Places Ju An Wants to Go

Hydraulic systems in an ancient underground Iranian city.

Extremely isolated Silk Road caravanserai in the middle of nowhere.

A bright turquoise river cascades beautifully down stepped terraces in southern China.

One of the word's deepest gorges is also tied to a fantastic legend.

This Tibetan and Naxi village's Honey Rose wine bears the mark of 19th-century French missionaries.

A place as enchanting as the journey to reach it is harrowing.

The place that allegedly inspired James Hilton's depiction of Shangri-La.

Remote town home to Himachalis, Israelis, and tons of hashish.

This hilltop warren of monastic dwellings is the result of centuries worth of Mongol attacks.

This cavernous swimming spot doubles as a home to the largest known colony of bats in Central Asia.

The vertical-axis windmills of ancient Persia have been grinding flour for 1,000 years and counting.

Take the most scenic fjord landscape in Norway and add dramatic red cliffs, warm clear water, and playful dolphins.

The colorful soil of Iran’s "Rainbow Island" attracts artists and nature lovers.

The palace of the King of Kings, burned by Alexander the Great.

Burial site of a Jewish prophet revered in Iran.

Celebrated as a center of civilization, the remains of the ancient city have been nearly destroyed by greed, egoism, and war.

Within the Saudi Arabian desert lies a 2,000-year-old ghost town made of stone and mud.

A hyper-remote desert cave dramatized in "The English Patient."

An alien landscape of chalk-rock in the Egyptian desert.

This dome-shaped mountain boasts amazing views and has a rich religious history.

One of only two towns in Israel populated by Circassians, a sect of Sunni Muslims who are also devoted to Israeli military service.

This ancient village is peopled by a religious minority and is still using some of the same materials it was built with thousands of years ago.

An ancient capital city that dates back 3,000 years and harbors many surprises.

Known as the "Valley of the Moon," this Jordanian wadi is one of the most amazing desertscapes on Earth.