Dunhuang

Gansu Province Gansu Province is located in the northwestern China. Gansu covers an area of 175,289 square mile with a population of 24 million. The capital is Lanzhou. The province lies between Qinghai-Tibet and Inner Mongolia and rises 4,921 feet above sea level. To the west of Lanzhou and west of the Yellow River is the famous "Hexi Corridor," an important strategic passage on the ancient Silk Road stretching to the west. This area abounds in rich historical and cultural heritage, including grottoes, ancient buildings and other cultural relics. Many ethnic groups congregate in Gansu, which makes it a unique tourist destination with a variety of folk customs. The scenes of grassland, the Gobi desert, and snow-covered mountains add beauty to this mysterious land.

Lanzhou Lanzhou was called Jincheng in the past and is now the capital of Gansu Province. The Yellow River flows through Lanzhou, which is the center of transportation in northwest. It has an ideal environment for melons and honeydew melons and peach. Tourists can view the Yellow River from the green corridor. Binghe Road, Gansu Provincial Museum and Five-Spring Mountain are also attractive. Five-Spring Mountain Located at the northern foot of Gaolan Mountain in Lanzhou, Five-Spring Mountain is 5,250 feet above sea level. It was so named because there are five springs in the mountain. Chongqing Temple is symbolic of the traditional architecture in the early Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Labrang Lamasery Located in western Xiahe County in Gansu Province, Labrang Lamasery can be reached by a 5 to 6 hour drive south from Lanzhou. The lamasery was built in 1709 in the 48th year of the reign of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty. It is one of the six largest religious temples of the Gelug Sect of China's Lamaism, second only to Potala Palace in Lhasa at Tibet. The lamasery covers 202 acres and has more than 10,000 halls and accommodates over 3,000 lamas.

Bingling Lamasery It is situated in southwestern Yongjing County, on the steep cliffs along the north bank of the Yellow River. It can be only reached after traveling 46 miles by car and then by boat. The word "Bingling" means "thousand Buddhas," or "10 thousand Buddhas" in Tibetan language. The Bingling Lamasery has a history of over 1,500 years. The grottoes are 1.2 miles long and were built in four layers into the mountain. The temple houses 183 grottoes, nearly 800 statues and about a quarter acre of frescoes. Gansu Provincial Museum Gansu Provincial Museum, in Qilihe District, Lanzhou was opened in early 1956. It contains more than 80,000 artifacts. The most prized objects in the museum are the bronze galloping horses, unearthed in the Eastern Han Tomb in the Lejtai Temple in Wuwei City, and a gold coffin of Sarira in the Dayun Temple of the Tang Dynasty (618-907).

Jiayuguan Pass Jiayuguan Pass is famous because it is the western ending point of the Great Wall. Jiayuguan City is located at the central part of the Hexi Corridor. Jiayuguan Pass was an important strategic spot in ancient times. It has been a magnificent pass for over 160 years. Although it is a booming industrial city now, there are many rich tourist resources, for example the Jiayuguan Pass, the Suspended Great Wall, and the Great Wall Museum. Other attractions include the Mural Tomb of the Kingdom of Wei and Jin Dynasties, Qiyi Glacier and Jiayuguan Glide Range. The Suspended Great Wall The Suspended Great Wall was called the West Great Wall in the past. It is 5 miles north of Jiayuguan Pass and was built on the east side of Heishan Mountain in 1539, which was the 18th year of Jiajing's reign of the Ming Dynasty. The walls were made of compressed earth. In some places the wall is almost vertical so that it has been called the Cliff Wall.

The Great Wall Museum in Jiayuguan The Great Wall Museum in Jiayuguan is located to the south of Xinhua Road. It exhibits the Chinese history through the construction of the wall starting from the Warring States Period of the Spring and Autumn Period (770 BC-476 BC) to the Northern Wei Dynasty (368-535), Sui, Tang and Ming dynasties.

Dunhuang Dunhuang used to be called Shazhou and is at the western end of the Hexi Corridor. Dunhuang adjoins Anxi to the east, and borders Aksay all the way to the neighboring Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in the northwest. There are many tourist attractions in Dunhuang, which is listed as a state historic and cultural city. Mogao Grottoes The Mogao Grottoes, also known as "1000 Buddha Cave", are located 15.5 miles southeast of Dunhuang City. With a total length of 1 mile, the Grottoes wind their way through the broken cliff at the eastern foot of Mingsba Hill. There are five layers of caves built into the mountain. According to historical records, the Mogao Grottoes were constructed in 366 BC. Today there are 492 caves in which murals and sculptures representing different dynasties have been well preserved. The Mogao Grottoes are listed in the World Cultural Heritage and are rated as key relics under state protection. Ruins of Yumenguan Pass Yumenguan Pass is located in the Gobi Desert 54 miles northwest of Dunhuang City. It was built during the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty. Its name came from the fact that jade from Hotan in Xinjiang entered Central China through this pass. At that time, the pass provided the only access to the north route of the Silk Road.

Yueya (Crescent Moon) Spring Yueya Spring is near the northern foot of Mingsha Hill in the southern suburbs of Dunhuang City. It is shaped like a crescent moon, and its clear water is surrounded by grass. The Dragon Boat Festival is usually celebrated the 5th day of the fifth lunar month and people usually climb up onto Mingsha Hill to view Yueya Spring. This has become a local custom. Ruins of Yangguan Pass The Yangguan Pass was constructed in the period of Emperor Wudi of the Han Dynasty on the Gudong River Bed, 43.5 miles west of Dunhuang. It's named Yangguan because it borders the southern part of Yumenguan Pass. As a center of communication to areas beyond China's interior, it was the only strategic pass on the south route of the Silk Road. Mingsha Hill Mingsha Hill, also called Shensha Hill, is 3.7 miles south of Dunhuang City. The hill is as high and steep as a cliff. People can hear a roaring sound of the moving sand as the sand is blown down from the top of the hill.

Tianshui In east Gansu, known as the "Small South of the Yangtze River," Tianshui is one of the major cities that offer itineraries for travel eastward. Its weather is pleasant with four distinct seasons. The city used to be a hub of the Silk Road, and is recognized as a national historical and cultural center. There are many interesting places, including some holy sites of the Silk Road, and scenic spots, such as Maljishan Grottoes, Fuxi Temple and Yuquan Taoist Temple. Maijishan Grottoes They are situated 18.6 miles southeast of Tianshui. Due to the conical shape, like a stack of wheat, they were given the name Maijishan Grottoes. During the year 713-741, the central part of the cliff collapsed in an earthquake. As a result, it was divided into two parts. Within the 194 caves of the two parts, 7,200 clay sculptures and stone carvings have been preserved, along with more than one third of an acre of frescos.

Maijishan Mountain is a strange peak in the western Qinling Mountains. In autumn it is subjected to continual, fine rain, which creates the wonderful sight of "Maijishan Mountain shrouded by misty rain." It is rated as the best of the eight beautiful scenes in Tianshui.

Wuwei Wuwei, which was called Liangzhou in the past, is located at the eastern edge of the Hexi Corridor and borders Qilian Mountain to the southwest and Tenggeli Desert in the north. It is an important stop on the way west from Lanzhou. Ancient Liangzhou was a large city; Monk Xuanzang preached Buddhist doctrines here. Wuwei has many places of interest, such as the Eastern Han Tomb in Leitai Temple, Haizang Temple and Tiantishan Grottoes. The Eastern Han Tomb in Leitai Temple The Eastern Han Tomb was also named "The Tomb of General Zhang" after a general of the late Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220). He was buried in Leitai Temple after his death. A rare piece of art, a model of the "galloping horse stepping on a sparrow," was unearthed from this tomb.

The Tomb of Princess Hong Hua The Tomb of the Princess of the Tang Dynasty is 9.3 miles south of Wuwei City. It contains well-preserved colored wooden figurines, camels and horses, as well as silk fabrics. They serve as samples for research in regards to the history of Silk Road.

Zhangye Zhangye, in the central part of the Hexi Corridor, was known as Ganzhou in the past and is regarded as a granary in this area. Visitors can visit the sleeping Buddha in the Giant Buddha Temple. Visitors can get the feel of the prairie in south Gansu, riding horses and tame deer on the grasslands with the hospitable Yugur people. There are also opportunities to sing and dance with the Yugur people. Mati Temple is near Zhangye in the Sunan area. Yugur Ethnic Group The Yugur ethnic minority, one of China's many nationalities, numbers more than 10,000. They live on the Sunan grassland near the northern foot of Qilian Mountain by the ancient Silk Road, which is in Sunan Yugur Autonomous County. All Yugur people are adept at riding horses and skilled in singing and dancing. Visitors can taste the local dishes and enjoy such customs as drinking barley wine and eating mutton.

Jiuquan Jiuquan has a variety of historic and cultural sites including the Jiuquan scenic spots dating back to the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC- 25 AD) and the many murals from the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317-420) tomb. It is also a well-known wine glass production city.

Luminous Wine Glasses Jiuquan has a long history of producing luminous wineglasses, called jade cups. Jiuquan's luminous wineglasses are polished by jade stones from Qilian Mountain and by "mandarin-duck jade" produced in Wushan Mountain. They are made in the style of ancient glasses and are brightly colored in order to have an elegant appearance.

Anxi Long ago, Anxi was called Guazhou and it is the only local in existence between Jiayuguan and the Dunhuang. The art of the Dunhuang Grottoes, Yulin Grottoes and the Ruins of the Ancient City of Suoyang are located in Anxi.

Yulin Grottoes Yulin Grottoes, also named as the Ten Thousand Buddha Gorge, is situated on the cliffs of Qilian Mountain on both banks of Yulin River, 43 miles south of Anxi. There are 41 caves, numerous murals, and hundreds of colored sculptures, all well preserved. The murals depict the Buddha, Buddhist idols and Buddhist stories. Source: cnto.org

Welcome to Beijing

The Great Wall
The Great Wall is a symbol of the ancient Chinese civilization. Stretching 3,950 miles, The Great Wall was built as a defensive structure. It is listed in the United Nation's Education, Science and Cultural Organization's (UNESCO) World Heritage List in 1987. The best preserved and most imposing section of the wall is at Badaling, 50 miles north of Beijing and over 2,625 feet above sea level, but the magnitude and beauty of the wall can also be seen at Jinshanling, Mutianyu, and Simatai.

The Construction of the Great Wall first began during the warring period of 476 - 221 B.C. In the beginning walls were built at some strategic points by different kingdoms to protect their own territories. After the first Emperor Qin Shihuang of the Qin Dynasty unified China in 221 B.C., he decided to have the individual walls joined together creating one Great Wall. It took more than 1 million people and more than 10 years to finish the work.

Forbidden City
The Forbidden City is also known as the Palace Museum. It is the largest and most well preserved imperial residence in China today. Located in the center of Beijing, The Forbidden City was built between 1406 and 1420 under Ming Emperor Yongle, and served as the imperial palace for the Ming and Qing dynasties. Ming Emperor Zhudi was the first emperor to live there. It is 3,150 feet long from north to south and 2,460 feet wide from east to west. It has 9,900 rooms and halls containing many precious relics. A 170-foot wide moat encircles the Forbidden City along with 32-foot high walls. There are four entrances, the Meridian Gate to the south, the Shenwu Gate (Gate of Military Prowess) to the north, the Xihua Gate (Western Flowery Gate) to the west, and the Donghua Gate (Eastern Flowery Gate) to the east.

The word "forbidden" is quite literal, as the imperial palace was heavily guarded and off-limits to ordinary people. As the residence for emperors and their families, most of the walls of the imperial palace were painted red and roofs were covered with yellow glazed tiles. The red and yellow combination forms a strong color contrast, representing the absolute authority, supremacy, and richness of feudal emperors. In 1987, UNESCO also listed the Forbidden City in the World Heritage List. It is the largest palace in the world.

The Ming Tombs
The Ming Dynasty lasted from 1368 to 1644. The Ming Tombs are a group of mausoleums of 13 Ming emperors, their empresses and their concubines. The tombs are located about 31 miles north of Beijing and are scattered across an area of 25 square miles. Two of the tombs, Changling and the most famous, Dingling, an underground palace, are open to the public.

Tian'anmen Square
Tian'anmen was built in 1417 and renovated in 1981; it was the symbol of New China. On October 1, 1949, Chairman Mao at Tian'anmen Square proclaimed the founding of the People's Republic of China. Located in the center of Beijing, it is the largest city square in the world. It covers an area of 122 acres and is big enough to hold a half million people. Tian'anmen (the Gate of Heavenly Peace) was the front gateway to the imperial palace in the Ming and Qing dynasties. A picture of Tian'anmen is at the center of the Chinese national emblem.

The Temple of Heaven
The Temple of Heaven was built in 1420 during the reign of Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty, and is located in the southern part of the city. It was the place where emperors of the Ming and Qing would pray to heaven for good harvests. It was one of the most strictly protected and preserved cultural heritages of China. It is the largest temple complex in China with 12 million people visiting the temple every year.

Beihai Park
Beihai Park was the imperial garden of the Liao, Jin, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, and is one of the oldest of the Chinese gardens. Beihai Park is located on the west side of the Forbidden City, is a wide expanse of Tai Ye Chi. Tai Ye Chi is divided into three parts: Beihai Lake (in Beihai Park) in the north, Zhonghai Lake in the middle, and Nanhai Lake in the south. Beihai, the best known of the three, was turned into a royal garden as early as 1,000 years ago.

Jingshan Park
A royal garden of the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368 - 1911), Jingshan Park is located adjacent to the Palace Museum. The main purpose of Jingshan Park was for the emperors' enjoyment, climbing hills, admiring the scenery and eating and drinking. Within the park, Jingshan Hill covers an area of approximately 57 acres and rises to a height of 144 feet, from which visitors can oversee the entire city of Beijing. It is considered the best place for a panoramic view of the whole city.

Beijing Zoo
Built in 1906 and opened to the public in 1908, The Beijing Zoo is the oldest zoo in China, and covers an area of approximately 124 acres. The zoo's residents consist of more than 6,000 animals of over 500 species including giant pandas, golden monkeys, and brown bears. The zoo also houses many rare animals from other parts of the world: hippopotami, zebras, giraffes, chimpanzees, lions and antelopes from Africa, parrots from South America, birds and polar bears from the Arctic, bison from Europe and apes from Asia.

Hutongs
Hutongs are a special feature of downtown Beijing, where there are 4,550 of them. A hutong means street, lane and alley lined on both sides by courtyards containing different kinds of houses. The best-preserved hutongs are those around the Mansion of Prince Yixin. Riding in old-fashioned pedicabs through these hutongs is something special for your Beijing trip.

As the capital of the People's Republic of China, Beijing is the nation's center of government, economy, culture, and international activities, as well as serving as a transportation hub to the entire country. With a population of 11 million people, Beijing contains 18 districts and counties covering an area of 10,450 square miles. The suburbs contain: Dongcheng, Xicheng, Xuanwu, Chongwen, Chaoyang, Haidian, Fengtai, and Shijingshan. An outer suburban area consists of: Fangshan, Mengtougou, Changping, Tongxian, Shunyi, Daxing, Huairou, Miyun, Pinggu, and Yianqing. Beijing City is an independently administered municipal district located in the northeastern part of China at an elevation of 143 feet above sea level. Beijing has a continental climate. January is the coldest month with an average temperature of 24 degrees Fahrenheit. At an average temperature of 79 degrees Fahrenheit, July is the warmest. The best time to visit Beijing is May, September and October. Beijing has a long history. As early as 500,000 years ago, ancient "Peking Man" lived at Zhoukoudian 30 miles southwest of Beijing. King Wu was the first to declare Beijing the capital city in 1057 B.C. Established in 1045 B.C., Beijing is an ancient cultural city, serving for 800 years as the capital of the Liao, Jin, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. Beijing was also known as Peking by the Western world before 1949. In the early nineteen twenties, Beijing became the cradle of China's new democratic revolution. The May Fourth Movement against imperialism and feudalism began in 1919. On October 1st, 1949, Chairman Mao announced to the world the founding of the People's Republic of China. Beijing is also known as a tourist city for its many places of interest, including ancient architecture, royal gardens, mansions, towers, temples, palaces, and modern structures. It is a gathering place of artists and other talented people. Airlines connect Beijing to more than 110 cities at home and abroad while the city boasts a fine railroad and highway system for local travelers. Urban construction has brought new changes to Beijing, building a unique combination of ancient civilization and modern metropolis. The Summer Palace The Summer Palace was a grand imperial palace and a royal garden of the Qing Dynasty. Construction began in 1750, and today remains an outstanding example of imperial gardens in classical Chinese style. The Summer Palace contains tens of thousands of precious cultural relics. This imperial garden features 3,000 rooms and covers an expanse of 17.3 acres, with more than 100 picturesque sites of interest

The Silk Road

The Silk Road has more than 2,000 years of history. It began in Chang'an (present Xi'an, Shaanxi Province) in the east and stretched to Rome, Italy in the west. The route crosses Shaanxi, Gansu, Qinghai provinces, Ningxia Hui and Xinjiang Uygur autonomous regions and then passes over the Pamirs, to extend to Central and West Asia and finally reaches the east bank of the Mediterranean Sea and Eastern Europe. The total length of the Silk Road is more than 2,485 miles, over half of the width of China. The Silk Road was the main artery for business and trade between China and the West. It has played an important role in the exchanges of cultural and trade-goods. As many people already know, China's four major contributions to civilization are papermaking, printing, compass and gunpowder. They were introduced to Western countries via the Silk Road. In return, many aspects of Western civilization that influenced Chinese society made their way back along this road. The Silk Road has been an indispensable instrument in the opening up and developing of cross-cultural friendship. Although modern society is no longer dependent upon this ancient and time consuming method of interaction, the history and spirit of the Silk Road are still a dream sought by tourists either from the East or the West.

Along the Chinese section of the Silk Road, there are numerous famous historic and cultural sites. The best known is in Xi'an, where the life-sized Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses were excavated from sites near the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, known as the eighth wonder of the world. Of the countless other attractions, there are also Dunhuang's Mogao Grottoes, sometimes called an "Oriental Art Treasure". Loulan was an ancient state in the desert and houses the Ruins of the Ancient City of Gaochang. The road also goes through unique and magnificent natural surroundings, such as Flaming Mountains and Grape Valley in Turpan City, Yadan Landform in Lop Nor, Birds Island in Qinghai Lake and Tianchi Lake on Tianshan Mountain. These places are very attractive to visitors. In some areas along the Silk Road, there are many ethnic minorities, including Uygur, Hazak and Tajik people. They have great hospitality and unique traditional cultures, life styles, religious beliefs, songs and dances. They add another dimension to the charm of the Silk Road. When the central government began developing West China, they realized the tourist resources in these regions were endless. The various tourist facilities in the locality are improving day by day, and there have been significant advances in communications. As a result, the Silk Road has become one of the most attractive theme routes for tourists. Source: cnto.org

Yinchuan

Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region Ningxia, situated in the northwest of China, is one of the birthplaces of Chinese civilization. The ancient Silk Road passes through this region; a place filled with beautiful mountains and rivers. There are many places of interest such as the Western Xia Tombs, the scenic Liupan Mountain, Shapotou Sand Control Project Tourist Area (which has been chosen as one of "the Five Hundred Best Projects of the Global Ecology" by United Nations), and a variety of other sites. Today, Ningxia has rich varieties of culture including Islamic cultures and relics of the Western Xia culture.

Yinchuan Yinchuan, also called Phoenix City, is the capital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. An ancient and well-known city in the west, it was once the capital of the Western Xia Dynasty. Today, Yinchuan is listed by the state as one of the 100 famous historical and cultural cities. There are many historical and cultural sites in Yinchuan. It is the center of the Hui culture. The city also features a variety of unique Islamic architecture. Yinchuan's beautiful deserts, historical sites and local customs are the instrumental in making Yinchuan one of the most attractive places in China. Mt. Sumeru Grottoes Located on the eastern foot of Xumi Mountain, the grottoes were constructed over many dynasties, starting during the South and North Dynasties (420-589). There are 20 well-preserved grottoes, winding along 1.2 miles. Amongst these grottoes are a few examples of the important existing grotto art under the state protection. The Western Xia Tombs The Western Xia Tombs are located at the eastern foot of the Helan Mountain, 18.6 miles west of Yinchuan. The tombs extend 6.2 miles from north to south and 2.4 miles from east to west. There are nine tombs of kings and over 20 funerary tombs, which were built to fit in with the topography. Before the Ming Dynasty, the kings' tombs were robbed, but many cultural vestiges remain. Source: cnto.org

One Hundred and Eight Pagodas The One Hundred and Eight Pagodas are located on the mountain slopes of the western bank of Qingtong Gorge in Qingtongxia City. The pagodas are arranged in an odd order, 12 rows from top to bottom in accordance with the topography, forming a huge equilateral triangle with 108 pagodas in all. Written articles were once unearthed from the foundations of the pagodas. The Helan Mountain Helan Mountain is in northwestern Yinchuan. The word "Helan" is Mongolian for "fine horses." Helan Mounain is over 6,561 feet above sea level with a peak 11,666 feet. It is an ideal summer resort for tourists.

Walled Cities Around the World

While today’s modern cities certainly are graced by large
fortifications, since the first days of civilization walls have been built
around cities to protect citizens from outside invaders and attacks. In fact,
as early as the 8^th century BCE, the city of Jericho
in what is now the West Bank was protected by
a wall. For thousands of years following this time, when cities were often
ruled as city states and needed protection from their neighbors, walls and
fortifications were built to defend from potential aggressors.

In the Caribbean, walls
were built to fend off pirates. In Medieval Europe, they were used to protect
the city from Visigoths, Gauls, Franks or Huns. In China, walls were built to protect settlements
from Mongols and other warring factions.

While these walled cities served to protect the communities
they guarded from various threats, beyond their defensive utility, many walls
also had important symbolic functions – representing the status and
independence of the communities they embraced.

According to UNESCO, today there are more than 50 cities
around the world that have city walls which are still or almost complete. While
many city walls that once stood around cities have long been demolished in the
name of modernization, changing defense strategies and city growth, the walls
still stand in many old cities around the world.

Carcassonne,
France

Fairy tale-esque Carcassonne

Perched up on a hill, the walled old portion of this French medieval
walled city looks like something straight out of a fairy tale. You half expect
a giant, fire breathing dragon to appear from behind the ramparts that separate
the walled portion of the city from rest of modern day Carcassonne. Perched atop a hill and located
at a strategic location in southwestern France
on trade and migratory routes, Carcassonne
was fortified over centuries by Gauls, Romans, Visigoths Moors and Franks, who continued to build up
the walls of this city and which earned it a reputation of being an
impenetrable fortress.

One of the most popular attractions in France, this
unique walled city, which was classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site in
1997, draws more than 3 million visitors annually. Carcassonne is encircled by a huge double row
of fortified walls that run almost 2 miles long and which are punctuated by 56
imposing towers.

Is your interest piqued? Read more about Visiting
Carcassonne.

Xi’an, China

Old walls, new city in Xi’an, China

A country known for a famous wall spanning a great length of
the country, the Chinese did not only build walls to keep out their Mongol
neighbors to the North. While Xi’an is probably
best known for the famous terra cotta army that can be found just outside of
the city, Xi’an
is also surrounded by a large and impressive wall.

One of the oldest cities in China
and an important cultural and sometimes political capital, Xi’an
(which was historically known as Chang’an) is considered one of the four great
ancient capitals of China
and has served as the capital city for some of the most important Chinese
dynasties.

Located at the terminus of the Silk Road, Xi’an has long been situated in an important
strategic location over the course of its more than 3,000 years of history as a
city. While the traditional name of this city meant "perpetual peace" in
Chinese, the city was fortified and protected from outside attacks during the
Han dynasty when the original wall (measuring 25 km in length and is 12-16
meters thick) was built, enclosing a large part of the city. Following several
years of unrest across China,
the Sui Dynasty took control, placing their capital at Xi’an-building the palace, imperial city and
civilian area all within the 84 square kilometers inside the walls-making it
the largest city in the world at the time.

Campeche, Mexico

Walls to keep out pirates in Campeche, Mexico

Located on the Yucatan
peninsula, Campeche was the first natural port
discovered by the Spaniards in Mexico.
The colonial settlement establish in the mid 16^th century was built
atop old Mayan ruins. One of the richest port cities in the America during the 16^th and 17^th
centuries, Campeche was a main target for
pirates that once trolled the Caribbean waters
in large numbers.

Because of frequent raids by pirates like the famous Francis
Drake and Henry Morgan, the walls surrounding Campeche were built the late 17^th
century in an effort to protect the city from pirates and buccaneers (though
not always successfully). A wall surrounding the city was built that measured
2,560 meters in length and formed an irregular hexagon with 8 defensive
bastions around the main parts of the city.

Today the city retains many of the old colonial Spanish city
walls and fortifications and the city was classified as a UNESCO World Heritage
site in 1999 for the preservation and quality of the architecture.

San Gimignano, Italy

‘San Gimignano dalle belle torri’ (San Gimignano with the beautiful towers)

Historically a stopping point for pilgrims on their way to
Rome and the Vatican, San Gimignano sits on the Road Francigena-the ancient road between Rome and Canterbury that
was an important Medieval Road and pilgrimage route. Because of its important
and strategic location along this route, the residents of San Gimignano enjoyed
great wealth and power and in 998 the suburbs were encircled with the first walled enclosure.

In a time when the cities and states of Italy
fought against one another, San Gimignano allied with nearby Florence and in 1207, the new town-walls (which today are
recognizable in the city center) were built incorporating the villages of S.Matteo and San Giovanni.
Three gates of these town-walls
still remain: the Arco Di Goro, Arco de Becci and of San Matteo.

Over the next few decades, the alliance
of San Gimignano with Florence
became stronger and during these years the city skyline of Saint
Gimignano was studded with numerous
towers-symbols and testimonies to the fortune of the families that
possessed them. Today the city is known throughout the world as. In the 13th century there 72 towers, but today only have 14 survived.

Today San Gimignano, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a
major tourist destination in Tuscany.

Taroudant,
Morocco

Walled oasis in the Moroccan desert

Nicknamed the "Grandmother of Marrakech," and surrounded by
high, red, earthy walls, Taroudant is a walled city located in the Sous Valley
in southern Morocco.
Situated on the road leading from Ouarzazte and Marrakech, Taroudant has long
been located at a strategic point along the Caravan route leading to and from
the Sahara desert to the Mediterranean coast
and capital city.

Unlike Marrakech, which also has walls enclosing parts of
the old city, almost all of Taroudant is located within the large, fortified
walls that surround the city. While the walls and famous mosque in Taroudant
were built during the city’s golden age during the Saadi Dynasty in the 16^th
century, Taroudant had flourished since the 11^th century thanks to
its producing gold and silver mines and was a major trading post in Africa.

Bruges, Belgium

Walls and canals in Bruges

Long situated at an important strategic location near on the
coastal region of Belgium,
fortifications around Bruges
were first built after Julius Cesar’s conquest of nearby Menapii during the
first century BCE . While the city changed hands of power several times
throughout the next centuries (from the Romans to the Franks to the Vikings),
the latest Viking invasions during the 9^th century prompted the
Count of Flanders to reinforce the first Roman fortifications protecting the
city.

After Bruges
received its city charter in the 12^th century, the city erected new
walls and canals around the city. After merchant fleets from Genoa
arrived in Bruges in 1277, Bruges
became the main link between northern European Flemish countries and the
Mediterranean, which flooded a huge amount of capital into the city-making Bruges an important
center of both trade and banking.

Over the following centuries, Bruges
became a key trading centre in north-west Europe,
exporting Flemish cloth all over the continent. The city expanded rapidly,
which necessitated the construction of a new circuit of walls in the early 14th
century. However, the first artillery defenses in Bruges were not built until the 16^th
century when a double line of earthwork bastions were built in place of the old
medieval walls.

While these walls successfully prevented William of Orange
from reclaiming Bruges from the Spanish in the 17^th century, Bruges’
walls were penetrated by the French during the War of Spanish Succession in a
surprise attack (French troops pretending to be deserters succeeded in
capturing one of the gates and they let in the rest of the French forces).

Avila, Spain

The impregnable walls at Avila, Spain

The highest provincial capital in Spain
at 3665 feet above sea level, Avila
is built on the flat summit of a rocky hill, which rises abruptly in the midst
of a brown, arid, treeless table-land, which gave the city an important strategic
location with long range vantage points from the top of the hill. Avila sits high on the hill, with mountains creating the
dramatic backdrop for the impregnable stone walls that surround and mark the
city of Avila.

Avila
is best known for its medieval city walls, which were first constructed in the
late 11^th century over previous Roman and Muslim efforts. The walls
are punctuated with 88 towers and nine gateways, which are still in excellent
repair. In fact, the wall stretching 2.5 km in length is one of the world’s
best preserved medieval defense parameters. Between the 12^th and 14^th
centuries, the Gothic cathedral at Avila
was built into and integrated into the city’s defenses and has the appearance
of a fortress.

Lahore, Pakistan

The gates into the old city of Lahore

Located near the Indian border and the Ravi
River, Lahore
is often called the cultural heart of Pakistan and is well known as being
at the center of Pakistani arts, film and academia. However, long before Lahore became the cultural center of Pakistan, it was important and
longstanding trade city.

Lahore
has had many names over its long history-including kacha kot, which means "mud
fort" and implies that the city was almost always surrounded by a wall of some
sort. Because of the often changing name, it is unsure when the fortifications
around the old city were first built, but it Lahore did experience several period in which
the mud fortifications were greatly expanded over the past several thousand
years.

Although many of the walls were destroyed and replaced by
gardens shortly after the British annexed the Punjab region in 1849, access to
the old walled city of Lahore is still gained by way of the 13 ancient gates (7
of which are still standing today).

While ancient walled cities like Avila
and Carcassonne have been restored and protected
over the years, the Punjab government is just
now trying to restore the Royal Trail, which stretches from the Akbari gate to
the Lahore Fort in an effort to gain status as a world heritage site.

York, England

Roman walls in York, England

Situated at the confluence of two major rivers in northern England and historically known as England’s "second city" and Capital of the
North, the city of York
has long been an important and strategic city since the Roman times. In fact,
the entire Roman Empire was governed from York
for two years and influential historical leaders like Constantine the Great and
others have been associated with the city over its long and tumultuous past.

The first stone fortifications at York were built under what is now the York
Minister and covered an area of 50 acres and housed more than 6,000 soldiers.
After the city was captured by the Vikings during the 9^th century
and used as a major river port and trade capital in northern Europe, William
the Conqueror immediately set to work at re-fortifying and protecting the
strategically located trade city.

William the Conqueror built two fortresses on mottes in the
city on either side of the river, which are still visible today. These walls
played an important role during the civil war in England
in 1644, when Parliamentarians besieged York
and many of the homes outside of the city’s protective walls were destroyed.

Baku, Azerbaijan

Cars now cross the gates into old walled Baku

The capital and largest city in Azerbaijan
on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, Baku
has a long history of conquests, take overs by outsiders and major destruction
caused by wars. Baku first became important
strategically in the 12^th century when an earthquake destroyed the
former capital of Azerbaijan,
Shamakhy, and Baku
was named the new capital.

The historical core of Baku,
which is a fortress marked by the Palace of the Shirvanshahs and the Maiden Tower,
is thought to have been first constructed as early as the 7^th
century. During the medieval ages in Baku,
the fortress walls and towers were built larger and stronger.

After 1806, when Baku
was conquered by the Russian Empire, the city wall were repaired and the
fortifications around the city were strengthened. Two gates gave access to the
city, whose walls had dozens of cannons protecting the citizens and the port
was reopened for trade with the reinforced fortifications in place.

While the inner city of Baku
was deemed the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in Azerbaijan in 2000, three years
later, UNESCO placed the old city on its list of "World Heritage in Danger"
citing damage from a November 2000 earthquake, poor conservation as well as
"dubious" restoration efforts.

Rhodes, Greece

Medeival Europe on a Greek isle

Although the colossus of Rhodes (a giant bronze statue that
graced the city and is one of the seven wonders of the ancient world) is no
longer standing on this Greek island, the old medieval city in Rhodes is still classified as a UNESCO World Heritage and
remains a major draw fro millions of tourists every year. While Rhodes was important strategically as a trade port and
stop along Mediterranean sailing routes, it was not until later in the ancient
city’s history that the walls protecting the city were built and fortified.

In 1309 at the end of the Byzantine era, Rhodes became
occupied by the Knights of Hospitalier (who promptly renamed themselves the
Knights of Rhodes) and the city was rebuilt into a model of a European medieval
ideal.

The walls built during this era were successful in
protecting the city from attacks for hundreds of years, keeping the Egyptians
and others from taking over the city. However, despite the walls, Rhodes was
conquered by the growing Ottoman Empire in 1522 and the Knights of Rhodes and
their fellow Christians were forced to retreat to Sicily. For the next 4 centuries, the wall city
of Rhodes was
ruled by the Ottomans.

Today the old city of Rhodes
is not only a UNESCO World Heritage site, but is also known as one of the most
impressive historical sites in Greece.

About the Author

BootsnAll staff writer Julie Blakley first became intrigued by walled cities after a visit to Carcassonne with her family as a kid. When she’s not plotting her next adventure and working on crossing all the walled cities of the world off her "places to go list," she’s busy writing the France Travel Guide.

Photo Credits: Carcassonne, Xi’an, Campeche, San Gimignano, Taroudant, Bruges, Avila, Lahore, York, Baku, Rhodes

Source: bootsnall.com

Old Beijing & New Beijing: A Guide to Both Sides of China’s Capital

Beijing is a city with more than 3,000 years of recorded history and a glorious cultural heritage; yet it is also a bustling metropolis that has given birth to an artistic youth movement in recent years.

Today’s Beijing is a place where ancient historical sights stand side-by-side with a thriving avant-garde culture. Modern China is a place with an identity collision and messy schizophrenia between old and new.

Let’s explore the dichotomy of the exciting new Beijing juxtaposed against the older elements of the city.

The Sights of Beijing

Old Beijing: Forbidden City

Gate to the Forbidden City

The Forbidden City and Imperial Palace remain must-see sights in Beijing, and are amazing places of grandeur and history.

Built from 1406 to 1420, the immense complex includes 980 surviving buildings (covering nearly eight million square feet) that served as the imperial residence and court for 24 emperors from the Ming Dynasty through the Qing Dynasty.

The intricate design of mostly wooden buildings showcases ancient Chinese palatial architecture, surrounded by a moat and many beautiful gardens.

This UNESCO World Heritage site is the world’s largest surviving palace complex, providing a glimpse into a bygone world of royal splendor.

>> Insider Tip: Check out Yin, the rooftop bar at the Emperor Hotel, overlooking the Forbidden City for the best views in Beijing.

New Beijing: Houhai Lake

Houhai Lake District

The bohemian Houhai Lake is one of the hippest spots in Beijing. One of several lake areas near Tiananmen Square, Houhai is also known as the “back lake” and is home to scores of restaurants, bars, coffee houses and boutiques set along cobblestone lanes.

Stroll along the water and over charming arched bridges as you hop from hotspot to hotspot – or hire one of the numerous rickshaws that ply the area.

Even more fun, rent a two- or three-person bicycle to ride down Lotus Lane, the most happening street in Houhai.

>> Insider Tip: The be-seen place in Houhai is Bar No Name, owned by cellist Bai Feng and known as the Cathedral of Cool. It has no address, either, but look for a vine-covered wooden structure by the Yinding Bridge.

The Music of Beijing

Old Beijing: Peking Opera

Traditional Peking opera

Traditional Peking Opera is alive and well, with its colorful costumes and elaborate makeup.

Accompanied by a crescendo of instruments, the unique sound of Chinese opera is different from any other in the world. The singing is usually accompanied by dancing, acrobatic stunts and even fight scenes, and the opera is played out much the same as it has been done since its origin in the late 18th century.

Most operas are either comedies or tragedies, and many historical events in Chinese history have been adapted into operatic plays.

>> Insider Tip: See a performance at the 340-year-old Zhengyici Theatre, the oldest wooden theater in Beijing and most authentic Peking Opera venue.

New Beijing: Experimental Music

Beijing post-punk show at D-22

Beijing’s experimental music scene defines the entire contemporary musical sound of the country.

The city has a thriving punk-rock counterculture that has been likened to that of New York City in the 1970s.

Young artists are creating their own innovative sounds in different styles including post-punk, noise rock and alternative folk.

In the world of music where everyone is continually waiting for the next big thing, it seems Beijing may have created it.

>> Insider Tip: Two of the hottest punk bands are P.K. 14 and Carsick Cars, often playing at Beijing’s premier club, D-22 – often called the Chinese CBGB.

The Arts in Beijing

Old Beijing: Beijing Art Museum

The Beijing Art Museum of the Imperial City

The Beijing Art Museum of the Imperial City (BAMOIC) houses an extensive collection of priceless historic treasures – including bronze and jade pieces from the 3rd century B.C. to the 17th century, as well as paintings, calligraphy, ivory and wood carvings, porcelains, ancient pottery and Buddhist scriptures.

The building itself is located in the Wanshou Temple, the temple of longevity, built in 1577 and serving as the place for birthday celebrations during the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

>> Insider Tip: The BAMOIC recently unveiled a new contemporary art collection that features emerging talent from around the world, offering you the chance to see the old and new juxtaposed in one place.

New Beijing: 798 Arts District

The 798 Arts District

The 798 Arts District is an important haven for the creative class, housed in once-decaying state-owned factories and warehouses from the 1950s.

This industrial wasteland has been reborn into what just might be the most eclectic and vibrant artistic venue anywhere in the world.

Expanding outward from Originality Square, 798 is home to hundreds of art galleries, studios, boutiques (selling everything from high fashion to Mao kitsch), bookstores, restaurants and bars – all housed in the Bauhaus-style buildings.

Simply walking around can lead to fascinating discoveries.

>> Insider Tip: The Dashanzi International Art Festival is held every year from late April through May, showcasing cutting edge art forms in a lively atmosphere with music and film as well.

The Foods of Beijing

Old Beijing: Peking Duck

Chef prepares to serve Peking Duck at 1949 The Hidden City

Peking Duck is the ubiquitous dish from this city, and its preservation as both a delicacy to eat and art form in its preparation is alive and well. This famous dish has been made since the Imperial era and is a national food of China.

Roasted in an open-flame wood oven for hours to achieve the crispy skin and flavor, the duck is then traditionally sliced in front of diners and eaten with a rich hoisin sauce and spring onions on thin crepes.

>> Insider Tip: While the centuries-old restaurants Quanjude and Bianyifang are famous spots to partake of this delicacy, try 1949 The Hidden City. This chic enclave of restaurants, coffee/sweet shop and a contemporary art gallery is located in the restored China Machinery factory, and the Duck de Chine serves one of the best Peking ducks in town.

New Beijing: Fusion Cooking

Food on display at the Donghuamen Night Market

Modern China is a melting pot of exciting fusion cuisines, where Chinese chefs and celebrated foreigners alike are creating innovative new worlds for the palate.

Indulge in the epicurean discovery that is today’s Beijing dining scene at top restaurants such as Daniel Boulud’s Maison Boulud, serving French cuisine prepared with Pacific Rim ingredients in the walled compound of the former US Embassy.

Or, try Ristorante Sadler, the newest offering from Italian chef Claudio Sadler in the Legation Quarter, just steps from Tiananmen Square. Jing is the city’s leading modern Chinese restaurant, located in the swanky Peninsula Hotel.

>> Insider Tip: You don’t have to go upscale to taste the wonders of Beijing food. Check out the crazy fun of the Donghuamen Night Market, a collection of street food stalls featuring such exotic offerings as seahorse, scorpions and starfish on a stick.

photo credits: Beijing post-punk show by Prince Roy, Beijing art museum by buyalex, all other photos by Shelley Seale and may not be used without permission

Communism World Tour: Karl Marx is running out of vacation options

"I'm going on holiday, comrades!"

Ever since the collapse of the Iron Curtain starting in 1989, the number of countries calling themselves communist has been on the decline. Sure, there are still quite a few places with governments that have elected “communist” leaders, but that’s not the same as states with a brutal single-party system that makes all other political parties illegal and takes a firm grip on every aspect of its citizens’ lives.

If Karl Marx were alive today he’d be down to only six possible places to go on holiday, and he’d probably be disappointed in most of those, since they have recently been allowing some free market capitalism and foreign investment in order to stay afloat, while they keep many of the horrible parts of the doctrine like a near complete lack of freedom and oppressive policing.

Karl Marx’s travel agent would only have these brochures left, and a few of these are already on shaky ground:

North Korea

Ryugyong Hotel, Pyongyang, North Korea

Long known as the most secretive nation on the planet, it’s actually not terribly difficult to visit the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, as they like to call themselves. The only real catch to visiting is you can’t do it on your own. You must be part of an official tour group that applies for entry with all details well in advance, but the group can consist of as few as a single person. If they think you are a journalist your chances of getting in are about as good as your chances of getting to sit on Kim Jung Il’s throne while you watch a movie together, but non-journalists don’t usually have a problem.

The other small catch is your group is monitored every minute of the day, and you are forbidden to interact with normal citizens, just as they are forbidden to interact with you. The trips are also not cheap. A 5-day “carefully planned tour” can run around $3,000 per person, including airfare from Beijing. Lately the government only allows Americans in during the famous Arirang Mass celebration, which is an enormous stadium show featuring about 100,000 performers whose choreographed moves and card stunts help show that theirs is the greatest country on earth. Another highlight is seeing the infamous Ryugyong Hotel, if your handlers let you. The 105-story pyramid in Pyongyang was mostly built between 1987 and 1992, after which they ran out of money and the thing was deemed unsafe for occupancy. It’s become such an embarrassment that it’s rarely spoken of, and it’s been airbrushed out of government photos, but there are reports saying they’ve started working on it again as of April, 2008.

Cuba

El Capitolio, Havana, Cuba

Up until the 1959 revolution, Cuba was one of the most popular resort areas for Americans, but since then it’s been officially off limits and subject to a strict trade embargo. Much of the country remains like a dilapidated time capsule thanks to that embargo and the general lack of wealth or major industry, but there have long been beach resorts that until recently have prohibited locals from even visiting. Cuba continues to be popular with adventurous tourists from Europe and Canada, and many Americans continue to slip in, usually by changing planes in Cancun or Mexico City.

The capital of Havana has seen better days, but the eye-catching colonial architecture and spirited locals give it a charm not found elsewhere in the region. Of course the cigar industry is part of the draw, as none of the other nearby islands seem to be able to duplicate the quality. Varadero is the most famous beach resort city, with about 12 miles of gorgeous sandy beaches lined with all-inclusives and other nice hotels that the locals can one day hope to stay in. Now that Fidel’s health has forced him to step down, and his brother Raul is running the show, reforms are coming at a nice pace, and better things might be on the horizon for all.

China

Shanghai, China

The People’s Republic of China combines some of the fun aspects of communism, such as a single-party system with power guaranteed by the constitution so there is no need for voting and whatnot, with an economy that has been steamrolling half the world for the past few decades. Starting in 1978 they began reforms that allowed for private ownership and foreign investment, so even though they are still officially “communist” it doesn’t really show when you visit. No need to get into that pesky human rights stuff here, but as long as that doesn’t bother you it’s incredibly easy to visit this enormous country, and it’s quite cheap once you get there too.

Modern Beijing (home of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games) is the most popular stop, and where you’ll find the breathtaking Forbidden City, and the most popular section of the Great Wall of China just outside the city center. And Shanghai has become perhaps the most advanced city in the world in the past decade or so, with dazzling skyscrapers and modern architecture at every turn. Decent hotels for under US$40 are easy to find in both places, and meals are cheap as well. But once you get outside those giant cities you’ll see countless more amazing sights that don’t change every week like in the urban centers. Even some of the hardcore backpacker/independent travelers find that booking tours of China is the best way to go, since they tend to be very affordable and they help you see things that are difficult to reach on your own if you don’t speak the language.

Vietnam

Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

Vietnam is yet another country that is officially communist, but aside from operating under an oppressive single-party system, they don’t really take the rest of it too seriously. Since the late 1980s they’ve given up on the collective farms thing, encouraging private ownership and foreign investment instead. Today it’s still quite a poor country, but market reforms have done a lot to increase output and the standard of living. It’s also incredibly cheap as well, which is only one reason it’s a major draw among the adventurous backpacking and independent traveling crowds. Living decently for around US$20 per day is definitely possible for experienced backpackers, and those willing to spend more can even afford some luxury.

The two major cities are the capital of Hanoi, which still carries an unmistakable French influence alongside its traditional Chinese-inspired city center, and the sprawling Ho Chi Minh City (formerly known as Saigon), which is modern and growing by leaps and bounds every year. But getting out of the cities leads to even more exotic adventures, and cheap tours from Hanoi to the stunning Ha Long Bay (A UNESCO World Heritage Site), are probably the most popular things for newcomers.

Laos

Pha That Luang temple, Vientiane, Laos

While Laos’ northwestern neighbor, Burma/Myanmar, does have a strict military dictatorship, it also has a messed up and corrupt version of socialism, so it doesn’t really qualify as communist. Laos, on the other hand, still officially calls itself communist, even though they’ve been experimenting with market reforms for a while now. Forget looking for parades of thousands of goose-stepping soldiers demonstrating their loyalty to the country, the single-party here doesn’t get too involved in anything, and there is a massive divide between the haves and the have-nots, so it’s not exactly a workers’ paradise either.

This landlocked country that straddles the Mekong River is one of the better-kept travel secrets in an area that is extremely popular with low budget backpackers. Hotel rooms for around US$5 are very common, and meals under US$1 are available nearly everywhere.
Vientiane is the capital and largest city in Laos (the “s” in Laos is silent, by the way), and it’s the mellowest big city in the entire region, although it’s been picking up the pace lately. The city is about 1,000 years old, and there are plenty of temples decorating the place, but the countryside also has its share of sights. The mysterious and ancient Plain of Jars is one of the most famous attractions, and they’d be easier to visit if not for the thousands of unexploded bombs in the area.

Nepal

Patan Durbar Square, Kathmandu, Nepal

Under a monarchy for 240 years, the Communist Party of Nepal started a somewhat bloody civil war in 1996, which finally met its goals of forming a republic 10 years later. In April 2008 the party won the most seats in the new parliament, so this landlocked country in the Himalayas is the newest member of the communism club, although things are still sorting themselves out. It’s hard to imagine this country that has recently been one of the hottest new tourist destinations shutting things down and trying to nationalize everything, but we won’t know for a while yet.

Of course the country is best known for being home to half of Mount Everest, alongside its controversial neighbor Tibet/China, but there is plenty more to see here for those not wanting to meet some insane personal goal of climbing to the top of the world. Trekking in other forms is huge in Nepal, and tours that are suited for people with moderate fitness levels are getting more popular every year. The capital of Kathmandu is also jammed with temples and ancient sites, and is considered one of the major highlights of the whole region.

Best Architecture Cities in the World

A city with a distinct architectural style has a certain draw to travelers. Great architecture is both artistic and scientific, both beautiful and practical. Even more, architecture gives us cultural clues about a city’s past, present and future.

Important architectural advancements such as the invention of the dome, of concrete, and of the skyscraper itself not only advanced the technology of construction, but also challenged architects to compete amongst themselves to produce more efficient and creative structures.

We’ve selected a handful of cities that have developed a reputation for notable architecture styles and histories, but it’s impossible to give enough attention to all architectural masterpieces. Here are seven great cities for architecture buffs, and a few highlights not to miss in each one.

Barcelona, Spain

Any visitor to Barcelona cannot miss the spectacular work and influence of architect Antoni Gaudi. With its bright colors, tiled mosaic patterns, and nature-inspired forms, Gaudi’s architecture was dramatically different than that of his contemporaries.

Gaudi not only designed breathtaking work, but also is the architect who best captured Modernisme, or the Catalan modernism movement in Barcelona. This movement sought to elevate the status of Catalan thought, art, literature and philosophy to the same level of European ideas and art.

In Gaudi’s work, this meant predominance of curves over straight lines, heavy decoration and detail, shapes and asymmetry, and experimentation with new materials like iron, stained glass, and stone. Other influential Modernist architects include Lluís Domènech i Montaner, who designed buildings later designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and Josep Puig i Cadafalch, who designed Els Quatre Gats, a center for Modernisme in Barcelona.

La Sagrada Família

Gaudi’s masterpiece is still under construction today, and won’t be completed for some time. Gaudi frequently altered his plans as the church was first being constructed, and his final vision for it is not known.

Different architects have provided their insight, but often their opinions differ. Even amidst a sea of cranes and the din of construction, La Sagrada Família is the most visited monument in Barcelona.

Park Güell

This park stands above the city and contains a series of curving walkways and paths. At the top, curved stone benches adorned with colorful mosaics offer a perfect resting place to sit and take in a view of the city.

Park Güell is a perfect example of Gaudi’s ordered chaos. Every aspect of the park over-stimulates, but it still exudes calm.

Casa Batlló

Gaudi remodeled this private home from the inside out.

From the arched roof to curved windows that gave the structure its nickname “House of Bones,” this building contains almost no straight lines. Every room boasts magnificent coloring and tiling.

Beijing, China

In Beijing, the slew of construction for the 2008 Summer Olympics gave shape to an emerging national identity. China wanted to prove it had more to offer the world than its ancient culture and architecture. And so the world watched as Bejing built Western-inspired buildings that went above and beyond the limitations of Chinese architecture.

Now, Beijing is home to a collection of both traditional and contemporary buildings.

The traditional style reflects Chinese beliefs and ethics of symmetry. These buildings give attention to decorative details, are built outward (not upward), and major construction materials include timber columns, beams and brackets.

The buildings Beijing built for the Olympics completely challenge the city’s own style of architecture. Beijing’s new construction is tall and asymmetric. Instead of creating an image of calm and focusing attention inward, both the exteriors and interiors of Beijing’s new construction aim to grab attention and awe viewers.

Great Wall of China

The expansive wall is more than 2,000 years old and extends almost 9,000 kilometers (5,500 miles).

Over centuries, different dynasties reinforced and extended the wall that protected the country from multiple invasions. The wall is a symbol of China’s rich history, and is a must-see for visitors to Beijing.

Forbidden City

Although Beijing’s Forbidden City is now overrun with tourists and vendors selling kitschy souvenirs, it is still an important monument to traditional Chinese architecture and culture. For centuries, this was the home of Chinese emperors and their governments.

Almost every aspect of the Forbidden City’s construction – from the colors to the number of statues to the symmetry – was intentional, which represents how important symbolism was to Chinese architecture.

CCTV Headquarters

To complete construction on the new headquarters of China Central Television, architects had two engineering hurdles to jump.

The skyscraper stands in a seismic region. And two L-shaped towers leaning at 90-degree angles form the top and bottom of the building.

With 51 floors, it’s short for a skyscraper, but impressive because of its precarious-looking construction and asymmetry.

Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul is located on both the continents of Europe and Asia. Most citizens practice Islam, but the city also claims strong Christian and Jewish communities. Istanbul is thus known as a cultural melting pot, and the city’s architecture certainly lives up to that reputation.

Visitors to Istanbul will find more than 2,000 mosques, 100 churches and 20 synagogues. Over time, Istanbul has served as a capital for Roman, Byzantine, Latin and Ottoman Empires, and is now Turkey’s capital. Each period built a new architectural layer on top of the old, and many of these monuments remain intact.

The Ancient Romans and Greeks left their aqueducts and the Walls of Constantine. The Byzantines and Genoese left their domed churched with arches. The Ottoman Empire left its castles, palaces and mosques. And the European Baroque styles and Art Nouveau palaces and mansions that followed add more to the eclectic landscape of Istanbul.

Hagia Sophia

This museum was once a church and then a mosque. Hagia Sophia, also known as the Church of the Holy Wisdom, is most known for its unique dome.

Thanks to the dome’s umbrella shape, its weight rests on the pendentives between the 40 windows along its base. Light shines through the windows from all directions, which gives the impression that the dome is hovering. This pendentive dome was a Byzantine invention.

Blue Mosque

Six minarets towering over the skyline of Istanbul make it easy to locate the Blue Mosque. On closer inspection, visitors can also observe a series of cascading domes on the building’s exterior.

Inside, the walls and ceiling are lined with more than 20,000 handmade blue ceramic tiles, which give the mosque its name. The massive mosque can hold up to 10,000 people, and was built to out-do Istanbul’s most famous church at the time, Hagia Sophia.

Column of Constantine

When Constantine the Great declared the city the capital of the Roman Empire in 330, he built this commemorative column.

The original was 50 meters tall, had a statue of Constantine dressed as Apollo at top, and was said to contain several Christian relics.

Natural disasters have weathered the column and a fire in 1779 left black scorch marks on its sides. Today the column stands 35 meters tall and is a symbol of the Roman empire in Istanbul.

Chicago, USA

Unlike many cities on this list, Chicago is not a city with a long-established architectural history. The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 destroyed most of the city’s buildings, and the Chicago that stands today was built afterward. This city makes the list because the skyscraper was born here.

Architect William Le Baron Jenney is generally credited with the first skyscraper, a ten-story building that stood in downtown Chicago. Unlike the brick and stone buildings of the time, this one was built with cast iron, wrought iron and steel. The so-called skeleton construction was a system of beams and columns that allowed for a multi-story framework and invited the development of safer elevators, central heating systems, and further developments in steel construction.

With these advancements, competition between Chicago architects led to taller and taller skyscrapers. In addition, Louis Sullivan’s Chicago School of Architecture and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Prairie School of Architecture were born here – just two styles that have given Chicago an even bigger name in the world of architecture.

One of the most convenient ways to learn and see the most about the city’s architecture is to take a Chicago boat and architecture tour. Several companies operate these tours along the Chicago river.

Willis Tower, formerly Sears Tower

Willis Tower dominates the Chicago skyline as the tallest and most iconic building in the city. Sears, Roebuck & Co., financed the skyscraper’s construction and built it to house their employees.

The renamed Willis Tower now houses various offices and businesses and its skydeck ledge on the 103rd floor is a popular tourist destination. The ledge is actually an enclosed glass box that extend 4.3 feet from the building so that visitors can see 1,353 feet straight down.

Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio

Frank Lloyd Wright revolutionized the art and architecture of the 20th century, and it’s worth the short trip to the suburbs to see where he lived and worked for the first 20 years of his career.

It was in his Prairie-style studio that he designed 125 structures, including such famous buildings as the Robie House, the Larkin Building and Unity Temple.

Cloud Gate

One of the most popular attractions for both locals and tourists in Chicago is the Cloud Gate, which reflects 80% of the city’s skyline on its surface. This interactive sculpture is essentially a giant stainless steal bean that acts as a mirror.

Spectators can see their images distort as they walk all around the sculpture or underneath its 9-foot arch. The best viewing time is at night, when the lights from Chicago skyscrapers illuminate the bean’s surface.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Although Chicago gave birth to the skyscraper, in recent years Dubai has been the city to master constructing these tall and extravagant buildings.

Dubai’s economy was initially built on oil, but its oil reserves have already been significantly depleted and only account for a small percentage of the economy. So the government recently decided to reinvent its image as a major international hub of commerce.

A wide-scale real estate boom followed, which completely changed the city’s landscape in a short period of time. Dubai now houses some of the tallest and most contemporary and ambitious architecture in the world.

More construction is in the works despite rumors that it lacks sufficient financing. New construction is so prevalent in Dubai that reports claim the city houses between 15 and 25 percent of all the world’s cranes.

Burj Al Arab

This luxury hotel is the only self-proclaimed seven-star hotel in the world. The building exterior is meant to represent Dubai’s transformation and resembles a sail.

The hotel actually rests on an artificial island 280 meters from the shore and is connected to the mainland by a bridge. As you would guess, rooms here aren’t cheap. Suites start at $2,000 per night and can cost as much as $28,000.

Burj Khalifa

As of 2010, this skyscraper is the tallest man-made building ever built. The $150 billion building has 160 floors and stands at 828 meters (2,717 feet) high.

That’s 52 floors more than Chicago’s Willis Tower and 320 meters taller than Tawain’s Taipei 101, which was formerly the world’s tallest building.

The Burj Khalifa also boasts the world’s highest mosque, the world’s highest swimming pool, and it is the tallest free-standing structure in the world.

The World

This archipelago of 300 man-made islands was constructed with sand dredged from the sea. Fresh water, utilities and power are routed underwater to the islands.

The islands are meant to look like a map of the Earth and can be seen from space. Private buyers can purchase individual islands for $15 – $50 million.

Athens, Greece

Athens is a city for travelers who are drawn to architecture with clues about the culture and lifestyle of people of the past. The Ancient Greeks were political, religious, and proud. They built many monuments to celebrate victories, to give honor to the deities, and to stroke their own egos.

Greek architecture is often associated with temples and columns. The Doric, Ionic and Corinthian orders designed by Ancient Greek architects have proved to be timeless and are apparent in many of the buildings that still stand in Athens today. The friezes and sculptures housed in Athens temples provide insight into the lives and worship practices of the Athenians of yesteryear. They depict battles, processions, important statesmen, and deities.

Parthenon

This temple to the Greek goddess Athena was finished in 432 BC and is the most important surviving structure remaining from Ancient Greece. It still stands even after 2,500 years of weathering, war, and vandalism.

The Parthenon is an art history teacher’s dream, complete with columns of both the Doric and Ionic order, metopes depicting various battles, pedimental sculptures, and a frieze.

Temple of Athena Nike

Although this temple is the smallest on the hill, it is the first to greet visitors to the Acropolis of Athens. The height-to-diameter ratio of its columns is unusual; it is 7:1, whereas most Ionic buildings are 9:1 or 10:1.

The Temple of Athena Nike was built with marble and was a place to worship gods and goddesses of war. Fragments of the original frieze are housed in the Acropolis Museum and copies rest in their place inside the temple.

Temple of Olympian Zeus

Only the ruins of this once grandiose temple remain, but it still represents the power and pride of past Athenian rulers. Various rulers sought to finish the temple to their own governments and themselves, but death and war prevented its completion.

The temple was finally dedicated in 132 AD, several centuries after constructions first began. But it was badly damaged and pillaged shortly after, and was never fully restored.

Rome, Italy

The Romans made alterations to Greek and Etruscan architecture to create a new style that was practical and creative. You can still see much of this style in the Italian capital of Rome.

For example, the Romans used arches, concrete and bricks to build the aqueducts that supplied water to their densely populated city. Visitors to Rome can also observe numerous domes, which the city’s architects used to fortify ceilings and expand the interior space of buildings, as best seen in the Pantheon.

The Romans revolutionized construction with the introduction of concrete as a primary building material. They found it was cheaper and stronger than the previously popular marble. And of course, it was the Romans who perfected the amphitheater.

These multi-purpose structures display the complexity of Roman architecture because they combine many of their advances at once. And, like much of Roman construction, the amphitheaters were not only functional, but also aesthetically pleasing.

Pantheon

The Pantheon that stands today is not the original, but it is still an architectural marvel of its time and is the best-preserved building in Rome. This was the first temple to combine concrete construction with the classical Greek columns.

In addition, the giant 142-foot dome was the largest in existence until 1960. The dome is still impressive. The distance from the top of the dome to the floor is equal to its diameter.

Colosseum

The Colosseum is a remarkable monument because of its practical and efficient architecture. It could seat up to 50,000 people and had about 80 entrances so many people could enter and leave at once. The Colosseum was equipped for a variety of performances such as battle reenactments, theater, executions and mock sea battles.

The structure has been damaged by earthquakes and robbers, but its remains still represent the architectural prowess of the Romans.

Aqueducts

The Romans built 11 aqueducts to bring bathing and drinking water to their densely populated city. Tunnels and several tiers of arches helped direct the flow of water for long distances and over rocky terrain.

Roman architects dedicated an enormous amount of planning to the construction of each aqueduct to determine the length, size and grade needed.

What’s your favorite architecture-rich city? What great building did we leave off the list? Share your thoughts in the comments section at the end of this article.