Wonders of the World. CHINA Great Wall of China Thousands of miles long, passing through 156 counties, with 7,062 lookout towers, the Great Wall of China is the largest cultural relic humans have ever built. It snakes through China ever so majestically, around undulating hills and through a vast countryside, stretching from Shanhaiguan in the east to Lop Lake in the west. Wall construction began more than 2,000 years ago in an attempt to keep out the tribes from the north. The most colorful (and less costly) times to go are spring and autumn — pink cherry blossoms blanket the landscape outside of Beijing in late-March and in mid-October red leaves abound near Badaling National Forest Park.
UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA Taj Mahal An architectural love letter, this massive marble temple in northern India is one of the most recognizable structures on the planet. It was built in the first half of the seventeenth century by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to hold the body of his beloved third wife, Mumtaz Mahal (the building is now a mausoleum for both). The construction took more than 22 years to complete, requiring as many as 20,000 workers. Some skilled artisans came from as far as Constantinople (today, Istanbul), and about 1,000 elephants were used to transport materials. Today, vehicles that emit pollution are not allowed within a mile of the structure, so be prepared to walk or hire a battery-powered vehicle called a tuk tuk.
CUSCO REGION, PERU Machu Picchu Eight thousand feet above sea level, this five-century-old pre-Columbian site was once the home to the Incas. Until American historian Hiram Bingham publicized his findings of the area in a 1911 book called "Across South America," the mountain-top ruins were widely unknown to anyone living outside of the Urubamba Valley and nearby Cusco. Since Spanish colonialists had no idea of Machu Picchu's existence, its Incan architecture and design were preserved. There are two ways up to the "old peak," by train or on foot. Unless you're wildly adventurous — and don't mind a two-to four-day massive hike up the Inca Trail — we recommend you go by rail, stay overnight in Aguas Calientes and take an early bus to the ruins to beat the crowds (and in the sweltering summer months, the sun).
ECUADOR Gálapagos Islands Located some 600 miles off the South American coast, this Ecuadorian archipelago has been drawing nature-lovers to its remote shores ever since an unknown geologist named Charles Darwin explored the islands in 1835. A onetime outpost of pirates and prisoners, the Gálapagos Islands are also home to an incredibly diverse collection of flora and fauna, including many species — such as the Gálapagos giant tortoise and marine iguana — that can be found nowhere else on Earth. Today, 97 percent of the archipelago's land area is protected by a national park. Visitors can get up-close-and-personal with wildlife on guided boat tours, scuba expeditions and hikes, where curious creatures often approach sightseers without hesitation.
GIZA, EGYPT Pyramids of Giza Like Stonehenge, many mysteries surround the construction of these three pyramids which are part of a mausoleum complex. The Great Pyramid of Giza, the best-known of the group standing outside of Cairo, is the only one of the ancient Seven Wonders of the World that also graces our list. Finished around 2,560 BC, the 481-foot creation (now shorter due to erosion) was the tallest man-made structure in the world for 38 centuries until the completion of Lincoln Cathedral in 14th century England. How were these made? Were space aliens needed to cut, move and stack the millions of stones, some weighing 88 tons? Does some powerful force emanate from them today? Go visit and judge for yourself, by bus, taxi or camel.
QUINTANA ROO, MEXICO Chichen Itza The 1,500-year-old pyramids, located just 75 miles from the town of Merida, may be less popular than their counterparts in Egypt, but they're just as striking. The main attraction at this Mayan site is El Castillo, the 78-foot, 91-step central pyramid. For those visiting this part of the world during the summer months, it's wise to arrive in the early morning or late afternoon when temperatures are cooler. But the absolute best time to travel to "the mouth of the well of Itza" is at sunset during the spring or autumn equinoxes when shadows give the illusion that a large serpent is slithering down the pyramid. Other site structures include the Temple of the Warriors, the Ball Court and Tzompantli, the Wall of Skulls.
ARGENTINA Iguazu Falls Iguazú National Park, situated on the international border of Argentina and Brazil, features one of the world’s most striking natural wonders. Iguazu Falls offers a misty and majestic realm of rushing, roaring water with rainbows adorning the cascades, which stretch for nearly two miles. Experience this marvel up close from one of the wooden walkways that stretch out over the river, and be sure to take in the spectacular vista from the giant balcony of the "Devil's Throat." According to ancient myths, a jealous god slashed the Iguazu River (meaning “great water”) in two, creating falls as high as 269 feet. The UNESCO site is bordered by its sister park Iguaçu in Brazil, and the falls are surrounded by the lush Misiones rainforest, so don’t be surprised to see tropical birds flitting about as they search for fish in quieter waters.
JORDAN Petra Chiseled out of pale pink sandstone, the ancient metropolis of Petra in Jordan's Jebel al-Madhbah mountains is an architectural and engineering marvel nonpareil. Carved more than 2,000 years ago by the Nabataeans, a nomadic Arab tribe, the breathtaking megalith boasts an abundance of awe-inspiring rock facades, formations, tombs and temples. You enter the UNESCO World Heritage Site through the "Siq," a narrow, winding gorge so steep you must crane your neck to see the sky. After about a kilometer, the gorge opens to reveal the massive "Treasury," one of Petra's most famous ruins. Rose-red Petra is stunning at night, when both the Siq and city are lined by thousands of candles, as well as during the golden glow of the late afternoon.
SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA Angkor Wat Built by Khmer King Suryavarman II in the first half of the 12th century, Angkor Wat was one of the most significant architectural achievements of ancient times, and remains the world's largest religious monument today. The sprawling Cambodian temple complex is a source of national pride and international renown thanks to its distinctive sandstone spires, intricate artistry and massive moat that encloses the grounds in a three-and-a-half-mile perimeter. First dedicated to Vishnu as a Hindu temple and later a center of Theravada Buddhism, the well-preserved site is one of over 1,000 temples in the Angkor area, many of which are easily accessible from nearby Siem Reap.
ARIZONA, USA Grand Canyon If North America's greatest natural wonder — a red-hued canyon 277 river miles long, eighteen miles wide, and one mile deep — doesn't make your mouth drop in awe, then you might not be human. While the north rim attracts fewer visitors, you'll most likely appreciate the epic vistas of the south rim. There are plenty of spots to pull the car over and have a look from the top, but we recommend trekking along the rim on foot. You can also descend into the canyon's depths via mules or guided hiking excursions, experience "The Heart of the Canyon" by raft on the Colorado River, and even spend the night at a lodge below the rim. Source: http://www.gayot.com/travel/bucket-list-where-to-go/grand-canyon.html Enjoy looking at those amazing photos, folks.
I have been to Petra. It's remarkable enough as it is, but apparently only around 30% of the whole site has been unearthed, so who knows what remains? Of the other iconic places I've seen, I would recommend Pompeii. I'd also add that if you go there, a trip to Herculaneum is well worth doing. If anything, it is even more interesting. I'd also recommend going to the Archaeological Museum in Naples, as there is so much from Pompeii at the museum (as well as lots of other interesting stuff). One place that might not be obvious is Libya, but I was stunned by the (Roman) sites at Leptis Magna and Sabratha. In Tunisia, little remains of Carthage, but the amphitheatre at El Djem is breathtaking. In Europe, Moscow and St Petersburg are incredible. We spent an entire day at The Hermitage and probably could have spent three days there. For sheer Rococo bravado, the Catherine Palace is astonishing as well. Something else that a visitor to Russia simply has to see is the artwork in many of the metro stations in Moscow. We bought train tickets purely so we could go from station to station!
My partner lives in St.Petersburg so I spend several months a year living there and agree the Hermitage is a place you could spend a week in and not see a fraction of really. "The Church of The Spilled Blood" is also breathtaking both inside and out. The Metro in St.Petersburg is equally impressive with its chandeliers and Italian marble everywhere. I have been going there for 12 years now and haven't seen all the palaces and museums.
When I was young I used to want to visit those places considered wonders of the world, but if today I would be given a chance to choose a destination place to visit among those already posted, it for sure would St. Petersburg hands down. I love the iconic artwork of the Catholic Orthodox Church that seems to be very influential in the architecture of this city.