Origin of industry in China - The Grand Canal 1443; Chinese traditional architectural craftsmanship for timber-framed structures 00223; Traditional tea processing techniques and associated social practices in China 01884; Spring festival, social practices of the Chinese people in celebration of traditionadl new year 02126 Qingming bridge and Jiangnan canal at night Wuxi ( Chinese : 无锡) has a special place in my heart as this was my first time travelling abroad (technically d

City sitting on seven hills, mixed with rich maritime history and contemporary culture - Monastery of the Hieronymites and Tower of Belém in Lisbon 263; Fado, urban popular song in Portugal 00563 Rua Augusta Arch - main entrance gateway of the city Another relocation, this time to Southampton , another hiatus of my blog. Based on popular demand, I am on board again. What and Why Lisbon ( Portuguese : Lisboa ) , sitting on seven hills, occupies a unique space in Europe’s hist

Ancient Egypt royal necropolis and monuments in an ancient capital - Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis 87 Valley of the Kings with Al-Qurn as the backdrop What and Why Luxor ( Arabic : الأقصر, Al-Quṣūr ) stands as one of the most iconic and culturally rich sites in the world. The modern city morphed from the ruins of Thebes (Greek: Θῆβαι, Thē̂bai ) or in Egyptian ' wꜣs.t' and was the capital of ancient Egypt (مصر , Miṣr ) during parts of the Middle and New Kingdoms (

Historic spa town adorned with gorgeous Belle É poque architecture - The Great Spa Towns of Europe 1613; Knowledge, craft and skills of handmade glass production 01961 Karlovy Vary main square: Market Colonnade What and Why Karlovy Vary is one of the most iconic recreational and spa towns in Europe, renowned for its healing thermal waters, mineral springs, elegant Belle- É poque architecture, rich cultural heritage, and historic ties to the art of Bohemian glassmaking . Ne

Spectacular rock columns built by 'giant' gracing the coast of Northern Ireland - Giant's Causeway and Causeway Coast 369 Giant's Causeway What and Why The Giant's Causeway is the northern coastline along Northern Ireland where more than 40,000 interlocking basalt rock columns were formed and lined, forming a spectacular vista. These rock columns were formed due volcanic eruption some 50 to 60 million years ago, during the Paleocene epoch, and underwent slow cooling unde

Fortified city protected by three mediaeval castles - Three Castles, Defensive Wall and Ramparts of the Market-Town of Bellinzona 884 Castelgrande ramparts (from internet) What and Why Bellinzona , located near the foot of the Alps ( Italian : Alpi ) at the canton of Ticino , houses a group of important and well-preserved mediaeval fortifications to shelter herself from foreign invasion. These fortifications come in the form of castles and ramparts and they collectively

Prime destination for geology, palaeontology and natural splendour - Monte San Giorgio 1090 Monte San Giorgio from Morcote (from internet) What and Why Monte San Giorgio , located in the canton of Ticino of Switzerland ( Italian : Svizzera ) and overlooking Lake Lugano ( Lago di Lugano ) , is one of the world's most important palaeontological sites. The pyramidal shaped Monte San Giorgio offers a fascinating blend of natural beauty, scientific significance, and cultural h

Great wall of Roman legacy in Britain - Frontiers of the Roman Empire 430 Hadrian wall near Willowford What and Why Hadrian's Wall (Latin : Vallum Hadriani ) , stretching across the north of England , is one of the most significant remnants of the Roman Empire (Latin: Imperium Romanum ) in the United Kingdom . Constructed on the orders of Emperor Hadrian (né Aelius Hadrianus (Latin) ) in 122 under 'divine instruction', the wall served as the northern frontier of the Roman

The heart of wine-making and Romanesque architectural heritage - Jurisdiction of Saint-Emilion 932; Gastronomic meal of the French 00437; Art of dry stone construction, knowledge and techniques 02106 Saint-Émilion vineyards What and Why Nestled in the heart of the Gironde region of France , Saint-Émilion is a name that resonates deeply within the world of wine . This picturesque mediaeval village, surrounded by gently rolling hills and vineyards ( French : vignobles ) , is

A mediaeval monastery with a well-preserved wall gallery of Carolingian art - Benedictine Convent of St John at Müstair 269 Benedictine Convent of Saint John What and Why The Benedictine Convent of Saint John ( Romansh : Claustra Benedictina da Son Jon ) , named after Saint John the Baptist (Hebrew: יוחנן המטביל, Yvhnn Hmtbyl ) is an abbey established all the way in 780 BCE in the small village of Müstair of Switzerland ( Svizra ) . According to legends, Charlemagne (né Ch

A treat for speleogists: world's longest cave system - Mammoth Cave National Park 150 Mammoth Cave What and Why The Mammoth Cave National Park , containing the same-named cave, is the longest known cave system in the world . The cave system connects two cave systems: the original Mammoth Cave and an even larger Flint Ridge, and forms a humongous cave passageways of more than 686 km, and this number is still growing with new discoveries every year. This connexion was made in

' Above there is heaven, below there is Suzhou-Hangzhou ': for gardens, canals, food, operas, silk and scholastic activities - Classical Gardens of Suzhou 813; The Grand Canal 1443; Kun Qu opera 00004; Sericulture and silk craftsmanship of China 00197 Canal in Suzhou This post marks the 5th anniversary of my blog. What and Why The quote ' Above there is heaven, below there is Suzhou-Hangzhou ( Chinese : 上有天堂、下有苏杭 , Shangyou tiantang, Xiayou Su-hang ) ' aptly describes how bea

World engineering marvel that conquers the scenic Alps - Rhaetian Railway in the Albula / Bernina Landscapes 1276 Brusio viaduct What and Why The Bernina Express is a sightseeing railway line operated by the Rhaetian Railway ( German : Rhätische Bahn ) that runs between Chur of Switzerland ( Schweiz ) to Tirano of Italy (Italian: Italia ) with a main stop at Saint Moritz ( Sankt Moritz ) . The train line is actually two separated lines combined together: the Bernina Li

A beautiful park with an impressive ecosystem under a blue haze cover - Great Smoky Mountains National Park 259 Great Smoky Mountains National Park What and Why The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is surprisingly the most popular national parks in America , way more visited than the more well-known Yellowstone National Park (as blogged in Yellowstone - North loop and Yellowstone - South loop ). Edging the Appalachian Mountains , it protects some of the oldest and hi

Formation of Alps in Switzerland - Swiss Tectonic Arena Sardona 1179; Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps 1363; Avalanche risk management 01380; Alpinism 01471; Alpine pasture season 01966; Yodelling 02287 Piz Sardona What and Why The Swiss Tectonic Arena Sardona ( German : Weltnaturerbe TektonikArena Sardona ) is a major mountain thrust fault caused by the collision of the African and Eurasian tectonic plates 100 million years ago! This major shearing action no

The sacred mountain in Malaysia with a rich biodiversity - Kinabalu Park 1012 Low's peak What and Why Mount Kinabalu ( Malay : Gunung Kinabalu ) inside Kinabalu Park ( Taman Kinabalu ) is considered a sacred mountain within the local community, especially the aborigines of Malaysia . The park is located near a small town called Kundasang , an hour drive away from the main city Kota Kinabalu in the state of Sabah . They believe that their ancestors will eventually inhabit

Top of Europe and the most distinctive sights of the Alps - Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch 1037; Alpinism 01471 Sphinx (from internet) What and Why Against popular beliefs, Jungfraujoch is technically not a mountain or a peak, but a saddle or ridge between two main peaks, the Jungfrau and Mönch of the Swiss Alps ( German : Alpen ) . The saddle is also home to one of the largest glaciers in Europe: the Aletsch Glacier ( Aletschgletscher ) . The area, snow-covered year round

The warm cradle that produces Swiss wines - Lavaux, Vineyard Terraces 1243; The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement 1321; Winegrowers’ Festival in Vevey 01201; Art of dry stone construction, knowledge and techniques 02106 Lavaux vineyard What and Why Along the north bank of Lake Geneva ( French : Le Léman ) lies a 30-km stretch of terraced vineyards that produces the wine appellation of the region. The region, which occupi

A vista of a thousand karst formations of beautiful shapes and forms in the sea - Ha Long Bay 672 Halong Bay What and Why Halong Bay ( Vietnamese : Vịnh Hạ Long ) is the most popular tourist destination of Vietnam ( Việt Nam ) which features an extremely scenic ocean of karst formations in the sea. The entire bay occupies more than 1,500 km2 of area, including almost 2,000 islets or various limestone forms. Many of these karsts are hollow with enormous caves within. Whil

Wading through beautiful limestone caves sitting inland - Trang An Landscape Complex 1438; Quan Họ Bắc Ninh folk songs 00183 Tam Coc What and Why Tr à ng An is a very scenic area located near the city of Ninh Bình which features beautiful limestone mountains and caves along the river. A common tourist activity is to ride a boat and wade through the limestone caves and witness the beautiful sceneries. The river itself nurtures an aquatic ecosystem of various seafood species