Beijing

BEIJING - Ancient and Modern Capital

Beijing, China's capital city for over 700 years, is rich in history, both ancient and modern.

Beijing is home to some of the finest remnants of China's imperial past, most famously the Great Wall of China, China's legendary line of defense; the Forbidden City, the largest and best-preserved ancient imperial palace complex in the world; the Temple of Heaven, fascinating site of imperial worship; and the Summer Palace, a lovely imperial garden. There is also Tian'anmen Square where the People's Republic of China was inaugurated by Chairman Mao, whose body still resides there in its show casket.

Beijing has a glorious past, but is by no means stuck in the past. Standing side-by-side with old Beijing's crimson palace complexes are the city's modern buildings, the super-modern Olympic Village, with the Bird’s Nest Stadium and Water Cube; the dazzling shopping malls in Wangfujing Street and the colorful entertainment center of Houhai.

Despite all the changes in recent years, traditional lifestyle has been well-preserved in the oldest neighborhoods of the city — the Hutongs, which are mazes of narrow alleyways and old traditional courtyard houses. A tour by rickshaw through the Hutongs will give travelers a glimpse of old Beijing.

Perth

1. King’s Park

King’s Park and Botanic Garden is the green heart of the city, covering 400.6 hectares and located adjacent to the Swan River, approximately 1.5 kilometres from the Central Business District of Perth.

New Zealand

1. The Shire and Hobbiton Movie Set

The lush dairy farming landscaoe around the Waikato town of Matamata was used to portray the peaceful Shire region of Middle-earth. The village of Hobbiton was created here. It has since been rebuilt for the filming of The Hobbir Trilogy

German

1. Brandenburg Gate

The Brandenburg Gate (German: Brandenburger Tor) is an 18th century neoclassical triumphal arch in Berlin, one of the most well-known landmarks of Germany. It is built on the site of a former city gate that marked the start of the road from Berlin to the town of Brandenburg an der havel. It is located in the western part of the city centre of Berlin.

Sydney

1. Royal Botanical Garden

The Royal Botanic Gardens are an oasis in the heart of the Sydney city. The gardens were established as early as 1816 and Australia's first farm is evident in the middle garden. It is a delight to explore the collection of Australian and international plants, fountains, statues and monuments.

Also located in the Gardens is the National Herbarium of New South Wales, which houses plant specimens collected by Sir Joseph Banks on Captain Cooks east coast voyage in 1770.