TIME magazine has released its annual list of the world’s greatest places, and two landmarks in particular have captured global attention: China’s Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge, now officially the world’s tallest suspension bridge, and the Zayed National Museum in Abu Dhabi, which has claimed the title of the world’s largest museum. Both earned a place on the prestigious TIME 100 list, offering travellers compelling new reasons to add them to their 2026 wanderlists.
The Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge, which opened in September 2025, soars 2,050 feet above the Beipan River in southeast China—equivalent to roughly 200 storeys in height. The engineering feat took years to complete and now serves as both a functional transportation link and a magnet for thrill-seekers and photographers. Visitors describe crossing the bridge as a surreal experience, with floor-to-ceiling mist sometimes obscuring the valley below.
## A New Benchmark in Engineering
The bridge’s construction required innovative design solutions to withstand the region’s seismic activity and extreme weather. Its slender, elegant profile belies an extraordinarily robust structural system capable of handling heavy traffic loads while maintaining visitor safety. China has invested heavily in infrastructure tourism, positioning landmark bridges as destinations in their own right alongside the Great Wall and Shanghai’s skyline.
## Zayed National Museum: A Cultural Landmark for the Ages
On the other side of the world, Abu Dhabi’s Zayed National Museum has opened to widespread acclaim. Designed by Foster + Partners, the museum tells the story of the UAE’s founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and traces the transformation of the Arabian Peninsula from a pearl-diving economy to a global hub. Its distinctive feather-inspired architectural design is both a tribute to falcons and a functional passive cooling system that reduces the building’s energy consumption.
The museum’s collection includes rare artefacts, interactive multimedia exhibits, and immersive galleries that have drawn comparisons to the finest institutions in London and New York. The Abu Dhabi government expects the museum to attract millions of visitors annually, anchoring the city’s ambitions as a cultural tourism destination.
## What This Means for Global Travel
The inclusion of these two landmarks in TIME’s list underscores a broader trend in experiential travel: visitors are seeking out places that combine architectural ambition, engineering marvel, and meaningful storytelling. Both destinations are well-connected to international airports and offer a range of accommodation options, making them accessible to a wide range of travellers.
Whether you are crossing one of the world’s great engineering feats or standing inside a museum that rewrites your understanding of a region’s history, 2026 is shaping up to be a year of remarkable places to discover.
