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.

The region of Lapland, Finland, is a dream come true for travelers in search of a real winter wonderland. The area has long been associated with Father Christmas, reindeer and a dense, snow-covered wilderness.

Konya has served as a spiritual center for centuries. Every December, the Şeb‑i Arûs festival marks the passing of Rumi, the Persian mystic, and draws Sufis and visitors from around the world to witness the Sema. Whirling dervish dance is performed to the sound of ney flutes and drums. In one of the country's most hushed and vivid traditions, performers spin in unison in flowing white skirts, a scene that blends meditation with graceful motion in a way found nowhere else.

Behind this imposing entrance you'll find the former "Queen of the Hanseatic League", today a UNESCO cultural heritage site. In 1987 the entire Old Town was distinguished with this status: a work of art comprising over 1,000 buildings ranging from Romanesque to modern styles that have been designated as protected historic monuments. They include the City Hall, Gothic brick churches, the Buddenbrook House, magnificent merchants' houses, the medieval Holy Ghost Hospital, and looming brick gabled h

Vancouver is a city in southwestern Washington located along the north bank of the Columbia River, directly across from Portland, Oregon. It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited areas in the Pacific Northwest and serves as the county seat of Clark County.