Forbidden City

The city of Beijing swirls around the mystery of the Forbidden City of China. Also known as the Imperial Palace Museum, it has almost 10,000 buildings splayed across 250 acres – the enclosure housed the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties for around 500 years. A behemoth of a national landmark, its inner workings hold thousands upon thousands of China's rarest treasures and artifacts. It should be no surprise that the Forbidden City of China is one of the premier places for tourists to visit. It's convenient location to the greater Beijing area certainly doesn't hurt, either.

The wall enveloping the Forbidden City China measures almost 30 feet in height. Held inside is the world's largest palace complex. The Forbidden City history begins in 1407 when over a million laborers began its construction. Thirteen years in the making, the interior is a violent yellow. The bricks that layer the ground, the roofs that rise into the sky, numerous decorations and shrines throughout the Forbidden City of China: all a similar shade of yellow. This is because the traditional color of royalty in China is, of course, yellow. Until 1911, when the revolution finally came to the streets of Beijing, this was where the emperors lived, where they governed, where they prayed.

The Forbidden City China is divided into two main parts. The outer court is where the emperors governed, the inner court is where they, along with the rest of the royal family, lived. The two are separated by the immense Gate of Celestial Purity. But first you have to get inside - the main gate to the Forbidden City is located to the south, opposite Tiananmen Square. This gate, also called the Meridian Gate, is famous for its resemblance to a phoenix. Like most of Chinese architecture and surroundings, most every aspect of the Forbidden City has a nickname – every hallway or courtyard is an ancient symbol, every nook and cranny has some secret meaning. The maze of walls and buildings is also strictly governed by the rigid principles of Feng Shui, the certainty of which gives the many structures an austere and stoic quality to them, the knowledge that everything is in its right place.

Harmony is an important, and repeating, theme to these hallowed grounds of the Forbidden City China. Reminders of the virtues of Confucius also litter the inner and outer courts, both in name and in spirit. If the enclosure has one major centerpiece, it is The Hall of Supreme Harmony, where emperors decreed laws for the Chinese people. The Hall of Central Harmony and Hall of Central Harmony are close contenders for this title, however.

And these are just a couple of the numerous halls that are spread throughout the Forbidden City of China. One of the most historically and culturally significant remnants of the former Chinese empire, it is also one of the busiest in regards to tourists. Even in the dead of winter, the crowds can be excruciating. The best time to wander the exquisite grounds is early in the morning, when the silent morning adds to the serenity and power of China's past glory

Angkor Wat

Exhibiting key style and elements of classic Khmer architecture, Angkor Wat remained shrouded in a veil of dense jungle vegetation long before its discovery in 1860. When the vast network of temples of Angkor Wat Cambodia were discovered, the heavy cloak of mystery surrounding the fascinating ruins was slowly lifted to reveal an extraordinary find that draws thousands of curious visitors each year. Angkor Wat temple was found due north of the city of Siem Reap, the most popular hub for tourists planning on exploring Angkor Wat Cambodia in its entirety.

The Khmer civilization was predominant in Cambodian history, and is accredited with building the incredible temples between 802 AD through 1220 AD. The site was chosen for its advantageous position for both agriculture and military presence and created to honor Vishnu, a pivotal Hindu God. The temples have exceeded the test of time and are considered one of the most spectacular accomplishments in the world. At one time, Angkor Wat temple was home to Khmer kings presiding over a huge land mass that spanned far beyond the borders of the country as it’s known today, all the way north to parts of China and beyond. The labyrinthine maze of almost one hundred temples in total reveal a once prominent social, religious and governing capital. Aside from the Angkor Wat temple structures, there were also numerous public buildings, palaces and regular homes that have long since broken down and vanished.

From afar, looking at this famous tourist attraction in Cambodia will fill you with awe and anticipation. The sheer beauty of the massive site can be overwhelmingly beautiful, especially when veiled in mist in the early morning hours. Mysterious passage ways, beautiful carvings adorning temple walls, tall towers and sweeping courtyards fill the temple landscape and create a sight unlike any other you may have seen. Scrutinized, admired and interpreted by thousands of archaeologists, architects and other designers, the blueprint of Angkor Wat Cambodia remains one of the most unique in the world. Even more beauty is added gracefully to this tourist attraction in Cambodia by a large expanse of gleaming water found in front of the main entrance.

There are many major and minor temples and buildings to explore at Angkor Wat. The Angkor Wat temple Bayon is one of the best known and favorites of many visitors for its enormous Bodhisattva Avilokiteshvara stone head carvings. The incredible contrast of the stone buildings creates a look that seems straight out of a time centuries ago. At the Temple of Ta Prohm, the mammoth tree trunks and roots grown over parts of the structure create one of the most photographed sites in the ancient city. Ta Prohm is the only temple that has not been restored, but left just as it was found. The courtyards, walls and roofs of Ta Prohm have been repaired to prevent further deterioration and the inner area has been unclogged of dense bush and jungle vegetation.

If you’re planning a trip to Siem Riep you can easily reach it via a hop over the Thai border, travel overland from either Vietnam or Laos or catch a direct flight into the city. From Siem Riep you can easily plan an excursion to Angkor Wat. Be sure to give yourself at least two days for a thorough exploration. The area is not one to hurry through! You will also find a number of guides set up around the temple area that will gladly show you around Angkor for a fee, and interpret the different structures. Knowing the going tour rate is a good advantage to have. Though Angkor Wat is the biggest tourist attraction in Cambodia, Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, and a number of other areas are also great places to visit and will give you a synoptic overview of the country

Baalbek

Situated North of Beirut stand ones of Lebanon’s greatest treasures, the Baalbek ruins. An impressive cluster of Roman temples to a triad of gods, Jupiter, Venus and Mercury stand as a monument to centuries of Roman occupation.

In the heart of the Bekaa Valley, Baalbek was a bustling trading post linking two main trade routes and connecting the Eastern Roman Empire in Damascus to the Mediterranean Sea where produce could be transported to all corners of Byzantine.

Known as Heliopolis, Baalbek was revered by the Greeks as being home to the sun god. Subsequent centuries of occupation saw Baalbek Lebanon successfully made a Roman township under the reign of Julius Caesar.

The importance attributed to Baalbek led to the construction of some of the biggest religious temples to be found in the world. The Baalbek ruins are set over a sprawling complex of fallen columns and crumbling structures. However, thanks to years of renovation some magnificent examples of Roman architecture still stand today. The site is a major draw for tourists visiting Lebanon and it is considered among many archaeologists to be a true wonder of the ancient world.

3 Baalbek temples stand as significant monuments above the rest of the Baalbek ruins, the temples of Jupiter, Bacchus and Venus.

Of one of the largest Roman temples to be ever constructed, only six of the original 54 columns remain standing upright from the Baalbek temple of Jupiter. Each column reaches 22 meters in height and dominates the landscape from its raised position, the centre piece of which once stood the Great Court.

Remarkably well preserved, the Temple of Bacchus stands as a fine example of Imperial Roman architecture. The temple remains one of the best Roman temples of the Baalbek ruins and perhaps the most well preserved Roman structure to be found in the continent. Much mystery remains over the purpose of this temple. While smaller than the Jupiter temple, it still towers above many other similar monuments in the world including the Parthenon in Athens.

The smallest of the Baalbek ruins is the temple of Venus. Having been utilized during the latter years of the Roman Empire, Venus was converted into a Church following the rise of Christianity.

Additional to the Baalbek site, a lone remaining staircase betrays the once grand Temple of Mercury.

You can easily spend an entire day exploring the ancient cities soaring temple columns and intricate stonework. Guided tours offer a great insight into both Roman history and Lebanese culture. Surrounding Baalbek Lebanon is also a number of other Roman remains and Islamic sites including an Umayyad Mosque. A visit to these sites makes a good addition to the Baalbek temple ruins.

Annually Baalbek comes alive with the Baalbek festivals. Almost unrivalled throughout the Middle East, the Baalbek festivals consist of drama, music and light shows staged throughout the Baalbek Lebanon complex sending you on a journey through Lebanese folklore. Showcasing the height of Lebanese culture, the Baalbek festivals provide an unforgettable experience for any visitor