Located in the outskirts of Xian,  in the Shaanxi province of China, you can find one of the most important archeological excavations of the last century: the Terracotta Warriors.

This impressive compilation of terracotta sculptures were discovered in 1974 by local farmers and are now part of the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor; a must see when in China.

Displayed in 3 different pits, the Terracotta Army was a form of funerary art at the burial of Qin Shi Huang, the First Emperor of China, around 210 BC.

The collection consists of over 8,000 terracotta figures including soldiers, officials, chariots, cavalry horses, and weapons.

In 1987 the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and today it is one of the most visited attractions in all of China.

Established in the 15^th century, the Old Jewish Cemetery is one of the most important surviving monuments in Prague’s Jewish Quarter.

Burials took place in this cemetery from 1439 until 1787 and it contains more than 12,000 tombstones. One of the most prominent figures buried here is Rabbi Low, associated with the famous legend of the “Golem”.

The Old Jewish Cemetery is part of the Jewish Museum, which includes 5 beautiful Synagogues, the Ceremonial Hall, and the Education and Culture Center.

The Jewish Museum offers an enormous collection of Judaic Art, as well as documents and historical artifacts on the life of Jews in the region.

For more information, check TravelPlusWine feature article: In the Heart of Prague, Czech Republic.

Built in Neo-Renaissance style, the Vienna State Opera (Wiener Staatsoper) is one of the most famous buildings of the Imperial City.

It was completed in 1869 and that same year, on May 25, it presented Mozart’s Don Giovanni at its opening premiere. Among the VIP guests that night were Emperor Franz Josef and Empress Sissi.

Towards the end of World War II the building suffered damages by American bombardment and efforts to restore the structure went underway, finally reopening at the end of 1955.

Two of the most celebrated musical directors in the history of the Vienna State Opera are Gustav Mahler and Herbert Von Karajan.

For information on visiting Vienna click here.

Right on the bank of the Danube River, in the central part of Budapest, lies the most impressive and iconic building in the city (also the most photographed by tourists).

The Hungarian Parliament Building, built in Gothic Revival style, is the largest building in Hungary and the largest Parliament in all of Europe.

It was inaugurated in 1896 on the 1000^th anniversary of the country.

Visitors are welcome to enter the building where they can admire historical artifacts as well as artistic stained glass and paintings.

For more information on Budapest and current events click here.

One of the most famous icons of Japan is the Great Buddha of Kamakura (Daibutsu), a monumental outdoor statue made in bronze.

With a height of 13.35 meters, it is the second tallest (but most impressive) Buddha statue in Japan, just behind the Buddha of Nara located inside the Todaiji Temple.

The Great Buddha of Kamakura was built in 1252 and located inside a temple, but natural disasters destroyed the buildings in the 14^th century. Since 1495 the statue rests in the open air.

Travelers Tip: Bring Japanese currency (Yen) with you. Many places do not accept credit cards or take US dollars.