Avebury is near the far more famous Stonehenge. What is interesting about it is that a village has grown up around the stones, unlike Stonehenge, which stands alone. Avebury and Stonehenge are just two of about 1,300 stone circles all over the UK. Many of them are in fantastic locations, like Castlering in Cumbria, from which you can see England’s highest mountain; and the Ring of Brodgar in the beautiful Orkney Island, off Scotland’s northern coast.

Some of them are UNESCO World Heritage sites, and several have local stories connected to them. For example, the Merry Maidens in West Cornwall is a group of nineteen stones. According to the story, they were young women — maidens — who were turned into stone for dancing on a Sunday.

Early historians thought that the stone circles were temples for the people who arrived in the UK in about 500 BC. Later research has shown that they are far older than that, at least 4,000 years old. Stonehenge could have been built 5,000 years ago, but it’s still nowhere near as old as the nearby wooden circle built about 10,000 years ago. Some experts believe they acted like calendars and have shown that some stones line up with sunrise or sunset on the longest and shortest days of the year. Others believe they were places for the dead bodies of the local rich and powerful.

We may never know why they were built, but each one leaves the visitor with a strong sense of the shortness of our existence in the sea of history. There are groups of stone circles and other prehistoric (史前的) monuments throughout the British Isles, so wherever you are staying you should include at least one in your tour.

Iceland is Europe's westemmost country,with the world's most northerly capital city. Reykjavik. Iceland has a population of about 340,000, spreading over more than 100,000 square kilometers. Despite its small size, there are many reasons to visit this amazing country.

Most visitors' first destination is Reykjavik, a small and clean city known for its colorful and stylish buildings. The city's downtown area is lined with shops, art galleries,cafes and bookstores. In 2000, Reykjavik was awarded the title of Europe's City of Culture, thanks to its art museums for true art lovers.

Iceland has a number of hot springs around the island. All are heated naturally by underground volcanic activity. In fact, this energy is tumed into electricity, which powers and heats people's homes and businesses. As a result, Iceland burns very little fossil fuel, such as oil and gas. Iceland has some of the cleanest air in the world.

In Iceland, one of the most popular outdoor activities to enjoy is caving. Exploring Iceland's special lava caves or ice caves is challenging and requires special clothes and hiking tools. The best-known ice caves are in Vatnajökull, which, at 8,000 square kilometers, is Europe's largest ice cave. Outside the town of Reykjavik, the huge rocks were once believed to be monsters. These are dramatic scenery on a magnificent black-sand beach.

No trip to Ieeland would be complete without a visit to the Golden Circle, which connects Gullfoss, the hot springs region of Geysir, and Thingvellir National Park. The Mid-Atlantic Fault that runs through Iceland is literally pulling the island apart. No place is more obvious than Thingvellir Valley, where the land is actually separating and the stony ground frequently changes.

Discover Jiangsu

Known as the land of water, China’s coastal province of Jiangsu has all the geographical advantages to give it a starring role in the epic (史诗般的) tale of China’s ancient Maritime (海上的) Silk Road. With busy port cities, historic sites and breathtaking natural beauty, Jiangsu is the perfect place to follow the story of this remarkable trade route.

Nanjing and the voyages of Zheng He

At the beginning of the Ming dynasty, the city of Nanjing in Jiangsu was declared capital of China. Besides building one of the longest city walls in history, the emperor ordered the construction of vast “treasure ships” in 1403. Under Zheng He’s command, the ships finished seven epic ocean voyages, reaching as far as the east coast of Africa.

Nantong and overseas trade

In Jiangsu’s port city of Nantong, goods have flowed in and out of the province by water for centuries. Beyond Lusi Port Town, a busy seascape of boats travel on the waters of Jiangsu’s coast. It’s a scene that shows how China’s historic Maritime Silk Road remains successful until this day.

Yancheng and unspoiled nature

Salt was one of the commodities (商品) that played a key role in the history of trade in Jiangsu, contributing to the wealth of the province. A major source was the tidal (潮汐的) salt flats of Yancheng, which literally means “salt city”. This remarkable landscape also plays host to some rare bird species like cranes, egrets, and spoonbill sandpipers.

Yangzhou and the spread of Buddhism

In the Jiangsu city of Yangzhou, a Tang-dynasty monk by the name of Jianzhen set sail to Japan to spread the teachings of Buddhism. Daming Temple, where Jianzhen lived, can still be visited today.