Travel

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The following destinations are the Learner's English team's top ten destinations for travelers looking to explore places where English is an official language.

They are ranked according to the views and reviews of many travelers that have been there before, including those of members of our own team. The reviews include the best links for finding your way around each area described.

Queenstown is the tourist mecca of New Zealand's scenic and mountainous South Island. During winter the city is filled with snowboarders and skiers; for the rest of the year, the Bungee-jumping and adventure-travel crowd moves in, so the nightlife is active year round. The city is also a gateway to many other scenic attractions of the island, such as Milford Sound, Stewart Island and The Catlins, all first class destinations for the traveler wanting to sample the clean and green beauty that New Zealand has to offer.

Link: http://www.newzealand.com/travel/China/

The natural beauty of the “Golden State�of California is indisputable. Golden beaches, harsh deserts and majestic mountains are all situated within a couple hundred miles of each other. California's four largest cities are Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, and San Francisco. It's numerous man-made attractions give tourists endless options for entertainment and sightseeing, such as San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge, one of the world's greatest icons. The famous city of Los Angeles is home to Disneyland and Hollywood, as well as being a centre of diversity and cultural expression.

Link: http://www.visitcalifornia.com/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Chinese_Simplified

Discovering the Great Barrier Reef is one of life's must-dos and it's easily accessible from Queensland's mainland coast at Airlie Beach, or directly from the surrounding 74 islands, known as the Whitsundays. Visitors can spend the day exploring the pure white silica sands of Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet from one of the world's most exquisite lookouts, enjoy the views of the reef from the cockpit of a seaplane, paddle a sea kayak gracefully through the water, follow bushwalking trails overlooking the Coral Sea, or simply relax with an ice-cold beverage by the pool.

Link: http://www.australia.com/zhs/index.aspx#

The four countries that make up the British Isles are teaming with historical architecture and artifacts from the Dark Ages and beyond. Medieval marvels enshrouded in mystery attract visitors from the world over looking to step back in time to the era of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Many ancient ruins have been impeccably preserved, including Scotland's Edinburgh Castle, England's Hadrian's Wall and Ireland's Blarney Stone. Perhaps the most famous British ruin is also the oldest: the World Heritage site, Stone Henge.

Link: http://www.visitbritain.cn/

This tiny Central American country feels frozen in time, but in a very good way. Belize has world-class scuba diving, snorkeling, fishing, sailing, sea-kayaking, cave-tubing and jungle expeditions, mixed with fascinating Maya culture. It's one of the cheapest Caribbean resort destinations now, but don't wait too long. Developers and even celebrities have caught on (Leonardo Di Caprio is building an eco-resort on a private island in Belize and Francis Ford Coppola already owns a couple of places), so it won't be this way forever.

Link: http://www.travelbelize.org/chinese/index.html

This desert-centered metropolis is an internationally renowned, major resort city for the gaming industry, shopping, and entertainment. Las Vegas, billed as The Entertainment Capital of the World, is famous for the number of large casino resorts and their associated entertainment. Outdoor lighting displays are everywhere on the Las Vegas Strip and are seen elsewhere in the city as well; as seen from space, Las Vegas is the brightest city on earth.

Link: http://www.nevada.com.cn/

Hawaii is consistently voted the most popular tropical vacation island by those in the know. It's also the top honeymoon vacation state in the U.S., with each island offering its own unique take on what it means to be in Hawaii. Volcanic mountain scenery and sprawling golden beaches help to give Hawaii its popularity, not to mention its marine wildlife and exotic, native Island Culture, different to that of it's predominantly Caucasian parent country located 2,600km to the east.

Link: http://www.gohawaii.cn/

The world-renowned Kruger National Park offers a wildlife experience that ranks with the best in Africa and the world. Established in 1898 to protect the wildlife of South Africa, this national park of nearly 2 million hectares, is unrivalled in the diversity of its life forms. Visitors can take any number of nature safaris, exploring the habitats of lions, elephants, giraffes, buffalo and crocodiles, to name only a few.

Link: http://www.southafricantourism.cn/

One of the most cosmopolitan and challenging ski resorts in Canada, the sprawling ski town of Whistler is just 90 minutes from Vancouver but offers a winter escape like no other. Shopping, restaurants and a vibrant nightlife cater for guests inside the town itself, while mountaineering, mountain-biking, and of-course skiing and snowboarding provide a world-class mountain adventure experience, with two of North America's most prestigious former ski-resorts now joining forces to become one of the largest of it's kind in the world.

Link: http://www.canada.travel/splash.zh-cn.html

The only thing warmer than a sun-induced coma beneath a Fijian sky is the smile from locals as they cast a friendly bula your way. This is Fiji - beauty, grace, relaxation and charm. Its therapeutic environment shifts the weight from your shoulders, and the tension from your bones. Most visitors head here for the sublime sun and sea. Lapped by deep blue waters, Fiji's archipelago encompasses over 300 islands. Swim, surf, snorkel, kayak or simply wallow in the tepid Yasawa waters. Things only get hectic beneath the ocean's surface, where schools of psychedelic fish (and the odd diver) flutter amid kilometres of vivid coral.

Link: http://www.fijime.cn/