Sketch of the Stones of Stenness from 1818 (estimated).
"The title along the bottom of the sheet reveals that William Daniell drew this sketch of the standing stones at Stenness, probably in 1818. The stones have been set in the context of their mountainous surroundings, and a figure gives perspective. " - Description of image from National Library of Scotland
Estimated sketch origin: 1818. Published electronically in 2005.
Prehistoric Sites and Decorated Caves of the Vézère Valley
Prehistoric cave painting from the Lascaux cave within the Prehistoric Sites and Decorated Caves of the Vézère Valley
The Lascaux Cave was discovered in 1940 and forms part of the Decorated Caves of the Vézère Valley in southwestern France. This site has helped to inform people about the present day on “prehistoric art and human origins” (Lascaux, 2022). The Vézère Valley contains 25 decorated caves, and a total of 147 prehistoric sites which are of particular interest from an ethnological, anthropological, and aesthetic viewpoint (UNESCO, 2022). The Lascaux cave has been of great importance due to the prehistoric art found within it, which includes detailed depictions of hunting, and “are remarkable for their detail, rich colors, and lifelike quality” (UNESCO, 2022). As well as the artwork found within the cave, other artifacts from the Palaeolithic age have been discovered; including charcoal fragments, bone material, decorative objects, and tools (Lascaux, 2022). Due to the sensitive nature of the artwork, a replica cave has been created of Lascaux to allow visitors to have a viewer experience closely matched to what they would see when visiting the real Lascaux cave.
St. Kildans sitting on the village street, 1886.
There is no information on the exact location of this image, but wikipedia states that it depicts St. Kildans sitting on the village street and that the image was taken in 1886.
St Kilda is a world heritage site which is the only one in the UK which holds dual status for being both a natural and cultural heritage site. It is an isolated Scottish archipelago situated far to the west of the Isle of Benbecula (an island in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides). St Kilda consists of four islands (Hirta, Dùn, Soay and Boreray) and some of the UK’s highest sea stacks Stac Lee (172m) and Stac an Armin (196m). The nature of St Kilda is incredible as it is home to rare animals such as the wren and almost one million seabirds and houses the UK’s largest colony of Atlantic Puffins. Additionally, the world’s largest colony of gannets nests on Boreray and the sea stacks. St Kilda has a rich cultural history which should be preserved. As St Kilda is incredibly isolated, it is impressive that a community existed and thrived here for at least 4,000 years. Locals had to climb and hunt on the high sea stacks to procure gannets, fulmars and puffins for food. Eventually, much of the population started to leave the island, perhaps because life was easier on mainland. In 1930, the remaining 36 islanders were evacuated as they had requested the government to evacuate them as their way of life on St Kilda was no longer sustainable.
Ceilidhs are an informal form of dancing which is very popular in Scotland. The word ceilidh comes from Gaelic and traditionally referred to a gathering of people in the home. There is no exact location for all ceilidhs as they can be in any place at any time, I have chosen this location on the map as the Northern Constabulary Pipe Band Fundraising Ceilidh took place here. Traditionally, neighbours would come together in the evening to informally share songs, music, poetry and storytelling around the fire. Dancing did not always occur. However, in larger communities in rural parts of Scotland, these gatherings were later held in halls and people would dance well known ceilidh dances such as “the gay gordons” and “the dashing white sergent”. The earliest reference to the “gay gordons” is from the early 20th century. The dashing white sergent’s earliest reference is the late 19th century, but it is based on very old Scottish formations of “setting” and “reeling”, which date back to the 1700s. Anyone can join a ceilidh dance and although it is an informal dance, most ceilidhs today are run by a caller who is responsible for selecting the dance and providing basic instructions to ensure that everyone can participate and enjoy the dance.
Northern Constabulary Pipe Band Fundraising Ceilidh at North Kessock near Inverness Scotland
Image shows people in the middle of a ceilidh dance at the Northern Constabulary Community Pipe Band's Fundraising Ceilidh in North Kessock. Several people are wearing traditional Scottish attire such as Kilts. Ceilidhs are an informal form of dancing which is very popular in Scotland. The word ceilidh comes from Gaelic and traditionally referred to a gathering of people in the home. There is no exact location for all ceilidhs as they can be in any place at any time, I have chosen this location on the map as the Northern Constabulary Pipe Band Fundraising Ceilidh took place here. Traditionally, neighbours would come together in the evening to informally share songs, music, poetry and storytelling around the fire. Dancing did not always occur. However, in larger communities in rural parts of Scotland, these gatherings were later held in halls and people would dance well known ceilidh dances such as “the gay gordons” and “the dashing white sergent”. The earliest reference to the “gay gordons” is from the early 20th century. The dashing white sergent’s earliest reference is the late 19th century, but it is based on very old Scottish formations of “setting” and “reeling”, which date back to the 1700s. Anyone can join a ceilidh dance and although it is an informal dance, most ceilidhs today are run by a caller who is responsible for selecting the dance and providing basic instructions to ensure that everyone can participate and enjoy the dance.
The entrance to the Cave of Altamira in Northern Spain.
The cave of Altamira is a cave complex situated within Northern Spain and contains paleolithic cave art. It is one of the seven caves within Northern Spain which have been collectively classified as a world heritage site, ‘Cave of Altamira and Palaeolithic Cave Art of Northern Spain’. The Altamira cave was re-discovered in 1868, being the first site with paleolithic cave art within Europe to be discovered in the modern era (Dowson, 2022). The oldest painting to be identified within Altamira dates back to 36,000 years ago. When the cave paintings were first discovered in 1880, they were dismissed by prehistorians and classified as forgeries, they were not officially recognized as prehistoric cave art until near the end of the 19th century (Altamira | cave, Spain, 2022). Alongside the paleolithic cave art discovered, when the cave floor was excavated, prehistoric animal bones and stone tools were discovered, furthering the paleolithic insights that the cave provides.
"Ring of Brodgar, formerly known as the Ring of Brogar, a neolithic stone circle and henge monument, with the Loch of Harray in the background." - Stevekeiretsu
The Ring of Brodgar is a stone circle and henge located about six miles north-east of Stromness on Mainland in Orkney, Scotland. It is located 1.3 miles from the Standing Stones of Stenness and it is estimated to have been erected around 500-1000 years after the Standing Stones of Stenness were erected. It is thought that the Ring of Brodgar was erected around 2500 - 2000 BC. The Ring of Brodgar was built as a true circle and has a diameter of 103.6m, making it the third largest stone circle in the British Isles. Today, there are 27 remaining stones and is it is thought that were originally 60 stones in total. While there are accounts of some stones falling over time, there is currently no evidence of there being 60 stones in total. There are legends which link the Ring of Brodgar with the Standing Stones of Stenness. One legend involves the Ring of Brodgar as a symbolic area for the dead, whilst the Standing Stones of Stenness as a symbolic area for the living. The journey of life can therefore be represented by walking from the Standing Stones of Stenness to the Ring of Brodgar. There are other legends that reference the Ring of Brodgar as the temple of the sun and the Standing Stones of Stenness as the temple of the moon. It is possible that The Ring of Brodgar was built as an astronomical observatory. Professor Alexander Thom, a Scottish engineer who studied stones circles and their meanings for decades, speculated that stone circles were built to be used as astronomical observatories. He asserted that the Ring of Brodgar is a perfect example of a megalithic lunar observatory. However, Professor Thom thought that it could additionally be used as a sacred or magical ceremonial centre. The Ring of Brodgar is huge and it’s possible that it could have housed the entire local population, meaning it could have been used as a meeting place for ceremonies or events. It is also possible that great stone circles such as the Ring of Brodgar may not have been built to serve a particular purpose after their construction. Professor Colin Richards suggests that the act of building the monuments and erecting the stones was what may have been ritually significant for the people who did it.
An image showing part of the Ring of Brodgar, taken in 2011.
A sketch of standing stones in Orkney, thought to be a sketch of the Ring of Brogdar
"This drawing was by a J. Mc [?], the rest of the name now being lost. It may date from 1807. This picture, although labelled Stenness, may actually be a representation of the Ring of Brodgar, further along the same track" - National Library of Scotland One of the main reasons that this sketch may be thought to depict the Ring of Brogdar rather than the Standing Stones of Stenness may be due to the number of stones in the sketch. The Standing Stones of Stenness were thought to be smaller (twelve stones in total) than the Ring of Brogdar and there are more than twelve stones in the sketch. The Ring of Brogdar is close in location to the standing stones of Stenness. The creator of the sketch has written "Druidical stones" on the sketch, indicating that the creator may have believed that the stones were used for druidical worship.
Estimated 1807. Published electronically 2005.
"Ring of Brodgar, Orkney. Slightly unfinished model made from over 500 pole-camera photos." - eddiemartin An unfinished model of the Ring of Brodgar, which appears to show what the monument looked like in 2015 as it does not show the missing stones (there were thought to be 60 stones originally).
3D Model of Victorian Graffiti at the Ring of Brodgar
"This is a high resolution model of one face of a standing stone that forms part of the Ring of Brodgar Stone Circle, Orkney. This stone has been incised with numerous names, initials and dates. A few place names also feature - Evie appears at least 3 times. Many good Orcadian names can be found - Isbister, Marwick and Anderson to name a few. The earliest date I’ve seen on this stone is 1859, with most dates from the 1870s and 1880s. The stones were not protected when this graffiti was made, but they are now listed as a scheduled ancient monument and it is illegal to deface the stones." - Dr Hugo Anderson-Whymark
Early 19th-century sketch of the Odin Stone
"An early 19th-century sketch of the Odin Stone by Elizabeth, Marchioness of Stafford. Given the exaggerated landscape surrounding the stone, it is unlikely that this is a particularly accurate reproduction." - Sigurd Towrie (http://orkneyjar.com/history/odinstone/index.html?msclkid=d735337cc28111ec9ec676e47af4bd37). The stone was destroyed in 1814 by Captain W. MacKay as discussed more in the Odin Stone site on the interactive map.
The Odin Stone was a 2.5m tall standing stone which had a hole in it and was placed in a field close to the Standing Stones of Stenness. It is thought to have been erected around 3000 BC, roughly around the same time that the Standing Stones of Stenness were erected. The Odin Stone played an important part in the culture of the native Orcadian people. It was supposedly very common for young lovers to visit the stone and make their marriage vows binding and absolute by clasping hands through the hole and swearing the Oath of Odin. Additionally, it was also believed that the stone had healing powers and it was common for young people to stick their head through the hole to ensure good health. In the same vein, new-born babies were passed through the hole to ensure them a healthy future. There are stories of the Orcadians leaving offerings of food when visiting the stone and it seems that this stone was cherished by the Orcadian people. Unfortunately, the Odin Stone was demolished in 1814 by Captain W. MacKay, who had recently immigrated to Orkney and leased the land which the Odin Stone stood on. He was irritated as he felt that his land was being ruined by the influx of people visiting the Odin Stone and the other ancient sites around it. He set out and destroyed the Odin Stone and then went to the Stones of Stenness and toppled the fifth stone and destroyed the sixth stone. The native Orcadians were enraged by his actions and made various attempts to burn down his house. The law got involved and executed a “Sist and Suspension” against MacKay who then promised to stop destroying the stones. Unfortunately, it was too late for the destroyed stones but the Standing Stones of Stenness were passed into the care of the state in 1906 and the toppled stone was re-erected.
Movable Cultural Heritage,Intangible Heritage
Kites featuring images of traditional Xi'an opera masks flying near to the Drum Tower, Xi'an, China. Summer 2009.
法租界霞飞路巡捕房 淮海中路235号。 Former French concession. No. 235 Huaihai Middle Road, Xiafei Road, French Concession.
French concession is a geographical area with Sycamore-styled roads and European styled buildings that make up the historical French-administered part in Shanghai, from 1849 to 1946. Concessions were the lands conceded to individual governments, which nowadays the area turned into commercial shops, and many buildings are under municipal protection. They are seen as the cultural symbol of Shanghai, who have witnessed the historical unrest and city change. There is no online systematic archive for the area nor the buildings, even they are enlisted as ‘protected building’. If general public are interested in the history, internet search or physically talking to one of the residents or someone who lived here will the choice.
Tartan is a woven cloth consists of horizontal and vertical bands in various colours. Weaving tartan is a craft that requires concentration, great timing and counting. The digital preservation includes tartan brand’s youtube channel about stories behind making tartan, artifacts in the museum, famous tartan fabric shops, and several archive websites that document the types of tartan. Besides the general exhibits or archival collection of textile histories in the National Museum of Scotland and the National Library of Scotland, The Scottish Tartans Museum focus on the history and development of tartan and the kilt, with over 500 samples of tartan. Visitors can view the exhibits online and search according to name or type. Fabric shops including Robert Noble, DC Dalgliesh, Ingles Buchan and Lochcarron not only sell the cloth, but also gives distinctive recording about tartan.
Photograph of the entrance hall of the Kite Museum in Weifang, Shandong, China.
Kites were first documented in the early Warring States Period by famous philosopher Mozi, who spent three years to craft a wooden bird in the 450BC, originated in Weifang, a city in Northeast China. Kite was exclusive before flying was then spread by traders from China to Korea, across Asia to India. During the period of civil unrest when a lot of attacks from foreign powers were received, kites play a critical role in providing military intelligence for the Chinese army. Each area has distinct kites and various cultural purpose. Today, elaborated and large designs up to 304 meters can be seen flying above parks in China. They often resemble animals of the Chinese Zodiac and symbolises meaning using vegetation patterns. With the use of wood, paper, silk and complex constructions, the kite has become a symbol of Chinese innovation. Kites are also denoted with cultural meanings. According to other historical accounts, kites were used to drive off personal bad luck by flying them and releasing the string. Weifang Museum of Kites, a museum located in a city that has been reowned as capital of kites, has been the only archival documentation of this craft. It collects and displays kite treasures, fully embod-ies the unique artistic charm of Weifang kite culture, and has become the center of dissemination and promotion of kite culture. The museum does not have a website or platform. Visitors can only gather information from Baidu or Wikipedia.
Venetian production dates back to the fourteenth century. It is a representation of mastery of a material, glass, and element the fire. It endures specific knowledge and shared skills, indicates the use of specific traditional tools and procedures. Skilled artisans melt, blow, shape the coloured glass to obtained the shapes. Venice, the true European capital of glass, glass beads were produced in Murano and in all the Venetian territory. Since it was such a valuable product for trading, the center of production moved from Venice to island Murano to avoid the great risk of fire in keeping the kilns. The production represents a traditional knowledge handed down from generation to generation for more than 700 years. After the first World War of dissolution of colonialism, the beads lost their original function of as trading commodity. It become more of art, jewels and personal ornaments The process generally involves three preparatory positions, the ‘perlai’ (craftsmen of glass beads), ‘molatore’ and ‘impiraressa’, a women who inserts the beads through precise movements and creates various artefacts, and the glassmaker. The art of glass beads became part of the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2020.
Culture,Immovable Culture Heritage,Intangible Heritage,Tourism
Calypso music is a genre in which communicates and revolves around social commentary. Calypso was developed by West African slaves who were brought to the Caribbean in the eighteenth century. Original tradition would have a local bard telling stories through song, and offering social commentary through praise, satire or lament (BBC, 2017). Trinidad playing host to carnivals - and therefore calypso competitions - made the genre globally synonymous with the country. Subsequently, through commercial recordings beginning in the 1920s and 30s, calypso music became a social looking glass into matters of Trinidadian public interest (Guibault, 2005). Calypso is recognisable by its use of 4/4 syncopated time signatures, call and response, and prominent Latin percussion – but the most distinctive element is the topical, witty, and satirical lyrics performed by the calypsonians. The attached song is “Split Me In Two” by The Mighty Dougla. This example of a calypso was written in the 1950s and provides a comical perspective on how Trinidad is an extremely multicultural society and if, as the government proposed, some second generation citizens were to be deported back to their ancestral countries, many people would struggle to know which country to choose.
The Calanais Standing Stones in Winter 2016
Snow can be seen on the ground surrounding the Calanais Standing Stones.
The Calanais Standing Stones During Sunset
The image shows the central stone circle of the Calanais Standing Stones as the sun is setting.
Aerial view of the Calanais Standing Stones
An aerial view of the Calanais Standing Stones taken in 2008, showing the stone circle and the rows and avenues of standing stones around it.
The image taken in 2014 shows the central stone circle within the Calanais Standing Stones as the sun appears to to set.
3d model of the Calanais Standing Stones
A 3D model illustrating the central stone circle of the Calanais Standing Stones, along with the chambered cairn and rows and avenues of standing stones. Is it thought that the stone circle and its central stone circle was erected first around 2900BC, whilst the chambered cairn and rows and avenues were thought to be added 500 years later. Read more about the Calanais Standing Stones by looking at the interactive map.
Audio description of the Standing Stones of Stenness
This audio details the history behind the Standing Stones of Stenness, including the legends and stories told about the stones. It is an alternative to the textual description presented.
An audio description covering the history of the Odin Stone, including the legends and stories behind it. An alternative to the textual description.
Audio description of the Ring of Brodgar
An audio description of the Ring of Brodgar, detailing its history and associated legends and stories. An alternative to the textural description provided.
Audio description of the Calanais Standing Stones
An audio description of the Calanish standing stones which can be used as an alternative to the textural description. Details the history, myths and legends behind the stones.
The Summer Palace is located in the northwestern suburbs of Beijing. It was originally called Qingyi Garden. It was built in 1750. The Summer Palace is composed of Longevity Mountain and Kunming Lake. It covers an area of 293 hectares and accounts for about three-quarters of the water surface. There are more than 100 buildings with scenic views, more than 20 courtyards, more than 3,000 ancient buildings, and an area of more than 70,000. There are more than 1,600 ancient and famous trees. Among them, Foxiang Pavilion, Long Corridor, Shifang, Suzhou Street, Seventeen-hole Bridge, Harmony Garden, and Grand Stage are all well-known representative buildings. The Summer Palace is a national key cultural relic protection unit and was listed as a world cultural heritage in November 1998.
Buddha incense Pavilion on Longevity Mountain, Kunming Lake in the foreground.
application/octet-stream Autodesk FBX Document
Pai Yun Dian, Hall for Dispelling the Clouds
"In December 1998, UNESCO included the Summer Palace on its World Heritage List. It declared the Summer Palace 'a masterpiece of Chinese landscape garden design. The natural landscape of hills and open water is combined with artificial features such as pavilions, halls, palaces, temples and bridges to form a harmonious ensemble of outstanding aesthetic value' ". (Wikipedia).
Culture,Immovable Culture Heritage,Intangible Heritage
The building complex of the Paiyun dian was built in the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty and used to repay great gratitude. The entire scenic area covers an area of about 8,000 square meters. Centered on the Cloud Paiyun Temple, it consists of Paiyun Gate, Yuhua Hall, Yunjin Hall, Ergongmen, Fanghui Hall, Zixiao Hall, Cloud Paiyun Hall, Dehui Hall and other connected buildings. It is composed of the veranda and supporting rooms of the palace. In 1860 the complex was burned down by the British and French forces. In 1886, it was rebuilt by Cixi, and the lower part of the Yanshou Temple was changed to the building complex of the Paiyun Temple where the birthday ceremony was held. There are many birthday gifts presented by princes and ministers when Cixi celebrated her birthday.
Calon Lan is a Welsh song which was written as a hymn in the 1890s. Both lyric writer and composer, Daniel James and John Hughes respectively, were born into poverty and worked industrial jobs from their teenage years (Felin Fach 2020). The song was originally written for Welsh hymn-singing festivals such as Cymanfaoedd Ganu however it became very popular during the 1904-05 Welsh Revival (Gower Hidden History 2016). Today the song remains extremely popular with the Welsh. It is consistently sung in Wales national rugby games, as well as by the most revered choirs and soloists in the country (Welldigger 2012). “Calon Lan” is Welsh for “A Pure Heart”. The lyrics describe how a pure and good heart is more valuable and meaningful than any material possession. This song is meaningful to the Welsh culture because of its generational popularity. It has been sung by Welsh people in every significant event of the last century, including both Worlds Wars and Wales winning the Six Nations in 2021. Therefore it units the Welsh people and has a strong cultural connection. Felin Fach. 2020. Calon Lan Lyrics. Accessed 2022. https://www.felinfach.com/blogs/blog/calon-lan. Gower Hidden History. 2016. History of Iconic Hymn. Accessed 2022. http://gowerhiddenhistory.blogspot.com/2016/03/41-history-of-iconic-hymn.html. Welldigger. 2012. Calon Lan Welsh Anthem and Revival Hymn. Accessed 2022. https://daibach-welldigger.blogspot.com/2012/08/calon-lan-welsh-anthem-and-revival-hymn.html?view=classic.
Following emancipation in 1834, former slaves were allowed to participate in the Trinidad Carnival, however African-descended percussive performance was heavily targeted by restrictive government bills which banned many common percussive instruments (Google 2022). Having used improvisational instruments for years, by the 1930s Trinidadians experimented with a new improvisational instrument as they began to adapt oil drums to create the first steel pans. Trinidadians realised that the convex dent at the bottom of the oil drums would cause a sustained resonance when struck with a wooden “stick” or “beater”. They then experimented to tune these resonances to distinct musical pitches and could then produce recognisable melodies. The process is laborious but tedious, as the metal is heated and hammered into place, but also tuned with more precise, delicate hammering. Google 2022. The Origins of Steel Pan Notting Hill Carnival. Accessed 2022. https://artsandculture.google.com/story/the-origins-of-steel-pan-notting-hill-carnival/AAWBxQd4TKb21w?hl=en.
Calypso music is a genre in which communicates and revolves around social commentary. Calypso was developed by West African slaves who were brought to the Caribbean in the eighteenth century. Original tradition would have a local bard telling stories through song, and offering social commentary through praise, satire or lament (BBC, 2017). Trinidad playing host to carnivals - and therefore calypso competitions - made the genre globally synonymous with the country. Subsequently, through commercial recordings beginning in the 1920s and 30s, calypso music became a social looking glass into matters of Trinidadian public interest (Guibault, 2005). Calypso is recognisable by its use of 4/4 syncopated time signatures, call and response, and prominent Latin percussion – but the most distinctive element is the topical, witty, and satirical lyrics performed by the calypsonians. The attached song is “Split Me In Two” by The Mighty Dougla. This example of a calypso was written in the 1950s and provides a comical perspective on how Trinidad is an extremely multicultural society and if, as the government proposed, some second generation citizens were to be deported back to their ancestral countries, many people would struggle to know which country to choose. BBC. 2017. The Surprising Politics of Calypso. Accessed 2022. https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20171010-the-surprising-politics-of-calypso. Guibault, Jocelyne. 2005. "Audible Entanglements: Nation and Diasporas in Trinidad's Calypso Music Scene." Duke University Press 9 (1).
A 360 tour taken from Gorham's Cave's Viewing Platform. The platform was created to allow visitors to view the entrances of Gorham's Cave Complex from the mainland, and to provide information on the heritage site. Gorham's Cave Complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to the evidence which it has provided on the cultural traditions of the Neanderthals, which occupied the site over 100,000 years. Accompanying photographs of points of interest can be seen through Google Drive due to RoundMe server issues.
360 Virtual Tour of Gorham's Cave Viewing Platform
A 360 tour taken from Gorham's Cave's Viewing Platform. The platform was created to allow visitors to view the entrances of Gorham's Cave Complex from the mainland, and to provide information on the heritage site. Gorham's Cave Complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to the evidence that it has provided on the cultural traditions of the Neanderthals, which occupied the site for over 100,000 years. Accompanying photographs of points of interest can be seen through Google Drive due to RoundMe server issues.
Mount Fanjing, is located in Tongren, Guizhou province, is the highest peak of the Wuling Mountains in southeastern China, at an elevation of 2,570 m (8,430 ft). The Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve was established in 1978 and designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1986. It is a sacred mountain in Chinese Buddhism, considered to be the bodhimaṇḍa of the Maitreya Buddha. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2018. Its high mountainous terrain and the sheer size of the mountain have created unique vertical climatic features and plant and animal distribution zones, preserving one of the world's few subtropical native ecosystems and relics of ancient and rare species dating from 70 to 2 million years ago. According to scientific data, there are 2,601 species of organisms in Fanjing Mountain, including 1,800 species of plants, in which 17 types of plants are rare plants; 801 species of animals, in which 19 species of animals are rare ones, accounting for 68% of the total number of protected animals in Guizhou province. The "national treasures" of Fanjing Mountain include the Qianjin snub-nosed monkeys and dove trees, which are the most representative. The Qianjin snub-nosed monkey is endemic to Fanjing Mountain, and its population is even smaller than that of the panda, making it the "Only Child of The World". The dove is an ancient plant from the age of dinosaurs and was once widely distributed in the northern temperate zone, but due to geological and climatic changes it has almost disappeared from the earth. However, in the late spring and early summer, the beautiful dove flowers open in droves, resembling flocks of white cranes flying through the forest. This ancient plant, endemic to China, has been named by foreigners as the 'Chinese dove flower', the 'most beautiful flower of the northern temperate zone', and has been transplanted to Europe as a valuable ornamental plant. As a relatively complete species "gene pool", Fanjingshan attracted great attention from Chinese and foreign scientists as early as the 1930s and 1940s. In 1978, Fanjingshan was officially designated as a Guizhou Provincial Nature Reserve, and in 1986, it was upgraded to a National Key Nature Reserve, and in the same year, it was accepted by UNESCO as a member of the international Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB).
The Red Cloud Golden Peak of the mount fanjinshan
The Dujiangyan is an ancient irrigation system in Dujiangyan City, Sichuan, China. Originally constructed around 256 BC by the State of Qin as an irrigation and flood control project, it is still in use today. The system's infrastructure develops on the Min River (Minjiang), the longest tributary of the Yangtze. The area is in the west part of the Chengdu Plain, between the Sichuan Basin and the Tibetan Plateau. Originally, the Min would rush down from the Min Mountains and slow down abruptly after reaching the Chengdu Plain, filling the watercourse with silt, thus making the nearby areas extremely prone to floods. King Zhao of Qin commissioned the project, and the construction of the Dujiangyan harnessed the river using a new method of channeling and dividing the water rather than simply damming it. The water management scheme is still in use today to irrigate over 5,300 km2 (2,000 sq mi) of land in the region. The Dujiangyan, the Zhengguo Canal in Shaanxi and the Lingqu Canal in Guangxi are collectively known as the "three great hydraulic engineering projects of the Qin."
The Jinding, elevation 3,077 metres (10,095 ft), is the main peak of Mount Emei, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Sichuan, China. It is also a common name for the Buddhist Huazang Temple built on the summit. Jinding is the highest Buddhist temple in traditionally Han areas of China and it is known for its "four wonders": the sunrise, the sea of clouds, the "Buddhist halo", and the "divine light". Jinding was originally built in 1377 during the Ming dynasty, but has been rebuilt multiple times because of fire. The most recent incident happened in 1972, when the temple was used for transmitting signals of a local television station. Flames caused by a power generator quickly engulfed the wooden temple. The fire burned for two days, destroying countless precious Buddhist relics as well as numerous trees. The only remaining relics are a bronze monument and a bronze doorway from the Ming dynasty, and a bronze statue from the Qing dynasty. In 2004, as part of the Jinding "Revival and Renovation Plan" by the Mt. Emei Buddhist Association, the Huazang Temple was rebuilt along with a 48-meter-tall stupa of the "Ten-faced Puxian Bodhisattva" (Samantabhadra). The rebuilt temple was officially opened on 18 June 2006. 300 notable Buddhist monks attended the grand ceremony, as well as 3,000 visitors.
Virunga National Park is a national park in the Albertine Rift Valley in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It was created in 1925. In elevation, it ranges from 680 m (2,230 ft) in the Semliki River valley to 5,109 m (16,762 ft) in the Rwenzori Mountains. From north to south it extends approximately 300 km (190 mi), largely along the international borders with Uganda and Rwanda in the east. It covers an area of 8,090 km2 (3,120 sq mi). Two active volcanoes are located in the park, Mount Nyiragongo and Nyamuragira. They have significantly shaped the national park's diverse habitats and wildlife. More than 3,000 faunal and floral species have been recorded, of which more than 300 are endemic to the Albertine Rift including eastern gorilla (Gorilla beringei) and golden monkey (Cercopithecus kandti). In 1979, the National Park was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its rich diversity of habitats, exceptional biodiversity and endemism, and its protection of rare mountain gorilla habitat. It has been listed in the List of World Heritage in Danger since 1994 because of civil unrest and the increase of human presence in the region. There have been several deadly attacks in the park by rebel groups, and several park rangers have been killed.
Samantabhadra, the bodhisattva of Emei Shan.
The Amphitheatre of El Jem was built in 238 AD and is located in the town of El Djem in Tunisia. At the time it was built, El Djem was known as Thysdrus, which was a Roman province. It was built for spectator events, and is one of the biggest amphitheatres in the world, as well as one of the best preserved Roman ruins. In terms of size, it spans 148 metres by 122 metres and was estimated to accomodate around 35,000 spectators. During the Middle Ages, Thysdrus was attacked by the Vandals in 430 AD and by Arabs in 647 AD, and the amphitheatre was used as a fortress for shelter by the population. Around the end of the 18th to the 19th century, the amphitheatre was believed to have been used for the manufacture of saltpeter, and at the end of the 19th century, the amphitheatre was used for shops, shelter and grain storage.
The Amphitheatre of El Jem was built in 238 AD and is located in the town of El Djem in Tunisia. At the time it was built, El Djem was known as Thysdrus, which was a Roman province. It was built for spectator events, and is one of the biggest amphitheatres in the world, as well as one of the best preserved Roman ruins. In terms of size, it spans 148 metres by 122 metres and was estimated to host around 35,000 spectators. During the Middle Ages, Thysdrus was attacked by the Vandals in 430 AD and by Arabs in 647 AD, and the amphitheatre was used as a fortress for shelter by the population. At the end of the 18th and 19th centuries, the amphitheatre was used for the manufacture of saltpeter. Later on in the 19th century, the amphitheatre was used for shops, shelter and the storage of grain.
The Virupaksha or the Pampapathi temple is the main center of pilgrimage at Hampi.
The Vijayanagara Empire's capital, Hampi was a fortified city during the 14th century, and is located in the state of Karnataka. At the time, it was India's richest city which drew traders from Portugal and Persia. In 1565, the Vijayanagara Empire was conquered by a coalition of Muslim sultanates, and Hampi was pillaged and destroyed and ultimately left in ruins. Currently, Hampi is a religious centre, and UNESCO describes it consist of "forts, riverside features, royal and sacred complexes, temples, shrines, pillared halls, mandapas, memorial structures, water structures and others". Arab and European travellers from the time describe Hampi to have been a prosperous and wealthy city, with numerous markets and temples.
Larger 55 meter Western Buddha (before 2001)
The Buddhas of Bamiyan were two statues that were carved into the side of a cliff in the Bamiyan valley which is in central Afghanistan. The two buddhas are referred to as the Western and Eastern Buddha, the image pictured is the Western Buddha. Through carbon dating, they were found to have been built around 618 AD and 570 AD respectively. The site is surrounded with caves and surfaces covered with paintings that were said to be a combination of Buddhist and Gupta art from India. Unfortunately, in 2001, the Taliban had ordered for the statues to be destroyed, which caused a wave of protest and condemnation worldwide. For one day in 2015, 3D laser light projection technology was used to fill the empty cavities of the statues.
The Remaining Standing Stones of Stenness
Image taken in 2014 of the Standing Stones of Stenness, showing three out of four of the remaining stones.
The Standing Stones of Stenness are thought to have been built over 5000 years in 3100 - 2900 BC. The henge is considered one of the earliest in Britain and is part of a world heritage site called "The Heart of Neolithic Orkney". The stones have a rich history and there are many fascinating legends and stories which surround them. Visit the following link https://stage.openvirtualworlds.org/map/?mapid=6 which will take you to an interactive map, where you can learn more about the Standing Stones of Stenness and other standing stones in Scotland. You will find audio descriptions of each site, pictures and 3D models of how the site looks today and how it is thought it looked hundreds of years ago.
Numerous gannets flying around Stac an Armin
Stac an Armin is a sea stack within St Kilda. At 196m tall, it is the highest sea stack in Scotland and the British Isles. This image shows many gannets flying around Stac an Armin.
"Stac an Armin The northern end and steep western side of Stac an Armin with Boreray in the background." - Richard Webb Stac an Armin is a sea stack within St Kilda. At 196m tall, it is the highest sea stack in Scotland and the British Isles.
The Gateway of India is a building that was constructed in 1924. The arch is made of basalt, and it stands at 85 feet high. It is located on the waterfront at the Apollo Bunder in South Mumbai. It has been often described as the Taj Mahal of Mumbai due to its popular tourist activity. The site is managed by the Archaeological Survey of India. While the Gateway is symbolic of colonial subjugation, it also evokes a sense of cultural identity and belonging to those in Mumbai, which can be paradoxical to some. The Gateway of India was constructed to serve as a symbolic ceremonial entrance for important colonial personnel. In terms of the design, the design was conducted by Scottish architect George Wittet, it combines diverse elements of Hindu and Muslim architecture with Gothic cusped arches and domes and spires. The structure was built using yellow basalt stones enmeshed into a reinforced concrete structure and features impressive carved stone latticework known as jali. Jali is a common feature of Indo-Islamic architecture, jali meaning “net” is a form of architectural decoration of perforated stone through the use of geometric or calligraphic designs.
Though they are not a single piece of heritage, bothies represent a broader historical and cultural phenomenon in the United Kingdom, especially Northern England and Scotland. A bothy is a rudimentary shelter in the wilderness which is typically only accessible on foot. Many bothies originally served as shelters for gamekeepers and estate workers, though now they are most commonly used recreationally by hikers. Underpinning the use of bothies is the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, which set legal standards for the long running tradition of free access to privately owned land in Scotland. The largest concentration of bothies can be found in the Scottish Highlands. Excerpt from P1.
The Totes Gebirge, or “Dead Mountains”, is a mountain range spanning the Austrian states of Styria and Upper Austria. The range gets its name from its grey appearance due to the lack of water from natural springs and altitude. Despite this, the mountains in this range are valued for their stark beauty and challenging sport offerings in the form of hiking, climbing, skiing, and more. The highest peak in this range with an altitude of 2515 meters is Großer Priel, located in the Prielgruppe subgroup. Excerpt from P1.
The Victoria Memorial is a building that was constructed in 1921. The building is made of white marble and measures 109m. It has been often described as a veritable icon of the city of Kolkata. The Victoria Memorial was constructed to serve and be dedicated to the memory of Queen Victoria and stands as an architectural gem but also reminiscence to the rule of the British Crown. In terms of the design, the design was conducted by William Emerson who was the chief architect behind Victoria Memorial and the design showcases the Indo-Saracenic Revivalist template. It fuses several Mughal and British architectural elements with touches of Egyptian and Venetian styles, along with architectural influences
The Royal Albert Dock is a complex of dock buildings and warehouses in Liverpool, England. Designed by Jesse Hartley and Philip Hardwick, it was opened in 1846, and was the first structure in Britain to be built from cast iron, brick and stone, with no structural wood. As a result, it was the first non-combustible warehouse system in the world. It was known simply as the Albert Dock until 2018, when it was granted a royal charter and had the honorific "Royal" added to its name. At the time of its construction the dock was considered to be revolutionary in its design because ships were loaded and unloaded directly from or to the warehouses. Two years after it opened it was modified to feature the world's first hydraulic cranes. Due to its open yet secure design, the dock became a popular store for valuable cargoes such as brandy, cotton, tea, silk, tobacco, ivory and sugar. However, despite its advanced design, the rapid development of shipping technology meant that, within 50 years, larger and more open docks were required, although the Albert Dock remained a valuable store for cargo.
Carved into the cliffs above the Dachuan River, the Mogao Caves comprise the largest, most richly endowed, and longest used treasure house of Buddhist art in the world. It was first constructed in 366AD and represents the great achievement of Buddhist art from the 4th to the 14th century. 492 caves are presently preserved, housing about 45,000 square meters of murals and more than 2,000 painted sculptures. As evidence of the evolution of Buddhist art in the northwest region of China, the Mogao Caves are of unmatched historical value. These works provide an abundance of vivid materials depicting various aspects of medieval politics, economics, culture, arts, religion, ethnic relations, and daily dress in western China. The unique artistic style of Dunhuang art is not only the amalgamation of Han Chinese artistic tradition and styles assimilated from ancient Indian and Gandharan customs, but also an integration of the arts of the Turks, ancient Tibetans and other Chinese ethnic minorities. Many of these masterpieces are creations of an unparalleled aesthetic talent.