China

At the confluence of the Li and Taohua Rivers, Elephant Trunk Hill stands as a silent guardian of Guilin, a natural sculpture shaped by time and legend. Said to be the petrified form of a celestial elephant struck down by the Heavenly Emperor, it blurs the boundary between myth and geology. For over a thousand years, poets and monks have carved their reverence into its stone, honouring its enduring spirit of wisdom and compassion.

Shrouded in mist and legend, West Lake stretches like liquid silver across Hangzhou, a place that has inspired poets, Emperors and travellers for centuries. What began as a humble lagoon more than 1800 years ago was transformed by human hands into a shimmering masterpiece. Today, as a UNESCO World Heritage site, the lake’s serene surface hides centuries of ambition, artistry and whispered secrets.

Founded in 1906 by three monks, Po Lin Monastery rose in the misty mountains of Lantau Island as a quiet refuge for meditation and devotion. Far from the city’s chaos, it became a place where faith could flourish undisturbed. Over time, it grew into one of Hong Kong’s most revered Buddhist sanctuaries.

Originally known as Wangcun, this stunning 2000 year old village began as a sleepy Tujia ethnic settlement, nestled deep within the rugged cliffs of western Hunan Province. Established during the Han Dynasty, it was once little more than a modest cluster of wooden dwellings, with smoke curling gently from hearth fires and echoes of ancestral chants reverberating across the canyon.

Located at the base of Mount Shaoshi in Henan Province, the Pagoda Forest at Shaolin Temple is a sacred necropolis within the broader monastery complex. With its origins tracing back to 618 AD during the Tang Dynasty, the forest is home to over 240 stone and brick pagodas, each serving as a tomb or memorial for esteemed monks, abbots and martial art masters.

In 1974, farmers digging a well unearthed a hidden world, the Terracotta Army. Thousands of life sized soldiers, horses and chariots stand frozen in silent formation, crafted around 247 BC to guard China’s first emperor in the afterlife. This colossal underground army offers a mesmerising glimpse into the ambition, artistry and power of an ancient civilisation.

Founded by the Kingdom of Shu in the 4th century, Chengdu and the Jinjiang River served as a crucial intersection to three trade corridors for the Silk Road. In 316AD it was established as the Capital under the Qin Dynasty and was not only a key centre for trade but became renowned for its music, poetry and cuisine.

Tucked into the vibrant heart of Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province, Kuanxiangzi Alley is a rare remnant of Qing Dynasty urban design, its origins reaching back over 300 years. Established in the late 17th century, the alley was constructed over an ancient military garrison and gradually developed into an elite residential area.

One of the world’s most respected facilities for panda conservation and research is the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. Established in 1987, the base was created to increase the wild panda population and ensure their survival, at a time when only around 1,000 remained. Over the years, it has become a symbol of scientific study and wildlife preservation.

Tucked into the misty hills near Hangzhou’s famous West Lake, Meijiawu is more than just a tea village, it’s a living testament to China’s centuries old relationship with tea. The name "Meijiawu" translates to "The Village of the Mei Family," pointing to a 600-year lineage of hand cultivating tea that began with the Mei clan and continues to thrive today. Over time, this small village grew into a national symbol, with its identity and prosperity deeply intertwined with tea cu

Rising like a gleaming spine along the raw sandstone cliffs of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in China’s Hunan Province, the Bailong Elevator, also known as the "Hundred Dragons Elevator" is both a marvel of modern engineering and a looming monolith that stirs ancient fears. Piercing 326 metres into the sky, it is the tallest outdoor elevator in the world.

Tucked deep within Guangxi’s dramatic karst terrain, Yangshuo's landscape is far more than a picturesque backdrop, it is steeped in spiritual and supernatural significance. For centuries, locals have believed the towering limestone peaks to be the resting places of ancient spirits, with many formations given mythological names and stories. One of the most iconic is Moon Hill, named for its crescent shaped cave, which legend says was created by a celestial blade slicing throug

In a city celebrated for its canals, silk and scholars, Suzhou’s Lingering Garden represents a pinnacle of classical Chinese garden design. Often referred to as one of the “Four Great Classical Gardens of China,” it embodies centuries of artistic refinement and philosophical thought. Built in 1593 during the Ming dynasty by Xu Taishi, a high-ranking official who sought retirement and tranquility, the garden stands as a personal reflection of his scholarly ideals.

Seven Star Park, located on the eastern side of Guilin, Guangxi, derives its name from the formation of seven limestone peaks arranged in the shape of the Big Dipper constellation. This celestial reference is not only a poetic nod to the stars but also deeply symbolic in Chinese cosmology, where the Big Dipper is associated with divine guidance, fate and protection.

Shanghai’s origins date back over a thousand years but its transformation from a modest fishing village to one of the world’s largest metropolises is marked by turmoil and bloodshed. The area was initially a small settlement under the Song dynasty between 960 - 1279AD, primarily a fishing and textile hub.

Located in Shanghai's historic Old City near the City God Temple, Yu Garden is one of the best preserved examples of classical Chinese garden design. It was originally constructed in 1559 during the Ming Dynasty by Pan Yunduan, a high ranking imperial officer. Pan built the garden as a retirement retreat for his aging father, Pan En, intending it to be a place of comfort and tranquility. The name Yu itself means peace and contentment, symbolising his filial piety.

The Jingjiang Princes’ Palace, constructed in 1372 during the early Ming Dynasty, served as the residence of Zhu Shouqian, a nephew of the dynasty’s founding Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang. Perched at the foot of Duxiu Hill in Guilin, the palace was more than just a lavish estate, it embodied the Ming strategy of installing Vassal Kings across the Empire to maintain dynastic stability and guard the frontiers.

The Jiajing Emperor, who ruled China’s Ming Dynasty from 1521 to 1567, is often remembered for his sadistic and tyrannical reign marked by cruelty, decadence and obsession with immortality. His relentless pursuit of eternal life led him to engage in dark and brutal practices, one of the most notorious being his bloodlust for a substance called “red lead.” This concoction was allegedly made using the menstrual blood of young virgin girls.

Yaoshan Mountain scenic area, standing at 909 metres, received its name in 221 BC with the construction of the Yao Emperor Temple at its summit. As the tallest peak in the Guilin region, it offers breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding karst landscape, limestone formations that define the area’s iconic scenery. This early naming coincided with the unification of China under the Qin Dynasty, marking Yaoshan as a site of both natural prominence and emerging cultural si

When the Zhangjiajie Glass Footbridge opened to the public in August 2016, it instantly shattered world records as the highest and longest glass bottomed suspension bridge. Stretching 430 metres across and suspended 300 metres above the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, it connects the dramatic cliffs of Yuanjiajie and Tianzi Mountains, terrain said to have inspired the floating mountains in Avatar.