At the top of Mount Vodno in the village of Gorno Nerezi, is located one of the most significant cultural and historical monuments in the region - the charming 12th-century St. Pantelejmon Monastery. Here you have the chance to explore the spectacular series of frescos which present the remarkable Byzantine art.

The entire central market neighbourhood is a gourmet food haven, which captures the spirit of the culture. Local cheese, meat, fruit, honey and homemade raki can be found here. This is a spectacular place to stroll, nibble local food and absorb the vitality of Albanian life.

Yuanmingyuan is a place steeped in myth. It was allegedly the most wonderous and luxurious imperial garden in Chinese history, with exotic animals wandering the park and rare flowers everywhere, dotted with gold sculptures and stones, with buildings that were built entirely of jade. However, the park was destroyed in 1860 by foreign intruders and local rebellions. Now all that's left is essentially a ruin, but still a beautiful one. There was little first-hand record of this garden and the only image remaining is a painting.

Built by Emperor Yongle in the early 15th century, the 720,000 square metres of Forbidden City was home to the imperial household. It was opened to the public in 1949. The well-preserved area boasts more than 800 buildings and 9,999 rooms. The Hall of Supreme Harmony, beautifully decorated with thousands of Dragons, was used to celebrate the Chinese emperor’s birthday. The Palace of Heavenly Purity served as the emperors’ living area and features several bedrooms.