The Palace Museum, known as the Forbidden City, was the imperial(帝王的) palace of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. In the early 15th century, large-size construction(建设) caused 100,000 common people to lead a hard life. The construction took 14 years and was finished in 1420. In the following year, the capital of Ming Dynasty was moved fromNanjingto Beijing. Twenty-four emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties ruled from theForbidden City. The last dynasty fell in 1911, but Emperor Puyi still lived in the inner court. It was not until 1925 that the complex buildings were changed into a museum. Since then, the Palace has been opened to the public.

     The Palace Museum is rectangular(长方形的) in shape, about 960 meters long from north to south and 750 meters wide from west to east. There is a 10-meter-high wall, encircled by a 52-meter-wide moat(护城河). In the Ming Dynasty, the wood needed for the building was brought mostly fromSichuanandHunan Province, while in the Qing Dynasty, it was cut from the northeast of China. Most of the stones were mined from the suburban(郊外的) district of Fangshan and other districts. Construction of theForbidden Citybrought huge hardship to the laboring people.

     The palace is the largest piece of ancient Chinese architecture(建筑) still standing. Some of the buildings were damaged by lightning and rebuilt in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The palace has been expanded several times, but the original design was preserved. After liberation, some costly renovations(翻新) were done and the Palace Museum is listed as one of the important historical sites under special preservation by the Chinese government.

If you’re dreaming of a white Christmas, don’t go to Key West.

As winter spreads over the northern United States, Key West, Florida, with its tropical (热带的) weather, white sand beaches, and lively nightlife, is a popular escape.

Conch Republic

A conch is a type of sea shell that has become a symbol of the Florida Keys. On April 23, 1982, part joke and part objection, the Florida Keys declared their “independence”. They surrendered (投降) after one minute. Although they were never independent, residents (居民) of the Florida Keys celebrate their “independence day” every April 23rd.

Ernest Hemingway House

Key West’s most famous resident was the brilliant but troubled writer Ernest Hemingway. Ernest and his wife, Pauline, lived in a house in Key West from 1931 to 1939. In this house, Hemingway wrote some of his most famous stories, including “The Snows of Kilimanjaro” and “To Have and Have Not.”

Southernmost Point

A short walk from the Ernest Hemingway house is the most photographed site in Key West. It is a marker showing the southernmost point in the United States. Tourists wait in long lines to take pictures in front of the monument. It reads “90 miles to Cuba.” The Southernmost Point reminds Americans that Cuba is so close, but so far away. There have been no direct transport connections between Key West and Cuba since the 1950s.

Spring Festival is coming, and have you planned to travel somewhere? We've prepared some literary travel destinations for you.

   Shanghai, China

    Lu Xun, a writer often celebrated as the father of modern Chinese literature, spent his last nine years in the city. It's compulsory for all Shanghai literary travelers to visit Lu Xun Park in Hongkou and his former residence which is minutes away.

   Travel Tips

   You can spend hours taking walking tours of Shanghai's literary past, and complete with guides to talk you through its rich history.

    England

   If you join a Charles Dickens or Jane Austen tour, you'll have the unique opportunity to visit the locations of famous fictional scenes. You can also visit Stratford－upon－Avon, the birthplace of Shakespeare, and watch nightly performances of his plays.

   Travel tips

   A plane ticket from Shanghai to London during Spring Festival will cost around 6,000 yuan. The cost of tours varies significantly, so we recommend checking online in advance.

   Rome, Italy

   A round－trip flight to Rome from Shanghai will cost 5,500 yuan during Spring Festival. It is recommended that you read Goethe's Italian Journey before you leave – the book is available online or at any English language bookstore.

TheTowerofLondon, not a single tower but a large group, was built to guard London.

Besides William and Henry VIII, the tower’s history has other famous names in British history. In1389 aclerk of works (现场监工员) named Geoffrey Chaucer — author of The Canterbury Tales — oversaw (监督) the building of the Tower Wharf. In 1671 Colonel Blood tried to steal the crown jewels (皇冠上镶的宝石) after overpowering the elderly Jewel House keeper. (Blood was caught but later pardoned.) Today the jewels remain in the tower as they have since Blood’s day.

For six centuries this place was also home to a group of animals from elephants to big cats. It stopped being used as an animals’ home in 1835 and its animals were moved to the London Zoo.

Today visitors can walk the walls, visit guard towers and see the crown jewels. Guards at the tower, popularly known as beefeaters, not only guard the tower but also give interesting tours that are among the most popular parts of any visit.

How to Get There

Trains and the Dockland Light Railway stop near the tower. Buses 15, 42, 78 and 100 reach the tower, and riverboats stop at Tower Pier. Taxis, bicycles, and foot power are also good ways to reach the tower. Driving is a less attractive choice because of the expensive parking.

When to Go

The tower is open all year round, except during the Christmas holidays (December 24 to 26) and January 1. School holidays and summertime are the busiest times.

How to Visit

As expected at a place that has seen so much history, there is enough of interest at the TowerofLondon to keep visitors busy for days. Stop at the Welcome Center for visitor information on everything from the crown jewels to family fun activities.

 London has topped a list of the most popular global city destinations. The Global Destinations Cities Index (指数) showed the city is expected to receive 18.7 million visitors at the end of the year 2016.

   Bangkok was the second most popular city with 16.4 million visitors predicted for 2016.

   Using information on the total number of international arrivals and spending from overnight visitors, Mastercard found that 67％ of London's international visitors come from other European cities, although the city's top "feeder" was New York. Paris, which was the third most popular city destination, also had New York as its biggest feeder city. The majority of its visitors, 53％, were from outside of Europe.

   Marion King, President at MasterCard UK, said, "As London keeps its top spot for both visitor spending and international visitors, there is a huge chance for businessmen." Mayor of London Boris Johnson said, "With nearly nineteen million visitors this year London is the world's favourite place to visit."

   It is the third time in four years that London has topped the list, missing out to Bangkok last year. However, this year London saw an 80％ growth in visitors, while Bangkok saw an 11％ decline, dropping from 18.5 million visitors to a predicted 16.4 million in 2016.

   Earlier this year ONS showed that London had 16.8 million visitors in 2015 which was the highest recorded number of overseas visitors since records began in 1961. At the time, Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said the capital's "wonderful mix of history, culture, art, music and sport " was key to its success.

London has topped a list of the most popular global city destinations. The Global Destinations Cities Index (指数) showed the city is expected to receive 18.7 million visitors, at the end of the year 2016.

   Bangkok was the second most popular city with 16.4 million visitors predicted for 2016.

   Using information on the total number of international arrivals and spending from overnight visitors, Mastercard found that 67% of London's international visitors come from other European cities, although the city's top "feeder" was New York. Paris, which was the third most popular city destination, also had New York as its biggest feeder city. The majority of its visitors, 53%, were from outside of Europe.

   Marion King, President at MasterCard UK, said, "As London keeps its top spot for both visitor spending and international visitors, there is a huge chance for businessmen." Mayor of London Boris Johnson said, "With nearly nineteen million visitors this year London is the world's favourite place to visit."

   It is the third time in four years that London has topped the list, missing out to Bangkok last year. However, this year London saw an 8% growth in visitors, while Bangkok saw an 11% decline, dropping from 18.5 million visitors to a predicted 16.4 million in 2016.

   Earlier this year ONS showed that London had 16．8 million visitors in 2015 which was the highest recorded number of overseas visitors since records began in 1961. At the time, Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said the capital's "wonderful mix of history, culture, art, music and sport" was key to its success.

C

 There are many places to go on safari(观赏野生动物)in Africa，but riding a horse through the flooded waters of Botswanaˈs Okavango Delta must rank as one of the worldˈs most exciting wildlife journeys.

Several safari camps operate as the base for this adventure，providing unique rides twice a day to explore deep into the delta.The camps have excellent horses，professional guides and lots of support workers.They  have a reputation for providing a great riding experience.

The morning ride，when the guides take you to beautiful，shallow lakes full of water lilies，tends to be more active.It is unlike any other riding experience.With rainbows forming in the splashing water around you and the sound of huge drops of water bouncing off your body and face，it is truly exciting.You are very likely to come across large wild animals，too.On horseback it is possible to get quite close to elephants，giraffes and many other animals.The sense of excitement and tension levels rise suddenly though，as does your heart rate，as you move closer to them.

In the evening，rides are usually at a more relaxed and unhurried pace.With golden light streaming across the grassy delta and the animals coming out to eat and drink.Sedate  though they are，rides at this time of day are still very impressive.As the sunˈs rays pass through the dust kicked up by the horses，the romance of Africa comes to life.

Back at the camp you can kick off your boots and enjoy excellent food and wine.Looking back on your day，you will find it hard to deny that a horseback safari is as close as you will ever come to answering the call of the wild.

C

A Journey to China

14 days from just ￡2,090 pp

Fully inclusive from the UK

Price covers: international airfares, departure taxes, fuel charges, local transportation，accommodation, all meals, entrance fees, guides, daily tours and visas for UK citizens.

◆Days 1­3: UK­Shanghai

Fly to the great city of Shanghai and in the evening sample traditional Shanghai food. Visit the  beautiful YU Gardens, Old Town, Shanghai Museum,cross the Great Nanpu Bridge and tour the Pudong area. Also explore Xintiandi with its 1920's style Shikumen buildings and end your stay in Shanghai with an amazing Huangpu river evening tour.

◆Days 4­7: Shanghai­Yangtze River Tour

Fly to Yichang and change (approx: one hour)to board your Yangtze River ship for the next four nights. Enjoy a tour of the three Gorges Dam(三峡大坝)before sailing on the grand Yangtze River, passing through the impressive Three Gorges. We take a side trip to the Lesser Three Gorges or travel up the Shennong Stream in a peapod boat and enjoy various shore trips along the way.

◆Days 8: Chongqing­Chengdu

Get off in Chongqing and drive to Chengdu for an overnight stay.

◆Days 9­10: Chengdu­Xi'an

Visit the famous Panda Reserve to see the lovely animals. We then fly to the historic city of Xi'an for two nights stay and enjoy traditional ShuiJiao. Next day, explore one of the most important  discoveries of the 20th century—the Terracotta Warriors(兵马俑), followed by the ancient City wall and a performance of Tang Dynasty dancing.

◆Days 11­13:Xi'an­Beijing

Visit Little Wild Goose Pagoda and see the ancient objects at the well­known Shaanxi Provincial  Museum before walking through the lively Muslim Quarter to see the Great Mosque. Later fly to Beijing for three nights' stay and try Peking Duck. During our stay in Beijing, we stroll through Tiananmen Square to the Forbidden city, the largest and best preserved collection of ancient buildings in China, and visit the Summer Palace. Next day we take a walk on the Great Wall, tour the unique Temple of Heaven and enjoy an attractive Chinese Acrobatic show.

◆Days 14: Beijing­UK

Fly back to the UK, arriving home later the same day filled with happy memories.

I’ve been really lucky this year. Not only did I have the opportunity to live in France, but I was able to see some other countries with my girlfriend. Now she is studying in Essen, a large city in Western Germany. I recently went to stay with her-----it was my first visit to Germany! Essen is a very large city. It has all the conveniences of any large city so I felt immediately at home. I love the variety of shops, restaurants, shopping malls, cocktail bars, nightclubs, parks and even a lake. There is also a city-wide network of trams, which makes getting around a piece of cake!

I found the people to be really friendly, and most Germans speak very good English which made life easy for me. I was surprised by the casual attitude to alcohol in Germany, where it seems normal for people to drink beer on the street, or on the tram. My girlfriend and I visited two famous local cities, Dǘsseldorf and Cologne, which are both on the Rhine River. Dǘsseldorf is an urban metropolis with a great variety of restaurants. We took a boat tour on the river and went up the Rhine tower, a really tall building which offers great views across the city. Cologne, as you might know, is world famous for its perfumes. The cathedral there is an unmissable landmark. We made the effort to climb to the top of one of the cathedral’s tower. The spiral(螺旋的) stairs seemed endless, but it was worthwhile for the impressive sights from the top.

We also went in a cable car over the river and tasted a German delicacy called “Spaghettieis” which is ice cream with strawberry sauce! I also got to try the famous German sausage. I must admit, I really enjoyed the food! The only disappointment was the grey and rainy weather, which proves that Britain does not have the worst weather in Europe!

B

China will soon allow its travel agencies to organize tour groups to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). The “mysterious” neighbor is opening its doors. What can we expect?

Climate

The climate is generally classed as continental, with rainfall concentrated in summer. Summer months are warm, but winter temperatures can fall as low as 30 degrees below zero. Late spring droughts are often followed by severe flooding. There are occasional typhoons during the early autumn.

Arirang Festival

Arirang is a special government-sponsored festival held at irregular intervals of several years. The grand mass gymnastics and artistic performance celebrates the late communist leader Kim II- sung's April 15 birthday.

The opening event of the two-month festival is the mass games, which are famous for the huge mosaic(镶嵌图案) pictures created by thousands of well-trained school children.

Scenic sites

According to the present tour paths arranged by DPRK tourism authorities, the capital of Pyongyang is the highlight. It is a garden city built on remains from the Korean War. The most wonderful objects are monuments, including Kim Ⅱsung Square, the Arch of Triumph in Pyongyang, and the Grand People's Study House.

Transportation

Air China launched a direct service from Beijing to Pyongyang in March. It is the only foreign airline to offer flights to the DPRK capital.

How to get a visa.

For a short-term tour (3－4days)，sign up for a package tour in Shenyang or Dandong, Liaoning. The travel agency applies for a visa for you. For a longer tour, you can obtain visas from DPRK consulates and embassies.