The Yuejiang Tower in Nanjing boasts a unique history, having achieved fame centuries before its actual construction. In 1374, the first Emperor of the Ming Dynasty envisioned a tower by the Yangtze River, naming it Yuejiang (literally meaning "overlooking the river"). He commissioned authors across the country to write articles praising the magnificent tower, even though it was not yet built. One of these articles became a classic, but the tower's construction was not started until 2000. The reputation of the Yuejiang Tower preceded its actual existence by 650 years.

Kasbah Square, a monumental plaza at the entrance to Medina, holds deep significance in Tunisia’s history. Once the site of a fortified citadel (demolished post-independence), it now anchors administrative buildings like Tunis City Hall and the National Monument — a memorial to pivotal national events. Facing the iconic Kasbah Mosque, the square blends tradition and modernity with its red Tunisian flags and iconic black lanterns. Since 2011, it has also become a gathering place for political demonstrations, including historic sit-ins demanding government reform.

In a lush area of central Kuala Lumpur’s Lake Gardens lies the Islamic Arts Museum. This is the largest museum of Islamic art in Southeast Asia, which exhibits more than 7,000 objects from all across the world, and includes garments, pottery, ornate wood carvings and miniature models of some of the most spectacular Islamic buildings on earth.

Avenue Habib Bourguiba, the grand central boulevard of Tunis, channels Parisian elegance with its tree-lined median, sidewalk cafés and historic facades. The thoroughfare, named after Tunisia’s first president, serves as a busy commercial hub and an open-air museum of 20th-century history, flanked by landmarks like the French Embassy and the neo-Byzantine Cathedral of St Vincent de Paul. Dominating the eastern end, the Tunis Clock Tower rises 38 metres above Place du 7 Novembre. Its gilded, lattice-patterned design blends modernist and traditional motifs, glowing amber after dark. Though functionally modest (locals joke about its reliability), the tower’s height and central roundabout position make it an unavoidable landmark. By day, the avenue thrums with shoppers and coffee drinkers; by evening, it becomes a stage for leisurely promenades. For visitors, it’s less about individual sights than the collective energy: the hum of conversation, the scent of orange blossoms, and the weight of history beneath your feet.