Du Fu Thatched Cottage
Qingyang, China
This garden and museum commemorate the Tang poet Du Fu and the years he spent in Chengdu. The present buildings developed through later rebuilding, so the appeal lies in the literary history and setting rather than an untouched original house. Wander through bamboo, pavilions and quiet paths, pausing at the displays about the poet's life. It is a rewarding choice for travellers who enjoy gardens as much as monuments, especially at an unhurried pace.