CHINA

1. The Forbidden City

The Forbidden City, or Palace Museum, sits at the center
of Beijing, directly north of Tiananmen Square where the
famous portrait of Mao Zedong hangs on the palatial
crimson
wall.
It
was
the
imperial
seat
forMing and Qing dynasty emperors from 1420 until 1912
when the last emperor, Pu Yi, abdicated
2. The Great Wall
The Great Wall winds its way across China covering
over 5,500 miles (8,850 km). While the latest
construction occurred after 1368 during the Ming
Dynasty, construction of the Great Wall began over
2,000 years ago. In fact, the Great Wall is actually
made up of a number of interconnecting walls
spanning China that different
dynasties and warlords constructed over the years.
3. The Terracotta Warriors
Discovered in 1974 when a local farmer was digging a well,
the
terracotta army, buried in 210 BC with the first emporer of
the
Qin dynasty, is a breathtaking site. The thousands of lifesize figures have individually unique faces and hair and
armor styles appropriate to their rank. The museum of the Terracotta Army is
located in Xi'An, Shanxi province.
4. Karst Mountains in Yangshuo
Illustrating the 20 Renminbi (Chinese currency) note, the
karst mountains are famously beautiful in China. Located in
the south of China in Guangxi province, they can best be
viewed from Yangshuo, a small town outside Guilin, a major
city in Guangxi Province.
5. Hangzhou - Paradise on Earth

China's "Paradise on Earth", Hangzhou is a lovely city centered

around the famed West Lake. This green city is full of gardens,
tranquil temples and pavilions and bustling historic streets to
venture through. The hills surrounding the city grow the famous
longjing green tea. Hangzhou is close to Shanghai but is a much
more laid-back, cultural city.

6. Jiuzhaigou
Jiuzhaigou Valley is a nature reserve located in China's
Sichuan province. A beautiful example of China's varied
landscape, Jiuzhaigou is famous for crystal blue lakes
and multi-level waterfalls. It is populated by a number
of Tibetan villages so is also a superb place to see and
experience Tibetan local culture.

7. Potala Palace, Lhasa

Now a Chinese museum, the Potala Palace was traditionally the
seat of the Dalai Lama, Tibetan Buddhists' spiritual leader.
Famous for its imposing white walls surrounding the inner red
palace, the building sits at 3,700 meters or over 12,000 feet. The
Potala Palace is located in Lhasa, the capital of the Tibetan
Autonomous Region.

8. The Bund, Shanghai

The Bund, meaning embankment, was historically the seat of
Shanghai's most powerful businessmen in the late 1800s and
early 1900s. The Bund is a fabulous place to see examples of
Shanghai's rich architectural history, illustrated by the HSBC
Building, built in 1923 and at the time said to be "the most
luxurious building between the Suez Canal and the Bering
Strait."
9. Giant Pandas and Chengdu
Heading out to Chengdu is a great way to get a taste of Sichuan as well as an
in-depth understanding of Giant Pandas at the Breeding Research Base.

Chengdu is THE place to see the Giant Panda in China. But there's
a lot more to Chengdu than just cuddly bears. It's a laid back place
full of parks and teahouses. It's a great place to just kick back for a
day or two and it's the launching pad for getting to Lhasa, the
capital of Tibet.
10. Modernity in Hong Kong
See modern China - and Asia - at the cutting edge with a visit to
Hong Kong. Walking down the Kowloon side promenade gives the
traveler a view of some of the most beautiful modern architecture
in China, dominated by the Bank of China Tower designed by I.M.
Pei.

LONDON
British Museum
The world-famous British Museum exhibits
the works of man from prehistoric to
modern times from around the world.
Highlights include the Rosetta Stone, the
Parthenon sculptures, and the mummies in
the Ancient Egypt collection. Entry is
free but special exhibitions require tickets.
Tate Modern
Sitting grandly on the banks of the Thames
is Tate
Modern,
Britain's
national
museum of modern and contemporary art.
Its unique shape is due to it previously
being a power station. Inside you'll find
temporary exhibitions by top artists from
Damien Hirst to Gauguin. The gallery's
restaurants offer fabulous views across the city. Entry is free.
National Gallery

The crowning glory of Trafalgar Square,

London'sNational Gallery is a vast space,
filled with Western European paintings
from the 13th to the 19th centuries. In this
iconic art gallery you can find works by
masters such as Van Gogh, da Vinci,
Botticelli, Constable, Renoir, Titian and
Stubbs.Entry is free.
Natural History Museum
As well as the permanent (and permanently
fascinating!) dinosaur
exhibition,
the Natural History Museum boasts a
collection of the biggest, tallest and rarest
animals in the world. See a life-sized Blue
Whale, a 40-million-year-old spider, and the
beautiful Central Hall. Entry is free but special exhibitions require tickets
London Eye
The EDF Energy London Eye is a major
feature of London's skyline. It is the world's
highest
observation
wheel,
with
32
capsules, each weighing 10 tonnes, and
holding up to 25 people. Climb aboard for a
breathtaking experience, with unforgettable
views of more than 55 of London's most
famous landmarks all in just 30 minutes!
Science Museum
From the future of space travel to asking
that difficult question, "Who am I?",
the Science Museum makes your brain
perform
Olympic-standard
mental
gymnastics. See, touch and experience the
major scientific advances of the last 300
years; don't forget the awesome Imax
cinema. Entry is free but some exhibitions require tickets.
Victoria and Albert Museum

The V&A celebrates art and design with

3,000 years worth of amazing artefacts
from around the world. A real treasure trove
of goodies, you never know what you'll
discover
next:
furniture,
paintings,
sculpture, metalwork, and textiles, the list
goes on and on Entry is free but special
exhibitions require tickets.
Madame Tussauds
At Madame Tussauds, you'll come face-toface with some of the world's most famous
faces. From Shakespeare to Lady Gaga
you'll meet influential figures from showbiz,
sport, politics and even Royalty. Strike a
pose with Usain Bolt, kiss Brad Pitt or
receive a once-in-a-lifetime audience with
Her Majesty the Queen.
Royal Museums Greenwich
Visit the world's largest maritime
museum, the historic Queen's House, and
the Royal Observatory Greenwich: all now
part of the Royal Museums Greenwich.
Stand astride the Prime Meridian, touch a
meteorite, and see the stars in the
planetarium. Some are free to enter; some charges apply
Tower of London
Take a tour with one of the Yeoman
Warders around the Tower of London,
one of the world's most famous buildings.
Discover its 900-year history as a royal
palace, prison and place of execution,
arsenal, jewel house and zoo! Gaze up at
the White Tower, tiptoe through a
medieval king's bedchamber and marvel at the Crown Jewels.

BRAZIL
10Ouro Preto
One of Brazils best-preserved colonial towns, Ouro
Preto, meaning black gold, was founded at the end of
the 17th century. It quickly became the epicenter of a new
gold rush in the state of Minas Gerais. The city contains
well preserved Portuguese colonial architecture, while
modern buildings must adhere to historical standards maintained by the city. 18th- and
19th-century churches decorated with gold and the sculptured works of Aleijadinho make
Ouro Preto one of the most popular tourist attractions in Brazil.
9Teatro Amazonas
Teatro Amazonas or Amazon Theatre is an opera
house located in Manaus, in the heart of the Amazon
Rainforest. It was built during the heyday of rubber
trade using materials from all over the world, with
furniture from Paris, marble from Italy, and steel from
England. On the outside of the building, the dome was

covered with 36,000 decorated ceramic tiles painted in the colors of the Brazilian national
flag.
The first performance was given on January 7, 1897, with the Italian opera La Gioconda.
The opera house was closed down soon after however as the rubber trade declined and
Manaus lost its main source of income. There wasnt a single performance in Teatro
Amazonas for 90 years until 2001 when it reopened its doors.
8Fernando de Noronha
Fernando
de
Noronha is
a
beautiful
archipelago with pristine beaches, landscapes
and wildlife, situated 354 km (220 miles) off the
northeastern coast in Brazil. The archipelago
was discovered by Amerigo Vespucci in 1503
and temporarily occupied by the Dutch and
French before Portugal established dominion in
1737. Today only the largest of the 21 islands
is inhabited with a population of about 3,500. The islands are a Mecca for divers and
snorkelers with warm waters year-round and very good visibility even at depths of 50
meters.

7Historic Center of Olinda

Another well preserved colonial city, Olinda is
located on the Brazils northeastern coast, just north
of Recife. Olinda features a number of major touristic
attractions, such as a historic downtown area,
churches, and the famous Carnival of Olinda. Many
bars, restaurants, artist and craftspeople studios add
charm to the old-town setting.

6Salvador Beaches

Salvador is the capital of the state of Bahia, with an

attractive colonial town, a vibrant musical scene and
loads of exceptional beaches all around. The beaches
range from calm inlets, ideal for swimming, diving and
sailing, as well as open sea inlets with strong waves,
popular with surfers. There are also beaches
surrounded by reefs, forming natural pools of stone,
ideal for children.

5Pantanal
The Pantanal is the worlds largest wetland, lying mostly in
Western Brazil but extending into Bolivia and Paraguay as
well. Famous for its wildlife, it is one of Brazils major tourist
attractions. Unlike the Amazon rainforest, in the Pantanal
you are virtually guaranteed to actually see the wildlife.
Capybara and the Yacare Caiman are present in the
millions. The Pantanal is also home to one of the largest Jaguar populations in the
Americas.

4Rio Carnival
There are carnival celebrations in virtually every corner of
Brazil, the best-known ones taking place in Recife
together with the neighboring Olinda and Salvador. But the
biggest and most famous carnival is undoubtedly the
Carnival in Rio de Janeiro. The Rio Carnival attracts two
million people per day on the streets and almost half a
million foreigners during its 4 day celebration. The Carnival is all over the place, in the
streets and squares, bars, clubs and all other venues in Rio, concluding in the
spectacular Rio Samba Parade at the Sambadrome
3Amazon River

At approximately 6,400 km (4,000 miles) the

Amazon River is the second longest river in the
world, just slightly shorter than the Nile, and the
largest river by volume. The Amazon has over
3,000 recognized species of fish and new species
are still being discovered. The Amazon Basin is
covered by half of the planets remaining
rainforests. Although a tenth of the worlds
estimated 10 million living species live in the Amazon rainforest, jungle tours are more
about the boating upriver into the damp, buzzing, oppressive ambience than actually
spotting animals.

2Iguazu Falls
One of the great natural wonders of the
world, Iguau Falls is situated on the border
between Brazil and Argentina. The waterfall
system consists of 275 falls along the Iguazu
River. The most impressive of them all is the
Devils Throat a U-shaped with a height of 82
meter (269 ft). The falls can be reached from the
cities Foz do Iguau in Brazil and Puerto Iguaz in Argentina, as well as from Ciudad del
Este in Paraguay. On the Brazilian side there is a long walkway along the canyon with an
extension to the lower base of the Devils Throat.

1Christ the Redeemer

Christ the Redeemer is the famous statue of Jesus Christ in Rio de Janeiro. Located at
the peak of the 700 meters (2,300 ft) Corcovado mountain, it provides a sweeping
panorama from the interior of Guanabara bay to the north, to Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas to
the south. The Christ the Redeemer statue stands 39.6 meters (130 ft) tall, including its
9.5 meters (31 ft) pedestal and has become an icon of Rio and Brazil.

NEW YORK
1. American Museum of Natural
History
Since opening to the public in 1869, the American
Museum of Natural History has evolved and grown.
In addition to the Rose Center planetarium
and permanent exhibits, the American Museum of
Natural History hosts a revolving series of
temporary exhibits, so there is always something new to see. Don't miss
our Tips for Visiting AMNH to make the most of your visit.
2. Central Park
Central Park has offered a welcome escape from the
concrete jungle of New York City for over 150 years.
Take a walk, a boat ride or just enjoy a picnic in Central
Park and discover for yourself why Central Park is so
popular.
3. Ellis Island Immigration Museum
Temporarily closed due to damage from Hurricane
Sandy.The Ellis Island Immigration Museum offers
visitors a fascinating look into the immigrant
experience. Interactive exhibits, walking tours and
movies reveal the hardships and challenges faced by
immigrants passing through Ellis Island. Visitors
today will enjoy learning about the history, as well as enjoying the voyage to
get there by ferry through the harbor.
4. Empire State Building

Tired of staring up at New York City skyscrapers?

Check out the view of New York City from atop
the Empire State Building. A classic New York City
attraction, it offers visitors wonderful views of New
York City and the surrounding area. Our advice: cut
your waiting time by purchasing your tickets in
advance.

5. Grand Central Terminal

Renovations since its opening in 1913 have
turned Grand Central into more than just a hub for
transportation -- there are shops, dining and more
available to visitors. Grand Central is both an essential
transit hub and a beautiful example of Beaux-Arts architecture. For visitors
looking for guidance, there are free tours available.
6. Metropolitan Museum of Art
Over 2 million works of art from around the world and
throughout history are housed at the Metropolitan Museum of
Art. An iconic art museum, the Met is well worth a visit and
offers such a vast and diverse collection that there's sure to be
something that appeals to you.
7. Rockefeller Center
Rockefeller Center is a great destination for visitors any time of
year. Located in midtown Manhattan, Rock Center is probably
most famous for its Christmas tree and ice skating rink, but it
also offers visitors the wonderful Top of the Rock Observation
Deck, and it's home to Radio City Music Hall, as well as
numerous shopping and dining destinations.
8. Staten Island Ferry

The Staten Island Ferry is a free ferry from lower

Manhattan to Staten Island, used by commuters and
tourists wanting a view of the harbor and the Statue of
Liberty.

9. Statue of Liberty
Temporarily closed due to damage from Hurricane
Sandy. The Statue of Liberty was a gift to the United States in
honor of the friendship established during the French Revolution. It
has become an American symbol of freedom and welcome to the
immigrants who come to the USA looking for a better life. While
the interior of the Statue of Liberty is closed for improvements,
you can still visit Liberty Island and nearbyEllis Island.

10. The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)

Founded in 1929 as the first museum dedicated entirely to

contemporary art, the MoMA is host to an impressive
collection of modern artistic efforts. From painting and
sculpture to film and architecture, the Museum of Modern
Art's diverse collection has something for everyone,
including kids.