An exquisite example of Uyghur Islamic architecture.

A prestigious learning institute of old Shanghai.

The world's largest statue of Mao Zedong looks out over the city where he discovered Communism.

An out-of-place slice of France, smack in the middle of Shanghai.

It took an artist 20 years to create this sprawling sculpture garden honoring the area's ancient inhabitants.

The tiny statues form China's only known terracotta army from the Han dynasty.

A lush desert oasis in the shape of a narrow crescent.

This incredible Chinese theme park may be the largest bootleg in history.

Rock-cut caves and 7,000 Buddhist sculptures carved into the nearly sheer face of a sandstone mountain.

The tallest stationary dunes on Earth also happen to sing.

270 million year-old forest of stone.

A total of 999 stairs lead visitors through a massive hole in a mountain known as the Gateway to Heaven.

This abandoned gun tower was built to defend the River Thames from a French naval attack.

A perilous medieval road leading right into the sea.

Although resembling a grand Buddhist temple, this structure is actually the largest mosque in China.

Giant animal sculptures are created with the rice straw leftover from the fall harvest each year.

This crystal clear water basin feeds the Lao river and powers a hydroelectric power plant.

A historic holy well hidden near a charming English park.

The first public library in the Americas has more than 45,000 books dating back to the 15th century.

With its vaulted ceiling and gilded details, this University of Washington library would feel right at home inside an old palace.

This groundbreaking 16th-century map is known as "America's birth certificate."

This museum sits on the site of a decommissioned military communications base.

Remnants of the Nazis' occupation of Denmark linger along the sand.

Part museum, part piece of Arthurian-inspired history, this stately hall attracts King Arthur fans from miles away.