UNDER THE BANYAN TREE Jul-Dec 2015 | Page 4

With its stunning vistas and rolling landscape, China's Yunnan province is an attractive discovery for ardent hikers, and remains largely unspoiled (page 24) T A P E S T R Y 04 A fascinating journey across the network from culinary experiences to environmental activities, fast cars and delicious delicacies Live, Laugh, Love Your Way 09 REFLECT Natural Beauty 1 0 Making the Maps Harking back to the age of travel and exploration that helped to define our exotic destinations, we take a closer look at the stories of adventure that were involved in mapping the world 14 Living in Harmony 22 U N D E R T H E B A N YA N T R E E 07/12 2015 EXPLORE CREATE Way Up in the Hills Surrounded by a glamorous mystique, Shangrila is one of the most beautiful parts of the globe. Pull on your hiking boots, take a bracing sip of yak butter tea, and head off 24 Wild About Nature 33 A Romantic Love Affair 35 Empowering Women 36 TASTE Drinking in the Atmosphere We recreate the classic romance of travel, as encapsulated in six deliciously iconic cocktails to toast the sunset 38 Alive by Night 49 Take Me to the River 50 Grand Designs on Golf With over 60 million golfers, the game of kings is big business across the world, and a creative process for its designers. We tee off for a few rounds of fun at some of the greatest greens on the globe 52 Traditional Attractions 63 OUR DESTINATIONS 64 LAST WORDs 68 A colourful passage of evocative literature. This issue, we look at the work of the renowned travel writer Colin Thubron cover photo: ron yue cover spine: bob freund photo: ALEX TREADWAY/National Geographic Creative FOREWORD 0 1