Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Garden is the sky-lit atrium at Bellagio with vibrant and fantastical scenes composed of plants, flowers and trees. The airy central conservatory was inspired by the Art Nouveau conservatories of Paris. Each season, a 120-person team of professionals creates displays with more than 10,000 flowers, which are regularly switched out to maintain freshness. You never know what to expect: giant flower sculptures celebrating the New Year, koi ponds and pagodas, enormous jade medallions and animatronic figurines, whimsical architectural elements and fantastical scenes.

The Daciensi Temple complex, anchored by the striking Daciensi Tower, stands as one of Xi’an’s most treasured landmarks. Originally built during the Tang Dynasty by Emperor Gaozong in memory of his mother, this historic site carries the weight of centuries. Legend has it that after the famed monk Xuanzang's epic journey to India to obtain sacred Buddhist scriptures, he returned here to translate them, setting up the temple as one of the earliest centres of Buddhist learning in China. Within the temple grounds, the iconic Dayan Pagoda (also known as the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda) draws most of the attention. Built in the 7th century, it’s an enduring symbol of China’s first female ruler, Empress Wu Zetian, and her devotion to Buddhist teachings. Architecturally, the pagoda is a masterpiece of Tang Dynasty design, and climbing its steep, stone steps rewards you with sweeping views of Xi’an below.

To explore some of the picture-postcard villages that surround Pau you can rent a car or just hop on the bus. Two of the most beautiful places to go are Salles-de-Béarn and Sauveterre-de-Béarn, which take from one to two hours to reach.