Asia attractions

The best known of the “killing fields” where the Khmer Rouge executed over a million innocent Cambodians, the Choeung Ek Genocidal Center sit just outside Phnom Penh. A memorial stupa contains the skulls of around 8,000 victims; bracelets decorate killing sites; and a museum documents the atrocities.

With a history dating back more than 1,000 years, the Mother Temple of Besakih (Pura Besakih), set astride the slopes of Mount Agung, is Bali’s single most important temple. Twenty-three shrines make up the complex: 17th-century Pura Penataran Agung, dedicated to Shiva, is the most significant.

For many visitors, Singapore’s Chinatown is the sightseeing focus of the city, home to traditional shophouses, temples, and cultural heritage. Take a wander down the atmospheric streets, dropping into shophouses to see what’s for sale. Admire the rooftop dragons of Thian Hock Keng Temple, dedicated to the Goddess of the Sea, and the festively gaudy Hindu Sri Mariamman Temple, covered with colorful cows and depictions of the gods. Of course, Chinatown is also the place to go to for great food, especially along Smith Street.

Kitschy and cute Tsutenkaku, Osaka’s answer to the Eiffel Tower, rises 338 feet (103 meters) above the streets of Shin Sekai. The neon-outlined building was the tallest in town when it was first built in 1912. An observation deck offers stellar nighttime views and the chance to see beloved Billiken, god of “things as they ought to be.”

While the grand Linh Ung Pagoda complex might look traditional at first glance, it in fact opened in 2010. The sprawling grounds atop a hill near Da Nang and Hoi An contain a dazzling white, 219-foot (67-meter high Lady Buddha, other white stone statues, a large main hall with a Sakyamuni Buddha statue, and other features.

The Annapurna Massif is a range of the Himalayas in western Nepal. Six major peaks sit within this area: Annapurna I, II, III, and IV, Annapurna South, and Gangapurna. Each is over 23,000 feet (7,200 meters. It’s one of Nepal’s most popular trekking destinations, with both short and long-distance treks easily accessible from the major city of Pokhara.

With crystal clear water, plentiful coral reefs, and beautiful stretches of fine white sand, Thailand’s Coral Island (Koh Larn) is a veritable paradise. Take a day trip to this popular spot—about 4.5 miles (7 km) off the coast of Pattaya—to enjoy beaches and a variety of water sports, including scuba diving and snorkeling.

Bask in the bioluminescence of thousands of fireflies as they do their mating dance in a mesmerizing display around the berembang trees along the Selangor River at Malaysia’s Kampung Kuantan Firefly Park, in Kuala Selangor. Each species of firefly has a different light pattern. They create a symphony of light in the mangrove swamps as they swarm around their chosen branches. It’s one of Mother Nature’s most spectacular displays.

The original home ofwushu (Chinese kung fu) and base of the Shaolin warrior monks, Dengfeng’s Shaolin Temple nestles in the shadow of Mt. Song. Monks perform live kung fu shows, while aspiring students come from around the world to train. A warlord burned the temple down in 1928, so most structures are recently built.

On the outskirts of Kyoto, the tranquil area of Sagano encompasses some of the city’s most stunning landscapes. This rural residential area boasts views of the mountains dotting the horizon, colorful fields, and, most famously, a dense bamboo forest that may just be one of Japan’s prettiest spots.

Varanasi to die, as the city is considered very holy. Along the banks of the River Ganga are a string of ghats (steps used for various purposes. Manikarnika Ghat is known as “the burning ghat”, as this is where cremations and funerals are held.

Spanning around 13 acres (five hectares), the Humble Administrator’s Garden (Zhuo Zheng Yuan) is the largest and best known of Suzhou’s nine UNESCO World Heritage–listed gardens. First built in 1509 for an official named Wang Xianchen, it’s one of China’s finest classical gardens, with bridges, pavilions, rock gardens, and reflecting pools.

teamLab Planets TOKYO is an art museum featuring mesmerizing digital art experiences that invite interaction. Among its many digital landscapes, you can wade through water while surrounded by thousands of floating orchids that react to human presence, paddle among digital koi fish, and venture into rooms lined with fog and otherworldly projections.

Visitors come from all over to sample the fresh seafood at Jagalchi Fish Market in Busan. The largest seafood market in the country, Jagalchi is unique in that it’s run largely by women—a tradition dating back to the Korean War, when many of the men were off fighting and their wives took over the family businesses.

Nicknamed the “Bottle Opener” due to its distinctive shape, the Shanghai World Financial Center (SWFC) is the second tallest building in Shanghai, reaching a dizzying 1,614 feet (492 meters). Its three observatories—in particular, the glass-bottomed observatory on the 100th floor—are the main draw of the building, located in the Lujiazui area of Pudong. There’s also a hotel and a mall.

Boasting a collection of over 100,000 items, the Tokyo National Museum is one of Japan’s oldest and largest museums. You’ll find a huge number of Japanese artifacts and artworks, plus a substantial collection of items from across the Asian continent. The collection spans ancient times to the 19th century, and includes Buddhist statues, ceramics, weapons, masks, and masterpieces by Japanese artist Kuroda Seiki.

Contributing to Hue's imperial heritage is the Minh Mang Tomb, a 19th-century mausoleum set amid the lush landscapes of central Vietnam. The tomb, located 7 miles (12 kilometers) outside of Hue on the west bank of the Perfume River (Song Huong River), attracts visitors with more than 20 structures and its flower-lined walkways.

Located north of Kuta Beach and Legian Beach, Seminyak Beach is a sweeping strip of sand that’s drawn those in-the-know to Bali for decades. More upscale than Kuta or Legian, Seminyak is home to some of the island’s most iconic beach clubs and restaurants, as well as fun surf breaks. Behind the shore, Seminyak proper is a shopping and dining mecca.

Situated in Kosgoda on Sri Lanka’s southwest coast, the Kosgoda Sea Turtle Conservation Project works to protect endangered sea turtles by conserving nesting sites and providing a hatchery for rescued eggs. Visitors can tour the small, beachside facility to see the turtles, learn about their lifecycle, and discover the project’s work.

Officially known as the Lakshminarayan Temple in honor of the god Vishnu (the preserver in the Hindu trinity) and his consort Lakshmi, the beautiful Birla Mandir complex centers around one of the most significant temples in the Indian capital. Though built in the 1930s, it remains one of the finest local examples of modern temple architecture.

Standing nearly 90 feet tall, the Giant Swing is located in front of Wat Suthat in the heart of Bangkok. The teak archway, originally used in religious ceremonies, was constructed toward the end of the 18th century, during the reign of King Rama I. It has since undergone several renovations.

Built in 1164, Sanjusangen-do Hall impresses with its 1,001 golden Buddhist statues flanking the giant seated Kannon (goddess of mercy). It’s considered one of the world’s top collections of wooden statuary. The 400-foot (122-meter) hall gets its name from the 33 spaces between its columns.

The cover star of just about every Busan tourism poster since it opened in 2003, Gwangan Bridge (Gwangandaegyo) is the city's answer to the Golden Gate Bridge. Particularly impressive at night when it's illuminated, the bridge is best viewed from Gwangalli Beach, where you can see the nightly light show.

Yanaka is one of Tokyo's most traditional and charming districts. It evokes the atmosphere of Edo-period Tokyo (17th–19th centuries), long lost in many parts of the city. The neighborhood is dotted with more than 70 temples, many of which were moved to the area in the Edo period to spare them from frequent fires throughout the city. You'll hear the broader area of three historical neighborhoods—Yanaka, Nezu, and Sendagi—often referred to as Yanesen.

Lingyin Temple is one of the oldest and most famous Buddhist temples in China and a top attraction in Hangzhou. Situated at the foot of Lingyin Mountain and surrounded by forest, Lingyin Temple is known for its tranquil setting, spiritual atmosphere, and numerous pagodas, grottoes, and Buddhist relics.

The Kappabashi area, centered on Kappabashi Street, is nicknamed Kitchen Town for its trove of culinary supplies. It’s packed with shops selling specialty cooking equipment, everything a restaurant may need to set up shop, and even the plastic food displays that you see in many restaurant windows in Japan. This makes Kappabashi especially appealing to professional chefs and avid home cooks alike.

Although Jaigarh Fort is often overlooked by tourists in favor of the better-known Amber Fort nearby, this majestic garrison in the Aravalli Range is certainly worth a visit, particularly for anyone with an interest in military history. The 18th-century red sandstone structure is also considered among the best-preserved old fortresses in India.

The Ajanta and Ellora Caves, both UNESCO World Heritage sites, are among the largest rock-cut monastery-temple cave complexes in the world. Although usually visited together, the caves are in different locations in the state of Maharashtra. At Ajanta, 29 Buddhist cave temples date from as early as the second century BC. Meanwhile, the 34 Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist caves at Ellora date from around the sixth century.

Bagore Ki Haveli is an 18th-century mansion (or haveli, with more than 100 rooms situated around pleasant courtyards. It originally served Mewar royalty before being left vacant for 50 years. The building has since been restored to its original architectural style, with rooms set up with period furnishings, and now operates as a museum.

Thien Hau Temple (Chùa Bà Thiên Hậu), built by Cantonese immigrants in the early 19th century, pays tribute to Thien Hau (sometimes called Mazu), goddess of the sea and protector of seafarers. Situated on a busy street in Ho Chi Minh City’s Chinatown, the active temple displays intricate porcelain dioramas from Chinese mythology both inside and out.