China
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Mogao Caves
These Buddhist cave temples were a center of culture on the Silk Road from the 4th to the 14th centuries and contain well-preserved religious murals and carvings spanning that entire period.
Temple of Heaven
Completed in 1420, this magnificent temple was considered the meeting point of Earth and Heaven. For 500 years it hosted the emperors' sacrifices and prayers for a good harvest at the winter solstice.
Giant Buddha of Leshan
This is the tallest stone Buddha statue in the world, carved out of a cliff by an 8th-century monk to calm the turbulent confluence of three rivers. Each eyebrow is 18 feet long.
Temple of the Town God (Chenghuang Miao)
This Taoist temple was founded in 1403 but the current temple dates from the early 1990s. It is dedicated to a local hero and is part of a large marketplace.
Dazu Rock Carvings
These magnificent Buddhist sculptures were carved in stone cliffs around Dazu, Szechuan province, between 892 and 1245. They are a World Heritage Site for their importance to Buddhist art.
Tirthapuri Hot Springs
Located north of Mount Kailash, Tirthapuri is an important pilgrimage site. After bathing in the hot springs, pilgrims visit a monastery that enshrines the footprints of Guru Rinpoche.
Potala Palace
This castle-monastery was long the primary residence of the Dalai Lama, who now lives in exile in India. Today it is a state museum and World Heritage Site.
Jokhang Temple
This historic temple in Lhasa is the holiest site in Tibetan Buddhism. It houses a venerated Buddha statue and has been a major pilgrimage destination for centuries.