Xi’an, located in central China’s Shaanxi Province, served as the starting point of the ancient Silk Road and was the capital of 13 imperial dynasties. Its long history is most famously represented by the Terracotta Army, an underground army of life-sized warriors discovered in 1974. Each figure has distinct facial features, hairstyles, and armor, designed to protect Emperor Qin Shi Huang in the afterlife.
Punakha sits in one of Bhutan’s most fertile valleys, cradled where the Mo Chhu and Pho Chhu rivers meet. For centuries it served as the kingdom’s capital and remains a place rich with stories woven through its fields, temples, and riverbanks. The city’s low elevation brings warmer weather than much of Bhutan’s highland regions, and rice paddies fill the landscape with vivid green during planting and golden hues at harvest.
Meknes, one of Morocco’s four imperial cities, is a historic jewel known for its blend of grandeur and tradition. Once the capital under Sultan Moulay Ismail in the 17th century, the city was envisioned as the “Versailles of Morocco,” filled with monumental gates, sprawling walls, and lavish palaces.
Charlottetown, the charming capital of Prince Edward Island, is where history and modernity blend seamlessly. Often called the "Birthplace of Confederation," this picturesque city holds a special place in Canadian history as the site of the 1864 Charlottetown Conference, which paved the way for the creation of Canada.
Photo Credit: Photo by Juanma Clemente-Alloza on Unsplash
The snorkeling is extraordinary in the reefs of Cano Island. Cano has its roots in pre-Columbian trading and is also a former burial ground for coastal Indians.