Touring the New Seven Wonders of the World has always been on my travel bucket list. However, with the closure of borders due to the Covid-19 pandemic, I don’t think I will be able to go anytime soon.
Thanks to advancement in technology, I can now watch virtual tours of the New Seven Wonders of the World from the comforts of my own home. Even though it can’t compare to physically visiting the 7 places, it will have to do for now.
New Seven Wonders of the World: Great Wall of China
Even though I am Chinese, I have only visited the Great Wall of China once when I was very little. I have only hazy memories of this architectural marvel, I learnt most of what I know about it from the internet. I wanted to one day be able to walk the whole length of the Great Wall of China which apparently will take a staggering 18 months or so.
The Great Wall of China has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1987.
A number of websites offer virtual tours of the Great Wall of China, but I like The China Guide‘s version the most. This virtual tour consists of 14 stunning 360° pictures taken on the Great Wall of China itself. A arrow on the ground guides you onto the next photograph. The free version only shows you 4 of the 12 360° photographs. The full version costs US$8 which can be shared by up to 5 people. The virtual tour runs for around 45 minutes.
AirPano offers 19 360° photographs taken at different sections of the Great Wall of China. Most of the photographs are taken from above, which gives you an arial view of the Great Wall of China.
New Seven Wonders of the World: Petra, Jordan
Over 2000 years ago, the Nabataeans created Petra – the city of stone. Today, the rose-red city of Petra is a UNESCO World Heritage site in Jordan. Many people think that Petra begins and ends with Al Khaznah – The Treasury – but there is much more to explore within this wonderful ancient city.
Google Maps Street View has created a stunning self-guided virtual tour of Petra complete with narration. Google Map’s virtual tour will show you that there are 18 sites worth exploring.
New Seven Wonders of the World: Colosseum, Rome
The Colosseum is the largest circular amphitheater in ancient Rome. It was built around 72-82 AD and it now stands in the centre of Rome. The Colosseum could hold an estimated 50,000 to 80,000 spectators.
Il Colosseo not only has virtual tour of Inside the Colosseum, there are also virtual tours of the Roman Column, Pantheon, Ancient Rome and Trevi Fountain.
Google Arts & Culture gives you street view photographs of the Colosseum while AirPano shows you 13 high-definition photographs of Colosseum from above.
New Seven Wonders of the World: Chichen Itza, Mexico
Chichen Itza was a large pre-Columbian city built by the Maya people located in Tinum Municipality, Yucatán state, Mexico.
Google Arts & Culture collaborated with The British Museum to tell you all about the Mayan civilization. AirPano shows you the different noteworthy sites in Chichen Itza with high-definition 360° photographs.
New Seven Wonders of the World: Machu Picchu, Peru
Machu Picchu is a 15th-century Inca citadel located in the Eastern Cordillera of southern Peru on a 2430-meter (7970 feet) mountain ridge. Most archeologists believe that Machu Picchu was constructed as an estate for the Incaemperor Pachacuti (1438–1472). Often mistakenly referred to as the “Lost City of the Incas”, it is the most familiar icon of Inca civilization.
YouVisit offers 11 360° photographs that shows you different parts of Machu Picchu with English narration. AirPano offers a different set of 11 360° photographs with energetic background music. FromCusco lets you explore Machu Picchu with either English or Spanish narration and nature background music. Explore arts, culture and history with Google Arts & Culture.
New Seven Wonders of the World: Taj Mahal, India
The Taj Mahal, which means “Crown of the Palace”, is an ivory-white marble mausoleum located in Agra, India. It houses the tombs of Maghal emperor Shah Jahan and his favorite wife, Mamtaz Mahal.
AirPano offers 9 beautiful arial views of Taj Mahal from different angles. Google Arts & Culture combines millions of panorama street photographs to tell you all about the Taj Mahal. You can also use Google Maps to explore Taj Mahal with satellite street view images.
New Seven Wonders of the World: Christ the Redeemer, Brazil
Christ the Redeemer is a 30-meters (98 feet) tall statue of Jesus Christ located at the peak of Corcovado mountain in Tijuca Forest National Park. A symbol of Christianity across the world, the statue has also become a cultural icon of both Rio de Janeiro and Brazil.
AirPano gives you 12 stunning 360° images taken from different angles at different times of the day. YouVisit, Google Art & Culture and 360Cities also has some beautiful pictures of the monument.
What do you think of these New Seven Wonders of the World virtual tours? Please let me know in the comments below!