The world’s first “Sky Pool” has been uncoated（曝光）-and it’ll give anyone a touch of dizziness（眩晕）, unless he or she is not bothered by heights．

   Situated in the capital’s new riverside district beside Battersea Power Station，the glass pool，hanging 10 storeys，or 110 feet up as a bridge between two apartment buildings，is 25m long，5m wide and 3m deep with a water depth of 1.2m．Swimmers will be able to look down 35 meters to the street below as they take a dip，with only 20cm of glass between them and the outside world．It’s even got a bar，folding chairs and an orange garden．

   The pool will be part of Embassy Gardens at Nine Elms，a huge￡15 billion building project beside the new American Embassy in south-west London．The project is creating thousands of apartments，the smallest of which are expected to cost nearly $1 million，and the pool will only be open to the apartments’ owners．

   Embassy Gardens takes design inspiration from the Meatpacking District of New York with floor to ceiling windows and brick frontages．The designer，Sean Mulryan，desired to push the boundaries in the capability of construction and engineering and do something that had never been done before．The Sky Pool’s transparent structure is the result of significant advancements in technologies over the last decade．

   The experience of the pool will be truly unique and it will feel like floating through the air in central London．

   Those people lucky enough to swim there will have a perfect view of the Palace of Westminster and the London Eye．It will be a selling point for developers when the second stage of the development is released to market．

On a typical warm weekend day this spring, about 60,000 people will make their way to one spot or another in the Great Smoky Mountains Park, which is found along the border between the states of Tennessee and North Carolina, US. They will come to be amazed by the mountains on the skyline and the dense (茂密的），“smoky” forests, plants and animal life. They will be taken back in time, if only for a short while. As lovers of the Smoky Mountains like to say, they’re a little bit of the world as it was once.

    Over the century, Americans have built a special relationship with these wonders of the great outdoors. The parks are not just pretty places to admire, but also places of spiritual togetherness. Whether it is a snowcapped peak in the Rocky Mountains or one of the Great Lakes in the Northeast, the parks give citizens the opportunity to think more deeply about their lives, the nation and each other. They’re a connection to the US’ beginning and to the spirit of the settlers who made new lives for themselves in a wilderness .For Americans native peoples the parks are a link to their homelands, which are thousands of years old.

    The parks also inspire artists. Poems and pieces of music are written about them； visual artists have work based on them. One such artist, US photographer Ansel Adams, took thousands of photographs in Yosemite National Park.

    Above all，the parks inspire patriotism (爱国精神）in visitors. Edwin Bembaum, US director of the Sacred Mountains Program at the Mountain Institute, associates park sites like the amazing Grand Canyon with the US, national hymn (赞歌），America the Beautiful. The “spacious skies” and “purple mountain majesties (雄伟）” celebrated in the song remind Americans, according to Bembaum, “of the quest (追求）for freedom and independence at the heart of American culture and history”.

    With the launch of the US - China year of tourism in March, more travelers from China now have the opportunity to visit these wonders of nature. Who knows? Perhaps one day you will be among those going out into the Smoky Mountains or heading to Yellowstone for a glorious day enjoying nature.

During the month I spent studying in England last summer, one day stood out. I was only 16 and I had been wandering on the streets of London. The freedom was great,   (1)   for someone who had lived in a small town all her life, the city represented a world of   (2)  .

This was not my first   (3)   to London. A year earlier, I had been there with my mother, trying to   (4)   the major attractions in three days. That trip was wonderful but   (5)  . This time I was grateful to be able to enjoy the atmosphere and   (6)  .

My friend and I discussed where we should go, and then decided to go cycling. This   (7)  us to Covent Garden, home of the giant Doc Marten’s store and trendy cafes. The market area is one of my favorite places in London. It’s a great place to   (8)  : You can find everything from the latest fashions to souvenirs that can   (9)   be found in England. The street   (10)  , from classical musicians to magicians, were out in large numbers. Many tourists   (11)   to watch them. I did not linger (逗留) because I was   (12)   just to feel the activity in the street rather than become a   (13)   of it.

At sunset, we headed to the Thames River. The river itself is   (14)   special to look at; the   (15)   often appears muddy, and no one would like to swim in it.   (16)  , the view makes the visit   (17)  . From there, you can enjoy those famous architectures: the Tower of London, the Houses of Parliament, St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Tate Modern Museum.

As I stood on the bridge appreciating my   (18)  , I realized what an incredibly rich history the city had. Over the next hundred years, the city may change as older buildings will probably   (19)   bigger ones, but certain elements will   (20)  .

The world’s first “Sky Pool” has been uncoated（曝光）-and it’ll give anyone a touch of dizziness（眩晕）, unless he or she is not bothered by heights．

   Situated in the capital’s new riverside district beside Battersea Power Station，the glass pool，hanging 10 storeys，or 110 feet up as a bridge between two apartment buildings，is 25m long，5m wide and 3m deep with a water depth of 1.2m．Swimmers will be able to look down 35 meters to the street below as they take a dip，with only 20cm of glass between them and the outside world．It’s even got a bar，folding chairs and an orange garden．

   The pool will be part of Embassy Gardens at Nine Elms，a huge￡15 billion building project beside the new American Embassy in south-west London．The project is creating thousands of apartments，the smallest of which are expected to cost nearly $1 million，and the pool will only be open to the apartments’ owners．

   Embassy Gardens takes design inspiration from the Meatpacking District of New York with floor to ceiling windows and brick frontages．The designer，Sean Mulryan，desired to push the boundaries in the capability of construction and engineering and do something that had never been done before．The Sky Pool’s transparent structure is the result of significant advancements in technologies over the last decade．

   The experience of the pool will be truly unique and it will feel like floating through the air in central London．

   Those people lucky enough to swim there will have a perfect view of the Palace of Westminster and the London Eye．It will be a selling point for developers when the second stage of the development is released to market．

If you need to relax and want to head overseas, you can think of these four off-peak travel destinations to visit.

    Portugal

    With rich culture and history, Portugal continues to be one of the most affordable European destinations. Head to this beautiful capital city of Lisbon to attend the festivals and fairs, visit some 12th-century buildings, and stay at one of the newer hotels in the main city district. The Hotel Teatro is a four-star restaurant, and average nightlyrates are under $ 150 a night.

Hotel Teatro

Porto, Portugal

+351 220 409 620

    Aruba

    Set your sights on Aruba for an unforgettable Caribbean holiday. You can get special offers from one of the larger beach resorts here. Some of the chain hotels. including Marriott and Radisson, offer discounts on. spa relaxations. The Radisson Aruba Resort, Casino & Spa is offering a Super Saver Spring Rate at just $ 309 per night.

Radisson Aruba Resort, Casino & Spa

Palm Beach, Aruba

800-967-9033

    Oaxaca

    Escape to southern Mexico to explore the historic colonial city and learn about the region's traditions, culture, and colorful history. Oaxaca plays host to several cultural festivals and is a great place to just relax. A seven-night stay at the Camino Real Oaxaca is just $ 207 per night for a deluxe single or double room.

Camino Real Oaxaca

Centro, 68000

01 951 501 6100

    Turkey

    Another place to have some local culture is Istanbul, Turkey. Stay at a destination that will put you within easy reach of famous sites like the Topkapi Palace. The Modern Sultan Hotel is a deluxe hotel located in the heart of the historic district. Average nightly rates for the bed and breakfast package are just under $ 120 per night.

Modern Sultan Hotel

Istanbul, Turkey

+90 212 520 00 53

Four Great Railway Journeys

    Travelling by rail holds a romantic and old-fashioned appeal that can’t be matched by flying or driving. By taking the slow route, you get to experience and interact with an area in a completely different way.

The Rocky Mountaineer

    Where: Canada, from Vancouver to Banff, Jasper and Calgary.

    When: In June, which is springtime in the Rockies, complete with blooming flowers and abundant wildlife.

    Duration: Between two and eight days, travelling only in daylight, staying in luxury hotels.

    Highlights: Splendid views of the Rocky Mountains, incredible luxury at every stage of the trip, traditional native storytelling, wine classes and natural history workshops.

The Chepe

    Where: Mexico. It begins its journey in the mountains of Chihuahua and finishes on the Sinaloa coast.

    When: In the rainy season, from June to October, you’ll get lush vegetation（丰富的植被）and blooming cacti（仙人掌）, although mid-summer (July) temperatures can reach 44℃.

    Duration: Doing the route straight through takes 14 hours, but you’ll want to stop off overnight and explore traditional towns along the way.

    Highlights: The train winds its way down through 656 km of the spectacular Copper Canyon (which is deeper than the Grand Canyon), over 37 bridges and through 86 tunnels. Local people sell crafts and foods along the route.

The Ghan

    Where: Australia, from Adelaide to Darwin via Alice Springs.

    When: Going during the wet season (December, January and February) will allow you to see more wildlife and tropical splendour in the north, though peak season is usually the winter.

    Duration: Going straight through takes 52 hours. There are disembarkation points（下车点）from which you can take tours.

    Highlights: Going through Australia’s Red Gentre with blue skies, red earth and not much else—a beautiful and serene（宁静的）experience.

The Royal Scotsman

    Where: Travels around the Scottish Highlands or all the way around Great Britain.

    When: Warmer weather and up to 20 hours of daylight in June makes it the perfect time to watch ospreys soaring（鱼鹰飞翔）over mirror-like lochs（湖）, or go in October for autumn colors.

    Duration: Trips can be as short as two days or as long as seven.

    Highlights: Possibly the most expensive train journey in the world. You’ll be treated like a member of the monarchy（王室）. Indulgent（放纵的）cuisine, fine wines and carriages that look like rooms at Balmoral Castle await those willing to part with a minimum of £ 2350 per person for a two-night trip.

India has a very vast history and heritage（遗产）. The country has witnessed some of the most important events in the past and every event has an effect of its own on the culture, religion, lifestyle, and economy of the country. This is one of the leading reasons why tourists prefer India to travel and explore. Historical tours in India provide everything that a traveler expects from his/her journey. These historical tours give an opportunity to study and explore Indian history.

Historical tours of India generally consisted of four phases: ancient, medieval（中世纪的）, modern India and contemporary（当代的）India. Some of the historical travel packages are:

Forts and Palaces

The rich cultural past of India is reflected in the countless（无数的）forts and palaces across the country. Most of the forts were constructed as a defense device to keep the enemy away and palaces were made on the names of the kings and queens. Some of the famous forts and palaces are: Agra Fort (Agra), Fatehpur Sikri (Agra), Hawa Mahal (Jaipur), Amber Fort (Jaipur), City Palace (Jaipur), Gwalior Fort (Gwalior), Mysore Palace (Mysore), Red Fort (Delhi), etc.

India Heritage Tours

The main purpose of India Heritage tours is to make Indians as well as tourists familiar with the rich Indian legacy（遗产）. The heritage of the country is at least 5000 years. Some of the heritage tours are: medieval heritage, Rajput heritage, Golden Triangle, splendid Gujarat, etc.

South India Historical Tours

The Southern India is known for its diversity and there are many places, which attract tourists, not only from the country but also from all around the world. The famous tourists’ destinations（景区）in South India include Goa, Cochin, Kerala, Munnar, Periyar, Kottayam and the list goes on and on.

A

             It seems as if Christmas and their birthday aren’t enough. Kids have another day which revolves(围绕) around them. There are a lot of funny activities in Shanghai especially for families as Children’s Day falls on 1^st June.

(1) Indoor activities at Big E

                                           Big E is a great place for kids. All kinds of ball games can be found here. This Sunday, there are some other interesting activities: free movies and a magic show with three sessions(场) between 9 am and 6 pm.

(2)The Wizard of Oz at Kerry Hotel

                                           If eating and relaxing is what your family are interested in, Kerry Hotel should be your favourite place. The COOK and The MEAT both offer excellent brunch(早午餐) every weekend. Besides, The BREW will organize The Wizard of Oz for children in a repeat of its special Easter performance.

(3)Brunch at City Bistro

                                           If you’re looking for a restaurant with a more relaxing atmosphere and lower price than either The COOK or The MEAT, then go to City Bistro. A special discount on its brunch this Sunday has never happened before. While parents are enjoying the food, their children can play in the kids’ corner and let parents catch their breath.

(4)Children’s exhibition at Gallery G1

                                           If going out for brunch is too regular, families can try something a little more cultural at Gallery G1. There is an exhibition of children’s artwork named My Sky, which will be displayed this weekend. There are also a number of artistic(艺术的) activities for kids to try.

(5)Get creative at Petit Chameleon

                                                                              Petit Chameleon at the Daycare centre is organizing a new activity named Art from the Start to show kids’ creative ability. The event is about ancient Greece. On Sunday, you will see kids make their own armors(盔甲).