Li River cruise in China

Li River cruise, one of the best place to see china's impressive landscapes

Li River cruise is one of the most famous journeys in the world. Choosing this cruise would highlight your trip to China by showing you the impressive landscapes that the region boasts. The river journey is supposed to be 5 hours and is more than 52 miles long. A reverse cruise upstream from Yangshou to Yangdi was introduced this year. Choosing this new option would enable you to shorten the time of the cruise by approximately 2 hours.

This journey would allow you to see peaks and villages with interesting names along the river while listening to the tour guides narrating stories about various famous places. The most spectacular part of the journey is between Yangdi and Xingping providing you with beautiful memories that can be cherished forever.

It is essential that you enquire about the boat thoroughly and ask for photos prior to paying for the boat. There are plenty of options to pick from so you would want to be sure about whether or not your expectations are being met. The boats vary from luxury cruises to Bamboo Boats with none of them being allowed to carry passengers on their way back to Guilin. You could be sitting in the comfort of your cabin or alternatively enjoying the outdoors depending on your budget and preferences. Be sure to bring a camera along because the sceneries are said to be photographers’ dream. When the cruise ends in Yangshou, you should be prepared to walk to the famous Wall Street since the wonderful hotels, cafes and restaurants there would allow you to explore the life in China. This little county of Yangshou is also a good place for hiking, cycling or walking.

Jurong Bird Park

Macaws at Jurong Bird Park, Singapore

Dr. Goh Keng Swee, the then Minister for Defence of Singapore, was the first one to conceive the idea of what is now known as the Jurong Bird Park. After a series of efforts and plannings, the Jurong Bird Show was finally inaugurated on 3rd January 1971. Owing to the fact that the Jurong Bird Show houses more than 380 bird species, it is considered as the world’s largest bird park. Have the pleasure of watching birds like Flamingos, Hornbills, Cocktails, Hawks, Macaws and Parrots under the guidance of well-trained guides at the Jurong Bird Show.

The main highlights of the Jurong Bird Show includes Penguin Chitchat, All Star Birdshow, World of Darkness, Bee-Eater & Starling Chitchat, Pelican Chitchat, Birds of Prey Show, Lunch with the Birds, Lory Loft, Parrot Paradise, Jungle Jewels, Southeast Asia Bird Aviary, the Riverine and so on.

The Penguin chitchat houses more than 200 penguins, Penguin Parade allows you to watch 5 species of Penguins, namely Macaroni, Fairy, King Penguin, Humboldt and Rockhopper.

Showcasing a large number of performing birds in a single act, the All Star Birdshow is one of the hit birdshows of Jurong Bird Park. Flamingos, Hornbills and Pelicans are the star attractions of this birdshow.

The Birds of Prey Show, as the name suggests, offers you to watch birds of prey like eagles, vultures, hawks and falcons. All those frightening birds can be seen here without any risk.

Performed at the Waterfall Aviary, Bee-Eater & Starling Chitchat show is another major hit among tourists visiting the Jurong Bird Park. Having the world’s only monorail running on an aviary, waterfall aviary offers you to see about 1,500 free-flying birds.

The specialty of Pelican Chitchat, on the other hand, is that it takes place at the world’s first underwater viewing gallery. Have fun watching some of the endangered species of pelicans at Pelican Chitchat Birdshow.

Lastly, don’t miss the golden opportunity of having a lunch while watching the beautiful Flamingos Lake at the Jurong Bird Park during your tours to Singapore.

The entry ticket for an adult costs SGD 20, whereas, it costs only SGD 13 for children between 3 to 12 years.

Great Smoky Mountains national park

Great Smoky Mountains national park

Named so for their misty blue and gray haze, the Great Smoky Mountains are a subrange of the Appalachian Mountain Range. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the country’s most visited national park, with over 9 million visitors annually.

The park offers beautiful vistas from Clingmans Dome, hikes along the 70 miles of Appalachian Trail that pass through the park, old growth forests, and plenty of wildlife. Laurel Falls is one of the most popular waterfalls in the park, falling 80 feet (24 meters), and accessed via Laurel Falls Trail. Cades Cove is another popular place to visit within the park. This Historic District features historic cabins, churches, and barns in an isolated community along an eleven mile scenic drive.

Grand Bazaar, Turkey

Grand Bazaar, Istanbul Turkey

One of the world’s first shopping malls, the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, Turkey is also one of the largest covered markets today. With over 3,000 shops along more than 60 covered streets, it has grown over its long history, and now receives from 250,000 to 400,000 customers each day.

The Bazaar first started around 1455 when the Ottoman Empire took control of then Constantinople (now Istanbul), and the expansions to the shopping center were finished by the early seventeenth century. The strategic location of Istanbul helped make the hub of trade and commerce in the Mediterranean. There are four main gates to the Grand Bazaar – one at each of the two major streets, whose intersection is at the southwest corner of the shopping center.

The market’s streets are named for the items sold in their zones, like jewelry, furniture, carpets, leather goods, clothing, and books. The famous Bazaar is a social meeting place, where the community goes to interact, having discussions over coffee, though there were originally no restaurants at the market. Until the mid-nineteenth century, trade at the market was very different from today, with a lack of competition between sellers and a single fixed price for items.

Today, the structure is being renovated to upgrade its heating and lighting and other facilities. Some argue that has become too westernized in recent history, but there are still many traditional parts to be found.

Atlantis Paradise Island

Atlantis Paradise Island

A resort and water park on an island in the Bahamas, Atlantis is designed to resemble the legendary lost city of Atlantis. The water park features nine water slides, eleven pools, and a mile-long river for tubing. Themed slides include the Mayan Temple slides, the Challenger, with two side-by-side slides so friends can race one another down, the Serpent Slide, and the Abyss, a 200 foot body slide with a 50 foot vertical drop into an underground lair. Access to Aquaventure Water Park is free for resort guests.

Another popular attraction at Atlantis Paradise Island is Dolphin Cay, where visitors can interact with Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, sea lions, stingrays and more.

 The resort also features several hotels, a shopping district, and frequent live performances from some of the hottest celebrities.

Katmai National Park

Katmai National Park

Katmai was first established as a National Monument in 1918, to protect the area surrounding Novarupta volcano, which formed the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes with its pyroclastic flow after the 1912 eruption. The National Monument was later expanded to cover over 4 million acres, becoming Katmai National Park in 1980. Katmai National Park was named for Mount Katmai, a stratovolcano located within the park.

Known for its volcanoes, brown bears, salmon, rivers, and rugged coastline, Katmai is a vacation destination for outdoor activities and adventures such as camping, hiking, backpacking, skiing, fishing, and kayaking. There are about fifteen active volcanoes in the park, notably Mount Martin, Mount Mageik, Trident, Novarupta, and Mount Katmai, which are situated within the preserve. Fourpeaked Volcano became active in 2006 after 10,000 years of lying dormant, demonstrating that there may be more active volcanoes that are yet unknown.

Also located in the park are archaeological sites dating back to prehistoric traditions. A glacier formed inside Mount Katmai, and a lake formed in the caldera. Coastal areas of the park, including Hallo Bay, Kukak Bay, and Chiniak, are popular for their clams and other food sources.

Brooks Camp is the developed area of the park, which offers bear viewing platforms for visitors to check out the nearly 100 annual brown bears that catch salmon in the river.

Olympic National Park

Olympic National Park

Olympic National Park, which receives nearly 3 million annual visitors, consists of a variety of landscapes, including mountains, ancient forests, rainforests, the coast and tide pools. First established as Mount Olympus National Monument in 1909, the park was re-designated with National Park status on June 29, 1938.

Olympic National Park is home to a variety of wildlife, and was named an International Biosphere Reserve in 1976. About 95% of the park is designated Olympic Wilderness.

Some of the mountains in Olympic National Park are topped with ancient glaciers, including the 5 kilometer long Hoh Glacier. Along the western edge of the park are the temperate rainforests, one of the wettest areas in the country.

 Popular activities for visitors to Olympic National Park include hiking, backpacking, and fishing.

Taj Mahal, India

Taj Mahal, Agra, Uttar Pradesh , India

One of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Taj Mahal is a symbol of enduring love, built by Emperor Shah Jahan to memorialize his late wife, Mumtaz. It is a mausoleum made of white marble, in which the Emperor had his wife entombed, and after his own death, Emperor Shah Jahan was entombed next to his wife.

Designed in the Mughal Empire style with touches of Persian influence and delicate designs, which is an entire complex that surrounds the mausoleum. The complex includes gardens, fountains, and a reflecting pool, which reflects the image of the TajMahal and its name means Crown Palace.

Sea World in Australia

Sea World in Australia

Sea World is a marine animal theme park, oceanarium and resort. The park offers roller coasters (including Sea Viper and Jet Rescue) exhibits like Dinosaur Island, and live shows such as Imagine – the dolphin show. The park also features marine life attractions with dolphins, penguins, polar bears, rays, seals, sharks, and seabirds.

Several Animal Adventures are offered at Sea World that allow visitors to the park to interact with the marine life, including dolphin encounters (with an extra fee).

The Sea World Resort contains hotels, spas, shopping, and the Wet ‘n’ Wild Water Park.

Milford Sound, New Zealand

Milford Sound, New Zealand

Milford Sound is a fjord carved out by a glacier, which created a narrow inlet, lined by steep cliffs and waterfalls. Milford Sound’s natural wonder has drawn millions of tourists to take in its awe-inspiring beauty, making it New Zealand’s top tourist destination. Wildlife sightings can include dolphins, penguins, seals, and glow worms.

Visitors to this fjord often take a boat ride along the water, but alternatives include bus tours, canoe or kayak rides, and an underwater observatory to view sea creatures and black coral. To experience Milford Sound in a completely different way, visitors can take a plane or helicopter ride around the area, which allows for views of the glaciers and mountains. Hiking the Milford Track is another popular method of viewing Milford Sound, but the trek will take about four days.

Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, USA

The first national park in the world, Yellowstone is home to Old Faithful Geyser, as well as the majority of the world’s geysers. Yellowstone features well preserved natural beauty, including its mountains, subalpine forest, canyons, rivers, and lakes. Yellowstone Lake is in the Yellowstone Caldera, an active volcano that is the largest in North America. The volcanic activity in Yellowstone is responsible for the geothermal features like the famous geysers

 The park also contains a variety of wildlife, including the Yellowstone Park Bison Herd, who roam free around the park. Other wildlife found around the park includes elk, bears, wolves, moose, and bighorn sheep.

Times Square in New York

Times Square in New York, USA 

One of the most iconic attractions in the world, Times Square has become a symbol of the bustling city and thriving culture of New York. Named for the newspaper The New York Timesafter it moved its headquarters to the square in 1904, Times Square is now a major entertainment center, home to television studios, businesses, and hundreds of bright flashing billboards.

Times Square is the most visited tourist attraction in the world, with about 40 million annual visitors. Every year since 1907, hundreds of thousands of people have gathered in Times Square on New Years Eve to watch the crystal ball drop at the strike of midnight, ushering in the new year. Today, millions of people flock to the square, and many more watch the celebrations on the annual New Year’s Eve television special.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Home to one of the  most active volcanoes on Earth, the Kilauea volcano,and one of the world’s most massive volcanic mass, Mauna Loa, the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is one of the most popular attractions of the state and a sacred place for the native Hawaiians. The volcanoes are highly active and the volcanic activity is constantly expanding the island. Kilauea is called “the world’s only drive-in volcano”. In its current level of activity it generates 250,000-650,000 cubic yards of lava each day. The natives worship Pele, the volcano goddess, who lives here.

Spanning over 333,000 acres from the summit of Maunaloa to the sea, the park offers visitors about 150 miles of hiking trails. The part showcases extraordinary natural diversity and visitors can find volcanic craters, deserts and rainforests within the park precincts. Apart from the unique experience of watching the lava from Kilauea as it flows into the sea, the Kilauea Visitor Center, the Crater Rim Drive, the Halemaumau Crater, the Thurston Lava Tube, and the Thomas A. Jaggar Museum form the key attractions of the national park.

Bryce Canyon National Park in USA

Bryce Canyon National Park at Utah in United States

Bryce Canyon National Park in southwestern Utah is one of the best places to understand the tremendous force Nature is. At the heart of the national park is the Bryce Canyon, a collection of huge domes or amphitheaters dug out by the multitude of short-lived streams that crisscross the region. The largest and most striking among these is the Bryce Amphitheater which spans over six square miles.

The rock spires that have been formed by the erosive effects of water and wind on the sedimentary rocks of this region are called the hoodoos. Over a million visitors head to the Bryce Canyon Park each year. While most of them come here to take a hike down the rugged trails, there are also the daring sorts who take a horseback rides down the canyon and commune with the wilderness.

The national park is located at the edge of the Paunsaugunt Plateau, the peaks tower at a height of about 8,000 to 9,000 feet from the base of the canyon. The western tableland is thickly forested while the eastern ridges feature a sharp bare drop straight to Paria Valley, 2,000 feet below.

Covering an area of over 35,835 acres, the Bryce Canyon National Park provides visitors spectacular views of the red, orange and white stone formations and of the breathtaking sunrises and sunsets that can be witnessed here. For millions of years, the rocks of the canyon have expanded and contracted to the frost and the steam giving birth to a stunning landscape and a coveted tourist destination in Utah.

Carlsbad Caverns in United States

Carlsbad Caverns at New Mexico, United States

Carlsbad Caverns National Park in the Guadalupe Mountains is a United States National Park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located in southeastern New Mexico, the greatest attraction of the park is the Carlsbad Cavern which consists of over 117 limestone caves formed from the underground action of sulphuric acid. The surrounding region is a beautiful vista of canyons and shrubby grasslands. Visitors can hike in through the natural cave entrance or take an elevator from the visitor center.

Carlsbad Caves consists mainly of a large cavern called the Big Room. The Big Room is a 4,000 feet long, 625 feet wide, and 255 feet high natural limestone chamber – third largest chamber in North America. In the world the Big Room ranks seventh among natural cave chambers. The park has been entered twice in the National Register of Historic Places – once as the Caverns Historic District and again as the Rattlesnake Springs Historic District. The Slaughter Canyon Cave offers an underground tour of the wilderness without modern amenities and initiates visitors into the secrets of natural living, now quite forgotten. The Bat Flight is another major attraction.