Kosmos

Before they conquered Beijing in 1644, the rulers of the Qing dynasty had already created a miniature version of the Forbidden City in the country’s northeast. Although twelve times smaller, its inimitable design com­bined elements from Manchuria, Mongolia and China. In addition, the buildings that make up the Shenyang Imperial Palace, now a museum, are based on nomads’ yurts.

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Mexican photographer Christian Vizl spends his life capturing the beauty of the planet’s oceans with his camera and has won dozens of awards for his work. New out: his black-and-white book of plates, Silent Kingdom: A World Beneath the Waves (published by Earth Aware Editions).

christianvizl.com

The colorful paintings typically found on the walls of Somalia’s grocer stores, doctor’s offices and electrical stores have a positive dual purpose: Everyone can see at a glance exactly what’s on offer, and the artists earn a living with their street art.

So you think winter’s the only good time to ski and sled? Think again! These summer toboggan runs promise breathtaking descents.

The best way to travel is on your stomach: Try something you’ve never had before at these culinary festivals.

Stars on the street

In Singapore, good food is so important that even street cooks work to the highest standards – and are rewarded with Michelin stars. The city’s Food Festival is a must for fans of Chinese, Indian and Malay cooking. (July 12-28)

Not always haute cuisine

French-Canadian cuisine is both famous and notorious, the latter for poutine: french fries in gravy topped with cheese. For a more sophisticated experience, visit the Festival Bouffe ton Centro in Sherbrooke near Montreal (August 3).

Parcels for the palate

Pierogies are ubiquitous in Poland. Krakow even hosts a festival in honor of the tasty dumplings that can come filled with ground meat, mushrooms or sauerkraut (August 11-17).