Bing wallpaper for mobile

Hottest Latest
International Rock Day
International Rock Day
International Rock Day, on July 13, celebrates these hardy heroes, which have played a big part in human history since at least the Stone Age. They served as humanity"s first tools and as nature"s journals, protecting ancient fossils and documenting changes caused by geological processes.Desktop Version
A path into history
A path into history
When it comes to tourist destinations, the Wuhou Temple in the city of Chengdu, China, must be among the world"s oldest. It"s been attracting visitors for nearly 1,800 years and remains one of the most popular attractions in all of China. Located in Sichuan province, this temple complex was constructed to honor two principal members of the Shu Han state (221-263) of China"s early Three Kingdoms period. And although the founder of Shu Han, Liu Bei, is honored with his own temple and shrine here, the real headliner is one of China"s most important historical figures, Zhuge Liang, who is remembered as a great wit, scholar, astronomer, statesman, and military strategist. In fact, the name Wuhou itself derives from the Chinese title "Marquis of Wu," which was an honorary title given to Zhuge Liang.Desktop Version
Carnival of Venice
Carnival of Venice
Don your tricorn hat and gilded disguise, it"s time to visit the Carnival of Venice. This centuries-old festival combines revelry with anonymity, thanks to the masks traditionally worn by attendees, from the classic square-jawed Bauta mask to the Colombina eye mask, with roots in Italian theater. Costumed rowers take part in a parade of traditional boats on Venice"s famous Grand Canal while thousands of people wearing elaborate costumes enjoy the carnival atmosphere. Parades, parties, concerts, and performances will fill the streets until festivities end on Shrove Tuesday, which falls on February 13 this year. Visitors might pass by the Santa Maria della Salute, seen toward the back of today"s image, a baroque basilica dedicated to the Virgin Mary, who is considered to be the protector of the city.Desktop Version
Nakupenda Beach Nature Reserve, Zanzibar, Tanzania
Nakupenda Beach Nature Reserve, Zanzibar, Tanzania
Off the west coast of Zanzibar, the Nakupenda Beach Nature Reserve sits on a small, sandy island. Surrounded by the Indian Ocean, this sand bar is a popular destination with tourists looking to soak up the sun"s rays on its white sands. Plentiful marine life here creates a vibrant underwater world that is perfect for snorkeling. The islands of Tanzania are home to an array of wildlife like the Pemba scops owl and the African fish eagle. To the north of Nakupenda, there is a giant tortoise sanctuary on Changuu Island, while their sea turtle cousins swim in the surrounding waters.Desktop Version
Saksun, Faroe Islands, Denmark
Saksun, Faroe Islands, Denmark
Nestled in a picturesque valley next to a lagoon flanked by mountains, Saksun is a small, remote village famous for its stunning vistas. It is situated on the coast of Streymoy in the remote Faroe Islands, which sit about halfway between Iceland and Scotland in the North Atlantic. Home to these iconic houses with turf roofs and a tiny population—estimates vary between 8 and 30—it is said that there are more waterfalls in Saksun, than houses.Desktop Version
Cumberland Island National Seashore
Cumberland Island National Seashore
Along the southernmost stretch of Georgia"s Atlantic coast are several barrier islands, and Cumberland is the largest. The US National Park Service (NPS) protects 9,800 acres of the island"s wilderness, a place where, as the NPS says, nature and history meet. Human occupation on Cumberland Island touches on numerous milestones in the story of America.Desktop Version
Festivus
Festivus
For polar bears, the airing of grievances is a feat of strength in itself. These big fellas are frequent sights here in Churchill, Manitoba, where hundreds of bears converge in the winter to hunt, but we"re still calling this light-bathed snapshot a Festivus miracle!Desktop Version
Bridge of Hillsborough County
Bridge of Hillsborough County
The Hancock-Greenfield Bridge (aka County Bridge) has offered a picturesque passage over the Contoocook River in southern New Hampshire since 1937. It was built to replace another covered bridge that had been destroyed in a flood. But why even build a covered bridge? In a word, longevity. The roof and walls help protect the timber supports from rot. For comparison, an uncovered wooden bridge lasts an average of 20 years, while the covered variety can reach 100 years or more.Desktop Version
Grand finish of Le Tour
Grand finish of Le Tour
After a three-week jaunt around France, cycling"s most prestigious race concludes today with a triumphant procession into Paris before a sprint finish on the iconic Champs-Élysées. The 21st and final stage of this year"s Tour de France—the 108th edition of the famous event—begins in Chatou, a town in the western suburbs of Paris along the River Seine. Tour tradition dictates the overall race leader isn"t challenged on the last day, so it starts out as a victory parade for the champion-elect, who will be wearing a yellow jersey, posing for pictures, and sipping a glass of champagne along the route. But when the riders reach the heart of Paris, the pace picks up as they dash along the Champs-Élysées, a tree-lined promenade often described as the "most beautiful avenue in the world."Desktop Version
Long-eared owl in the Czech Republic
Long-eared owl in the Czech Republic
Whooo is that up in that tree? Why, that"s just a typical long-eared owl, sometimes called the lesser horned owl or cat owl. It"s one of the most numerous owl species in the world with an estimated population between 2 million and 5.5 million long-eared owls widely distributed across the Northern Hemisphere. Our featured friend today was found in the Czech Republic, but they"ll adapt to several kinds of habitats.Desktop Version
Mount Segla, Senja Island, Norway
Mount Segla, Senja Island, Norway
A beautiful island popularly known as "Norway in miniature," Senja"s diverse landscape boasts mountainous terrain as well as lush greenery. At 600 square miles, it is Norway"s second-largest island, connected to the mainland by the Gisund Bridge. The most notable spot on Senja is pictured today, Mount Segla, a magnificent peak that is visited frequently in summer, with a trail starting in Fjordgård, a fishing village in the north of Senja. It"s a tough hike to the top, more than 2,000 feet above sea level. Other tourist attractions include Ånderdalen National Park and Tranøya, an island off the south coast of Senja known for its tranquility.Desktop Version
World Numbat Day
World Numbat Day
OK, you might be asking: World What Day? Meet the nifty numbat! Though it"s one of many marsupials found here in Western Australia, the numbat is unique, sharing no relation to any living species. It"s also critically endangered: This cute specimen is one of fewer than 1,000 of its kind left in the wild.Desktop Version
International Tiger Day
International Tiger Day
It"s International Tiger Day! A day to celebrate these magnificent animals and consider how best they can be protected. The largest wild cats in the world, all tiger species are endangered, facing challenges including habitat loss, the illegal wildlife trade, and poaching. The Bengal tiger, an iconic subspecies primarily found in India, is the star of today"s image. As apex predators, Bengal tigers play a vital role in maintaining ecological balance by controlling populations of deer, wild boar, and bison. With an estimated population in the wild of between 2,500 and 3,000, tiger conservation is crucial to secure the future of this majestic species.Desktop Version
National Hammock Day
National Hammock Day
It’s National Hammock Day! A day to slowly unwind while rocking gently from side to side. These days, hammocks are associated with summer relaxation, but they were originally developed by Central Americans to protect them from dangerous insects and animals. Today the hammock is a traveler"s best buddy, made from a variety of materials like fabric, netting, or rope. But where best to hang it? Florida boasts some beautiful hammock hang-out spots, like the bald cypress tree pictured on our homepage. Have hammock, will travel and relax. It"s just that simple.Desktop Version
I am the walrus
I am the walrus
This herd of gentle giants is bobbing in the waters of the Svalbard archipelago, roughly midway between continental Norway and the North Pole. Walruses spend more than half their day in the water, masterfully foraging for clams and other marine organisms. The rest of the time, they hang out on ice floes, the males and females huddled separately, taking a break before diving in for more food. Walruses launch from the ice to eat, making the floating blocks an important part of their survival. With the effects of climate change increasing, Arctic ice is melting, posing an existential threat to the ancient pinnipeds.Desktop Version
Antarctica Day
Antarctica Day
The windiest, coldest, and driest continent on Earth—Antarctica—was officially discovered in 1820. In the following decades, several countries organized expeditions to reach and explore the Antarctic ice sheets. The southernmost continent had no indigenous population and various nations claimed ownership. But in 1959, 12 countries signed the Antarctic Treaty, banning military activities and setting Antarctica aside for scientific research. Today, we celebrate the anniversary of this treaty, which now has 56 parties.Desktop Version
When an ideal microclimate gives you lemons…
When an ideal microclimate gives you lemons…
…put them on everything. That"s the philosophy behind the two-week Lemon Festival that began yesterday and runs through March 3 in the coastal city of Menton, France, where this citrus-covered dragon looms large. This sliver of the French Riviera just down the road from Monaco almost never sees freezing temperatures, even in winter. That makes it ideal for growing lemons, oranges, and other citrus crops—and the harvests are plentiful, as proved by the Lemon Festival"s many fruit-bedecked sculptures and parade floats.Desktop Version
Castle Square, Old Town, Warsaw, Poland
Castle Square, Old Town, Warsaw, Poland
From early December, the streets and squares of Warsaw, Poland"s capital city, are dressed for the festive season. Christmas decorations light up the Royal Route, which extends south from the Royal Castle on Castle Square, where a nearly 30-foot-tall Christmas tree is installed for the holiday season, to Wilanów Palace. Bundled patrons wander through Warsaw"s Christmas Market, browsing through seasonal souvenirs while savoring a warm beverage. The Royal Castle and surrounding Old Town have been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1980.Desktop Version
Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
Behold the rugged grandeur of Utah"s red rock country. This hidden gem of the American Southwest is Capitol Reef National Park, a tapestry of towering cliffs, twisting canyons, colorful sandstone buttes, and sweeping desert landscapes. Less popular than Zion and Bryce Canyon, the park offers a pleasantly uncrowded experience for visitors keen to enjoy this spectacular landscape. It is also home to a wide variety of plants and animals, including the elusive desert bighorn sheep and more than 230 bird species. But its crown jewel is the nearly 100-mile long Waterpocket Fold, a 7,000-foot-high step in the rock layers, officially known as a monocline. This massive wrinkle on the surface of the planet was formed around 50 to 70 million years ago.Desktop Version
Yi Peng lantern festival, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Yi Peng lantern festival, Chiang Mai, Thailand
As twilight descends today, Chiang Mai, Thailand"s second-largest city, will come alive with thousands of glowing lanterns for Yi Peng. Held on the full moon of the second month of the Lanna lunar calendar, this celebration is about letting go of negativity and embracing new beginnings. The highlight of the festival is the release of "khom loi" or "khom loy"—floating paper lanterns—into the night sky, which becomes a sea of warm, golden lights. People often write their hopes and dreams on the lanterns. They gather around temples and palaces to send their wishes skyward, hoping for good fortune in the year to come.Desktop Version
Aprils full moon
Aprils full moon
The full moon has inspired folklore, myths, writers, and artists throughout history and has been given many names, depending on the time of year it appears. April"s first full moon is known as the pink moon, but that doesn’t mean it will appear pink against the night sky. Native Americans named it for the pink wildflowers, moss pink or creeping phlox, that bloom in the eastern US in the spring.Desktop Version
Inside the Oculus
Inside the Oculus
Reconstruction after the Sept 11 attacks included not just rebuilding on the site of the Twin Towers, but replacing the transit hub station there as well. The new vision for the transit hub includes the Oculus, a building designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. A defining feature of the Oculus is a skylight at the peak of its roof, which is opened on clear days, flooding the space below with light and giving patrons a view of the new One World Trade Center building. And every Sept 11, the skylight is left open to the elements for 102 minutes—the duration of the attack on the World Trade Center. The elegant transit station is often busy with travelers making a quick stop to shop or eat, since most of the space is dedicated to retail, as it had been before the attacks on 9/11.Desktop Version
Tambopata National Reserve, Peru
Tambopata National Reserve, Peru
Those brave enough to step out over this suspension bridge will be treated to a macaw"s-eye view of the Amazon rainforest, on which the survival of life on Earth depends. The vast Amazon biome, which spans 2.6 million square miles—an area twice the size of India—stores enormous amounts of carbon and supports approximately 10% of all known animal and plant species on Earth.Desktop Version
Penn Station
Penn Station
If this image of New York City"s Pennsylvania Station seems straight out of a classic film noir, it"s for good reason. The photo was taken in the 1950s, just a few years before the city"s beloved Beaux-Arts style masterpiece was dismantled and then demolished so that Madison Square Garden could be built atop its warren of walkways and train lines.Desktop Version
Mountain hare hopping into Lunar New Year
Mountain hare hopping into Lunar New Year
Today is the start of the Lunar New Year, which ushers in the Year of the Rabbit. Those born under the sign of the rabbit are believed to be ingenious, sweet, happy, quiet, and persistent. Famous rabbits include Albert Einstein, Frank Sinatra, Lionel Messi, and Ingrid Bergman. The Lunar New Year celebration starts with the first new moon in January and goes for the next 15 days, until the year"s first full moon lights up the night sky. Historically it has been an occasion for feasting and honoring deities as well as ancestors. We"re doing our part by sharing this lovely winter image of a mountain hare in Derbyshire, England.Desktop Version