Asia attractions

Nestled amid rice fields, Tenganan Village (Tenganan Pegeringsingan) is one of Bali’s most unique destinations. The people who live here are Bali Aga, with their own religious and cultural practices, including weaving a special double ikat cloth believed to have magical powers and spinning young women on a bamboo Ferris wheels at festivals.

Part theme park, part resort, part historic and natural wonder, Ba Na Hills is difficult to categorize. But one thing is certain—this spot is popular. It’s where you can cross the famous Golden Bridge, feel the thrill of roller coasters, see the enormous Lady Buddha at Linh Ung Pagoda, tour a French Village, and ride one of Asia’s longest cable cars.

With blue-green waters that can turn a vivid emerald when the light is right, the Emerald Pool (Sa Morakot or Sra Morakot in Thai), is a natural travertine swimming pool set in a protected evergreen forest. A pretty path lined with smaller pools runs through the trees to the Emerald Pool, then continues to the Blue Pool further on.

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.

Beyond Guangzhou’s soaring skyscrapers, discover another, older side of the city when you visit Shamian Island. A sandbank island in the heart of the city that once served as a busy port, Shamian Island was divided between British and French concessions in the 19th century. Today, it’s known for its heritage architecture and ample charm.

Topped by the wonky, 1,000-year-old Cloud Rock Leaning Pagoda, Suzhou’s Tiger Hill is China’s answer to the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The site is an artificial burial mound that likely conceals the remains of the city’s founder, King Helü. Gardens, pools, bonsai, bamboo forests, and tea houses make the hill a charming place to linger.

The history of Fuli Ancient Town, beside the Li River, dates back more than 1,000 years. A picturesque scene set amid some of Yangshuo’s most famous karst formations, many of the town’s cobbled roads and old stone houses remain intact. The village is known for its intricate painted fans, handmade from bamboo and delicate tissue paper.

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 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.

Replete with verdant rice terraces and lush beauty, the isolated hilltop village of Ta Phin has been drawing visitors from nearby Sapa for decades. Removed from modern life, travelers will get to mix with the Red Dao, Black Hmong, and Kinh ethnic groups, witness daily life, peruse local goods like rice wine and embroidery, and contemplate the riches of a slower life.

On the hillside of the Mount Everest Base Camp in Tibet, the Rongbuk Monastery offers travelers incredible views not only of the world’s most famous mountain, but also the breathtaking scenery that surrounds it. Its unique location makes it the world’s highest monastery—a perfect backdrop for colorful prayer flags flapping in the wind.

Yasovarman I, who would found the first city at Angkor, built this small brick temple in the late ninth century. It’s one of the Roluos Group, a cluster of temples about 12 miles (19 kilometers) from Angkor Wat. With its four crumbling brick towers, Lolei is similar to, but smaller than, the group’s best-known temple, Preah Ko.

Krabi’s Tiger Cave Temple (Wat Tham Suea) is a spiritual center that’s famed for its 1,237 steps which lead to the massive, gilded Buddha statue which dominates the peak. While the climb is not for the faint of heart, the spectacular views of Krabi, the surrounding countryside, and the Andaman Sea make the effort worthwhile.

Ajmer city, in the state of Rajasthan, is best known for being near the sacred Hindu town of Pushkar. Ajmer itself is an important city to Muslims—it’s home to Sharif Dargah, a shrine to a Sufi saint—as well as Jains. While many visitors use it as a base for exploring Pushkar, it’s also a worthwhile destination.

The Legend of Kung Fu Show, which premiered at Beijing’s Red Theatre in 2004, tells the story of a young monk who dreams of one day becoming a kung fu master. The best kung fu practitioners from all across China tell the story through Chinese martial arts, traditional and modern dance, and Chinese acrobatics.

Built by forced laborers under the control of the Japanese Army at the height of World War II, Thailand’s Burma Railway (Death Railway) is a 258 mile (415 kilometer) long railway line designed to connect Thailand and Myanmar. Although its existence serves as a grim landmark of recent history, the Burma Railway remains one of the country’s key historical attractions.

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.

The Shanghai Jewish Refugee Museum (Shanghai Youtai Nanmin Jinianguan) is housed within the restored Ohel Moshe Synagogue, which played a key role in the lives of the 20,000 European Jewish refugees who settled in the city during World War II. The museum highlights their story through photos, films, documents, and personal items.

The National Palace Museum in Taipei is home to one of the most important collections of Chinese art in the world, and covers more than 8,000 years of Chinese history and culture. Featuring some 690,000 pieces, it covers all areas of Chinese art, including antiquities, painting, calligraphy, bronzes, jade, ceramics, and sculpture.

Spilling down from dizzying heights of up to 260 feet (80 meters), Sekumpul Waterfall, a series of seven narrow cascades, is hidden away amid lush tropical foliage. Dirt paths lead to elevated viewpoints overlooking the falls and to rock pools at the foot, where visitors can cool off with a refreshing swim.

The UNESCO World Heritage-listed Khao Yai National Park was Thailand’s first national park, located in the Panom Dongrak Mountains. It includes forests, grasslands, and a variety of animals and bird life. As it’s just a couple of hours from Bangkok, visiting the park is an easy way to experience Thailand’s natural side.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Huanglong Scenic Area offers some of Sichuan’s most stunning landscapes, known for waterfalls, forests, and terraced travertine pools, all backed by mountains topped with year-round snow. Ancient temples and dramatic gorges complete the natural beauty of the 230-square-mile (600-square-kilometer) park, which can be reached in about 2 hours from Chengdu by bullet train.

Bao’an Temple, one of the most popular and significant religious sites in Taipei, dates back to 1760 when immigrants from Southern China built the original wooden temple. Dedicated to the emperor-deity Paosheng, god of medicine and healing, Bao’an in its current form has stood since 1805 after more than 25 years of construction.

In a city known for its beautiful gardens, Lingering Garden (Li Yuan is a standout. One of the four most famous classical gardens in China, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it’s renowned for its wonderful layout and use of space, with ponds, bridges, rockeries, gardens, statues, pavilions, and buildings with striking architecture.

Located north of Sichuan Province, Jiuzhai Valley, also known as Jiuzhaigou Valley, is one of China’s most spectacular nature reserves and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Spanning 278 square miles (720 square kilometers), the valley is famed for its colorful lakes, cascading waterfalls, snow-capped mountains, diverse wildlife, and Tibetan culture.

Scaling the monumental Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River near Yichang city in Hubei, the Three Gorges Dam Five-Step Ship Lock is one of the largest in the world. Large freight ships ascend or descend 40 stories in five separate stages, while many smaller vessels use the ship elevator (ship lift), which is the world’s biggest.

The Telaga Waja River is one of Bali’s two top white-water rafting destinations (the second is the Ayung River). The rafting route covers around 8 miles (13 kilometers), mainly of Class II–III rapids, with the option of shooting a 6-foot (2-meter) man-made dam at the end. The scenery is rural, but less dramatic than the Ayung River gorge.

Sports lovers shouldn’t miss a trip to Rajadamnern Stadium while in Bangkok. It’s the capital’s oldest dedicated Muay Thai arena, and one of two places in Bangkok to enjoy a true Thai kickboxing experience. Whether you get a ringside seat or a spot further back in the stall, you’re sure to have a good time.

Built in the late 18th century, Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace served as a retreat for Mysore’s ruler. This beautiful teak structure—once part of Bangalore Fort—attracts visitors with its beautiful Indo-Islamic architecture, interior frescoes, and selection of ephemera, including Tipu Sultan images along with his robes and a crown.

Situated on the mainland facing Hong Kong Island across Victoria Harbour, Kowloon represents Hong Kong’s jam-packed, slightly grittier side, with highlights including night markets, museums, and shopping. The districts of Kowloon rank among the most interesting in the city, offering a glimpse of what working-class Hong Kong is all about; the Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok districts, in particular, are densely populated.