Asia attractions

At this park, you can pedal a 2- or 4-seater rail bike along a former double-tracked railway line to view the lush scenery of Nami Island, which is an easy day trip from Seoul. The 5-mile (8.5-kilometer) route is not strenuous, and features themed tunnels, rest stops, and a ride on a vintage-style train at the end.

Once a hub for trade with India, Gyantse is a city steeped in history with a culture and people still deeply rooted in tradition. Travelers who venture to this destination along the Nyang-chu River will find Buddhist temples, lively local markets, charming back streets, and Tibet’s largest stupa monument, Gyantse Kumbum.

Banpo Village, a well-preserved archaeological site in the Yellow River Valley, dates back more than 6,000 years. Thought to be one of the oldest human settlements in China, this Neolithic village once comprised a defensive moat and about 45 circular mud-and-wood thatched houses—predecessors of later Chinese architecture.

Nature meets ancient architecture at Kbal Spean, whose phallic symbols and religious imagery are etched straight into a stone riverbank. The site is in Phnom Kulen National Park, where visitors can spot carvings while hiking a riverside trail. With fewer crowds than the main Angkor Temples, here’s the chance to channel your inner explorer.

Located in Thailand’s Kanchanaburi Province, Erawan National Park is one of the most famous natural areas in the country. Known for its impressive seven-tiered waterfall and abundance of native flora and fauna, the park is a popular weekend spot for locals from Bangkok and Kanchanaburi as well as for international visitors.

Mysore Palace—the former home of the Wodeyar family, who ruled the Kingdom of Mysore from 1399 until India’s independence—is an architectural marvel with equally stunning interiors. Although a fire destroyed most of the palace at the end of the 18th century, it was restored in 1912 and today is among the most visited attractions in South India.

A popular stop between Singaraja and Denpasar, Gigit Waterfall is considered to be one of the most beautiful on the island. Easy to reach from the road, the falls have a drop of 131 feet (40-meter) into a picturesque pool where visitors can swim. There are actually three falls in the area—the other falls being smaller twin waterfalls. All are signposted from the road and reached by a short hike.

Jaipur is one of the best places in India to shop for handicrafts items, and some of the optimal places to pick up great bargains are located right in the heart of the Pink City. Bapu Bazaar offers a particularly good selection, with everything from jewelry to traditional Rajasthani textiles displayed colorfully in this lively market street.

With Mt. Fuji as its dramatic backdrop, Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park is beautiful from all angles. Unlike some national parks that cover one distinct area, Fuji-Hakone-Izu includes a number of dispersed sites, so there are many ways to experience it. Some parts are popular day or overnight destinations from Tokyo, with ample opportunities for hiking, boat cruises, hot-spring bathing, and admiring the views.

The energetic Asiatique The Riverfront—part open-air night bazaar, part shopping mall—combines the city’s old traditions and modern commercial energy. Located at the former East Asiatic Company trade docks, the complex contains more than 1,500 shops and boutiques, about 40 restaurants, and several entertainment venues.

The Malacca River (Sungai Melaka) cuts across the city of the same name, now most commonly spelled Melaka, and is also known as the Melaka River. In recent years, the river has been revitalized into a top destination, with both Malaysians and international visitors coming to soak in its history and marvel at the diverse architecture from the city’s Portuguese, Dutch, and British heritage.

A 10th-century Hindu temple, Prasat Kravan bucks the Angkor trend: It’s built from brick, not stone. The five brick towers may seem unimpressive from the outside, but it’s the carvings within that are the draw. Brick bas-reliefs here include Vishnu riding his sacred bird, Garuda, and Lakshmi, his wife, holding lotus flowers.

Winding over a mountainous stretch of highway just north of Da Nang, the Hai Van Pass (Đèo Hải Vân—literally “Sea Cloud Pass”) is one of Vietnam’s most scenic coast roads. It twists and turns over a spur of the Truong Son mountain range, delivering epic sea views from as high as 1,627 feet (495 meters).

Home to the iconic “I LOVE KL” sign and a 2,000-square-foot (185-square-meter model of Kuala Lumpur, the Kuala Lumpur City Gallery sits on Merdeka Square. Part city museum, part tourist information office, it’s home to a café, a gift shop, and exhibits about KL city history, but for many, the heritage building is a big part of the charm.

A 10-minute boat ride from Hoi An, the village of Kim Bong—a traditional carpentry village on Cam Kim island—has been churning out artisan works since the 15th century. After taking the ferry across, you can ride bikes across the pastoral landscapes of the island, visit local shops, and witness woodwork being carved before your eyes.

Learn about the culture, heritage, and history of the Indian diaspora in Singapore and Southeast Asia at the Indian Heritage Centre. Located within an architecturally unique building in the heart of Little India, the museum and cultural center features permanent and temporary galleries, interactive exhibits, and hundreds of artifacts.

Kyoto’s main waterway, the Kamogawa River (Kamo River) runs from the north to the south of the city. As well as being a favorite local haunt for riverside walks, bike rides, picnics, and people-watching, the banks are also buzzing with restaurants and nightlife options—most notably, around the geisha districts of Pontocho and Gion.

The second-oldest road in Hong Kong, Hollywood Road runs for 0.62 miles (1 kilometer) from Sheung Wan in the west, past trendy SoHo, and through to Central in the east. It’s home to a plethora of antique shops, art galleries, and boutiques, as well as a lively and growing assortment of hip restaurants, bars, clubs, and boutique hotels.

In Tokyo’s Asakusa district, Nakamise Street is the neighborhood’s most famous shopping area, lined with shops and stalls offering souvenirs, clothing, sweets, and street food. The pedestrianized street is part of the ancient Senso-ji Temple (Asakusa Temple) complex and boasts the title of one of Japan’s oldest shopping streets. Must-try treats include imo yokan confectionery made from sweet potato paste.

The Victoria Memorial Hall in Kolkata is a symbol of both the city and of the entire British Raj. A tribute to Queen Victoria by the viceroy of India, the giant, white-marble building was erected over a 15-year period, starting in 1906. Today it houses a museum covering the history of the Raj and is surrounded by English-style gardens.

At 10,167 feet (3,099 meters), Mt. Emei is the highest of the Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains of China. The UNESCO World Heritage Site includes over 70 temples, monasteries, and attractions, culminating in the Golden Summit, where visitors can take in the giant Puxian Buddha and stunning mountain views.

Universal Studios Japan™ is second only to the Tokyo Disney Resort® as Japan’s most visited amusement park. Highlights include The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™, home to the epic Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™, which was voted the world’s number one ride for five consecutive years, and Super Nintendo World™, where iconic game characters such as Mario and Donkey Kong come to life.

The underground, mostly glass design of Hakone’s Pola Museum of Art was meant to blend into the surrounding national park landscape. It’s as much of a natural and architectural attraction as an artistic one. The museum houses around 10,000 items—including Western, Japanese, and East Asian art and artifacts—so it’s a fixture on Hakone’s impressive art circuit.

Experience the magic at Shanghai Disneyland, the first Disney park in Mainland China. Enjoy thrilling rides, shows, and attractions; shop and dine; and pose with your favorite characters in six different themed areas: Mickey Avenue, Gardens of Imagination, Fantasyland, Adventure Isle, Treasure Cove, and Tomorrowland.

The oldest temple in Taiwan, Mengjia Longshan Temple was built in 1738 by immigrants from Fujian, China. The ornate and exquisite structure has been damaged by war and natural disasters, but also rebuilt, expanded, and improved over the years. Today is remains a center of religious life and a bastion of local culture in Taipei.

While the Juyongguan segment of the Great Wall of China is the closest to Beijing, it's not the most visited; after all, the steps here are still steep and often uneven. Those who make the tough climb up are rewarded with stellar views of the wall winding along the hilltops and—perhaps more importantly—sparser crowds. The Juyongguan Great Wall (Great Wall at Juyong Pass), built during the Ming Dynasty, also features some interesting architectural elements (beyond the wall itself). Most notable is the Cloud Platform (Yun Tai), a squat white marble tower built in 1342 as a base for three stupas (and later a temple) that were subsequently destroyed. Visitors can still see carvings and inscriptions inside the platform's tunnel.

At the Pattaya Floating Market, traditional thatched huts perched on stilts over the water house vendors selling handicrafts, Thai street food, and souvenirs from around the country. The market’s four areas represent the culture and architecture of Thailand’s four main regions: north, northeast, central, and south.

Often overlooked by visitors exploring Angkor Archaeological Park, Bakong is a 5-tier temple with its own unique charm. One of the earliest temples in the region, Bakong was built within a strict geometric matrix, a style recognizable in the later Angkor Wat. The temple grounds, home to multiple freestanding satellite temples, provide a welcome break from the crowds of nearby Angkor Wat.

Wat Suthat is one of the most important temples in Bangkok. It is famous for the large red swing structure just outside, but the interior is perhaps even more impressive, with frescoes depicting scenes from the Buddha’s life, and a 13th-century bronze Buddha statue. Wat Suthat is conveniently near other must-see attractions in Bangkok.

Travelers to Korean Folk Village can explore 250 acres of natural landscape, dotted with 260 replica houses from the Joseon Dynasty. Learn about traditional foods, handicrafts, and clothing while visiting the workshops and open-air attractions; take in a live performance; or treat the kids to the rides and craft workshops in Play Village.