The Great Wall, China - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: The Great Wall, China

Weather: Partly cloudy, 59/91F.

Route: From Xanadu 548 km south on G1013.

Significance: Another iconic image, the Great Wall actually 20,000 km long. It can be seen from the moon. The building of the wall started in the 3rd century BC and was ongoing until the 17th century CE.

Website: UNESCO World Heritage Site

Image:

The Great Wall stretching into the horizon (from whc.unesco.org)

Xanadu, China - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Site of Xanadu, China 

Weather: Partly cloudy in the morning, then cloudy and windy, 41/63F.

Route: From Chengde 593 km NNW on G45 and G16.

Significance: The site of the famous Xanadu, capital of the great 13th century Mongol ruler Kulai Khan. His huge kingdom across Asia helped to spread Tibetan Buddhism. 

Website: UNESCO World Heritage Site

Image:

The ruins of Xanadu (from whc.unesco.org)

Chengde, China - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Chengde, China

Weather: Rain likely, 44/78F.

Route: From Shenyang 575 km WSW on G1 and G25.

Population: 3,473,200

Places to visit: Patala Palace, Imperial Summer Palace of Mountain Resort, Temple of Universal Peace, Eight Outer Temples in Bishu Village, Temple of Universal Happiness, Museum of Summer Resort, Puyou Temple.

Website: UNESCO World Heritage Site

Images:

Mountain Resort (from whc.unesco.org)

Pavilion at Mountain Resort (from whc.unesco.org)

Shenyang, China

 Place: Shenyang, China

Weather: Partly cloudy, 67/88F.

Route: From Harbin 546 km SW on G1.

Population: 9,070,093

Places to visit: Shenyang Imperial Palace (UNESCO World Heritage Site), Shenyang Botanical Garden, Shenyang Zhaoling Mausoleum, Liaoning Provincial Museum, Shenyang Dongling Park, 9.18 Historical Museum, Shenyang Aviation Museum, China Industrial Museum.

Images:

Shenyang Imperial Palace (from asiacultural.co.uk)

Shenyang skyline (from tourist-destinations.com)

Harbin, China

 Place: Harbin, China

Weather: Considerable cloudiness, 53/71F.

Route: From Vladivostok 509 km NW.

Population: 10,009,854

Places to visit: Harbin Ice and Snow World, Unit 731 Museum, Volga Manor, Zhaolin Park, Temple of Bliss, St Sophia Cathedral, Harbin Confucian Temple, Heilongjiang Science and Technology Museum.

Images:

Harbin Ice Festival - the largest in the world (from bbc.com)

St. Sophia Cathedral (from rbth.com)

Vladivostok, Russia

 Place: Vladivostok, Russia

Weather: Rain, 49/58F.

Route: From Sapporo 766 km west.

Population: 604,901

Places to visit: Lighthouse Egersheld, Eagle's Nest Mount, S-56 Submarine Museum, Voroshilovskaya Batareya Museum, Nikolai's Triumphal Arch, Vladivostok Fortress, Pimorye State Art Gallery, The Automotive Antiques Museum, Botanical Garden-Institute, Cathedral of the Intercession, Museum of the History of the Far East, The Museum of the Pacific Fleet, The Sukhanovs' House Museum, Zarya Center for Contemporary Art.

Images:

The Golden Bridge of Vladivostok (from rbth.com)

Vladivostok Fortress Museum (from afar.com)

Sapporo, Japan

 Place: Sapporo, Japan

Weather: Some clouds in the morning giving way to sunny skies in the afternoon, 57/79F.

Route: From Hiraizumi 657 km north.

Population: 1,973,832

Places to visit: Mt. Moiwa, Moerenuma Park, Nakajima Park, Historical Village of Hokkaido, Kokuei Takino Suzuran Hillside National Park, Mount Okura Observatory, Sapporo Beer Museum, The Hokkaido University Museum, Hill of the Buddha, Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art, Sapporo Olympic Museum.

Images:

Odori Park in central Sapporo (from planetware.com)

Sapporo City Hall (from livejapan.com)

Hiraizumi, Japan - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Hiraizumi, Japan

Weather: Sunny skies, 53/79F.

Route: From Nikko 344 km NNE.

Population: 7,408

Significance: In the 11th and 12th centuries this city was the capital of northern Japan and the rival of Kyoto. Pure Land Buddhism, a mixture of Shintoism and Buddhism, was the major religion of that time. In the 12th century the city was destroyed and never again attained its foothold of power.

Website: UNESCO World Heritage Site

Images:

Gardens with streams were a part of the Pure Land Buddhism movement (from whc.unesco.org)

Konjikido Golden Hall (from whc.unesco.org)

Nikko, Japan - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Nikko, Japan

Weather: Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms, 48/67F.

Route: From Tokyo 152 km north on E4.

Population: 76,452

Places to visit: Nikko Tosho-gu, Kegon Falls, Yudaki Falls, Taiyuimbyo Shrine, Nikko Tamozawa Imperial Villa Memorial Park, Takinoo Shrine, Shinkyo Bridge.

Website: UNESCO World Heritage Site

Video:

Images:

Nikko Gate (from whc.unesco.org)

Shinkyo Bridge (from livejapan.com)

Tokyo, Japan

 Place: Tokyo, Japan

Weather: Rain showers early with sunshine later in the day, 59/73F.

Route: From Mount Fuji 138 km ENE.

Population: 13,988,129

Places to visit: Meiji Jingu Shrine, Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, Edo-Tokyo Museum, Ueno Park, Tokyo National Museum, Samurai Museum, Senso-ji Temple, Tokyo Skytree, Mori Art Museum, Hama Rikyu Gardens, The National Art Center - Tokyo, Nezu Shrine, Nezu Museum, National Museum of Nature and Science, Rikugien Garden, Akasaka Palace, National Museum of Western Art, The East Gardens of the Imperial Palace.

Images:

The neon center of downtown Tokyo (from insider.com)

Sensoji Temple (from vogue.com)

Fujisan, Japan - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Fujisan (Mt. Fuji), Japan

Weather: Cloudy with periods of rain, 58/65F.

Route: From Kii Mountains 424 km ENE.

Significance: Mount Fuji is one of the most iconic mountains in the world. Since the 12th century it has been a place for religious reflection. There are many Buddhist and Shinto shrines on its slopes.

Website: UNESCO World Heritage Site

Images:

Iconic view of Mt. Fuji from Lake Motosu (from whc.unesco.org)

Buddhist shrine on the slopes of Mt. Fuji (from whc.unesco.org)

Kii Mountains, Japan - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Kii Mountains, Japan

Weather: Mostly cloudy skies, 52/72F.

Route: From Nara 75 km south.

Significance: This area of Japan has long been a place of spiritual retreat. There are pilgrimage routes from the cities of Nara and Kyoto to the sacred sites of Yoshino, Kumano Sanzan and Koyasan. 

Website: UNESCO World Heritage Site

Video:

Images:

Kumano Sanzan (from uniquejapantours.com)

Buddhist shrine along a pilgrimage route (from panorama.solutions)

Nara, Japan - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Nara, Japan

Weather: Mostly sunny skies, 59/81F.

Route: From Kyoto 45 km south.

Population: 359,667

Significance: Nara was the capital of Japan from 710 to 784, just prior to the move to Kyoto. There are Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines in Nara that have been preserved or rebuilt from the 8th century.

Website: UNESCO World Heritage Site

Video:

Images:

Todai-ji Temple (from whc.unesco.org)

Yakushi-ji Temple (from whc.unesco.org)

Kyoto, Japan - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Kyoto, Japan

Weather: Mainly sunny, 59/81F.

Route: From Osaka 55 km NNE.

Population: 1,464,890

Places to visit: Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine, Kinkakuji Temple, Sanjusangendo Temple, Nijo Castle, Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Tofuku-ji Temple, Samurai & Ninja Museum, Eikando Zenrinji Temple, Ginkakuji Temple, Katsura Imperial Villa, Toji Temple, Kyoto Railway Museum, Ninna-ji Temple, Kennin-ji Temple, Mt. Kurama, Nanzen-ji Temple, Okochi Sanso Garden, Sanzen-in Temple, Philosopher's Walk, Tenryuji Temple, Kodai-ji Temple, Kyoto Botanical Garden, Sugakuin Imperial Villa, Kyoto Imperial Palace, Kamigamo Shrine, Shimogamo Jinja, Daikaku-ji Temple, Kyoto Gyoen National Garden.

Images:

Yasaka Pagoda (from neverendingvoyage.com)

Kyoto skyline (from ft.com)

Osaka, Japan

 Place: Osaka, Japan

Weather: Cloudy skies, 57/73F.

Route: From Himeji 92 km east.

Population: 2,753,862

Places to visit: Osaka Castle Park, Umeda Sky Building, Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine, Hozenji Yokocho, Osaka Museum of Housing and Living, Hozen-ji Temple, Osaka Museum of History, Namba Yasaka Shrine, Osaka Science Museum, Kemasakuranomiya Park.

Images:

Osaka Castle (from japancheapo.com)

Riverwalk in Osaka (from traveldailymedia.com)

Himeji-jo, Japan - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Himeji-jo, Japan

Weather: Overcast, 55/69F.

Route: From Okayama 92 km ENE.

Significance: Himeji castle was built in the 17th century. Not only is it beautiful (it is called the White Heron Castle) the 83 buildings have many defensive devices that would hide troops or expose invading soldiers in areas where they could be more easily killed.

Website: UNESCO World Heritage Site

Video:

Images:

Himeji Castle the White Heron (from whc.unesco.org)

Castle grounds and the city of Himeji (from whc.unesco.org)

Okayama, Japan

 Place: Okayama, Japan

Weather: Cloudy, 54/72F.

Route: From Hiroshima 160 km ENE.

Population: 720,841

Places to visit: Okayama Korakuen Garden, Kibitsu Shrine, Kibisuhiko Shrine, Inujima Seirensho Museum, Yumeji Art Museum, Okayama Castle, Handayama Botany, Nishigawa Canal Park, The Okayama Prefectural Museum of Art, Saidai-ji Temple, Manekineko Museum of Art.

Images:

Okayama Korakuen Garden (from okayama-japan.jp)

Nishigawa Canal Park (from okayama-japan.jp)

Hiroshima, Japan

 Place: Hiroshima, Japan

Weather: Sunshine along with some cloudy intervals, 54/75F.

Route: From Seokguram Grotto 336 km SE.

Population: 1,119,391

Places to visit: Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum - UNESCO World Heritage Site, Shukkei-en Garden, Hiroshima Museum of Art, Mitaki Temple, Hiroshima Orizuru Tower, Hiroshima Castle, Hiroshima Prefectural Art Museum, Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art, Hiroshimagokoku Shrine.

Images:

The remains of the Prefecture Industrial Promotion Hall that is part of the Peace Memorial Museum (from japantimes.co.jp)

Hiroshima Castle (from japan-guide.com)