Asia attractions

Rising 8,415 feet (2,565 meters) above sea level, Mt. Doi Inthanon—set within Doi Inthanon National Park—is Thailand’s tallest mountain. The views from the summit are a major draw, particularly on clear days, but the journey to the top is just as rewarding. Visitors can enjoy well-marked hiking trails that showcase dramatic waterfalls, mountain forests, and dome-shaped Buddhist shrines along the way.

Long an under-the-radar destination for surfers, Bali’s Canggu beach district boasts some of the island’s most vibrant nightlife. Set on the west coast north of Seminyak and south of Tanah Lot, it draws party lovers, surfers, and yoginis with a vibrant blend of wave-pounded beaches, serene rice fields, and top-notch bars and restaurants.

Amritsar’s Harmandir Sahib, popularly known as the Golden Temple, is the most sacred of Sikh gurudwaras. The gleaming gold temple is surrounded by a large complex with a marble walkway and a pool containing holy water. As at all Sikh temples, everyone is welcome here, regardless of their background or religion, as long as you follow some clothing and etiquette requirements.

Situated on a quiet, leafy street, the Mani Bhavan Gandhi Sangrahalaya occupies an old home where Gandhi would stay during his frequent trips to Mumbai from 1917 to 1934. Today it's one of many Gandhi museums spread across India that serve to educate the public about the mahatma and his mission.

Sitting to the west of Tiananmen Square in Beijing, the Great Hall of the People is where the National People’s Congress is held, along with other administrative, social, and ceremonial events. The Stalinist structure was built in just 10 months and completed in September 1959. It’s worth stepping inside to see the 10,000-seat auditorium.

Boasting a hilltop location overlooking the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh, the Buddhist temple of Wat Phnom is one of Cambodia’s most-visited temples. Originally built in 1373, the sanctuary was reconstructed in 1998 and now provides a place for locals to celebrate Khmer festivals and make sacred offerings.

Along the west bank of the Ganges river in the city of Varanasi are a string of ghats, or steps, on which people worship, bathe, and go about other daily activities. Dasaswamedh Ghat is the most important of these, as it’s surrounded by temples and hosts the nightly aarti, or worship ceremony.

Less well known than its sibling, Tirta Gangga Water Palace, Ujung Water Palace (Taman Ujung or Taman Sukasada) was built by the same Karangasem king, Gusti Bagus Jelantik. It’s been widely renovated since its near destruction in Mt. Agung’s eruption and presents a charming landscape of ponds, bridges, pagodas, pavilions, and statues.

The central Tokyo neighborhood of Roppongi has long been associated with expat communities—several embassies are located here—and nightlife. And while Roppongi remains one of Tokyo’s best nightlife districts, it has successfully broadened its appeal with a wider variety of cultural and entertainment options. The development that has most significantly changed the face of Roppongi is Roppongi Hills, a behemoth modern shopping and entertainment complex housed at the base of Mori Tower, which opened in 2003.

A UNESCO Scenic and Historic Interest Area, Wulingyuan encompasses more than 100 square miles (260 square kilometers) of Hunan Province. The vast area is most famous for its 3,000 narrow sandstone pillars, some poking more than 650 feet (200 meters) into the sky, as well as serene streams, natural pools, waterfalls, natural bridges, and karst caves.

Silvered leaf monkeys flit through the trees on the climb up Melawati Hill (Bukit Melawati, the historic epicenter of Kuala Selangor. Besides a colonial-era lighthouse, other relics of past times include cannons, a royal mausoleum, a well with a gory history, the remains of a fort, and a small museum devoted to Selangor state history.

Also known as the Pherozeshah Mehta Gardens, Mumbai's Hanging Gardens is a beautifully manicured park known for its extensive topiary, primarily carved into animal shapes. Due to the park’s location atop Malabar Hill, it's long been a popular spot to take in views of the Arabian Sea, particularly at sunset.

Ang Thong National Marine Park (also known as Mu Koh Ang Thong National Park) is a protected archipelago of 42 islands in the Gulf of Thailand. The limestone-karst seascape features secluded beaches, hidden caves, dramatic cliffs, and photo-worthy emerald lagoons. Visitors also come here to spot wildlife, as it’s home to hawks, eagles, macaques, wild boars, sea turtles, and blacktip reef sharks.

Located in Hoan Kiem district, the neo-Gothic St. Joseph’s Cathedral is the oldest Roman Catholic church in Hanoi and the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hanoi. Modeled after Notre Dame in Paris, St. Joseph’s Cathedral is one of the most famous and striking landmarks in Hanoi from the colonial era.

The classically Balinese combo of rice fields and river gorges is what makes Ubud’s landscapes so beloved, and the Campuhan Ridge Walk, the best-known walk in Ubud, is the perfect way to appreciate them. Starting at Pura Gunung Lebah, choose between a 2-hour circular route around Campuhan and Sanggingan or a longer hike to Keliki and Taro.

The Hong Islands (Mu Ko Hong or Mu Koh Hong) are a group of rocky blips in the Andaman Sea, located just off the coast of Krabi in southern Thailand. A popular day trip destination from Ao Nang or Krabi, the islands are fringed with rain forests, hidden lagoons, and white-sand beaches.

A landmark in Guilin since the Tang Dynasty, and considered by many to be a symbol of the city, Elephant Trunk (Xiangbishan) Hill got its name because it’s said to resemble a giant elephant drinking water from the Li River. Towering more than 180 feet (55 meters) above the water, it’s one of the top attractions in Guilin.

Stretching along the Arabian Sea in the southern part of Mumbai, Marine Drive is a two-mile-long promenade and road with lovely sea views. The buildings flanking this stretch are also worth checking out; the only place on earth with more beach-facing art deco buildings than Marine Drive is Miami.

The gateway to the Chitwan National Park, Sauraha is located on Nepal’s jungle-filled plains (called the Terai). It’s not the small, local village it used to be—it’s now filled with tourist-oriented businesses, hotels, and restaurants. But it’s a convenient place to stay if you’re looking to explore the park on a safari or a boat ride.

Located in central Chengdu, Renmin Park (People’s Park) offers a glimpse into the day-to-day life of local residents who come here to relax, exercise, play games like mah-jongg or chess, sing and dance, or find love matches for their loved ones. It’s a great place to slow down, have a cup of tea, and experience life as the locals do.

With brilliant white spires, eaves, and bridges that all glitter in the sunshine and reflect in surrounding pools, the White Temple (Wat Rong Khun) is Chiang Rai’s signature sight. The building’s surroundings and interior are filled with art inspired by everything fromThe Matrix, to Hello Kitty andKung Fu Panda.

Once the great capital of the Kingdom of Siam, this ruined island city-state is now a remarkable UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ayutthaya Historical Park lies at the confluence of three rivers north of Bangkok. It protects magnificent crumbling stone temple spires, sun-worn Buddha statues, and other remnants of the palaces, temples, houses, and markets that thrived in the city-state’s heyday.

Nestled among the rice paddies of the Mekong Delta, Cái Bè is a riverfront village that is most famous for its floating market. All week long, vendors crowd into the harbor to sell fruit and vegetables from ramshackle boats. Visiting the market offers travelers a glimpse into local life in southern Vietnam.

Fort Cochin’s Chinese Fishing Nets have been a beach installation for centuries, well before the arrival of Portuguese colonizers. It’s thought that the nets were introduced to this coastal area by the legendary Chinese explorer Zheng He in the early 15th century. The nets are permanent horizontal structures, lowered and raised by a network of cantilevered ropes, bamboo poles, and balancing weights and pulleys. They are operated by teams of up to six fishermen, but the catch is usually quite modest.

Gamcheon Culture Village spills down a hillside in a riot of colors just outside Busan. The village, nicknamed “Santorini on the South Sea” and “the Machu Picchu of Busan,” was once an enclave for refugee members of the Taegeukdo religious movement. Today, the neighborhood attracts visitors with its steep cubicle houses, galleries, and cafés.

Characterized by emerald rice terraces and endless mountain vistas, the region of Mai Chau offers respite from the hustle of Hanoi. The small town serves as the gateway to the wider region, where you can glimpse local life in village homestays and explore a rewarding network of hiking trails.

Fringing a stretch of Colombo’s southern coastline, Galle Face Green is the city’s largest open space, composed of 12-acre (5-hectare) lawns overlooked by the colonial-era Galle Face Hotel. The green, which is flanked by a promenade and narrow beach, is a popular spot for strolling, picnicking, and kite flying.

The narrow, neon-lit streets of Den Den Town (Nipponbashi) are a magnet for shoppers on the hunt for electronics and comics. Multitudes of shops selling anime, manga, video games, action figures, tools, electronic equipment, and even furniture compete for business among young Osakans and visitors alike.

Hanoi’s largest indoor market, Don Xuan Market is jam-packed with stalls selling everything from clothing and cosmetics to household goods, pets, and plants. Although geared more toward local Vietnamese and wholesalers, it’s a great place to get a pulse on local life, and there’s also a lively food court and weekend night market.

Built on a single pillar and rising out of a square-shaped lotus pond, the One Pillar Pagoda (Chua Mot Cot) is said to resemble a lotus flower. Originally built in the 11th century, the pagoda has been rebuilt over the years, most recently in 1955 after it was destroyed by the French, and remains one of Hanoi’s most iconic pagodas.