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.

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.

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.