When you are going to visit Beijing, it's likely that you'll want to visit the Tiananmen Square.

{#blank#}1{#/blank#}square is impressively big and is located to the north, separating Beijing from the Forbidden City. The Forbidden City is a breathtaking palace complex (建筑群) that {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(house) the palace museum and was formally the Chinese royal palace from the Ming dynasty to the end of the Qing dynasty. Covering 178 acres, the Forbidden City is made up of 980 buildings. 

The Temple of Heaven, including Lama Temple (Yonghe Temple), the Beijing Temple of Confucius and Beijing Zoo,{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(recommend) as well. Lama Temple is one of Beijing's most attractive and best-preserved{#blank#}4{#/blank#}(temple). The zoo is one of the oldest in China,{#blank#}5{#/blank#} (date) back to 1906, and is home to a great variety of animals.

The Great Wall isn't located in the city itself, but if you have made the trip to Beijing, you can't leave{#blank#}6{#/blank#}going to see it. There are many organized tours from Beijing{#blank#}7{#/blank#} will take you to the Mutianyu Great Wall. If you don't want{#blank#}8{#/blank#} (sweep) away by big crowds in summer, visit the wall in winter. It will be{#blank#}9{#/blank#}(extreme) cold, but you'll have a better experience. It will be{#blank#}10{#/blank#} (easy) to shoot nice pictures too.

Taking a gap year between high school and college can be a great way to explore your interests, gain new experiences, {#blank#}1{#/blank#} develop skills that will benefit you in the future. For me, my gap year was {#blank#}2{#/blank#} unforgettable adventure that allowed me {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(step) outside my comfort zone and see the world in new ways.

During my gap year, I traveled to several {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(country) including Thailand, Japan, and Peru. I {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (volunteer) at a wildlife preserve in Thailand, where I worked with elephants, monkeys, and other animals. In Japan, I taught English to elementary school children, and in Peru, I worked on a farming project with a local community.

These experiences were greatly rewarding and taught me valuable lessons about the world and myself. I learned how to communicate {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(effective) with people from different cultures, how to adapt {#blank#}7{#/blank#} new environments and situations, and how to be more self-sufficient and resourceful.

In addition to my travels, I also spent time {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(explore) my passions and hobbies. I took art classes, learned how to cook new dishes, and read extensively about topics {#blank#}9{#/blank#} interested me. These activities helped me to develop my creativity, curiosity, and critical thinking skills. So far these skills {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(be) invaluable in shaping my ideas and I'm looking forward to continuing to improve them throughout my life.