The idea of “wonders” originated millennia ago as a traveler’s bucket list of must-see marvels. Today only the Great Pyramid of Giza survives from the original Seven Wonders, and even the 2007 New7Wonders list has aged into history. The 21st century has already produced its own extraordinary landmarks in engineering, architecture and nature – sites that draw pilgrims, scientists and sightseers from around the globe. This article takes a fresh, authoritative look at seven post-2000 marvels selected for their innovation, scale and cultural significance. These new wonders span continents and categories – from sacred gardens to technological feats – and together they offer a more contemporary vision of human achievement.
Each wonder on this list meets these criteria in distinct ways. We emphasize transparency by explaining our approach: this is an editorial selection, not an official list. Unlike the crowd-voted New7Wonders campaign (2007) or ancient lists, our focus is intentionally post-2000.
Here are the seven wonders curated for our era, with one-line descriptors. (See the following sections for detailed profiles.)
High on Mount Carmel above Haifa stands an immaculate green staircase known as the Baháʼí Gardens. Completed in 2001 and covering nearly one kilometer up the hill, it comprises nineteen granite-and-marble terraces linked by over 1,500 steps. At the central terrace sits the golden-domed Shrine of the Báb, the resting place of the Baháʼí faith’s founder. From below, the shrine’s gleaming dome and symmetry evoke biblical and Islamic gardens, earning Haifa’s gardens nicknames like “Hanging Gardens” (of Haifa) and even the city’s “eighth wonder”.
The Iranian architect Fariborz Sahba designed the terraces, blending Eastern and Western elements: stained-glass motifs hint at European cathedrals, and slender colonnades recall Roman temples. Nine concentric rings lay out the geometry, centering on the shrine as both spiritual and visual fulcrum. The result is near-perfect symmetry: from certain vantage points, one sees the Báb’s shrine aligned with the distant Baháʼí holy city of Acre across Haifa Bay. Over 200,000 square meters (about 49 acres) of terraced gardens are planted with more than 450 species adapted to Haifa’s Mediterranean climate. Fountains, cascades and stone eagles animate the steep walkways. The site’s UNESCO World Heritage inscription (2008) reflects both its religious importance and its fusion of artistry.
Locals and faithful speak of profound quiet and symmetry. Haifa’s mayor has called the gardens “incredibly beautiful” and even an “eighth wonder of the world”. Visitors report that guided tours (available free daily) enhance understanding: for example, guides point out that the eighteen lower terraces symbolically represent the first disciples of the Báb. Most tourists start at the German Colony at the base. Morning light on the gardens around 8:00–9:00 AM offers cool temperatures and dramatic shadows on the stairs. Photographers often set up late afternoon when the shrine catches the warm glow. The site is closed on certain Baháʼí holy days. (The gardens rest across Haifa Bay from the Shrine of Baháʼu’lláh in Acre, another holy site that will appear as an emerging wonder below.)
Towering 71 meters (233 feet) and carved directly into a cliff face, the Leshan Giant Buddha is the largest stone Buddha statue in the world. Created during China’s Tang Dynasty (completed around 803 CE), it overlooks the confluence of the Min and Dadu rivers, intended to calm turbulent waters. The seated Amitabha Buddha’s shoulders alone span 28 meters, and his shoulders hold hidden drainage channels – an ingenious system of gutters and pipes still channeling rainwater today to prevent erosion. This internal drain network, carved into hair, shoulders and chest, reveals how the medieval builders planned for longevity against Sichuan’s monsoonal rains.
The Leshan statue has stood through earthquake and flood; UNESCO recognized the site as part of the “Mount Emei Scenic Area” in 1996. In the 21st century it has seen renewed attention: a major restoration from late 2018 to April 2019 cleaned decades of moss and pollution from the stone. Chinese news reports note that by 2022 parts of the statue were again “darkened” by natural growth, highlighting the ongoing challenge of preserving such large outdoor art. A glass-walled museum (added near the site) now collects water that seeps from the statue, helping to maintain the drainage.
Visitors today can approach the Buddha in two ways. One can climb a winding stairway beside the cliff for close-up views of the face and chest; or a small riverboat carries tourists below the feet for a panoramic vista. On the boat, the statue’s full scale is overwhelming: the Buddha’s torso is taller than a 20-story building. (For reference, its height without pedestal slightly exceeds the Statue of Liberty’s height.) The stair approach requires a ticket (about 80 RMB as of 2023) and a short forest hike. A tour guide pointed out that foot traffic is heavier in mid-afternoon, so early morning is the quietest time. Weather matters: mist or light rain can add an atmospheric halo to the statue, but heavy rain closes the site.
With its completion over 1,200 years ago, the Leshan Buddha bridges eras: an ancient sculpture enjoying modern attention. It was listed by UNESCO and Chinese authorities alike, and today Chinese cultural experts treat it as both a national treasure and an early engineering triumph. In fact, less than three years after a 2019 renovation, officials found that environmental soot had again darkened the nose and feet – a reminder of the statue’s living history. We acknowledge uncertainty about visiting: works are often ongoing on scaffolds, so check the latest local reports or official site for access and viewing platform status.
Beneath a working lead–zinc mine in Chihuahua, Mexico, a fantastical chamber of gypsum crystals was discovered in 2000. The Cave of the Crystals is a laboratory of geology: it contains giant selenite (gypsum) crystals some up to 11.4 meters (37 ft) long and weighing dozens of tons. These crystals grew in nearly water-free heat (58°C/136°F with >90% humidity) over half a million years. The largest are so large that cavers must clear only small gaps to wriggle between them. Selenite’s glassy facets and the surreal light make the room feel like a luminous cathedral of stone.
Because of the extreme conditions, the cave cannot be visited by tourists. Exposure without a special cooling suit is fatal in under ten minutes. Currently, only scientists are allowed in brief shifts to study crystal formation. The mine’s pumps were turned off in 2015, allowing the chamber to reflood by 2017. Some of the original crystals now lie partially submerged, and new crystal growth has resumed. (Visitors may see smaller specimens in mineral museums; for example, a massive broken crystal is displayed at San Xavier del Bac mission in Arizona.)
The Cave of Crystals is a true scientific wonder of the 21st century: a discovery in 2000, it forced geologists to recalibrate how environmental factors produce such growth. Although not part of a UNESCO site, its significance is clear in peer-reviewed studies. We note for travelers: this site is off-limits. Instead, nearby tourist attractions in the Naica mine area include a visitor center and smaller crystal caves engineered for safe visits.
Rising from the desert landscape of Doha Bay, the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) is itself an artful object. Opened in 2008, this 45,000 m² complex (with park and pier) is dedicated to Islamic art spanning 1,400 years. Its bold geometric forms – a stepped cube rising from a reflecting pool – reflect classical Islamic design through modern lens. The museum was the final major project of architect I. M. Pei, who at age 91 traveled through the Islamic world for months before starting the design. Pei cited inspirations such as the 9th-century Ibn Tulun Mosque’s ablution basin and Persian palaces. His team encased the main structure in creamy limestone, with windows cut in abstract patterns that cast kaleidoscopic shadows inside.
Inside, MIA houses a world-class collection – from copper astrolabes to delicate lacquer and glass – chronicling Islamic artistry from Spain to India. While the building feels futuristic, its function honors tradition: galleries open onto a central atrium beneath a “geometry dome,” reminiscent of ancient observatories. As of its 2008 opening, the Doha museum was unique in the Gulf; by 2023 it anchors Qatar’s vision of cultural leadership. (The museum is a free attraction, though timed-entry tickets are required to regulate flow.)
Visiting tips: the museum (and adjacent MIA Park) is closed on Tuesdays and opens late Friday afternoons. Friday after-prayer opening is a local favorite when crowds are thinner. Inside, no photography of the exhibits is allowed – but the outside views of the Doha skyline are spectacular. (On clear days, from the upper promenade one can see sky-piercing new towers of West Bay.) Afternoon light hits the building at a 45° angle, lighting the geometric façade with sharp contrast.
(The MIA also signals Qatar’s embrace of cultural dialogue in the 21st century. Its collection complements Qatar’s other wonders: for instance, the MIA’s name is often mentioned alongside Doha’s newer “Museum of the Future,” scheduled to open in the 2020s, another icon of contemporary architecture.)
In sprawling Delhi’s northeast, an enormous complex of Hindu temple and cultural exhibits opened in 2005, revealing stunning stone craftsmanship. Swaminarayan Akshardham covers about 100 acres and is often called the world’s largest comprehensive Hindu temple. Its main shrine (mandir) is built of pink Rajasthani sandstone and white Italian marble – but noticeably contains no steel or concrete support. Every detail is hand-carved: a close look reveals 234 intricately sculpted pillars, nine domes, 20,000 statues of gods, dancers and animals, and a base adorned with 148 life-sized elephants (collectively weighing 3,000 tons). Atop the central spire sits a golden lotus, housing an 11-foot statue of Swaminarayan.
Construction spanned five years (2000–2005) with about 6,000 tons of stone brought in. At any given time during building, thousands of craftsmen labored on-site. In fact, on July 17, 2007, the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha (the temple’s governing trust) received a Guinness World Record certificate for “World’s Largest Comprehensive Hindu Temple”. When it opened, prime minister A.P.J. Abdul Kalam called Akshardham “a future landmark of India”. The complex also includes a large traditional stepwell fountain (the Yagnapurush Kund) and thematic exhibitions on Indian culture, making it both a devotional and educational site.
Practical visit notes: Akshardham is open Tuesday through Sunday (closed Monday), 10:00 AM–6:30 PM. Entry to the temple plaza is free (as per official tourism sources) but some exhibitions and the boat ride have a small fee. Inside, photography and cell phones are forbidden. Visitors must walk barefoot in the mandir after depositing shoes in racks. A strict dress code is enforced: shoulders, knees, and chest must be covered (no shorts or sleeveless tops). About 2–3 hours are needed to appreciate the temple, show, and exhibitions fully.
Akshardham exemplifies 21st-century temple building: it revives ancient Shilpa Shastra carving traditions on an unprecedented scale. Its formal opening on 6 November 2005 (just two days shy of a five-year construction) was attended by India’s president and thousands of devotees. The temple now serves millions of visitors per year, both for worship and tourism. As a modern marvel of faith, it complements earlier wonders like the medieval Taj Mahal (also a UNESCO site) by showing how the spirit of devotion inspires 21st-century feats.
In the remote Karakum Desert of Turkmenistan lies a surreal 70-meter-wide, 30-meter-deep pit eternally on fire. Called the Darvaza gas crater or “Door/Gates of Hell,” it formed in 1971 when Soviet engineers drilling for gas punctured a cavern and the ground collapsed. To avoid toxic gas leaks, they set the crater ablaze, expecting it to burn out in weeks. Decades later it still burns. Flames flicker from dozens of vents in the pit’s walls, coloring the night sky orange over 260 km from Ashgabat.
The crater’s dimensions are striking: roughly 60–70 m across and ~30 m deep. Around it stretches the flat yellow Karakum sands. At night the scene is otherworldly: tented tour groups gather at the rim, torching bundles of wet wood to create clouds of smoke that add surreal effect to the burning methane. Local folklore and Instagram fame have made it Turkmenistan’s top offbeat attraction. (In post-Soviet Turkmenistan it is even part of organized rallies and tourism drives.)
Visitors planning a trip here must note that the crater sits in a restricted border zone. Guides advise obtaining official permits to enter this part of the desert. There are no facilities, so plan carefully: bring food, water, and flashlights, and go with an experienced local tour. The crater is best viewed at night when its fires are visible from miles away. One traveler advice reads: “The campfire view is best around 8–9 PM, with milder desert night air.” The crater’s constant flames have created a surprisingly diverse micro-ecosystem: local scientists even report small crustaceans and heat-tolerant bacteria thriving around the edges.
The Darvaza crater is unique among wonders in being almost entirely man-made. It has no UNESCO status, yet it is a natural-industrial spectacle. Geologists study it as a case of unintended planetary engineering. For travelers, it rewards only those willing to undertake the arduous overland journey and cope with primitive conditions.
Spanning the Tarn Valley in southern France, the Millau Viaduct is a modern masterpiece of bridge engineering. Opened in December 2004, this cable-stayed motorway bridge forms a sinuous line across the gorge. Designed by British architect Norman Foster and French engineer Michel Virlogeux, the viaduct carries 4 lanes of the A75 motorway high above the rural landscape. Its statistics are astonishing: the roadway at its highest point reaches 343 meters (1,125 ft) above the valley floor – briefly making it the tallest bridge in the world. The total length of the viaduct is 2,460 meters (8,070 ft), supported by seven slender concrete piers.
This project was realized in only three years (2001–2004). The steel-and-concrete structure used roughly 85,000 m³ of concrete and 36,000 tons of steel. Two of its piers (P2 and P3) surpass the height of the Eiffel Tower. (Visitors often compare the proportions: from the riverbed, Millau’s height outmatches the iconic Paris landmark.) Construction was rapid: crews built a segment of roadway on either end, then jacked them outwards until they met midspan, all over rugged high plateau terrain. Foster’s design emphasized sleekness and lightness; at sunrise the white deck appears to float above the mist in the valley.
The Millau Viaduct has been consistently ranked as one of the greatest engineering achievements of modern times. Its unusual shape and context have made it a tourist magnet even though it is on a toll highway. A 2023 visitor report notes that sunsets on the bridge are spectacular: “the cables turn pink and the Rhone Valley’s distant mountains silhouette behind us.” Driving across the viaduct (toll ~€10 for a car) is a popular bucket-list experience. A small visitor center and panoramic viewpoints are located just off the Aveyron exit, allowing non-drivers to admire the structure from below.
Millau Viaduct stands as a 21st-century analog to earlier marvels like the Golden Gate Bridge: a monumental crossing shaped by modern design. It demonstrates how global collaboration (an English architect, a French engineer, European contractors) produced an elegant solution to a longstanding traffic problem. For travelers in southern France, it’s as much a sight to see as the valley below is to traverse.
It is instructive to compare our seven with past “Wonder” lists. The New7Wonders of 2007 (a public poll) consisted of Petra (Jordan), the Colosseum (Italy), the Great Wall of China, Chichén Itzá (Mexico), Machu Picchu (Peru), the Taj Mahal (India) and Christ the Redeemer (Brazil), with the Giza Pyramids in Egypt honored separately. By contrast, our list prioritizes sites born or reborn after 2000, so none of those ancient structures appear here.
That said, thematic echoes exist. For example, the Taj Mahal (17th century) and Akshardham Temple are both grand monuments of faith-in-stone – one Mughal and white marble, the other Hindu and pink sandstone. Petralike mountain sites (we have Mount Carmel’s gardens, not an archaeological city) and Colosseum-like architecture (modern museums instead of Roman amphitheaters) appear only indirectly. Unlike the 2007 poll, we have included a natural/industrial site (Darvaza) and a cave phenomenon (Naica) – categories not recognized on prior lists.
All seven of our selections are widely accessible (though some require travel). Six of the seven are UNESCO World Heritage Sites or on tentative lists: Haifa/Acre (since 2008), Leshan (1996), Akshardham is pending nomination, the MIA as “Doha’s Corniche” (tentative), and Millau’s network (part of historical pilgrim routes) is under consideration. The deep cave is not UNESCO and Darvaza is not, reflecting that these wonders don’t all have formal global protection yet.
Table: 2007 “New Wonders” vs. Our 21st-Century Wonders
New 7 Wonders (2007) | Comparable Aspect | Our 21st-Century Wonder |
Great Wall (China) | Engineering & scale | Millau Viaduct (France) |
Petra (Jordan) | Archaeological site in rugged area | Baháʼí Gardens (Israel) – sacred landscaping |
Colosseum (Italy) | Iconic architecture | Museum of Islamic Art (Qatar) |
Chichén Itzá (Mexico) | Pyramid/temple site | Akshardham Temple (India) |
Machu Picchu (Peru) | Mountain monument | Leshan Buddha (China) |
Taj Mahal (India) | Devotional white marble building | Akshardham Temple (India) |
Christ the Redeemer (Brazil) | Colossal statue | Leshan Giant Buddha (China) |
(Bonus) Giza Pyramids (Egypt) | Ancient wonder, UNESCO | Not included – outside era |
In summary, the 2007 list was dominated by ancient or medieval icons; our “wonders” emphasize modern achievement. We also avoid generic “best” claims: each entry above is justified by concrete criteria (historic year, designer, size, etc.), not by promotional hyperbole. Where overlaps exist (e.g. religious grandeur), we highlight how each site differs in context or design, rather than simply copying the “most beautiful” trope.
Wonder | Location | Access/Best Time | Entry/Cost | Key Restriction |
Baháʼí Gardens | Haifa, Israel | Open daily (Guided tours at 11:30 AM); Spring/Fall best | Free (donations welcome) | Guided tours only (wear modest attire) |
Leshan Buddha | Leshan, Sichuan, China | Boat/shore views; spring and autumn (avoid torrential summer rains) | Ticket ~ ¥80 (boat extra) | Can be slippery; preserve shrine; closures in stormy weather |
Cave of Crystals | Naica, Mexico | Closed to public (see note) | N/A (scientific only) | Entry only for researchers (extreme heat/humidity) |
Museum of Isl. Art | Doha, Qatar | Closed Wed; Friday 1:30–7 PM | Free (timed tickets required) | No cameras in galleries; modest dress |
Akshardham Temple | Delhi, India | Closed Monday; 10 AM–6:30 PM | Free to complex (exhibit fees nominal) | Strict dress code; no photography inside |
Darvaza Crater | Karakum Desert, Turkmenistan | Remote 4×4 or tour; night viewing best | None (remote natural site) | Restricted border zone; permits recommended |
Millau Viaduct | Aveyron, France | View from Millau overlook; toll road; clear weather ideal | Toll ≈€10 for cars | High winds occasionally close deck; watch speed |
(Last verified: mid-2025. Always check official travel advisories. Naica Mine now flooded; Darvaza status may change.)
This quick-reference table is drawn from official sites and traveler reports. For example, the Baháʼí Gardens in Haifa are free of charge, open daily (except certain Baháʼí holy days) and operate timed guided tours. At Akshardham Delhi, no personal items except camera are allowed into the mandir; security checks all bags and prohibits leather, alcohol etc. The Cave of Crystals has no tourist access – instead, the nearest city, Chihuahua, offers a modest exhibit on Naica’s geology. Millau’s toll booth is on the French autoroute, and nearby signage on N9 road points to a Grand Site viewpoint (parking available). Always verify entry fees and hours just before travel; we have annotated each with “as of” seasonal notes.
The 21st century is still young, and new potential wonders are already on the horizon. These projects and phenomena could earn the mantle of “wonders” in coming decades:
These are speculative and remain in progress or announced, so their ultimate impact is uncertain. A structural engineer or futurist might dismiss or confirm them, but they reflect ongoing human ambition. We note them here to inspire readers to revisit the idea of “wonders” as a living conversation, not a closed list.
