The Christmas Father's Hometown Finland

Finland, officially the Republic of Finland,is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden to the west, Norway to the north and Russia to the east, while Estonia lies to the south across the eponymous Gulf of Finland.Its captial is Helsinki.There are some places you can visit when you go to Finland for trip.

Rovaniemi

Rovaniemi is a city and municipality of Finland. It is the administrative capital and commercial centre of Finland's northernmost province, Lapland. It is situated about 5 km south of the Arctic Circle and is between the hills of Ounasvaara and Korkalovaara, at the confluence of the river Kemijoki and its tributary, the Ounasjoki.It is said that the Rovaniemi is the Christmas Father's Hometown.

Suomenlinna

Suomenlinna, until 1918 Viapori (Finnish), or Sveaborg (Swedish), is an inhabited sea fortress built on six islands  and which now forms part of the city of Helsinki, the capital of Finland.

Suomenlinna is a UNESCO World Heritage site and popular with both tourists and locals, who enjoy it as a picturesque picnic site. Originally named Sveaborg (Fortress of Svea), or Viapori as called by Finns, it was renamed Suomenlinna (Castle of Finland) in 1918 for patriotic and nationalistic reasons, though it is still also sometimes known by its original name. In Swedish-speaking contexts, the name Sveaborg is always used.

Porvoo

Porvoo is a city and a municipality situated on the southern coast of Finland approximately 50 kilometres (30 mi) east of Helsinki. Porvoo is one of the six medieval towns in Finland, first mentioned as a city in texts from 14th century. Porvoo is the seat of the Swedish speaking Diocese of Borgå of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland.

Helsinki Cathedral

Helsinki Cathedral is the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran cathedral of the Diocese of Helsinki, located in the neighbourhood of Kruununhaka in the centre of Helsinki, Finland. The church was originally built from 1830-1852 as a tribute to the Grand Duke of Finland, Tsar Nicholas I of Russia. It was also known as St Nicholas' Church until the independence of Finland in 1917. Originally the church was Orthodox.

Santorini,Aegean Sea

The Aegean Sea is an elongated embayment of the Mediterranean Sea located between the southern Balkan and Anatolian peninsulas, between the mainlands of Greece and Turkey. In the north, it is connected to the Marmara Sea and Black Sea by the Dardanelles and Bosporus.Aegean island has numerous islands, so sometime people call the Aegean sea  "Archipelago".

All the islands in the Aegean Sea called Cycladic Islands.It is the vacationland for people with its beatiful legend.Cycladic Islands like a string beautiful blue pearls,then the Santorini is the most bright and shining one.Now I will introduce somewhere you can go when you go to Santorini.

Church

One of the typical building is the church with white wall and blue dome.It is the most charming scenery of the Aegean Sea.Santorini is abundant with more than 250 churches of all shapes and sizes. The ecclesiastical architecture of Santorini is notable for its delicacy and plasticity. Both features stem from the free creative imagination of the local folk craftsmen.

Volcano

The present-day crescent shape of the island is a consequence of the activity of the volcano in prehistoric times feeding the myth of the lost Atlantis. Santorini is essentially what remains of an enormous volcanic explosion dated back 3,600 years and which created the current geological caldera; a giant central lagoon, more or less rectangular, and measuring about 12 by 7 km (7.5 by 4.3 mi), surrounded by 300 m (980 ft) high steep cliffs on three sides.

Beaches

Santorini's famous beaches are spread out mainly along the eastern and the south-eastern side of the island. Each beach has special characteristics, which make it unique and outstanding. The black shining pebbles, the unique land formations, the black, white and red sand, make up an unforgettable scenery. Most beaches are well organized offering the choice of lounging chairs, umbrellas, and various water sports.

Alos the island has been lucky the past two decades as its products and cuisine have been associated with tourism. This gave way in the production of and in making a good name in the culinary market. Agricultural products such as tomatoes, split peas and capers are already known and sought after. The market's need for continuous improvement, resulted in new proposals for local cuisine, with rare tastes based on pure and delicious raw material. A tendency to highlight the culinary peculiarity of the island has come to the front, through variations of traditional recipes and unusual combinations.

Spiez the Most Beautiful Town of Swiss

Spiez is a small, quaint little town (pop 12,500) on the south shore of Lake Thun. It has a wonderful medieval castle and offers spectacular views across the lake.Above the lake the Niederhorn Range stretches as far as the Bernese Alps and forms a magnificent panorama. With a high quality of life induced by the mild climate and abundance of sunny days, Spiez is an ideal starting point for exploring a wide range of popular destinations in the Bernese Oberland and the Valais.At Spiez you can visit Medieval Castle located on the lake water-front and the Swiss Pyramid,etc.

The tourist office is located on platform 1 of the station (May–Sept Mon–Fri 8AM–6.30PM, Sat 9AM–noon and 2–4PM; Oct–April Mon–Fri 8AM–noon and 2–6PM).

Take a tour on the forest-covered lakeshore between Spiez ans Faulensee and get impressed by the unique harmony of lake and mountains. After this walk from about two hours, enjoy a great meal in Hotel Restaurant Eden or the Restaurant Al Porto or the tiny but famous Restaurant Schlosspintli just aside the lake.

In summer, take a rest at the lake in the afternoon and check out the nightlife of Spiez's suburbs Thun or Interlaken. For a drink, choose some of the many bars in Spiez and don't forget to taste the local "Spiezer" wine.

There are many activities to do around the lake, as sailing, wind-surfing, river-rafting, bungee-jumping, biking, swimming, canyoning, climbing, paragliding - ask at the tourist office for reservation, rates and further details.

Friendly, local restaurant with a good range of local food and wine, including fresh fish from the adjacent Thunersee (Lake of Thun). The restaurant's garden terrace faces directly onto the small, picturesque marina and offers a lovely view of houses cascading down the hill to the lake, as well as the pyramidal Niesen above the town. The local wine, called "Spiezer", is an excellent choice with your meal. It is produced from the vineyards around Spiez and is available in white or red.The locel beer, called Rugenbräu, is brewed in the suburb "Interlaken". Great taste with the typical alpine freshness.

Metropolis Tokyo

Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area in the world.Tokyo has the world's largest metropolitan circle,and the world's biggest city built up area, Asia's first big city, one of the world's four biggest city ,also is Asia's economic center and fashion centre.

So there are too many places to visit when you go to Tokyo such a modern and big city.Now let's see someone here.

Tokyo Tower

Tokyo Tower is a communications and observation tower located in Shiba Park, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. At 333 metres (1,093 ft), it is the second tallest artificial structure in Japan.Located in the base of the tower is a 4-storey building known as FootTown. You can shop,rest or look around the museum.Tokyo Tower has two observation decks—the Main Observatory and the Special Observatory; both offer a 360 degree view of Tokyo and, on clear days, Mount Fuji can be seen to the west-southwest.

The Ginza

The Ginza is Tokyo's most famous upmarket shopping, dining and entertainment district, featuring numerous department stores, boutiques, art galleries, restaurants, night clubs and cafes.
Most shops in the Ginza district are open everyday of the week. A visit is most pleasant on a weekend afternoon, when the central Chuo Dori street gets closed to traffic and become a large pedestrian zone. The closure takes place from 14:00 to 17:00 on Saturdays and from 12:00 to 17:00 on Sundays (until 18:00 from April through September).

Tokyo Imperial Palace

Tokyo Imperial Palace is the main residence of the Emperor of Japan. It is a large park-like area located in the Chiyoda area of Tokyo close to Tokyo Station and contains several buildings including the main palace, the private residences of the imperial family, an archive, museum and administrative offices. It is built on the site of the old Edo castle.

Shibuya

Shibuya is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan. As of 2008, it has an estimated population of 208,371 and a population density of 13,540 persons per km². The total area is 15.11 km².The name "Shibuya" is also used to refer to the shopping district which surrounds Shibuya Station, one of Tokyo's busiest railway stations. This area is known as one of the fashion centers of Japan, particularly for young people, and as a major nightlife area.

Mount Fuji

Mount Fuji, located on Honshu Island, is the highest mountain in Japan at 3,776.24 m (12,389 ft).Mount Fuji's exceptionally symmetrical cone, which is snow-capped several months a year, is a well-known symbol of Japan and it is frequently depicted in art and photographs, as well as visited by sightseers and climbers. It is one of Japan's "Three Holy Mountains" along with Mount Tate and Mount Haku; it is a Special Place of Scenic Beauty, a Historic Site, and has been submitted for future inscription on the World Heritage List as a Cultural (rather than Natural) Site.

London,United Kingdom(Ⅱ)

There are too many places you can visit in London,so here I will recommed another for spots you can go.

Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle is a medieval castle and royal residence at Windsor in the English county of Berkshire that is notable for its long association with the British royal family and for its architecture. The original castle was built after the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror.At ordinary times, Windsor castle always opens. When the queen comes, only the largest of the palace at top of the mountain for her, and the rest of the place still allowed to visit.

Stonehenge

Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument located in the English county of Wiltshire, about 2.0 miles (3.2 km) west of Amesbury and 8 miles (13 km) north of Salisbury. One of the most famous sites in the world, Stonehenge is composed of a circular setting of large standing stones set within earthworks. It is at the centre of the most dense complex of Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments in England, including several hundred burial mounds.Stonehenge is owned by the Crown and managed by English Heritage, while the surrounding land is owned by the National Trust.

Sherlock Holmes Museum

The Sherlock Holmes Museum is a privately run museum in London, England, dedicated to the famous fictional detective Sherlock Holmes.Sherlock Holmes and Doctor John H. Watson lived at 221b Baker Street between 1881-1904, according to the stories written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The house is protected by the government due to its "special architectural and historical interest", while the 1st floor study overlooking Baker Street is still faithfully maintained for posterity as it was kept in Victorian Times.

Step back in time, and when you visit London, remember to visit The World's Most Famous Address - 221b Baker Street - the Official Home of Sherlock Holmes!

Website:www.sherlock-holmes.co.uk

Greenwich Observatory

The Royal Observatory, Greenwich (formerly the Royal Greenwich Observatory or RGO), in London played a major role in the history of astronomy and navigation, and is best known as the location of the prime meridian. It is situated on a hill in Greenwich Park, overlooking the River Thames.

The scientific work of the observatory was relocated elsewhere in stages in the first half of the 20th century, and the Greenwich site is now maintained as a tourist attraction.

London,United Kingdom(Ⅰ)

United Kingdom is a sovereign state located off the north-western coast of continental Europe.It's full name is The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

London is the capital city of England and the United Kingdom, the largest city, urban zone and metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the European Union by most measures.Located on the River Thames.

London is a leading global city, with strengths in the arts, commerce, education, entertainment, fashion, finance, healthcare, media, professional services, research and development, tourism and transport all contributing to its prominence.

When you visit London,I think these places you can't missing.

British Museum

The British Museum located in the Great Russell Street.It is a museum in London dedicated to human history and culture. Its permanent collection, numbering some eight million works,is amongst the largest and most comprehensive in existence and originates from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its beginnings to the present.
Admission and opening times:Free, open daily 10.00–17.30
The Museum is open daily except for 1 January and 24, 25, 26 December
More infromation visit:www.britishmuseum.org

Tower of London

Tower of London is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England, United Kingdom. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the square mile of the City of London by the open space known as Tower Hill.

The tower of London used to be as a fortress, Arsenal, Treasury, mints, palaces, observatory, shelter and prisons, especially for the upper class prisoners.

Opening time:
March 1 - October 31
Tuesday - Saturday:From 09:00 to 17:30
Sunday and Monday :From 10:00 to 17:30

November 1- February 28
Tuesday - Saturday:From 09:00 to 16:30
Sunday and Monday:From 10:00 to 16:30

Big Ben

Big Ben is the nickname for the great bell of the clock at the north end of the Palace of Westminster in London,and often extended to refer to the clock and the clock tower,officially named Elizabeth Tower, as well.

As a symbol of the city of London and Britain's symbol, Elizabeth tower huge and gorgeous, weight of 13.5 tons, four clockface area have two square metre. Big Ben from 1859 for the city of London time, according to Greenwich mean time every hour on a, has nearly a century and a half, although this period Big Ben twice crack and recasting. Now the Big Ben is still clear and beautiful.


St Paul's Cathedral

St Paul's Cathedral, London, is a Church of England cathedral and seat of the Bishop of London. Its dedication to Paul the Apostle dates back to the original church on this site, founded in AD 604.St Paul's sits at the top of Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the City of London, and is the mother church of the Diocese of London.

More infromation you can visit there websit:www.stpauls.co.uk

Sydney,AustraliaⅡ

Today I will introduce another 4 places in Sydney you can visit.There are so many places in Sydney you can go.If you want to know more about the place,please visit:www.sydney.com

Royal Botanic Garden

The Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney, New South Wales, is the most central of the three major botanical gardens open to the public in Sydney (the others being the Mount Annan Botanic Garden and the Mount Tomah Botanic Garden). The gardens were opened in 1816, and are managed by the same trust that manages the adjoining The Domain. The gardens are open every day of the year, and access is free.

Every it attracte over 300 million visitors to visit. Suitable local climatic conditions are conducive to the Botanic Garden's plant collection.Botanical Garden collection shows more than 7000 kinds of tropical and subtropical plants, many of them import at the colonial period, such as citrus,some import from the
inland when the expert go to investigate, some even the first period of the Botanical Garden exchange from seed. Plant signage provides historical information collected by the plant, the characteristics of the park is the portrayal of the Botanical Gardens historical.

Bondi Beach

Bondi Beach is one of the world's most famous beaches, Bondi Beach is as much a lifestyle choice as a place. Bondi Beach draws the visitor, captivates them and forges memories of sun, surf and sand. It is a slower sun warmed world that somehow stands a little apart from our busy lives. It is a world of lifeguards patrolling between yellow and red flags, surfers riding the waves, bronzed bodies, comfortable cafes and smart restaurants.

Sydney Aquarium

Sea Life Sydney Aquarium is a public aquarium located in the city of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is located on the eastern (city) side of Darling Harbour to the north of the Pyrmont Bridge.

The aquarium contains a large variety of Australian aquatic life, displaying more than 650 species comprising more than 6,000 individual fish and other sea and water creatures from most of Australia's water habitats.

Its key exhibits in the aquarium are a series of underwater, see-through, acrylic glass tunnels where sharks swim above visitors, and recreation of a Great Barrier Reef coral environment.

SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium is an all-weather visitor attraction open 365 days a year. The exact time and more information you can visit:www.sydneyaquarium.com.au

St. Mary's Cathedral

St Mary’s Cathedral stands in the centre of Sydney as a Christian statement of grace and beauty. Generations of artists have bequeathed to it their magnificent gifts in stone and glass, designing a unique space of solace and prayer within this vibrant city. This Cathedral represents the spiritual origins of the Catholic Church in Australia. It is one of Sydney's most treasured historic buildings and one of the finest examples of English-style gothic churches in the world. William Wilkinson Wardell, the 19th century architect, dreamed of a gothic structure shaped from the local yellow-block sandstone on which this city is built. The building was finally completed 100 years after the architect's death. The Cathedral is dedicated to Mary Help of Christians.

Sydney,AustraliaⅠ

Sydney is the captial of the New South Wales,also is the biggest port city of Australia.It is the international metropolis as the biggist financial centre of Australia.Also it is an international tourist destination famous for it's beach,opera house and harbour bridge.Now let's travel some sight spots.

Australian Museum

It was founded in 1827,locate at the college street near the Hyde Park.It is one of the top 10 world's recognized pavilion,also is the biggiest natural history museum of Australia.All of the collections are unique and treasure.

The museum collects about 8.75 million pieces, belong to anthropology, zoology, paleontology, environmental science and mineralogy. Display room main content of Australia's special natural landscape and animal, and the aborigines in Australia and Oceania Pacific islands natural and humanistic material,etc.

Opening times:
The Australian Museum is open 9.30am to 5.00pm every day except Christmas Day.
The ticket cost :
Adult     $12
Family (2 adults + 2 children)     $30
Child (5 -15 years)     $6
Children under 5 years     FREE    
More infomation you can visit it's website:http://australianmuseum.net.au/

Sydney Opera House

It is the symbol of the Sydney even Australia.One of the Seven Wonders of the World in the 20th century.The Sydney Opera House is on Bennelong Point in Sydney Harbour. It sits at the northeastern tip of the Sydney central business district (the CBD), surrounded on three sides by the harbour (Sydney Cove and Farm Cove) and inland by the Royal Botanic Gardens.

The Sydney Opera House is a modern expressionist design, with a series of large precast concrete "shells",from a distance, the shells appear a uniform white.It is among the busiest performing arts centres in the world, hosting over 1,500 performances each year attended by some 1.2 million people.

More infomation you can visit it's website:http://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/

Blue Mountains

The Blue Mountains locate about 50 km north-west of Sydney CBD.It is a magical place any time of the year. Glowing in autumn, cool in winter, colourful in spring and refreshing in summer. The Blue Mountains is densely populated by oil bearing Eucalyptus trees. The atmosphere is filled with finely dispersed droplets of oil, which, in combination with dust particles and water vapour, scatter short-wave length rays of light which are predominantly blue in colour. The Greater Blue Mountains was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2000 and was one of 15 World Heritage places included in the National Heritage List on 21 May 2007.

Sydney Harbour Bridge

The Sydney Harbour Bridge is a steel through arch bridge across Sydney Harbour that carries rail, vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian traffic between the Sydney central business district (CBD) and the North Shore.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge opened in 1932.It is one of Australia's most well known and photographed landmarks. It is the world's largest (but not the longest) steel arch bridge with the top of the bridge standing 134 metres above the harbour.

If you go to Sydney,the Sydney Harbour with it's scenery you should to take a look.

Munich, Germany

Munich located at the riverside of the Isar River,south of German,north foot of the Alps.It is the one of Gernman's economic and cultural and political center,also one of the most prosperous cities of Europe.It is the third biggest city of Germany (after Berlin and Hamburg), and the capital of Bavaria.

If you go to Munich,there are 3 place I think you can visit:

First,Marienplatz

It is in the centre of the city square of Munich.At the cnetre of the square is the statue of the Virgin Mary, north of the square is the gothic architecture city hall (Rathaus), it built in 1867-1908.In the cnetre of the town hall is the bell tower,it about 85 meters high.It is the famous doll bell, at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. bell doll with music out show 1568 William v wedding ceremony scene and eliminate the black death scene. Northwest of square not far away there are two famous onion top of our lady of the church (Frauenkirche), is the symbol of the Munich building.

Second,Schloss Neuschwanstein

The castle is one of King Ludwig II of Bavaria's palace.It was built in  1869.It is one of the German's most popular tourist attractions. Schloss Neuschwanstein is the symbol of Germany,there are no countries  like Germany has so many castle in the world, it is said that there are still 14000 at present.Because it is prototype of the Disney castle,some people call it Snow White castle.It is like paradise place hidden about magic, king, knight ancient folklore, and the boundless primitive forest, tender hillside, boundless stroll on the herds of cattle and sheep, the snow all the year round the Alps and endless wide lake.

Third,Hofbräuhaus

The Beer Brewery was founded in 1589. The whole building can accommodate 5000 people.The third floor is large banquet hall can accommodate 1000 people together for party. Beer house supply its brewing beer HB. Every day there are nearly litres of beer from here was sent to wine shop, bars, banquet hall, beer garden.
The adornment of the house style, roof have bright colored drawing, which is very wide from time to time, a steel pipe music for binge drinking beer drinking. And in the Bavarian costumes lady advised to buy circle. At the same time, you can see the traditional Bavarian national song and dance performances.

Yellowstone National Park

Location     Park County, Wyoming
Teton County, Wyoming
Gallatin County, Montana
Park County, Montana
Fremont County, Idaho
Coordinates     44°36′N 110°30′WCoordinates: 44°36′N 110°30′W
Area     2,219,791 acres (898,318 ha)
Established     March 1, 1872
Visitors     3,394,326 (in 2011)
Governing body     U.S. National Park Service

Yellowstone National Park (Arapaho: Henihco'oo' or Héetíhco'oo), established by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1, 1872,is a national park located primarily in the U.S. state of Wyoming, although it also extends into Montana and Idaho. Yellowstone, widely held to be the first national park in the world,is known for its wildlife and its many geothermal features, especially Old Faithful Geyser, one of the most popular features in the park.It has many types of ecosystems, but the subalpine forest is dominant.

Yellowstone National Park is a prestigious tourist attraction. The beginning of the 20th century, an American explorer once described the Yellowstone National Park: "in different countries, regardless of the scenery, vegetation, how great the difference, but Mother Earth is always as familiar, friendly, eternal., But here, the earth has changed so much, as if this is a place to belong to another world. ... Earth here as if in a test of his endless creativity. "

It is a hotbed of geothermal activity, there are over ten thousand geothermal style characteristics; Rockies to the territory created numerous beautiful mountains, rivers, waterfalls, canyons, limestone structure, letting the earth add a beautiful and varied colors; the numerous wildlife assigns its perennial life, here is a the Wyoming herd's hometown, but also land the largest in North America and around the world, the widest variety of mammals habitat.

Gulangyu Island(Kulangsu)

Gulangyu is a car-free island off the coast of Xiamen, Fujian province in southern China, about 2 square kilometres (0.77 sq mi) in area. It is home to about 20,000 people and is a domestic tourist destination.

Xiamen (also known as Amoy) became a treaty port resulting from China's loss in the First Opium War and the Treaty of Nanking in 1842, hence the predominantly Victorian-era style architecture throughout Gulangyu Island, where 13 countries including Great Britain, France and Japan established consulates, churches, and hospitals. Gulangyu was officially designated an International Settlement in 1903. Japanese occupation of the island began in 1942, and lasted until the end of World War II. The Amoy dialect of Hokkien is spoken on the island.

On on the island you can play with the,sit by the beach and look at the see it is so comfortable.Also you can surf or swim.

The island is a "traffic-free island".The people on the island go everywhere on foot.If you go to there for rest just walking slow and watching the scenery beside the road.Then if you are tired you can find a coffee shop to have a break.Many shop at Gulangyu aresimple but comfortable and stylish atmosphere.

 

Gulangyu is a nice place to go when you are tired in metropolis.Slow down you speed and have a rest.You will find the meaning of life.

Dubai The City Poor Only Money

Dubai is a city in the United Arab Emirates, located within the emirate of the same name. The emirate of Dubai is located south east of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and is one of the seven emirates in the country.

Population: 2,262,000 (2008)
Area: 4,114 km²
Founded: June 9, 1833
Local time: Tuesday 1:16 PM
Weather: 26°C, Wind SE at 10 km/h, 51% Humidity

The Burj Khalifa is currently the tallest structure in the world.Construction began on 21 September 2004, with the exterior of the structure completed on 1 October 2009. The building officially opened on 4 January 2010,and is part of the new 2 km2 (490-acre) development called Downtown Dubai at the 'First Interchange' along Sheikh Zayed Road, near Dubai's main business district. The tower's architecture and engineering were performed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill of Chicago, with Adrian Smith as chief architect, and Bill Baker as chief structural engineer.The primary contractor was Samsung C&T of South Korea.

The Burj Al Arab has been called a 7 star luxury hotel. It is located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and managed by the Jumeirah Group and built by Said Khalil. Its construction started in 1994 and ended in 1999. It was designed by Tom Wright of WS Atkins PLC. The hotel cost $650,000,000 to build. At 321 metres (1,053 ft) and 60 floors, it was the tallest building used exclusively as a hotel until being succeeded by Rose Rayhaan by Rotana in 23 December 2009, again in Dubai. The Burj Al Arab stands on an artificial island 280 metres (919 ft) out from Jumeirah beach, and is connected to the mainland by a private curving bridge. It is an iconic structure, designed to symbolize Dubai's urban transformation and to mimic the sail of a boat.

Dubai is the city of money,rich and luxurious.

Egypt:The Pyramids of Giza

Coordinates:29°58′45.03″N 31°08′03.69″ECoordinates: 29°58′45.03″N 31°08′03.69″E
Ancient Name:Khufu's Horizon
Constructed:c. 2560–2540 BC
Type:True Pyramid
Height:146.5 metres (481 ft), ancient
           138.8 metres (455 ft), contemporary
Base:230.4 metres (756 ft)

The Great Pyramid of Giza (also known as the Pyramid of Khufu or the Pyramid of Cheops) is the oldest and largest of the three pyramids in the Giza Necropolis bordering what is now El Giza, Egypt. It is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the only one to remain largely intact. Egyptologists believe that the pyramid was built as a tomb for fourth dynasty Egyptian Pharaoh Khufu (Cheops in Greek) over a 10 to 20-year period concluding around 2560 BCE. Initially at 146.5 metres (481 feet), the Great Pyramid was the tallest man-made structure in the world for over 3,800 years. Originally, the Great Pyramid was covered by casing stones that formed a smooth outer surface; what is seen today is the underlying core structure. Some of the casing stones that once covered the structure can still be seen around the base. There have been varying scientific and alternative theories about the Great Pyramid's construction techniques. Most accepted construction hypotheses are based on the idea that it was built by moving huge stones from a quarry and dragging and lifting them into place.


The sides are oriented to the four cardinal points of the compass and the length of each side at the base is 755 feet (230.4 m). They rise at an angle of 51 52' to a height , originally, of 481 feet (147 m) but nowadays 451 feet (138 m). It was constructed using around 2,300,000 limestone blocks, weighing, on average, 2.5 tons each. Although some weigh as much as 16 tons. Until recently, relatively speaking, it was cased in smooth limestone but this was plundered to build Cairo.

Is it conceivable that by bringing together so many people and giving them a common goal, that of making a mountain, a national identity is forged in their hearts. From Upper and Lower Egypt communities would have got to know each other and a common bond would have been manifest in the object of the pyramid. If this is true it is unique because all other forms of nationalism have grown out of war. For example England and France in the Hundred years war and the USA through the revolutionary, civil and Indian wars.

The Great Wall of China

Introduction

Name:The Great Wall
Location:Beijing of China
Length: 8,851.8 km (5,500 miles)
Construction Period: About 2,000 years from the Warring States Period (476 BC - 221 BC) to Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)

The Great Wall, one of the greatest wonders of the world, was listed as a World Heritage by UNESCO in 1987. Just like a gigantic dragon, the Great Wall winds up and down across deserts, grasslands, mountains and plateaus, stretching approximately 8,851.8 kilometers (5,500 miles) from east to west of China. With a history of more than 2000 years, some of the sections are now in ruins or have disappeared. However, it is still one of the most appealing attractions all around the world owing to its architectural grandeur and historical significance.

Before the use of bricks, the Great Wall was mainly built from rammed earth, stones, and wood. During the Ming Dynasty, however, bricks were heavily used in many areas of the wall, as were materials such as tiles, lime, and stone. The size and weight of the bricks made them easier to work with than earth and stone, so construction quickened. Additionally, bricks could bear more weight and endure better than rammed earth. Stone can hold under its own weight better than brick, but is more difficult to use. Consequently, stones cut in rectangular shapes were used for the foundation, inner and outer brims, and gateways of the wall. Battlements line the uppermost portion of the vast majority of the wall, with defensive gaps a little over 30 cm (12 in) tall, and about 23 cm (9.1 in) wide.

Communication between the army units along the length of the Great Wall, including the ability to call reinforcements and warn garrisons of enemy movements, was of high importance. Signal towers were built upon hill tops or other high points along the wall for their visibility.

If you go to China,the Great Wall is worth to visit！