One of Guangzhou’s most significant historical attractions, the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall (also known as the Chen Clan Academy) dates to the late 19th century. The large campus comprises 19 buildings, and was initially built as an academic temple complex. Today, the striking landmark is home to the Guangdong Folk Art Museum.
India’s holiest river, the Ganges (Ganga) runs east for 1,560 miles (2,510 kilometers) from the western Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal. A lifeline for north India’s plains and towns, the river is also a place of Hindu pilgrimage at cities such as Rishikesh and Varanasi—drawing visitors with humbling scenes of religious devotion.
All the major world cities seem to have a big wheel these days, and Singapore is no exception. Lifting you 540 feet (165 meters) into the air, the Singapore Flyer is Asia’s largest observation wheel, providing amazing panoramic views of the city, the sea, and the surrounds from one of 28 capsules.
Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica is notable for its Gothic architecture, with a whitewashed façade and beautiful interiors, with intricate pastel frescoes and paintings, and large stained glass windows. While it’s a popular attraction, it’s also a working church and the Sunday mass services here provide a great insight into local Catholic culture.
Varanasi’s Kashi Vishwanath Temple is also called the Golden Temple, thanks to its pure gold spire and dome. The current building dates from 1780, but temples stood in the same place for centuries. Dedicated to the Hindu Lord Shiva—one of the most significant deities in the Hindu pantheon—Kashi Vishwanath is a major pilgrimage site.
Despite being renamed Semarapura, Klungkung, once the capital of a powerful Balinese kingdom, is still generally known by its historic name. A bustling little district capital, it’s home to a number of relics of the Klungkung kingdom as well as a market that’s a popular place to shop for weaving, particularlyikat andsongket.
Located in northeast Taiwan, the mountainside village of Jiufen was once the country's gold mining center. Today, it’s a popular tourist destination known for its quaint streets and lantern-lit alleyways; traditional teahouses; myriad food stalls and souvenir shops; and spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and Pacific Ocean. It’s also said to have inspired the setting for the Studio Ghibli film Spirited Away.
The star of Seoul’s five Joseon Dynasty palaces, Changdeokgung Palace was built by King Taejong in 1405 and designed to blend harmoniously with its natural surroundings. Today, the palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and famous for its ornate royal residence buildings and extensive tree-filled gardens.
Koh Samui’s Grandmother and Grandfather Rocks (also known as Hin Yai and Hin Ta) are rocky outcrops located on Lamai Beach. The often-photographed, commented-upon, and giggled-about rock formations bear an uncanny resemblance to male and female genitalia, making them a must-see attraction for many tourists. Plus, the rocks are set on a lovely stretch of beach and create tranquil tide pools.
Jallianwala Bagh is a public garden in the northern city of Amritsar. It’s best known as the site of the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre in 1919 at the hands of the British Indian Army, which claimed the lives of hundreds of innocent civilians celebrating the religious festival of Baisakhi.
The Communist-era factories and warehouses of northwest Beijing’s 798 Art Zone have all been converted into edgy galleries, studios, boutique shops, and cafes whose modern and sometimes whimsical contents sit in stark contrast to the austere Bauhaus architecture. Most of Beijing’s best contemporary galleries are housed here.
Housed in the beautiful Joseon dynasty Gyeongbokgung Palace, the National Folk Museum of Korea highlights the history, agriculture, and folk art of the Korean peninsula. The collection consists of nearly 100,000 artifacts, as well as some historical buildings and 20th-century structures in an open-air setting.
Inspired by the water towns around Shanghai, especially Wuzhen, Gubei Water Town occupies a picture-postcard position beside a lake, backed by the Great Wall at Simatai. Locals re-create traditional activities, from making rice wine to dying clothes. There are temples and eateries year-round and ice sculptures in season.
The Supertree Grove at Gardens by the Bay is a futuristic grove of man-made, treelike vertical gardens that mimic the function of real trees. A top Singapore sight and architectural wonder that’s home to more than 160,000 plants, the Supertree Grove offers shade during the day, a light-and-sound spectacular at night, and panoramic city and garden views.
One of the largest forts in India, Chittaurgarh Fort—sometimes spelled Chittorgarh—is said to date back to the 7th century. The hilltop complex, which reigns supreme over the desert city of Chittor, comprises a series of temples, towers, and palaces, many of which are adorned with intricate carvings.
Whether you’re looking for street food, ginseng, jewelry, housewares, clothes, or souvenirs, you’ll find these (and just about everything else under the sun) in the stalls of Namdaemun Market. South Korea’s largest market is busy around the clock as locals and tourists rub elbows in search of the best deals.
One of the few natural hot springs in northern Thailand, the Mae Kachan Hot Spring (Mae Ka Chan) is so hot—reaching temperatures of 194˚F (90˚C)—it can boil an egg in minutes, a feat that locals are more than happy to demonstrate. Along with enjoying the cooking, you can dip your toes in several pools.
One of the top spots to watch the sunset in Mumbai, Chowpatty Beach is a busy expanse of sand and sea that's fun to visit, day or night. People watching is one of the main draws here, because this beach attracts Mumbai residents from all walks of life, from multigenerational families to canoodling couples.
Home to one of the largest collections of Khmer art in the world, the National Museum of Cambodia focuses on the country’s ancient history and distinctive architecture. Galleries are categorized by material—stone, metal, wood, and ceramics—and feature artifacts that date back as far as the Neolithic period.
The word “tower” doesn’t quite do justice to the enormous structure of the Xian Bell Tower (Zhonglou) rising on an imposing square base to a series of terraces and three graceful pagoda roofs. Originally built in 1384 during the Ming Dynasty, it has become a symbol of Xian thanks to its stellar views and classic Chinese architecture.
The 8th-century Seokguram Grotto is a remarkable Buddhist temple located in South Korea’s Gyeongju National Park. The temple houses an ornately carved statue of Buddha and is renowned for its intricate architecture and serene atmosphere. A visit to this UNESCO World Heritage Site is a must for anyone interested in Buddhist culture and history.
When travelers hymn the beauty of Sapa, the hiking hub in northern Vietnam, they’re really praising the Muong Hoa Valley (Thung Lũng Mường Hoa. Carved by the Hoa stream, decked with a patchwork of rice terraces, and studded with fascinating minority villages, its green highland landscapes are some of Vietnam’s most dazzling.
Characterized by glittering stupas and fearsome green dragons, the Thai Buddhist Chayamangkalaram Buddhist Temple (Wat Chayamangkalaram) is one of the most ornate in Penang. The temple’s extravagant exterior alludes to the giant reclining Buddha statue inside, whose position signifies peace and freedom from the material world. Opposite the Thai temple sits a Burmese temple of similar grandeur.
The Perfume River (Song Huong River)—so-called due to the aroma released by blooming flowers in autumn—provides visitors with a wealth of activities. The river affords spectacular photo opportunities at sunrise and sunset, and it is flanked by cycle and walking paths that offer a cooling escape from the humidity of Hue.
With its distinctive art-deco dome, Phnom Penh Central Market (Phsar Thmey) attracts visitors with hundreds of traditional Khmer stalls, selling everything from antique coins and brightly colored fabrics to traditional crafts and medicinal products. No first-time visit to Phnom Penh is complete without stopping, and shopping, here.
During the 1950s, refugees of war-torn Korea began opening small shops to try to earn a living. This modest collection of shops has since transformed into Gukje Market, Busan’s largest traditional market. Today, stalls sell everything from seaweed and street snacks to electronics and hanbok (Korean formalwear.
Set 16 feet (5 meters) below street level, the pedestrianized Cheonggyecheon stream runs east-west through the South Korean capital and ranks among the city’s best spots for walking and people watching. The 3.6-mile (5.8-kilometer) route through Seoul passes 22 bridges and several art installations and fountains (illuminated at night) along the way.
Constructed between the 8th and 12th centuries, the Po Nagar Cham Towers sit at the mouth of the Cai River in central Vietnam, on the outskirts of the beach town of Nha Trang. The towers were built to honor the region’s Cham rulers and incorporate Buddhist temples and shrines to the Hindu gods Shiva and Ganesh.
On the island of Bohol, the Chocolate Hills are hailed as one of the most spectacular natural landscapes in the Philippines. The more than 1,260 mounds—which get their name from the rich, brown color they turn during the summer months—are a geological anomaly best seen from an elevated overlook in the town of Carmen.
This cultural village looks like it was lifted straight from the Piedmont Alps of France and dropped in the middle of the South Korean countryside. The aptly named Petite France comprises over a dozen French-style buildings on a scenic hillside, housing shops, cafés, art galleries, and French restaurants within their colorful walls.
