A 16-Day Group Tour Journal of the East and West Coasts of the United States and Yellowstone

Grand Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Yellowstone, Niagara Falls

Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Washington D.C., New York, etc.

A 16-day group tour of the United States. Entering from the west in Los Angeles and exiting from the east in New York. To better explore the United States, I purchased two maps of the U.S., an administrative map and a tourist map, and borrowed books about U.S. travel, making full preparations for this trip.

This trip included major attractions: 7 natural landscapes – Grand Canyon (South Rim), Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, Bryce Canyon, Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone National Park, Niagara Falls; and 4 cultural landmarks – Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Washington D.C., New York. There were also several smaller activities.

The Grand Canyon is 450 kilometers long, with an average width of 16 kilometers, a maximum depth of 1,740 meters, and a total area of 2,724 square kilometers. It looks as if the earth has been split open by a massive crack, irregularly shaped, roughly running east-west, winding like an unruly giant python crouching on the Kaibab Plateau.

After millions of years of erosion by wind and rain, the Grand Canyon has formed unique rock formations that display magical colors under sunlight. Its majestic terrain, vast grandeur, awe-inspiring presence, and peculiar scenery are truly breathtaking.

The Grand Canyon is divided into the South Rim and the North Rim. The roads to the South Rim are open all year round, while the North Rim is less accessible, open only from May to October each year.

Horseshoe Bend is located in the Colorado River within the Grand Canyon. Over thousands of years, the Colorado River has carved a U-shaped meander, commonly called Horseshoe Bend. It is a masterpiece of nature’s craftsmanship, with a scene of magnificent grandeur.

“Antelope Canyon”

Antelope Canyon is the world’s most famous slot canyon, with its narrowest point allowing only one person to pass. It is a renowned photography spot; photography enthusiasts must not miss it. The canyon’s color is iron-red. As the sun moves from east to west, the sunlight entering the canyon changes colors, appearing red, white, purple, iron-red, etc., dazzling and endlessly beautiful.

“Bryce Canyon”

Bryce Canyon is located on the eastern side of the Paunsaugunt Plateau, covering an area of 145 square kilometers, stretching 40 kilometers from north to south as a narrow canyon with only one entrance on the north side. The bizarre rocks formed by long-term erosion resemble a huge natural amphitheater.

Bryce Canyon is not a true canyon in the typical sense; ordinary canyons are formed by river erosion. Bryce Canyon’s unique geological structures are called “hoodoos,” shaped by wind, river water, ice erosion, and sedimentary riverbed rocks.

As the sun rises and sets, the rock forest of the canyon transitions from warm golden and bright orange to deep red and purple-black, making the scene increasingly beautiful and unforgettable.

“Yellowstone National Park”

Yellowstone National Park, established in 1872, is located on a lava plateau between the Northern and Middle Rocky Mountains, covering an area of 8,990 square kilometers. It is world-famous for its natural scenery. It has the most geothermal features on Earth, with thousands of boiling springs and large deep lakes churning and roaring, like a blazing furnace.

Here, you can enjoy different types of geothermal features such as geysers, mud pots, hot springs, and fumaroles, while also experiencing the snow-covered peaks all year round, creating a striking contrast. Yellowstone boasts the enchanting Yellowstone Lake, the stunning Yellowstone Canyon, the beautiful Grand Prismatic Spring, and the magnificent Old Faithful Geyser.

Old Faithful erupts on average every 72 minutes, with eruptions lasting 15 to 20 minutes, shooting water up to 38 meters high – a magnificent sight.

Grand Prismatic Spring, also known as the Great Rainbow Spring, looks like a blue eye from a distance. It is the largest hot spring in the United States, with its water surface changing color with the seasons, reflecting multiple brilliant colors – truly beautiful.

“Niagara Falls”

Niagara Falls is the most famous natural wonder on the North American continent, located on the border between the United States and Canada. Together with South America’s Iguazu Falls (on the border of Argentina and Brazil) and Africa’s Victoria Falls (on the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia), it is known as one of the world’s three largest跨国 waterfalls.

Niagara Falls is a waterway connecting Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, with an average flow of 5,720 cubic meters per second. The massive water cascades down a cliff (with a drop of 58 meters) like the Milky Way pouring down, creating a thunderous roar and sending up layers of spray – an extremely spectacular scene. The phrase “flying down three thousand feet, as if the Milky Way has fallen from the nine heavens” aptly describes the majestic momentum and grand scene of Niagara Falls. It is reverently called “Thunder of the Waters” by Native Americans.

Under the brilliant sunlight, rainbows accompany the mist of Niagara Falls, making the scene extraordinarily magnificent, brilliant, and intoxicating.

Los Angeles has a population of about 3.83 million and is the second-largest city and seaport in the United States. One of the most impressive tourist experiences in Los Angeles is Universal Studios, where you can take the “Studio Tour” with a dedicated guide, enjoying a 40-minute tram tour. The guide introduces the production, scenes, stories, and anecdotes of Hollywood blockbusters, allowing you to experience the thrilling process of filmmaking. Especially for fans of American blockbusters, this activity is well worth it.

At Universal Studios, I watched three films: Harry Potter, Transformers, and Kung Fu Panda. Particularly with Transformers and Harry Potter, I was both eager and nervous – afraid to miss them but also tense while watching, both thrilling and exciting. Of course, experiencing 3D movies was also a gain. We also watched water shows, but Universal Studios offers far more attractions than these.

In Los Angeles, we also visited San Diego, Solvang (Danish town), Santa Barbara, Hollywood, the Walk of Fame, the Dolby Theatre, etc.

“Las Vegas”

Las Vegas has a population of about 570,000 and is one of the largest entertainment centers in the world. Here, the night is more dazzling and fun than the day. The entire city is colorful, with bright lights, neon flashes, and people’s faces filled with excitement and exhilaration. What impressed me most in Las Vegas were two outdoor performances.

The Mirage Hotel, which opened on November 12, 1989, features the famous “Volcano Eruption” show. After dark, it erupts every 15 minutes, with blazing flames that thrill the audience. The Bellagio Hotel, completed on October 15, 1998, puts on the “Fountains of Bellagio” show when the lights come on, accompanied by romantic music. It is one of the most popular outdoor performance shows in Las Vegas today.

We only spent one evening in Las Vegas, gradually forgetting other attractions, but the spectacular “fire eruption” and the graceful “water dance” left me with deep and wonderful memories.

Washington D.C. has a population of about 550,000 and an area of 178 square kilometers. The tourist attractions in Washington are relatively concentrated: the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Capitol are all located on the National Mall. Besides these three major sites, there are other monuments, statues, and gardens that are must-sees for visitors.

The Washington Monument is a landmark of Washington D.C., aligned with the Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial on the same axis. It is a marble obelisk, square in shape, with a base width of 22.4 meters and a height of 169 meters, the tallest building in the city. Located in the city center, it can be seen from anywhere in the city.

The Lincoln Memorial was built to honor Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States. Lincoln is seated in a chair, with his hands resting on the armrests, wearing a solemn expression. The memorial features 36 columns, representing the 36 states of the U.S. during Lincoln’s time. The memorial is modeled after ancient Greek temple architecture, grand and majestic in appearance.

The Capitol is the seat of the U.S. Congress. Americans regard it as the highest symbol of a government of the people, by the people, for the people. It is the most beautiful and magnificent building in Washington D.C., surrounded by giant columns, with a crown-shaped domed central building. On top of the central dome stands a bronze statue – the Statue of Freedom. On September 18, 1793, President Washington laid the cornerstone, and it was put into use in 1800. After multiple expansions and renovations, it has reached its current scale.

We also visited the “Reflecting Pool,” the “Korean War Veterans Memorial,” the “Vietnam Veterans Memorial,” and the “White House (exterior).” Notably, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was designed by Maya Lin, the niece of the Chinese-American architect Lin Huiyin. At the age of 21, she was a student in the architecture department of Yale University, and her design stood out among many entries, winning the competition.

What impressed me about Washington D.C. was that it is a city with few people; the streets are sparsely populated, the city feels relatively empty, but the trees, flowers, and overall appearance are nice. The urban environment is quite peaceful and harmonious.

New York has a population of about 8.39 million and an area of 830 square kilometers. It is the largest city and seaport in the United States. Entering New York, the atmosphere of a world metropolis hits you – skyscrapers everywhere, a strong commercial vibe. The streets are bustling with traffic and crowds. We mainly toured the cityscape and visited exterior views of landmarks such as Times Square, Wall Street, the New York Stock Exchange, the Charging Bull, the World Trade Center site (9/11), and took the “Statue of Liberty” cruise.

“Times Square” is a symbol of New York, known as the “Crossroads of the World.”

“Wall Street” is the financial center of the United States and the world.

“Charging Bull” is regarded as a symbol of American strength and courage.

“The World Trade Center site” memorial features two pools symbolizing “reflection” and a plaza, reminding people to remember this history.

We took the “Statue of Liberty” cruise along the Hudson River and the East River, enjoying the scenery on both sides. Liberty Island faces the mouth of the Hudson River. The “Statue of Liberty” on Liberty Island was a gift from France to the United States for its 100th anniversary of independence (1876). It is also one of the main tourist attractions in the U.S. Battery Park is located at the southern tip of Manhattan Island, near Wall Street. The Brooklyn Bridge spans the East River, connecting Brooklyn and Manhattan. It is regarded as one of the seven great engineering wonders of the Industrial Revolution era. The row upon row of modern skyscrapers in Manhattan fully reflect its important role in the United States and even the world. The scenery on both sides of the river left me with unforgettable memories.

“Tijuana, Mexico”

During our visit to San Diego, we took a side trip to Tijuana, a Mexican city near the U.S. border, to tour the city. Lunch was in Tijuana, accompanied by a live band at the restaurant. Two of our fellow travelers put on Mexican straw hats and danced to the music, creating a relaxed and romantic scene – a little interlude during the U.S. trip.

Our travel route: Shanghai – Los Angeles – Las Vegas – Salt Lake City – Buffalo – Washington D.C. – New York – Shanghai.

We flew from Salt Lake City to Buffalo, with a transfer in Chicago, but we had a three-hour layover, which we used for lunch, making the schedule very tight.

We took a bus from Buffalo to Washington D.C., which was the longest bus ride, about six and a half hours.

The western part of the trip took about 9 days, the eastern part about 3 days, and the round trip about 4 days.

The flight from Shanghai to Los Angeles took about 12 hours, and from New York to Shanghai about 14 hours.

Travel can enrich life, increase knowledge, delight the mind, and broaden horizons.

The U.S. trip came to a successful conclusion.