The New Seven Wonders of the World
In 2007, a foundation selected seven modern structures as the New Seven Wonders based on global voting. They represent contemporary human achievement in engineering, design, and ambition:
- Great Wall of China
- Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro
- Machu Picchu, Peru (ancient, but included)
- Colosseum, Rome (ancient, but included)
- Chichen Itza, Mexico (ancient, but included)
- Taj Mahal, India
- Statue of Liberty, New York
Three are ancient sites already discussed. The others represent different eras of human achievement.
Great Wall of China
Built over 2,000 years by multiple dynasties, the wall stretches 13,000 miles. It's visible from space and remains one of the most ambitious construction projects ever attempted.
Travel practicalities:
- Multiple sections near Beijing are restored and accessible
- Badaling is most visited and developed
- Mutianyu is less crowded, equally scenic
- Jinshanling and Simatai offer more adventurous, less restored sections
- Day trips from Beijing cost $40-100 including transport
- Spring and fall offer best weather; summers are very crowded
- Allow 4-6 hours for a half-day visit
Walking the wall connects you to history in a visceral way. The scale becomes apparent only when hiking its inclines. Your legs feel what ancient soldiers endured.
Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro
A 98-foot Art Deco statue overlooking Rio from Corcovado Mountain, built in 1931. It's Brazil's most iconic image and an engineering feat in its own right.
Travel practicalities:
- Accessible by train, bus, or van from the city
- Entry around 30 BRL (7 USD)
- Go early to beat crowds and haze
- Sunsets are spectacular; plan accordingly
- 2-3 hours total including travel
- Clear weather reveals views of entire city
The scale is impressive. From below, the statue looks impossibly large. The views of Rio's beaches and mountains justify the trip regardless of the statue itself.
Taj Mahal, India
Built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for his wife, the Taj Mahal is called the greatest love story in stone. Construction took 22 years (1632-1654).
Travel practicalities:
- Located in Agra, 4 hours by train or 3 hours by flight from Delhi
- Entry around 250 INR (3 USD) for Indians, 1000 INR (12 USD) for foreigners
- Visit at sunrise for best light and smaller crowds
- Allow 2-3 hours inside
- It's crowded even at sunrise; arrive 30 minutes before opening
- The marble inlay details are best appreciated with binoculars or close inspection
Photographs can't prepare you for the Taj Mahal's beauty. The proportions, the light hitting the marble, the gardens framing it. It's one of the few sites that exceeds its reputation.
Statue of Liberty, New York
An 1886 copper sculpture gifted by France to the United States, representing freedom and democracy. It's one of America's most recognized symbols.
Travel practicalities:
- Accessible by ferry from Battery Park in Lower Manhattan
- Entry varies: pedestal only ($21), crown access ($24), or grounds only ($18)
- Security screening required; arrive early
- Crown access requires climbing 393 stairs; it's narrow and can be claustrophobic
- Allow 3-4 hours for ferry, entry, and exploration
- Spring and fall offer best weather; winters are cold and windy
The scale is deceptive. The statue is 151 feet tall, but seems smaller from a distance. Close-up reveals the engineering and detail.
Other Modern Wonders Worth Visiting
Burj Khalifa, Dubai: World's tallest building (2,716 feet). Observation decks on the 124th and 148th floors. It's engineering showmanship, impressive but impersonal. Visit for the engineering; expect crowds.
Sydney Opera House, Australia: An architectural marvel completed in 1973 after 14 years of construction. The shell structure is unique and beautiful, especially at sunset. Tours inside reveal the ambition. The city views from nearby cliffs are equally worthwhile.
Hoover Dam, United States: Built 1931-1936, it's a 726-foot concrete engineering achievement that supplies water to 30 million people. The scale is impressive; you can drive across it or take tours. It's worth 2-3 hours if you're in the region.
Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco: An iconic 1937 suspension bridge. It's photogenic from multiple angles. Walking or biking across it is more engaging than just viewing it.
Channel Tunnel, Europe: The engineering feat is under the water; the traveler experience is underwhelming. You pass through in 20 minutes on a train. It's impressive conceptually, not experientially.
The Pattern in Modern Wonders
Modern wonders tend toward two categories:
- **Monuments to ideas**: Statue of Liberty, Christ the Redeemer represent abstract concepts expressed in stone and metal
- **Engineering solutions**: Hoover Dam, Burj Khalifa solve practical problems while pushing technical limits
Both are worth seeing. Monuments inspire emotionally; engineering marvels inspire intellectually.
Planning a Modern Wonders Tour
Unlike ancient wonders concentrated in Mediterranean regions, modern wonders are global:
- Asia-focused: Great Wall (China), Taj Mahal (India)
- Americas: Statue of Liberty (USA), Christ the Redeemer (Brazil)
- Mixed itinerary: Choose 3-4 wonders and build regional trips around them
A realistic 2-3 month trip could cover Great Wall, Taj Mahal, Burj Khalifa, and statue choices in the Americas.
Why Modern Wonders Matter
Ancient wonders represent human ambition before industrial technology. Modern wonders showcase what we accomplished once we had electricity, steel, and machinery.
They're often less subtle than ancient wonders. A pyramid is elegant simplicity; a skyscraper is engineering excess. But both reveal what humans value, what we're capable of, and how we express ourselves through construction.
Visiting them is visiting a museum of human aspiration.