1. The Windy City: Wellington (New Zealand)
The Windy City is a nickname commonly used to refer to Wellington (New Zealand). Situated amidst beautiful harbors with greenery and stunning beaches, Wellington is a safe and environmentally friendly city. Due to its location being influenced by the Tasman Sea, Wellington experiences strong winds in winter. The city mainly receives winds from the northwest, with sea breezes often blowing along the coast throughout summer. Therefore, residents here often carry waterproof and windproof jackets throughout most seasons of the year. The city's electricity is also predominantly generated from wind energy.
Wellington is the capital city of New Zealand. It is located at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range. Wellington is the primary population center of the southern North Island and the administrative center of the Wellington Region, which also includes the Kapiti Coast and Wairarapa. It is the southernmost capital city in the world of a sovereign state. Wellington has a marine temperate climate and is the windiest city in the world based on average wind speed. Wellington was originally designed by Captain William Mein Smith, the first Chief Surveyor for the New Zealand Company of Edward Wakefield in 1840. The city was once the capital of New Zealand from 1865, a position not defined in law but established by convention. The New Zealand Government, Parliament, Supreme Court, and most public service agencies are based in the city.


2. The Aquatic City: Venice (Italy)
Comprising 118 islands large and small, Venice is renowned as The City Of Water and is listed as a World Heritage Site. This is due to its unparalleled uniqueness in terms of its geography as well as the artistic, architectural structures on the islands alongside the Venetian lagoon system surrounding them. Many also like to refer to Venice as the city of boats because the transportation here is solely via waterways and roads with a large and small boat system traveling on the canals and rivers.
Venice has been known by several names such as 'La Dominante', 'La Serenissima', 'Queen of the Adriatic', 'City of Water', 'City of Masks', 'City of Bridges', 'The Floating City', and 'City of Canals'. The lagoon and part of the city are recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The areas of Venice are famous for the beauty of their settings, architecture, and artwork. Venice is known for some important artistic movements - particularly in the Renaissance period - and has played a significant role in the history of musical instruments and opera and is the birthplace of Baroque composers Tomaso Albinoni and Antonio Vivaldi.


3. The Rain Capital: Cherrapunji (India)
Cherrapunji, known as The Rain Capital, is a nickname commonly given to the city due to its extraordinary rainfall. Situated at an elevation of 1,290 meters above sea level, it is renowned for having the highest annual rainfall in the world (almost 11,000 mm/year). However, Cherrapunji lacks water reservoirs, leading to frequent wet and flood-prone conditions. Moreover, this city once recorded the highest rainfall in the world in less than a month. In July 1861, Cherrapunji received an enormous rainfall of 9,299 mm.
Cherrapunji holds the record for one of the highest annual rainfall averages in the world, approximately 450 inches (11,430 mm). Additionally, it recorded the highest annual rainfall total ever, 1,042 inches (26,467 mm) from August 1860 to July 1861, and one of the highest monthly rainfall totals ever recorded, 366 inches (9,296 mm) in July 1861. The heavy rainfall results from its location on the southern edge of the plateau, where summer monsoon-saturated air rises rapidly, cools quickly, and releases a significant amount of condensed water.


4. The Snowy Metropolis: Washington (USA)
Washington experiences a humid subtropical climate, typical of states lying in the region between the Atlantic Ocean coast and the foothills, characterized by four distinct seasons: mild, low-humidity spring and autumn, and harsh, snowy winters. With an average annual snowfall of up to 16.6 inches (420 mm), the winter season in Washington witnesses 4 - 6 snowstorms annually, blanketing the city in white. Hence, it's aptly referred to as The Snowy Metropolis.
Summers tend to be hot and humid, with average daily temperatures in July and August ranging from 80-89°F (about 26.7-31.7°C). The combination of heat and humidity in the summer often leads to frequent thunderstorms. Some severe storms occasionally spawn tornadoes in the area. Tropical storms, or remnants thereof, sometimes plague the region in late summer and early autumn. While they typically weaken upon reaching Washington, flooding along the Potomac River due to high tides and storm surges has repeatedly caused significant property damage in Georgetown.


5. The Misty Metropolis: London (UK)
London has long been renowned worldwide as The Misty Metropolis due to its dense fog and smoke. In fact, after a fog incident in 1952, the government enacted air purification laws to reduce pollution caused by smoke and fog. The best time to visit the UK, especially London, is from April to September, as this is the peak tourist season, attracting a large number of visitors. If you prefer a quieter London, consider visiting in July or September. During these months, the number of tourists decreases, and the autumn season begins, providing an opportunity for visitors to enjoy a very romantic atmosphere.
London is situated in a temperate oceanic climate zone, like much of England. The city rarely experiences extreme temperatures. Snowfall is rare in London, mainly because the surrounding areas' temperatures keep London about 5°C (9°F) warmer than the surrounding regions. However, snow showers occur several times a year. While London generally experiences few natural disasters, a few have occurred, such as the major storm in 1987. Despite London and England being known for frequent rainfall, London's average rainfall of 602 mm (23.7 in) per year actually makes it drier than the global average. The city experiences almost no rainfall in winter, leading many areas around the Mediterranean to receive more annual rainfall than London.


6. The Verdant Capital: Warsaw (Poland)
Warsaw is hailed as The Verdant Capital. Visitors to Warsaw will find themselves immersed in a green oasis of parks, gardens, and forests that blanket the city. It boasts numerous renowned wilderness parks such as Lazienki, Wilanow, and Praski... It's also a fantastic choice for travelers seeking tranquil, serene, and romantic natural settings.
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. Its urban area lies on the Vistula River in east-central Poland, with an estimated population of 1.78 million residents and a metropolitan area of over 3.1 million, making it the eighth most populous capital city in the European Union. The city covers an area of 516.9 km2, while the metropolitan area covers 6,100.43 km2. Warszawa is an Alpha- global city, a major international tourist destination, and a significant cultural, political, and economic center. Warsaw's Old Town has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.


7. The Frosty Metropolis: Yakutsk (Russia)
With a population of 300,000 people and an average yearly temperature of -38.6 degrees Celsius, Yakutsk stands as the coldest city on Earth. Residents are even advised against wearing glasses outdoors as their faces might freeze. Winter here lasts from October to May every year, with temperatures dipping as low as -50 degrees Celsius. Visitors venturing here, regardless of the season, must prepare warm winter attire to brave Yakutsk's icy weather.
Yakutsk is a city in Far Eastern Russia, located about 450 km south of the Arctic Circle. It serves as the capital of the Sakha Republic, Russia, and is a major port on the Lena River. The city is home to both Yakutsk Airport and the smaller Magan Airport. With an average temperature of −8.8°C, Yakutsk is the second coldest city with over 100,000 inhabitants in the world after Norilsk, although Yakutsk experiences colder temperatures during winter. Yakutsk is also the largest city built on continuous permafrost and one of the largest cities not reachable by road.


8. The Lion City: Singapore (Singapore)
According to legend, Prince Nila Utama saw a lion, the first creature on the island, and decided to name Singapore The Lion City. Not only a major financial center with many skyscrapers, Singapore also preserves many traditional cultural aspects deeply influenced by its immigrant population. In Singapore, visitors have the opportunity to admire modern and sophisticated skyscrapers as well as encounter ancient and colorful traditional temples. Famous landmarks of this lion city include the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, China Town, and more. Moreover, Singapore has become a dream destination for many people as it is the cleanest city in the world with excellent education and living environment.
The difference of Singapore city lies not only in technological advancement but also in expanding its scope through digital technology to enhance the quality of urban services and development. Therefore, the three priorities are: Firstly, focusing on community health care with a reliable medical care system to ensure citizen’s health; secondly, building residents' homes into truly cozy nests (citizens have access to free public housing; integrating convenient, sustainable, and developmental living conditions); thirdly, establishing an integrated transportation system of active modes of transportation for everyone to enjoy the city's amenities.


9. The City Of Flowers: Chiang Mai (Thailand)
Dubbed as the city of flowers and home to many famous Royal Palaces, Chiang Mai is considered one of the most beautiful cities in Thailand. Along all the corridors and pathways, numerous special flowers, especially roses, emit a fragrant aroma. Additionally, this place boasts vast flower gardens brimming with colors. Visitors to Chiang Mai have the opportunity to enjoy the most vibrant flower season from January to May every year, along with the unique traditional festivals of Thailand. With over 3,000 typical orchid species and other rare flowers, the city of Chiang Mai naturally becomes the 'northern rose' and is a paradise for those passionate about the beauty of flowers.
Once the capital of a powerful kingdom for centuries, today, the city of Chiang Mai continues to play a leading role as the gateway to the entire northern region of Thailand, one of the less economically developed but politically stable regions (excluding instability in parts of the Thai Golden Triangle, but with the determination of the Thai government, surrender of warlord Khun Sa, cautious, sporadic, and increasingly scattered activities of opium conglomerates, it is believed that the period of political instability in this region has passed). With advantages in tourism, especially eco-tourism and historical tourism, Chiang Mai is one of the most attractive and well-known destinations in Thailand.

