分类必应美图下的文章

武陵山脉的最高峰梵净山，中国西南 Mount Fanjing, the highest peak of the Wuling Mountains, in southwest China (© Keitma/Alamy)

Cloudy with a chance of enlightenment

While it didn't become a UNESCO World Heritage Site until 2018, Mount Fanjing (also known as Fanjingshan) has been a sacred and tranquil site for Buddhists for centuries. At 8,430 feet, Mount Fanjing is the highest peak of the Wuling mountain range in southwest China's Guizhou province. The mountain is believed to be a place in which one can reach their spiritual enlightenment. While many of the Buddhist temples built here have been destroyed, several remain, including the Temple of the Buddha and the Temple of Maitreya. Those two temples, linked by a small bridge, are located on top of Red Cloud Golden Peak, the rocky 'thumb' we're looking at here. In addition to the area's history, the mix of cloud, fog, and light, create a calming atmosphere and an air of mystery.

旧圣胡安的圣费利佩海角城堡，波多黎各 Castillo del Morro in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico (© grandriver/Getty Images)

The old guard at Old San Juan

This photo shows a different side of Castillo San Felipe del Morro on the coast of Old San Juan in Puerto Rico. Spanish colonists had the fortress built to control entry to the harbor of the settlement they called 'Ciudad de Puerto Rico’'—which, translated to English, means 'rich port city.' Castillo del Morro was held by Spain from 1539 to 1898, when the United States seized control after the Spanish-American War. Today it's a World Heritage Site and a major attraction for visitors to this, the oldest part of one of North America's oldest capital cities.

In September 2017, Puerto Rico was devasted by the landfall of Hurricane Maria, which wreaked havoc the landscape, people, and livelihoods of this US territory. One thing the people of Puerto Rico have encouraged since that terrible natural disaster is to come visit. With an economy based heavily on tourism, it's a way to rebuild the island's economy and to see some amazing colonial sites, as well as the bounty of its tropical Caribbean environment.

Tegallalang terrace farms in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia (© gorgeoussab/Shutterstock)

A lush, green escape

With the tourist season winding down and rainy season still forthcoming, September is an ideal time to visit Bali. If you’re lucky enough to go, plan a daytrip to the Tegallalang farming terraces in Ubud, where visitors can capture gorgeous photos of the landscape and get a unique glimpse into Balinese culture. The island of Bali has a rich tradition of agriculture, with an especially unique method of water management for rice farming. The irrigation system here, known as Subak, is recognized by UNESCO for its cultural significance. Water flows through temples and into the rice paddies, carved into the hillsides like steps. It's a tradition that dates back thousands of years, based on the Balinese philosophical principle of Tri Hita Karana, which refers to a relationship between humans, the earth, and the gods.

'Vessel' at Hudson Yards in New York City (© Paparacy/Shutterstock)

Social climbing

March 2019 saw the opening of a structure called 'Vessel' that overlooks the Hudson River in New York. 'Vessel' is a 16-story, honeycomb-looking staircase that's meant to be climbed. Its 154 flights of stairs are interconnected, much like Indian stepwells, which lent inspiration to designer Thomas Heatherwick. Not to worry. For those who would rather skip the 2,500 steps, they can reach the top via elevator.

We're looking at this ultra-modern landmark to acknowledge how much has changed in the 410 years that have passed since 17th century English explorer Henry Hudson first 'discovered' Manhattan. In early September 1609, Hudson guided the Dutch ship Half Moon up into the 'north river' from New York Bay at Manhattan Island, looking for a passage to the Pacific Ocean. He ended up at modern day Albany, but the river that's such an essential part of Manhattan's identity, now bears his name.

新英格兰的杨树，澳大利亚新南威尔士州 (© ILYA GENKIN/Alamy)

Guaita Tower in San Marino (© Piercarlo Abate/Shutterstock)

In the 'Most Serene Republic'

Though some of the details of the founding of San Marino vary depending on who is telling the story, what's certain is that in the 4th century CE, a stone mason built a Christian chapel on a hill near the Mediterranean coast and founded the settlement that would share a name with Saint Marinus. Over the centuries European nations grew, shrank, and changed—but San Marino remained, ultimately bordered on all sides by Italy. Today, this tiny nation, sometimes called the Most Serene Republic of San Marino, celebrates 1,718 years of existence and its continued status as the world's smallest republic—24 square miles of quaint European charm embedded in Italy's northeastern region.

拉姆绍的Wimbachklamm峡谷，德国巴伐利亚 Wimbachklamm, Ramsau, Bavaria, Germany (© Westend61 GmbH/Alamy)

At the foot of the Watzmann

The gorge is a particularly narrow, deeply cut gorge with partly overhanging rock walls in the mountains. Today's homepage picture shows the Wimbachklamm near Ramsau. It is located in the heart of the Berchtesgaden National Park, nestled between the mountains Watzmann and Hochkalter. The Wimbach torrent has left a deep cut in the rock over the past 50 million years.The Wimbachklamm is open from May to October and can be passed over wooden bridges over a length of 200 meters. Only a few meters below the path the Wimbach roars, and the rock walls throw back the sounds of the water masses many times.

法国塔恩河沿岸的Castelbouc城堡和塔恩峡谷 Castelbouc and the Gorges du Tarn along the Tarn River in France (© Stefan Schurr/Westend61/Offset)

Bidding summer adieu

Today, on the traditional end of the French summer season, we're featuring the wild beauty of the Gorges du Tarn, a canyon formed by the Tarn River in south central France. The Tarn Gorge is about 33 miles long and, at points, almost 2,000 feet deep. It's a popular spot for tourists, especially kayakers and rock climbers. History buffs also find much to explore, including the castles and villages built along—or even carved into—the canyon walls, like Castelbouc in today's image.

Walk the line

Our homepage today shows two climbers slacklining between boulders near Bishop, California. Look closely and you’ll see something very similar to tight-rope walking: the slackliners anchor a thin strip of webbing between two points and then walk across (very carefully, of course). Bishop is near the Sierra Nevada mountain range and is a popular destination for climbers interested in both slacklining and bouldering. What's bouldering? That's rock climbing without ropes or harnesses. Instead, climbers simply shimmy up rocky crags and free-standing boulders—but no higher than 20 feet, for safety’s sake. And where there are rock climbers, you’ll likely find slackliners.

Greetings from Asbury Park

The warm waters of the Atlantic and a long stretch of sand bring thousands of visitors, but Asbury Park also draws waves of art, culture, and music that shine brightly in the summer months. Bruce Springsteen, has played here regularly since the 1970s, performing everywhere from The Stony Pony, an iconic music venue, to a benefit show at Asbury Lanes, a bowling alley that was in dire need of sprucing up. Springsteen, who grew up near here, clearly finds this place special—the name of his 1973 album inspired the title for today‘s image. But the rich history of the music scene predates The Boss, with the sounds of jazz, gospel, and rhythm and blues spilling out from clubs dating back to the 1920s, when the area was developed as a seaside community. Musicians Arthur Pryor, Clifford Johnson, and many others helped Asbury Park be rooted in America‘s rich musical history. The tradition continues today with a ‘Jams on the Sand‘ summer concert series and plenty of other events around town. Whet

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