The London Underground is one of the best transport networks in the world with around 24 million journeys made each day, so it’s important that everything runs smoothly. Remember the following to travel like a Londoner.

Keep right on escalator (自动梯)

London Underground asks that you stand on the right when using the escalators and leave the left free for others to walk down. If you’re traveling in a big group, or with lots of shopping bags, stand and stay right and let others pass you—it will speed up the process and be a more pleasant journey for everyone!

Remember the “rush hour”

The tube network is very busy during the rush hour. You can expect the trains and stations to be overcrowded between 7:30 and 9:30 inthe morning and between 17:00 and 19:00 inthe evening.

Move down the platform to find more space

As you enter the station platform, you will often find more room if you walk down to the end of the platform. Here, the train carriages are usually the emptiest as well.

Carry a bottle of water in the warmer months

The London Underground is over 150 years old and although the trains have been modernized, many still lack air conditioning and cooling units. Make sure you take a bottle of water with you, especially in summer, as the long tube journeys can get very hot.

Keep your personal belongings safe

Like any large city be cautious of pickpockets operating in the busy stations and tubes. Carry a bag with zips and keep your personal belongings and valuable items in it to avoid becoming the victims of theft.

Plan your journey on the London Underground in advance with a free tube map. Click here to download.

Here are some activities for families in Edmonton, the capital of Alberta, Canada.

West Edmonton Mall

It is the province’s number one tourist attraction. There is truly something for everyone with 800 stores, 10 world-class attractions, two hotels and over 100 dining venues. There’s lots of parking, but it can be hard to find a spot later in the day, so plan to arrive early. You can also take a bus if you want to avoid driving in this busy area of the city.

Tip: Get a 10% discount when you buy your tickets online.

Fort Edmonton Park

The park brings Edmonton’s history to life and is the perfect kid-friendly attraction. This trip down memory lane will introduce your family to four periods in Edmonton’s history. You’ll want to spend at least three hours so your family will have time to take part in as many activities as possible.

Tip: If you want to skip the trouble of carrying a lunch with you, pre-order a picnic lunch basket from the Jasper House Bakery.

The High Level Streetcar

It is enjoyed by kids of all ages. The beautifully restored streetcars and informative conductors will take your family on an unforgettable trip down memory lane. You’ll also enjoy a stunning view of the river from the world’s highest streetcar bridge.

Tip: If you plan your trip on a Saturday, you’ll also be able to enjoy a visit to the Old Strathcona Farmers’ Market.

Telus World of Science

It is a hands-on educational experience the whole family will enjoy. Your admission includes the exhibit galleries, science demonstrations and full-dome show. You can enjoy educational high quality 3-D movies, but the cost is not included with admission.

Tip: On a clear night, you can get a close-up look at the stars with the help of the observatory telescopes.

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If you are looking for the place that has everything, there is only one place to visit, and that’s New York. It’s a whole world in a city.

The World of Theater:All of New York is a stage. And it begins with Broadway. Where else can you find so many hit shows in one place? Only in New York!

The World of Music:Spend an evening with Beethoven at Lincoln Center. Swing to the great jazz of Greenwich Village. Or rock yourself silly at the hottest dance spots found anywhere.

The World of Art:From Rembrandt to Picasso. From Egyptian tombs to Indian teepees. Whatever kind of art you like, you will find it in New York.

The World of Fine Dining:Whether it’s roast Beijing duck in Chinatown, lasagna in little Italy, or the finest French coq au vin found everywhere, there is world of great taste waiting for you in New York.

The World of Sights:What other city has a Statue of Liberty? A Rockefeller Center? Or a Bronx Zoo ? Where else can you take a horse-drawn carriage through Central Park ? Only in New York !

Melbourne, Australia

Top 5 destinations for lovers on Chinese Valentine's Day

August 9 is Chinese Valentine's Day. Let's take a look at 5 places for lovers to spend a romantic time.

No.1 The End of the Earth(Tianya Haijiao), a romantic and beautiful scenic spot, lies to the west of Sanya city in Hainan province. There is a Romeo and Juliet story. It is said that the two rocks were changed by a couple of lovers from two families with feud(世仇).

No.2 Dali Old Town

Dali Old Town is located at the foot of the Cangshan mountains west of Lake Erhai of the Dali Bai autonomous prefecture in Yunnan province. The traditional Bai ethnic minority folk houses give the ancient city a distinctive feel. Walking along the cobble-paved streets, a sense of primitive simplicity and elegance will be invoked.

No.3 Gulangyu Island

Gulangyu Island is located just southwest of Xiamen city in East China's Fujian province.

Residents here enjoy a comfortable, relaxing life. With classical and romantic European-style architecture, the island truly deserves to be called the 'Architecture Museum'. It is also known as the 'Cradle of Musicians' and 'Island of Music' because of its reputation for music appreciation.

No.4 Jokhang Temple

Jokhang Temple is situated in the centre of Lhasa's inner-city area in Tibet autonomous region.

Jokhang Temple is the spiritual center of Tibet and the holiest destination for all Tibetan Buddhist pilgrims. The temple's central hall holds is the most precious object, a sitting statue of Sakyamuni. The idol is very important to Buddhists who have knelt in worship before it for centuries.

No.5 Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park

Zhangye Danxia Geopark is located in China's Northwestern Gansu province. The park is a popular scenic spot along the Silk Road, known for its colorful rock formations. The Danxia landforms are the result of deposits of sandstone and other minerals that occurred over 24 million years. Wind, rain, and time then sculpted extraordinary shapes, including towers, pillars, and ravines, with varying colors, patterns, and sizes.

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Vacation

Last summer holiday, I took a trip to Yunnan. It is in the southern part of our country. It is really a very beautiful place---grand mountains, clean rivers and kind people. Trees and flowers are seen everywhere. Every year there are lots and lots of visitors.

   Maybe you have heard about Shi Lin (stone forests). There are all kinds of strange stones. Some of the small stones look like graceful girls; and the big stones look like handsome men. Other stones look like cats, peafowls, double-edged swords, mice, elephants and so on. Of all the stones, the stone like a beautiful girl in a legend is the most famous. Its name is A Shima.

   I also went to Li Jiang. The roads in that city are just like the Eight Diagrams. Any road in the city goes to the center of Li Jiang. A river runs through the whole city. If you go along the river, you’ll never get lost. There are many ethnic minority (少数民族) people in Yunnan. They are very cordial. And they all like singing and dancing. We danced with them around the campfire that night. I really had a good time.

   I like the elephants and fruits there best. An elephant is even taller than me! I even mounted the elephant, though I was very afraid at first. But the elephant seemed very friendly. I took some photos with it. The fruits there are very fresh and delicious. They are very good for our health.

   The trip to Yunnan impressed (给...留下印象) me greatly. I will never forget it.

If you go to Brisbane, Australia, you can easily get a small book called Discover Brisbane free. The book tells you almost everything in Brisbane: the restaurants, the shops, the cinemas, the streets, the buses, the trains, the banks, etc. Here is something about banks on page 49:

ANZ Banking Group

Cnr. Greek & Queen Sts------------------------------------------228 3228

Bank of New Zealand

410 Queen Street--------------------------------------------- -----221 0411

Bank of Queensland

229 Elizabeth Street-----------------------------------------------229 3122

Commonwealth Banking Group

240 Queen Street-------------------------------------------------- 237 3111

National Australia Bank Ltd

225 Adelaide Street------------------------------------------------221 6422

Westpac Banking Corp

260 Queen Street---------------------------------------------------227 2666

Banking hours are Mon.-Thu. 9:30 am to 4pm. Fri. 9:30 am to 5 pm. All banks close Sat. Sun. & Public Holidays.

Australia has a decimal currency（十进币制）with 100 cents to the dollar.

Notes available are $100, $50, $20, $10, $5

Gold Coins are $2 & $1

Silver coins are: 50, 20, 10 & 5 cent

Copper coins are: 2 & 1 cent

Here are some famous romantic places in the world that you can’t miss.

Paris

The ranking for the “most romantic city” quite rightly leads to Paris . The city of light has long been famous as a city of love. This is definitely the best place for love, wine and food. Paris is rich with history. You can take a walk through the Louvre, go to a café across the Champs Elysees, have dinner at the Eiffel Tower or visit the Palace of Versailles.

Venice

 Undoubtedly, Venice is the most romantic city of Italy. From the amazing architecture of San Marco Square to the gondolas(贡多拉船) there, Venice talks about love, romance and passion. The best time to visit Venice is during the annual carnival(狂欢节). A gondola trip through the most magical city in Europe remains unforgettable for everyone.

Vienna

Viennamay well be called the cradle of European culture. The baroque architecture, the historic city opera and typical restaurants create a romantic mood and memorable atmosphere. During the ball season in Vienna, one can enjoy the city’s past, the masked waltz and romance.

Prague 

  Prague is called the heart of Europe. The city, dating from the 9th century, is indeed a real architectural wonder. Prague’s famous castle is the largest ancient castle in the world, built early in 1257. For a more romantic experience, take your loved ones to the top of the 60-foot observatory and watch the slow sunset over Prague.

Maldives

There are quiet islands, warm, clear water with excellent visibility, a huge amount of reefs and incredible diversity of marine life. The Maldives is the place to shoot all those beautiful postcard pictures of couples on a desert beach. Most islands are not more than 1 km in area, which makes them particularly suitable for privacy, honeymoons and love.

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    If you are a first-time traveler, take a look at some places to visit in Louisiana.

    Baton Rouge

      The second largest city in the state, Baton Rouge is the capital of Louisiana. With the Mississippi river to the south, this is a major industrial and commercial center in the southern area. The Louisiana State Capitol area also plays host for the famous “Mardi Gras” parades. Other places of interest around here are Perkins Rowe, Louisiana State Museum and the Baton Rouge Zoo.

       New Orleans Museumof Art

       Located in New Orleans, this museum includes some of the finest collections of art. One can particularly see around 50 beautifully carved sculptures on the landscaped garden. The collection mainly includes artworks of French and American origin. This museum is open for students and teachers who can take a tour here or even conduct workshops.

       National World WarⅡMuseum

       This museum is located in New Orleans, Louisiana. It has an interesting array of exhibits, which are related to World WarⅡ.On the 56th anniversary, this museum was opened to the public. It gives the visitors a glimpse into the political and social life of the days during World WarⅡ.

       Avery Island

        It is actually a salt dome, which is the home of a rock salt mine in use since the time of the Civil War. The name stands, because in the 1830s this place was the home of the Avery family. It was the American-Indians who discovered the presence of the salt dome here. Avery Island is also famous for the well-known Tabasco pepper sauce.

Lafayette

       Popularly known as the Eden of Louisiana, this town is an interesting blend of Spanish, American, African and Indian cultures. This town resonates with “unity in diversity”. Some major attractions here include the Acadian village, Lafayette Natural History Museum & Planetarium, Acadian and Creole Folklore and Folklife Center, and the Summer Music Festival in August. People here really know how to enjoy themselves and celebrations, dance and music are a part of their lifestyle.