This grand old palace sits peacefully in the heart of Ubud, its centuries old walls steeped in Balinese royal history. Built in the 17th century by the Sukawati dynasty, it was once a centre of power, ritual and sacred heirlooms. Towering gates and intricately carved stone guardians greet visitors, hinting at the palace’s rich cultural legacy, ancient ceremonies and the mysterious forces said to linger in its courtyards.

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.