Cairo, the cradle of civilization，the Melting Pot1 of Ancient and Modern Egyptian Civilizations. It is the largest city in the Middle East and lies at the center of all routes leading to and from the three continents: Asia, Africa and Europe. It is the city where past and present meet. On its west side lies the Ancient Egyptian city of Memphis2, and the site of the Pyramids, the only wonder surviving of the Seven Wonders of the World. Indeed, a journey through Cairo is a journey through time.

　　In spite of a thousand years of history, Cairo is young by Egyptian standards, because modern Cairo emerged3 only with the Arab conquest of Egypt.

　　The most famous of Cairo's sights is the string4 of 60 pyramids that stretches along the western border of the desert. Contrary to5 the common belief, only the Great Pyramid of Khufu, not all three Great Pyramids, is on the list of Wonders. The monument6 was built by the Egyptian pharaoh7 Khufu of the Fourth Dynasty around the year BC 2560 to serve as a tomb when he died. When it was built, the Great pyramid was 145.75 m high. Over the years, it lost 10 m off its top. It ranked as the tallest structure on Earth for more than 43 centuries. Throughout their history, the pyramids have stimulated8 human imagination. When Napoleon invaded Egypt in 1798, his pride was expressed through his famous quote9: “Soldiers! From the top of these Pyramids, 40 centuries are looking at us.”

　　Cairo has been the most important arts center in the Islamic10 world for a thousand years. Cairo's long history and rich heritage11 are revealed in its many museums. The famous sights in this area are the Entomological12 Society Museum, with an excellent collection of Egyptian insects and birds. Also in the area is the museum housing the mysterious Sun Boat, only discovered in 1954 near the south side of the pyramid. The boat is believed to have been used to carry the body of Khufu in his last journey on earth before being buried inside the pyramid.

　　This is Cairo—radiant13 with a long and glorious past; adorned with14 the achievements of a distinguished15 present.

　　This is Cairo—a cradle of civilization, a wellspring16 of culture, and a meeting-place of the Asian, African, and European World.

　　This is Cairo—An international center for social, economic, and political activity, which is making the noblest17 efforts aimed at peace among all nations and the benefits of all mankind.