paris, an exhibition called Picasso Poet looks at the poems that Pablo Picasso wrote in his lifetime. It's more than just framed pieces of paper but a look into his handwritten plays, typewritten artist books and hand-painted poems, alongside his drawings and paintings. "It reveals the extraordinary resourcefulness of the poet Picasso," writes the curator (馆长).

Pricing : $ 10

Henri Cartier-Bresson Foundation

This quiet little museum features more than just photos by the French master photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson. There's also a solo show featuring the photos of Chilean photographer Sergio Larrain currently on display. Featuring photos of London taken in the winter of 1958 to 1959, there are street scenes with fog and rain as well as the locals daily lives.

Pricing : Free

Metiers Art Museum

This is one of the most overlooked museums in Paris, and it's well worth a day trip. The collection of engineering machines and televisions, as well as cameras and typewriters will walk us through the history of technology over the past 200 years.

Pricing : $ 14

Palais Galliera

Palais Galleria in Paris is the city's best fashion museum, and it has been closed for the past two years undergoing a huge renovation (整修). Now, the museum has reopened with a retrospective (回顾展) honoring a French designer, Coco Chanel. The exhibition looks back at the career of one woman who broke the glass ceiling in fashion design and features over 350 dresses, accessories, jewels and scents. The exhibition continues in the newly-renovated basement galleries, which are not to miss.

Pricing: $20