Asia attractions

The Pearl River stretches for 1,376 miles (2,214 km from Xi Jiang to the South China Sea. It’s the third-longest river in China and the second-largest by volume. The most famous portion of the Pearl River flows through the heart of Guangzhou, and the waterfront is home to many of the city’s top attractions.

Tucked among the bustling lanes of the Nizamuddin West neighborhood, Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya Dargah (Nizamuddin Dargah) is the mausoleum of Sufi saint Nizamuddin Auliya, who lived in the 13th and 14th centuries. It attracts religious pilgrims from across India as well as music lovers who visit to listen to traditional Sufi qawwali music performed here on Thursdays.

The Baiyoke Sky Tower is the second-tallest building in Bangkok. It houses a large hotel, viewing platform, restaurants and bars, shops, and a revolving deck. The sweeping views of Bangkok are impressive, especially at night, and will help you get your bearings in the Thai capital.

Built to protect fisherman and sailors, the 3rd-century Sumiyoshi-taisha (Sumiyoshi Grand Shrine) is Osaka’s most famous shrine. Renowned for its classic Japanese architecture and vivid red-and-white colour, the shrine

A true lost world, Jomblang Cave is a collapsed sinkhole that’s part of a cave system that runs through Gunung Kidul, outside Yogyakarta. Visitors are lowered around 165 feet (50 meters) on a rope and then hike down a tunnel to the Grubug Cave, which is flooded with rays of sunlight. Some claim the sunken forest is prehistoric.

Situated in northeast Guilin, beautiful Fubo Hill (Fubo Shan) sits half in and half out of the Li River, causing the passing water to swirl and lending it its other name: “Wave-Subduing Hill.” With a height of 695 feet (213 meters), Fubo Hill offers spectacular views of the city and river views from its summit.

Tucked away in the artistic enclave of Khlong Bang Luang on the Chao Phraya River, the Artist House at Khlong Bang Luang is part gallery, part café, and part performance venue. Occupying a 100-year-old, two-story teak building, the Artist House (Baan Silapin) exhibits paintings, photos, drawings, prints, and sculptures on its first floor.

Named after Kamala Nehru, the wife of India's first prime minister, this park offers fantastic city views. It's an excellent place for an evening stroll and draws in families for its giant play structure shaped like a shoe (a nod to the nursery rhyme "There was an Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe").

Experience the “wild” Great Wall at Gubeikou, one of the most historically significant and hard-to-reach sections of the Great Wall. Stretching across the Yan mountains, the Gubeikou section has remained unrestored, making it ideal for visitors looking for an authentic Great Wall experience, away from the crowds.

China’s Dujiangyan Panda Base focuses on rehabilitation, disease prevention, and public education for the conservation of the endangered giant panda, one of the rarest species in the world. Tour the panda hospital, enclosures, and educational center for the opportunity to spot dozens of pandas munching on bamboo and playing.

The Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima commemorates the atomic bombing of the city at the end of World War II, in August of 1945. The park sits just below the site of the bomb’s mid-air explosion and includes the UNESCO-listed Atomic Bomb Dome, the Peace Memorial Museum, and many smaller memorials dedicated to affected groups of people.

Lantau Island’s Big Buddha (Tian Tan Buddha) is a huge, bronze, seated Buddha that’s 112 feet (34 meters) tall. The statue is a popular pilgrimage site for both worshippers and tourists who climb the 268 steps leading to its base for panoramic views of the South China Sea. The journey to the mountain summit on the Ngong Ping 360 cable car is an attraction in itself.

A tumbling mass of granite slabs and boulders, the Hon Chong promontory juts into Nha Trang Bay, a little north of downtown. A traditional wooden house (rebuilt for tourism purposes and an ocean-view café add character, and the coastal and island views from the end of the rocks are spectacular.

Racha Island (Raya Island) is, in fact, two islands—Ko Racha Yai and Ko Racha Noi—both known for their excellent snorkeling and diving. Whether for day-long underwater exploring trips or stays of a few days to relax on the unspoiled beaches, the southern Thai islands are popular with water sports enthusiasts and nature lovers alike.

Perched behind Seoul's former—and more traditional—city hall from 1926, the sleek 13‐story Seoul City Hall looks like a wave of glass. Highlights include the 7-story Green Wall vertical garden and quirky Metaseosa Seobeol art installation, as well as the glass elevator which leads to the Sky Plaza Gallery, an art exhibition space.

When Malaysia laid out the lakeside Putrajaya, they designed it as a modern garden city. The 35-acre (14-hectare) Taman Warisan Pertanian (Agriculture Heritage Park) is one of its gardens. You can discover crops from rubber and palm oil to tea, coffee, cacao, herbs, spices, and tropical fruit—and then savor them in the food court.

The largest of Hoi An’s five assembly halls—historic meeting places for the city’s Chinese merchants—Phuc Kien Assembly Hall (Fujian Assembly Hall is an architectural feast and among the highlights of the UNESCO World Heritage listed Old Town. A National Monument, it’s home to a temple, shrine, and a tree-lined courtyard.

On the banks of the Ganges River in Haridwar, Northern India, Hari ki Pauri Ghat draws in pilgrims who come to pray and bathe in the waters, which are sacred in the Hindu tradition. It's a particularly popular spot at sunrise and sunset, during aarti ceremonies that include the ritual lighting of giant lamps accompanied by songs and prayers.

The Hakone Open-Air Museum spans a 200-acre (80-hectare) site within Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, and is dotted with fascinating sculptures. When it opened in 1969, it was Japan’s first open-air museum; now its collection includes more than 1,000 sculptures, with about 120 on permanent display. Pieces by Pablo Picasso, Henry Moore, and Constantin Brâncuși are among the works displayed.

Home to a colonial-era hill station, the monsoon forests of Bach Ma National Park center on Bach Ma, or White Horse Mountain, which rises 4,757 feet (1,450 meters). Waterfalls, crumbling villas, hiking trails, and a wealth of wildlife, including pheasants, langur monkeys, and muntjac deer, make a magnetic spot to spend a day—or longer.

With its sinuous, undulating roof and glass frontage, the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC pulls focus even amid Hong Kong Island’s dramatic skyline. A landmark in its own right, it’s home to a number of restaurants, including Golden Bauhinia, a popular spot for watching the nightly light show over Victoria Harbour.

For some of Singapore’s most eclectic shopping, seek out the tiny Haji Lane tucked away in the Muslim Quarter. The narrow lane is lined with independent designer boutiques and vintage clothing shops catering to the young and hip. You’ll also find shops selling hard-to-find records and DVDs, quirky kitchenware, and even a yoga studio.

Set where the Ou River (Nam Ou) meets the Mekong, about 19 miles (30 kilometers) from Luang Prabang, the Pak Ou Caves are one of the most popular sights accessible from the city. A place of worship for over 1,000 years, they are home to thousands of Buddhas left by grateful pilgrims. The lower cave has both more light and more visitors than the upper cave.

The City God Temple (Chenghuang Miao) is one of the main Taoist temples in Shanghai. Originally built during the Ming Dynasty, the temple has a rich history, which has survived its near destruction and renovation over the years. Still an active and lively temple, it’s a beautiful oasis within bustling Old Shanghai.

Experience the world’s fastest commercial train: Shanghai Maglev Train (SMT). The train uses magnetic levitation to “float” along the tracks and can make the 19-mile (30 kilometer) journey between Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Longyang Road Station in Shanghai in just over seven minutes, reaching speeds of up to 268 miles per hour (431 kilometers per hour).

Hailed as the epitome of antique grandeur, the 200-year-old Tan Ky Old House pays homage to Hoi An’s rich architectural heritage. The beautifully preserved 18th-century house contains Chinese and Japanese artworks, dark-wood furniture, and watermarked walls that attest to the building’s ability to withstand Hoi An’s seasonal floods.

So-called because of the 40-foot (12-meter at its center, Eagle Square (Dataran Lang sits beside Langkawi’s main port and is, therefore, the first thing you’re likely to see if arriving at the island by boat. The star-shaped square is home to several ponds, fountains, cafes, and plenty of duty-free shops that sell alcohol and souvenirs.

Visit the Jim Thompson House for a deeper understanding of Thai history, architecture, and crafts. The collection of six teak houses and gardens belonged to an American expat who helped revive the country’s silk weaving industry and built this peaceful enclave in the mid-20th century before mysteriously disappearing in 1967.

Warorot Market is a feast for the senses, where stalls selling dried durian paste and exotic fruits stand cheek by jowl with vendors offering fluffy bath towels and Buddhist amulets. The indoor hub—a more authentic alternative to Chiang Mai’s night markets—is a great place to sample local delicacies and purchase handicrafts at low prices.

Deep in Koh Samui’s jungle-clad hills is the Secret Buddha Garden (Magic Garden), where a waterfall tumbles past stone sculptures of the Buddha. The oasis was created by local durian farmer Nim Thongsuk, whose tomb sits among the carvings of Buddhist spirits, musicians, and animals.