Asia attractions

St. Francis Church is the oldest church in India, built in 1516 by Portuguese settlers to replace an older wooden church constructed in 1503 on the same site. It was once the burial site of Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama, who died in Kochi, and though his gravestone is still in place here, his remains have since been moved to Lisbon.

One of the city’s most fascinating sights, the Xian Great Mosque has a history dating back to the eighth century. It blends classically Chinese architecture with Islamic tropes to great effect. Rocky gardens decked with upturned roofs surround the 1,000-capacity prayer hall, which is open only to male worshippers. A pagoda does duty as a minaret.

Set in northwest Udaipur in the Indian state of Rajasthan, Fateh Sagar is one of the city’s famous lakes. Built in 1678 and expanded in 1888 by Udaipur ruler Maharana Fateh Singh, this artificial lake draws in visitors with its azure waters, picturesque islands, and mountain views.

Made famous by the movieSlumdog Millionaire, the Mumbai slum of Dharavi is one of the largest informal settlements in the world. The 500-acre (200-hectare) district, established in the center of the city in the 1880s during the British colonial era, is home to about a million people, many of whom produce textiles, leather crafts, and handmade pottery for a thriving informal economy.

The Vinh Trang Temple near My Tho in the Mekong Delta is quite different from many other temples found in Vietnam. The building was inspired by European architecture, and is a blend of East Asian and European styles. It’s one of the most important Buddhist temples in southern Vietnam, and well worth a visit when in the Mekong Delta area.

Sumo is Japan’s second most popular sport, and there’s nothing quite like joining 11,000 sumo fans for a match to learn about this ancient form of wrestling. The best place to experience sumo is at the Kokugikan Sumo Stadium (Ryōgoku Kokugikan), where three of the six official national tournaments are hosted each year. Discover sumo’s place in Japanese culture at the attached Sumo Museum (Nihon Sumo Kyokai).

Once the tallest building in Shanghai, the Oriental Pearl Tower (Dongfang Mingzhu Ta) remains one of the most recognizable skyscrapers in Pudong, part of the skyline visible from The Bund. The sci-fi-esque 1,535-foot (468-meter) tower houses observation platforms, a glass-bottomed walkway, rotating restaurant, as well as the Shanghai History Museum in its basement.

At a soaring 1,667 feet (508 meters), Taipei 101 was the world’s tallest building when it was completed in 2004—Dubai’s Burj Khalifa overtook it in 2010. A landmark in Taipei, it houses offices, restaurants, and a multilevel shopping complex, as well as indoor and outdoor observatories offering stunning panoramic views of Taipei.

Step back in time to 1920s and 1930s Shanghai, and get a glimpse of how the average middle-class family lived, at the Shikumen Open House Museum (Wulixiang Shikumen Bowuguan). Located in Xin Tian Di, the museum uses recreated rooms and multimedia displays to present a house in the typical shikumen, or stone gate, style unique to Shanghai.

Yehliu Geopark, home to the iconic Queen’s Head rock formation, looks more like a landscape from Mars than the northern coast of Taiwan. With its otherworldly natural structures, all of which have alluring names such as the Fairy Shoe and Sea Candles, the park makes for an enriching day trip from Taipei.

Seoul’s answer to New York’s Fifth Avenue, Myeongdong Shopping Street teems with affordable brand-name shops and department stores selling clothing, shoes, and accessories. This retail hot spot stretches from Myeongdong Station to Lotte Department Store and encompasses many surrounding streets and alleyways as well. For shoppers who’ve worked up an appetite, the area’s restaurants specialize in Korean pork cutlet (dongaseu) and noodle soup (kalguksu).

Located in central Taiwan, Sun Moon Lake is one of the only natural lakes in the country, which takes its name from the shapes formed on either side of the water by the dividing Lalu Island. It’s also the largest and arguably the most beautiful Taiwanese lake, with an indigenous history that dates back thousands of years.

At the confluence of the mighty Mekong and Ruak rivers, the mountainous border regions of Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand come together in the exotically named Golden Triangle—a haven of Buddhist architecture, lush forests, and colorful riverfront villages. Located in the Chiang Rai province at Thailand's northernmost tip, the Golden Triangle is thick with wonders, both natural and man-made, earning it a reputation as a jungle getaway.

Namsangol Hanok Village brings to life the Joseon dynasty through five restored traditional Korean houses (called hanoks) that were relocated to the village from other parts of the city. Each house reflects a different stratum of society, from working-class to nobility. The site also hosts demonstrations, workshops, and live performances.

This picturesque village southeast of Suzhou is one of several ancient water towns dotting the Yangtze River Delta. More than a dozen rivers and waterways divide this Song Dynasty town into multiple islets, connected by 49 stone bridges. This Venice of the Orient is also known for its gardens, including the UNESCO-listed Tuisi Garden.

Overlooking the Central district on Hong Kong Island, Victoria Peak (The Peak) is one of the best vantage points for top views of Victoria Harbour and Hong Kong’s skyscrapers. Rising 1,810 feet (552 meters), the mountain is topped with a 360-degree Sky Terrace viewing platform and the Peak Tower complex of shops and restaurants. There’s also a network of nature trails through lush tropical forests.

Built into the cliffs of Mt. Hengshan in the Shanxi Province, Hanging Temple is striking because of its precipitous location 165 feet (50 meters) above the ground. Dating back more than 1,500 years, the temple (also known as Hanging Monastery or Xuankong Si) is also the only temple dedicated to Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism.

Nestled among Koh Samui’s central mountains, the Na Muang Waterfall has two tiers: a lower stretch that’s easily reachable and falls into a lovely natural pool, and a higher tier that requires a 30-minute hike. The falls are set among lush jungle surroundings, and access to the site is free.

Sri Chamarajendra Park (Cubbon Park is a 300-acre (121-hectare oasis located in the heart of Bangalore, just off the city’s main thoroughfare, MG Road. With close to a hundred different species of plants and trees, it's a favorite haunt of nature lovers and birdwatchers.

The imposing, five-story Tang-style Buddha Tooth Relic Temple was constructed entirely around a single tooth—not just any tooth, but that believed to be the canine tooth of the Buddha. The sacred relic was discovered by the Venerable Cakkapala and is now enshrined at the temple.

There are two reasons to visit Wangfujing Street (Wangfujing Dajie) in Beijing: shopping and eating. The commercial street is home to nearly 300 Chinese and international brand-name stores selling everything from clothes to tea and herbs, while neighboring Wangfujing Snack Street appeals to intrepid tourists and adventurous local eaters.

Tucked between the skyscrapers of Shinjuku, Tokyo’s Memory Lane (Omoide Yochoko) is a nostalgic nod to the Japan of old, with its lantern-lit 1-room eateries selling yakitori and ramen. A visit here is an atmospheric—and delicious—way to experience authentic Tokyo; expect quick bites and beers while rubbing shoulders with local businessmen and international tourists alike.

Koh Panyi is a charming Muslim fishing village built on stilts over the water. Visit to see the 18th-century houses, the mosque, and the floating market. The area is a popular stop on tours of the region that also take in well-known sights such as James Bond Island (Khao Phing Kan) and Hong Island.

Singapore’s premier performance venue overlooks the super-sleek Marina Bay Waterfront. Esplanade-Theatres on the Bay consists of a 1,600-seat concert hall and 2,000-seat theater. The complex has waterfront and open-air venues and hosts more than 3,000 performances annually.

Rising from Galle Fort’s ramparts on Sri Lanka’s southwest coast, the Galle Lighthouse is one of the UNESCO-protected fort’s most photogenic spots. Built by the British in 1939 to replace an earlier light station, this functioning, 86.9-foot (26.5-meter lighthouse is the island’s oldest and a must-see for fort visitors.

Located in the heart of Old Delhi's Chandni Chowk area, Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib is an important gurudwara (Sikh temple) that was built in honor of the guru Tegh Bahadur, who was beheaded here by Emperor Aurangzeb for refusing to convert to Islam. The trunk of the tree under which Bahadur was beheaded remains in the complex to this day.

Pingjiang Road (Pingjiang Lu), an ancient canalside street in Suzhou dating back more than 800 years, attracts visitors with its collection of quaint old bookshops, teahouses, local theaters, and traditional Suzhou houses with whitewashed walls and black tiles. A stroll down the cobbled street offers a glimpse into local life.

To Chinese, the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest is as much a symbol of Beijing as the Forbidden City or Tiananmen Square. The 3-tier circular structure, set atop a 3-stage marble terrace, is the star attraction of the Temple of Heaven, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This hall is a 19th-century reconstruction of the original, built in 1420.

Built during the Goryeo Dynasty in 1376, historic Haedong Yonggungsa Temple is one of only a few Korean temples on the coast, and it honors Haesu Gwaneum Daebul, a Buddhist goddess believed to live in the ocean, where she rides atop a dragon. Legends aside, the east-facing temple offers a spectacular view of the rising sun.

Purposefully set in Phnom Penh’s bustling city center, the arresting Phnom Penh Independence Monument—Vimean Ekareach in Khmer—rises 60 feet (20 meters) above the cars and scooters zooming below. The lotus-shaped structure celebrates Cambodian independence after 90 years of French rule (1863–1953), and its small-but-scenic grounds offer a gathering place for locals and visitors to relax under a bit of Cambodian history.