The Yuejiang Tower in Nanjing boasts a unique history, having achieved fame centuries before its actual construction. In 1374, the first Emperor of the Ming Dynasty envisioned a tower by the Yangtze River, naming it Yuejiang (literally meaning "overlooking the river"). He commissioned authors across the country to write articles praising the magnificent tower, even though it was not yet built. One of these articles became a classic, but the tower's construction was not started until 2000. The reputation of the Yuejiang Tower preceded its actual existence by 650 years.

The Song Dynasty Town (or Songcheng) is an exciting, albeit slightly kitschy, theme park in Hangzhou. This is one of China’s largest dynastic theme parks, replicating the architecture and street scenes of that era.The park's main attraction, however, aren't its countless exotic exhibits, but a top-notch song and dance show that ranks amongst the finest in the world.

Siena still runs on medieval time—in the best way. Its centre hasn’t changed much in centuries, and that’s part of the charm. The Piazza del Campo is the heart of it all—it’s where the Palio horse race happens twice a year. Climb the Torre del Mangia for wide views across the rooftops. The cathedral’s worth the time, especially its black-and-white striped interior, detailed floor mosaics (open seasonally), and the Piccolomini Library tucked inside. Don’t skip the crypt or the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo—they’re quieter and give you a different angle on the city.

This 1,000-year old pagoda continues to capture the imagination of the Chinese for the legend behind it - one of captivity, magic and a triumph of good over evil. The top of the five-storey pagoda is accessible by lift and the view over the West Lake from here is truly amazing.