Vietnam’s Golden Bridge Among New Impressive Wonders of The World Sites

The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World is the oldest known list of this type, documenting the most remarkable man-made creations of classical antiquity; it was based on guidebooks popular among Hellenic sightseers and as such only includes works located around the Mediterranean rim and in the ancient Near East. The number seven was chosen because the Greeks believed it represented perfection and plenty, and because it reflected the number of planets known in ancient times (five) plus the Sun and Moon. Many similar lists have been made for other regions of the world or for the entire world, or which include natural wonders instead of man-made structures.

Of the original Seven Wonders of the World, only one — the Great Pyramids of Giza — still exists. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Lighthouse of Alexandria, the Temple of Artemis, the Colossus of Rhodes, the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, and the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus have been a distant past. New Wonders of The World replaced the old ones and created a new, exciting era.

1. Golden Bridge, Vietnam

Photo: ArchDaily

The Golden Bridge in the central city of Da Nang has come first in a list of fresh wonders of the world compiled by the UK’s daily newspaper Daily Mail.

Opened in 2018, the striking walkway is designed as though a giant’s hands (made of fiber-glass and mesh wire) are gently supporting the 490 ft (about 150 m) path for pedestrians, which overlooks the coastal city, wrote an article on the daily.

Author Mark Jones noted that in its short time open, more than 20,000 posts have appeared on Instagram at #goldenbridgevietnam.

The Golden Bridge was ranked among the top 100 World’s Greatest Places in 2018 by Time magazine, according to VNA.

It has quickly become a major tourist draw at the Ba Na Hills resort in Da Nang. The bridge serves as a transit between a replica of a French village and Le Jardin D’Amour flower garden.

From the bridge, visitors have a panoramic view of Nui Chua, regarded as the most beautiful mountain in Da Nang.

Rewarded with a bunch of architecture competitions all over the world, the Golden Bridge features a harmonious blend of groundbreaking architecture and spectacular nature. Stretching 150m long and 12.8m wide, the Golden Bridge was made up of 8 arches. The most unique point of the Golden Bridge’s architecture is the contrast between the elegant curve and the giant hands holding the bridge. Taking a stroll around the Golden Bridge is like a walk on the clouds across the hands of the God of Mountain.

Since its opening, the Gold Bridge, Da Nang has become a host of many big events, especially the “A walk on a cloud” fashion show of Fashion Voyage. Thanks to its out-of-the-world architecture, the Golden Bridge has inspired fashion designers to make superb collections. Besides, the bridge is a favorite spot for many couples to take their wedding photoshoot, according to Best Price Travel.

2. Bosco Verticale

Photo: Pedestal

Designed by Boeri Studio, the Vertical Forest is a model for a sustainable residential building, a project for metropolitan reforestation contributing to the regeneration of the environment and urban biodiversity without the implication of expanding the city upon the territory. It is a model of vertical densification of nature within the city that operates in relation to policies for reforestation and the naturalization of large urban and metropolitan borders.

Developed by Hines, the first example of the Vertical Forest consisting of two residential towers of 110 and 76 m height was realized in the center of Milan, on the edge of the Isola neighborhood, hosting 800 trees (each measuring 3, 6 or 9 meters), 4,500 shrubs, and 15,000 plants from a wide range of shrubs and floral plants distributed according to the sun exposure of the facade. All of the plant species were carefully selected by agronomists Laura Gatti and Emanuela Borio, according to Greenroofs.

On flat land, each Vertical Forest equals, in the number of trees, an area of 20,000 square meters of forest. In terms of urban densification, it is the equivalent of an area of a single-family dwelling of nearly 75,000 sq.m. The vegetal system of the Vertical Forest contributes to the construction of a microclimate, produces humidity, absorbs CO2 and dust particles, and produces oxygen.

Bosco Verticale’s extensive greenery provides apartment dwellers with shade in the summer and filtered sunlight in the winter, as well as cleaner air and reduced noise pollution. The buildings are also equipped with solar panels and a gray water recycling and irrigation system, according to Atlas Obscura.

3. Gardens by the Bay

Photo: Visit Singapore

Located by the Marina Bay Waterfront in the heart of Singapore, Gardens by the Bay is a sanctuary for nature lovers and budding horticulturalists alike.

Comprising three distinct spaces over 101 hectares–Bay South Garden, Bay East Garden, and Bay Central Garden–this oasis of lush greenery has won multiple accolades since it first opened in 2012.

These include the ‘Landscape Award’ from World Architecture News in 2013, the ‘Best Attraction in Asia Pacific’ from Travel Weekly in 2015, and the ‘Best Attraction Experience’ at the 2019 Singapore Tourism Awards.

Flower Dome: The beauty of nature beckons visitors to the Flower Dome in Bay South Gardens. Covering 1.28 hectares, this verdant space is the larger of three cooled conservatories, and broke the Guinness World Record as the World’s Largest Glass Greenhouse in 2015. It is home to plants and flowers from five continents, from thousand-year-old olive trees to magnolias and orchids, according to Visit Singapore. While certainly one of the Gardens by the Bay’s most spectacular attractions, the Flower Dome is far from the only floral paradise that awaits visitors.

Floral Fantasy: As you explore Gardens by the Bay at your leisure, be sure to keep an eye out for Floral Fantasy. The second of the Gardens’ three indoor conservatories delves into realms of both history and fantasy. Each of its four distinct zones taking inspiration from fairy tales and the storied Hanging Gardens of Babylon, with cavernous spaces, dramatic driftwood sculptures and works of floral art.

Cloud Forest: Gardens by the Bay’s third conservatory—the aptly named Cloud Forest—is a mist-filled landscape of rare vegetation and dramatic vistas. Towering above the conservatories’ ferns and pitcher plants is Cloud Mountain, a 35-meter tall structure veiled in mist and covered in lush vegetation. Your imagination is bound to soar as you scale its heights, and discover plant life from the tropical highlands.

4. Dubai Frame

Photo: Onyx Solar

Rising 150 meters from Dubai’s Zabeel Park, the “World’s Largest Picture Frame” has officially opened in the UAE. Known as the Dubai Frame, the structure is the latest in the city’s line of eye-catching megaprojects, offering up panoramic views of the skyline while framing views of iconic buildings such as the Burj Khalifa for visitors and residents all across the city, according to ArchDaily.

Nearly a decade after it was first proposed, visitors can now ascend the structure to its 93-meter-long viewing bridge, which features glass-floored walkways and full-height views out to the old city of Deira to the north and the skyscrapers of Sheikh Zayed Road toward the south. A neon ‘vortex’ tunnel will then usher visitors into an interactive, augmented reality exhibition on the history and future of the city. The project has not come without controversy, however – last year, it was revealed that the design may have been used without the consent of its original architect.

The Dubai Frame is open all year round, including weekends and public holidays. Visiting hours may vary during the holy month of Ramadan, holidays, and public holidays, but its opening hours are typically from 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. Admission is AED 50 (about 14 USD).

5. Guggenheim museum

Photo: Guggenheim Bilbao

Founded in 1937, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation is dedicated to promoting the understanding and appreciation of art, primarily of the modern and contemporary periods, through exhibitions, education programs, research initiatives, and publications. The Guggenheim network that began in the 1970s when the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, was joined by the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Venice, has since expanded to include the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao (opened 1997), and the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi (currently in development). Looking to the future, the Guggenheim Foundation continues to forge international collaborations that take contemporary art, architecture, and design beyond the walls of the museum. The Foundation is also committed to fostering research, exhibitions, and collections in the field of global art through such programs as the Asian Art Initiative (founded in 2006), the Guggenheim UBS MAP Global Art Initiative (founded in 2013), and The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Chinese Art Initiative (founded in 2013).

The museum’s collection has grown over eight decades and is founded upon several important private collections, beginning with that of Solomon R. Guggenheim. The collection is shared with sister museums in Bilbao, Spain, and elsewhere. In 2013, nearly 1.2 million people visited the museum, and it hosted the most popular exhibition in New York City.

6. Underwater Sculpture Park

Photo: OMA/Shohei Shigematsu

Miami Beach may be known for its Art Deco architecture and party scene, at least in pre-Covid times, but the city’s newest attraction will require a bit of swimming to enjoy. Construction on a seven-mile underwater sculpture park will soon begin, with installations that can only be viewed by snorkeling to them.

The project, named ReefLine, is being built by the OMA architecture firm, and designed primarily to raise awareness on how climate change is impacting this part of Florida as it leads to rising sea levels and coral reef damage, Matador Network reports.

Shohei Shigematsu, who heads the architecture firm’s New York Office, told Dezeen, “The ReefLine is a unique project that brings attention to and mitigates the dangers of climate change in Miami Beach, while simultaneously enriching the city’s vivid art scene. We look forward to collaborating with a diverse group of experts and professionals on our first underwater cultural masterplan and sculpture.”

Among the team of experts working on the underwater project are marine biologists, researchers, architects, and coastal engineers. According to the OMA website, ReefLine will not only raise awareness on the issues caused by climate change, but it will also help combat them by providing “a critical habitat for endangered reef organisms, promoting biodiversity and enhancing coastal resilience.”

The ReefLine will consist of geometric concrete modules that are stacked 20 feet underwater and follow the topography of the seabed. The sculpture will be built 900 feet offshore and extend from the north end of the city to South Beach.