American system, customs and customs.

Brief history: Originally an Indian settlement. At the end of the 15th century, Spain, the Netherlands, France, Britain, etc. began to immigrate to North America. Britain caught up from behind, and by 1773, Britain had established 13 colonies. In 1775, the American people's war of independence broke out against the British colonists. On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress was held in Philadelphia to form the "Continental Army", with George Washington as commander-in-chief. It adopted the "Declaration of Independence" and formally declared the establishment of the United States of America. The Revolutionary War ended in 1783, the Federal Constitution was formulated in 1787, and George Washington was elected as the first president in 1788. Completely freed from British rule after 1812. In 1860, Abraham Lincoln, a Republican who opposed black slavery, was elected president. After the Emancipation Proclamation was announced in September 1862, southern slave owners launched a rebellion and the Civil War broke out. In 1865, the war ended with the victory of the North, thus clearing the way for the rapid development of capitalism in the United States. In the early 19th century, with the development of capitalism, the United States began to expand abroad. In the 100 years after 1776, the territory of the United States expanded almost tenfold. After World War II, the national power of the United States increased significantly.

Flag: Stars and Stripes. It is a horizontal rectangle with a length-to-width ratio of 19:10. The main body consists of 13 wide red and white stripes, 7 red stripes and 6 white stripes; the upper left corner of the flag is a blue rectangle with 50 white five-pointed stars arranged in 9 rows. Red symbolizes strength and courage, white represents purity and innocence, and blue symbolizes vigilance, perseverance and justice. The 13 wide bars represent the 13 states that first launched and won the War of Independence, and the 50 five-pointed stars represent the number of states in the United States of America. In 1818, the U.S. Congress passed a bill that fixed the number of red and white stripes on the flag to 13, and the number of five-pointed stars should be consistent with the number of states in the United States. Each time a new state is added, a star is added to the flag, usually on July 4th of the second year after the new state is added. So far, the number of stars on the flag has increased to 50, representing the 50 states of the United States. June 14th every year is "American Flag Day". On this day, commemorative activities are held across the United States to show respect for the flag and love for the United States.

National emblem: The main body is a bald eagle (bald eagle) with a shield-shaped pattern on its chest. The bald eagle is the national bird of the United States. It is a symbol of strength, courage, freedom and immortality. The upper half of the shield is a blue horizontal rectangle, and the lower half is a red and white vertical stripe, which has the same meaning as the national flag. The crown above the eagle symbolizes the birth of a new independent country among the world's sovereign states, the United States of America; there are 13 white five-pointed stars in the crown, representing the original 13 states of the United States. The two talons of the eagle hold an olive branch and an arrow respectively, symbolizing peace and force. The yellow ribbon held in the beak of the eagle reads "E Plurus Unum" in Latin, which means that the United States of America is composed of many states and is a complete country.

National anthem: "The Star-Spangled Banner" ("the star-spangled banner" was once translated as "The Star-Spangled Banner"). The lyrics are based on the words of an American lawyer named Francis Scott Key during the Anglo-American War. At that time, through the smoke on the battlefield, I saw the Stars and Stripes flying high over the fortress after being bombarded by the British army. I was deeply moved and wrote it on the spot. The music score is the famous masterpiece of "King of March" Sousa. "The Star-Spangled Banner" was officially designated as the national anthem by the U.S. Congress in 1931.

Country name explanation: The United States of America (The United States of America) is referred to as the United States (U.S.A.). The United States is named after the continent. In English, America and the United States are the same word "America", but the Chinese translation is different. The former refers to the entire America, and the latter refers to the United States.

The nickname of the United States is "Uncle Sam". Legend has it that during the Anglo-American War in 1912, Sam Wilson, a businessman from Troy, New York, wrote "u.s." on barrels supplying beef to the army, indicating that it was the property of the United States.

This is exactly the same as the abbreviation ("u.s.") of his nickname "uncle sam", so people jokingly said that these supplies with the "u.s." mark belonged to "Uncle Sam". Later, "Uncle Sam" gradually became a nickname for the United States. In the 1830s, American cartoonists drew "Uncle Sam" as a tall, white-haired old man wearing a star-striped hat and a goat's beard. In 1961, the U.S. Congress passed a resolution officially recognizing "Uncle Sam" as a symbol of the United States.

National Day: July 4 (American Independence Day, 1776)

National flower: the rose, symbolizing beauty, fragrance, enthusiasm and love. It was designated as the national flower by the Senate in 1985.

National stone: Sapphire

National bird: Bald eagle (bald eagle). The United States is the first country in the world to identify a national bird. The bald eagle first appeared on the American flag during the Revolutionary War. On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress issued the Declaration of Independence and decided that the new United States must have a special national emblem. On June 20, 1782, the U.S. Congress passed a resolution to designate the bald eagle, unique to North America, as the national bird of the United States and to use this bird as the main subject of the national emblem. The bald eagle is beautiful in appearance, ferocious in temperament, and has plump feathers on its head. Its biggest feature is that it has two white heads, that is, a white head and a white tail. It represents bravery, strength and victory.

Physical geography: Located in the center of North America, its territory also includes Alaska in northwest North America and the Hawaiian Islands in the central Pacific. It borders Canada to the north, Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, the Pacific Ocean to the west, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Covering an area of ??9.372614 million square kilometers, the mainland is 4,500 kilometers long from east to west, 2,700 kilometers wide from north to south, and has a coastline of 22,680 kilometers. Most areas have a continental climate, with the southern part having a subtropical climate. The temperature difference in the north-central plains is very large. The average temperature in Chicago in January is -3℃ and 24℃ in July. The average temperature in January along the Gulf Coast is 11℃ and 28℃ in July.

Capital: Washington D.C., with a population of approximately 520,000 (2000).

Population: 300 million (2005). Among them, white people account for about 84%, black people account for about 13%, Asians 3.3%, and there are about 1.6 million Chinese, most of whom have become American citizens. General English. 56% of the residents believe in Protestant Christianity, 28% believe in Catholicism, 2% believe in Judaism, 4% believe in other religions, and 10% do not belong to any denomination.

Administrative divisions: divided into ten regions: New England, Central Region, Mid-Atlantic Region, Southwest Region, Appalachian Mountain Region, Alpine Region, Southeast Region, Pacific Coast Region, Great Lakes Region and Alaska and Hawaii. ***There are 50 states and the District of Columbia, where the capital is located, has 3,042 counties. Federal territories include the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana; overseas territories include Guam, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The names of the 50 states are: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louis Anna, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma , Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyominggt;gt;gt;

Main cities: Washington (District of Columbia), New York (New York), Chicago (Illinois), Los Angeles (California), Philadelphia (Pennsylvania), Houston (Texas), Detroit (Michigan), Dallas (Texas) (state), Baltimore (Maryland), Phoenix (Arizona), San Francisco (San Francisco, California), Cleveland (Ohio), Boston (Massachusetts), New Orleans (Louisiana) ), Seattle (Washington), Denver (Colorado), St. Louis (Missouri), Minneapolis (Minnesota), Honolulu (Honolulu, Hawaii), Buffalo (New York), Salt Lake City (Utah), Juneau (Alaska).

Cultural and Natural Heritage: Everglades National Park (Florida), Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Tennessee/North Carolina), Kluane and Wrangell-St. Elias Parks (Yukon, Canada/southern Alaska, USA), Mammoth Cave National Park (central Kentucky), Olympic National Park (northwestern Washington State), Holdwood Park (northwest coast of California), Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming/ Montana/Idaho tri-state junction), Independence Hall (in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), Verde Mesa National Park (southwestern Colorado), Cahokia Dunes (Illinois), Grand Canyon (west-central Colorado), Statue of Liberty (Liberty Island at the mouth of the Hudson River in New York), Nasemite National Park (central California), Chaco National Historical Park (northwestern New Mexico), Monticello and the University of Virginia (Virginia, the former home of Jefferson), Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (Hawaii, southeast of Hawaii Island).

Culture and Entertainment

Location: Central North America, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west.

Area: 9,372,614 square kilometers

Population: about 262 million.

Capital: Washington

Ethnicity: There are many immigrants, with descendants of more than 100 ethnic groups living in the United States.

Language: English

Religion: Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, Orthodox, etc.

The date of establishment of diplomatic relations with my country: January 1, 1979

Time difference with my country: The United States is divided into four time zones, each time zone differs by one hour. Eastern time is 13 hours behind Beijing time; Western time is 16 hours behind Beijing time.

Currency: US dollar

International area code: 01

The United States has 50 states and one District of Columbia, with a vast territory and complex terrain. The eastern Atlantic coast is mostly plains and hills, with rich forest resources and numerous lakes. Important cities include Washington, New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and Miami; the central Great Plains is an important agricultural and pastoral area, and the 6,400-kilometer-long Mississippi River runs from north to south. , important cities include Atlanta, Chicago, Houston and New Orleans. In the large mountainous areas to the west of the Great Plains, there are the famous Grand Canyon and Yellowstone National Park; on the west coast of the Pacific Ocean, there is beautiful and sunny California, where San Francisco and Los Angeles are located, and important cities on the west coast are also There's Seattle.

In the north, near the Canadian border, there is the famous Great Lakes tourist area, the most spectacular attraction of which is Niagara Falls. In addition, the Hawaiian Islands located in the Pacific Ocean to the west of the United States are also world-famous holiday destinations.

The United States is an economically developed and highly modern country. Its rich natural resources and diverse national cultures make it a very attractive tourist country.

Tipping: When airport porters and hotel waiters serve passengers, tourists should give a certain tip, usually one dollar per piece of luggage.

Etiquette: If you accidentally collide with someone, say "Sorry"; when asking others to give way, say "Excuse me"; do not smoke in public places, and ask the people around you before smoking in other places. Ask "May I smoke?"; follow the Western custom of "Lady first" and let the lady go first; say "Hi" first when greeting people.

Safety: Whether you are staying in a high-end hotel or a budget hotel, be sure to lock the chain on the inside of the door. If someone knocks on the door, ask first: "Who is it?" before opening the door. Make a crack to see who it is; try not to go to less crowded areas at night. In the event of a robbery, call 911.

Time difference: The east and west coasts of the United States are more than 4,500 kilometers apart. The country is divided into Eastern Time, Central Time, Mountain Time, Pacific Time, Alaska Time and Hawaii Time, each one hour ahead. Visitors are asked to be careful while traveling and when making phone calls.

When shopping in the United States, you will find that there are many large shopping malls with elegant environments in the United States. They are not only shopping places, but also become a cultural phenomenon. In the morning, the elderly are walking in the shopping malls, and the children After school, children will come to the entertainment room of the mall to play. Young mothers come here to spend a happy weekend shopping. In addition, there are restaurants and movie theaters in the mall. It can be said that shopping malls in the United States are more like fully functional shopping malls. Leisure place. This business model has now been promoted all over the world.

When shopping, you may want to visit a few more stores. In general large shopping malls, there will always be price reductions on a regular basis, and the store will put up a "on sale" sign. At this time, you only need to pay the original price. You can buy something you want at just a fraction of the price.

Aviation: There are flights to various parts of the United States from major cities around the world, and air transportation is relatively convenient. Domestic air tickets in the United States can be discounted. If you buy tickets 21 days in advance, you can enjoy the greatest discounts, followed by 14 days in advance and 7 days in advance. Same-day tickets are the most expensive. Look in the travel section of your local newspaper on Sunday to find discounted air tickets for sale. Some smaller airlines offer lower fares but have older aircraft.

Railway: Amtrak has trains to all parts of the United States and sells discounted tickets. The package tickets can be used without restriction within the specified period and region. They are universal across the board, universal in the west, universal in the east and universal on the west coast. For tourists, it is more cost-effective to buy such tickets to travel around the United States, but they must be used before traveling to the United States. Purchase with passport before entering the United States. There are also price differences for package tickets during peak and off-peak seasons.

Highway: Green Tortoise Bus Company operates tourist buses from San Francisco to New York and Boston from June to October every year, traveling across the American continent in 14 days, with a journey of more than 5,000 kilometers, including food, accommodation, The ticket price is only about US$500 (for details, please call 18008678647). Greyhound long-distance bus company sells car packages to foreigners, who can ride the company's long-distance buses nationwide within a certain period. Students and senior citizens over 62 years old can enjoy discounts.

The United States has many entertainment projects. The more elegant entertainment includes listening to concerts, visiting museums, and watching opera performances. The United States has the world-famous Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Metropolitan Opera House. Popular entertainment options include going to Las Vegas to gamble and watch cabaret performances, or watch various basketball games, baseball games, football games, etc., especially high-level NBA games. If tourists happen to catch up with a game, they must go there. Experience the warm atmosphere on site.

As for general bars, nightclubs, and cafes, there are many in every city, and tourists can choose suitable entertainment venues according to their preferences.

American catering is diversified. Generally, big cities have restaurants with flavors from all over the world. European restaurants are mainly French and Italian restaurants. The environment of these places is very good and the prices are relatively high. When going to these restaurants, it is best to take a look at the menu in front of the store to avoid being tempted to leave after you sit down and find that the prices are too high. Embarrassing; Chinese restaurants are located all over the United States, mainly Cantonese restaurants, selling mostly seafood dishes at moderate prices; others include Japanese, Indian, Middle Eastern, Latin American and Southeast Asian restaurants. The more local American characteristics are fast food, including hamburger restaurants represented by McDonald's, fried chicken restaurants represented by KFC, and fast food restaurants selling pizza, sandwiches and hot dogs. After dining in a regular restaurant, you have to tip 15-20 RMB of the total consumption, but in a fast food restaurant, you don't have to tip.

Tourists traveling in the United States can often eat fast food if they want to save money; they may also wish to set a budget, with breakfast within 5 US dollars, lunch within 10 US dollars, and dinner within 20 US dollars.

Hotels in the United States come in different grades, and tourists can choose to stay in hotels of various levels according to their economic conditions.

Generally, a double room in a high-end hotel costs US$170 per night, while a mid-range hotel charges US$70-140. A budget hotel only charges US$40-70, and a single room costs US$10-20 less. , so it would be more cost-effective to stay with a companion. If you want to be more economical, you can stay in a youth hostel. The charge there is generally only about US$15 per day, but you have to sleep in bunk beds and the bathroom is shared. However, you can make friends with young travelers from all over the world.

The hotel charges also vary between places. Prices in New York are relatively high, so you can only stay in a third-class budget hotel for $80, while in Los Angeles you can find a mid-range hotel for that amount of money. It's a different story in places with scenic spots. In addition, hotel room prices vary in different seasons, and the difference may be doubled between the peak tourist season and the off-season. Whenever tourists visit a place, they can search for hotel items in the local yellow pages telephone directory to find a more reliable hotel.

American restaurants usually do not provide free meals, and only a few provide free breakfast.

The United States has the following national holidays. During these days, many places are closed. Visitors are advised to complete the necessary travel procedures before the holidays, and then join the carnival crowd:

January 1st

New Year

Monday of the third week of January

Martin Luther King’s Birthday

February 1st Third Monday

Presidents' Day

Fourth Monday in May

Memorial Day

Fourth of July

Independence Day

The first Monday of September

Labor Day

The second Monday of October

Columbus Day

The last Thursday of November

Thanksgiving

December 25

Christmas

The United States spans a very large area from east to west and from north to south, so the climate differences across the country are also quite large. Also in winter, the temperature in some areas drops to several degrees below zero, while in some places you can bathe in the sea. The summer in the United States is very hot, and tourists must be prepared to "fight the heat." However, if you are traveling to the northern United States, it is best to bring a thick sweater or a cold-proof jacket. Even in summer, the northern United States is cooler. There may even be some chill at night.

Basketball was invented in 1891 by a physical education teacher in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA. The first basketball exhibition match was held at the 3rd Olympic Games in 1904. In 1908, the United States formulated unified national basketball rules. Since then, basketball has gradually spread throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia, becoming a global sport.

The NBA men’s basketball professional league is the most popular game for Americans to watch.

At the beginning of every season, the game venues are almost full, and the superb skills of basketball stars mesmerize the audience. Many American boys dream of becoming NBA basketball stars, because not only can they earn astronomical amounts of money, but they can also become idols that people worship. The NBA is not just a sports event in the United States. It has penetrated into the commercial and advertising industries. In addition to the huge box office revenue every season, it can also obtain a large amount of additional commercial and advertising profits.

Tourists traveling in the United States, if it’s the NBA season, might as well go to a game and experience the skillful skills of American basketball players and Americans’ enthusiasm for basketball. It is particularly worth mentioning that Michael Jordan, a former member of the Chicago Bulls and a great basketball star, led the Bulls to six NBA championships and set numerous brilliant records. To thank Jordan for the honor he brought to Chicago, a statue of him was erected in the city.

In addition to the above-mentioned Chicago Bulls, which became popular because of Jordan, the more famous NBA teams include the Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets, Seattle SuperSonics and so on.