Chengdu, the capital of China's Sichuan Province, blends modern urban life with centuries of history. It is famous as the home of the giant panda, but its cultural significance extends far beyond wildlife.
Manama pulses with stories from long ago and today. Just beyond the modern skyline lies Qal’at al‑Bahrain, a layered mound once the capital of Dilmun, used by societies from the Kassites to the Portuguese. Visitors can climb its crumbling stairways and imagine life across centuries there. Nearby, the Bahrain National Museum, opened in 1988 in a stately waterside building, displays archaeological finds from ancient Dilmun to modern-day artifacts and is one of the Gulf's first modern museums.
Istanbul is a city built on layers of empire. Spanning two continents, it was once the capital of three major empires: Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman. Visitors walking through the Sultanahmet district can witness this timeline firsthand, from the Roman-era Hippodrome to the Byzantine mosaics of Hagia Sophia, and the towering minarets of the Blue Mosque. At nearby Topkapi Palace, rooms still display the jeweled swords, ceremonial robes, and handwritten Qurans once used by Ottoman sultans.
Photo Credit: Photo by Elize Bezuidenhout on Unsplash
Photo Credit: Photo by Sam Mkhize on Unsplash
Photo Credit: Photo by Mark Harpur on Unsplash
Photo Credit: Photo by Elize Bezuidenhout on Unsplash
Photo Credit: Photo by Matthew Fainman on Unsplash
A seaside resort a few miles east of George. Known for its wonderful beaches backed by northward cliffs giving the area a sense of peace and tranquility.