An adventurous trip awaits you here, at the end of the Beara Peninsula, as this place can only be reached by cable car. Once you make the journey, you can enjoy the many charms of Dursey Island, from sea life, ruins and standing stones to views of its lighthouse on Bull Rock. But the most impressive thing of all are the stunning sunsets, known as ‘Europe’s Last’.

Built in the early 1400s, around the same time as the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven was where emperors prayed for good harvests. The vast park contains several ceremonial buildings, the most striking being the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests with its blue-tiled roof and intricate wooden ceiling. The original hall was destroyed by lightning in 1889 but rebuilt soon after. Other highlights include the Hall of Abstinence, where emperors fasted before rituals, and the Circular Mound Altar — a three-tiered marble platform symbolising heaven itself. Today, the park is as much about everyday life as it is about history: locals gather here in the mornings for tai chi, dancing, and music.

One of Beijing’s oldest hutongs — the city’s traditional narrow alleyways lined with courtyard houses — Nanluoguxiang has kept its Ming dynasty street layout while changing completely in character. Today, the lane is dotted with cafés, bars, boutiques, and souvenir shops, drawing a mix of tourists and young locals. It runs from Drum Tower East Street down to Ping’an Street, and it’s usually packed in the evenings when the lights come on. The old courtyards are still there behind the modern shopfronts, so you get a contrast between Beijing’s past and its current street life.