A great little ski resort: Folgaria, Italy

Only 95km or about 90 minutes from Verona Airport, Folgaria is a mid-sized resort in the northern Italy.It also has a wonderful and long ski history, as the first ski lift in Italy was built here in the 1930s.

Folgaria is proud of its history and culture.You're unlikely to hear English spoken here and in some bars, it won't even be Italian, but Cimbro, the ancient southern Bavarian language brought to these mountains by settlers.It's also reflected in the food culture.Pure local mountain honey is delicious.You can enjoy it when you come to ski.Beyond the bars, restaurants and a few small hotels.the community is also trying to develop mountain biking.

Where to eat?

Chocolate and ice-cream are served at La Baita del Gelato, and they also serve the pizza, made with local cheese(€6.50)

Where to stay?

The modern three-star Hotel Luna Bianca is one of the most popular hotels in Folgaria, with big, clean rooms, and good service.The ski bus stops outside the front door.

Good for Families, beginners and Intermediates.

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Park City is the best-known ski(滑雪) town in Utah, the U.S. It snows for nearly six months every year from November to April, making it a wonderland(胜地) for winter sports. Many of the people who live there are professional athletes. Over time, snow has become a symbol of the city and its people.

When I lived in the US, my friends and my family went on a trip to Park City together. After arriving, I made up my mind to learn how to ski.

The ski lessons were expensive. Luckily, my friend’s mom, Vicky, could teach me. I borrowed my friend Joey’s skis(滑雪板). They were so heavy that I couldn’t lift my feet! I tried going down a hill and fell face down into the snow. Vicky helped me up. She taught me two important things—keep my skis parallel(平行的) and look ahead, not down.

As I practiced, I fell down over and over again. Sometimes other children would come and help me up. They said most of the children here learned how to ski at a young age, and it was their responsibility to help others. I was touched by their kindness toward me.

At the end of the day, I could ski down a gentle slope(斜坡) with no problems. I will never forget that experience because I not only realized my dream of learning to ski, but also saw how sports could connect people from different places.

Imagine a city built as a line across the desert. It can run on 100% clean energy and 100% renewable water. That sounds impossible, but it’s becoming a reality.

Saudi Arabia is building such a city called The Line. It starts from the mountains of Northwest Saudi Arabia and pushes its way to the Red Sea. With an area of just 34 square kilometres, it can be home to 9 million people. The Line is 500 metres tall, 200 metres wide and 170 kilometres long, with two huge mirror walls standing on its both sides.

To put living experiences and natural environment first, The Line is designed to have three layers (层) . The top layer has no roads or cars, keeping over 95% of the nature around. Carefully designed environment makes the best balance of sunshine, trees and other natural sights. The middle layer is for services. All of them are operated by AI. Robots and a huge man-made moon make the city a technology paradise (天堂). From shopping malls to sports areas, wherever you go, you will be amazed at how convenient life can be. The lowest layer is the most important pat which shows how fast the city runs. The Line’s high-speed railway powered by electricity makes it possible to travel end to end in 20 minutes.

The plan started in early 2021 and is expected to finish its first stage in 2030. However, not everyone shows enough confidence in the plan. Environmentalists argue that mirror walls of The Line will bring danger to animals. For example, birds may hit onto the glass or even die when they migrate every spring and autumn. Besides, some commentators (评论员) also question whether the city will be built successfully. But Tarek Qaddumi, the director of the plan, seems sure, “We hope to get faster, better and greener results, with less environmental influence. It will set a new standard for future city life.”

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