Asia attractions

Hong Kong Island lies in the southern reaches of the Hong Kong region and is home to some of its most popular attractions. Highlights include Victoria Peak, the Central Mid-Levels escalator, Aberdeen, Deep Water Bay, and Stanley Market. The Central and Causeway Bay areas are prime destinations for shopping, eating, and sightseeing. A surprising amount of greenery lies along the mountainous interior, while charming fishing villages, coves, and harbors dot the coastline.

Encompassing 38.6 square miles (100 square kilometers), Sanjay Gandhi National Park is one of the world's largest parks within city limits as well as one of Asia's most-visited national parks. An attractive getaway from Mumbai, it's best-known as the home of the Kanheri Caves, rock-hewn monuments and dwellings more than 2,000 years old.

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.

The rolling steppes of Hustai National Park (Khustain National Park) are home to the takhi (Przewalski wild horse), the only truly wild horse population left on the planet. In addition to wildlife, which includes more than 50 species of mammals and more than 220 varieties of birds, the park is known for a number of ancient ruins and monuments, including Neolithic graves.

A couple of miles (3.5 kilometers) from the UNESCO World Heritage–listed temple of Borobudur, the charming Mendut Temple (Candi Mendut) features an attached working Buddhist monastery. Built in the early 9th century, the temple and the village that houses it are the starting point for the annual Waisak (Buddha day) celebrations.

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.

Nusa Dua’s answer to Ubud’s art museums, Museum Pasifika, which opened in 2006, is dedicated to the art of Asia Pacific. Balinese artists and expatriates working on the island are well-represented, but galleries showcase art and sculptures from Papua, Vanuatu, Polynesia, historical Indo-China, and beyond.

Stalls burst with colorful cloth, souvenirs, gems, wooden carvings, and other wares at Bogyoke Aung San Market. Built in the waning years of British rule, the market’s cobblestone alleys and historic façade draw a lively mix of visitors and locals. A food court offers a colorful feast, from spicy noodles to ultra-fresh salads.

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.

During the Tang dynasty, over 1,000 years ago, Huaqing Palace (Huaqing Hot Springs) was a popular retreat for emperors who ruled from the city of Chang’an (now Xian). Today, the site is home to a lake, restored pavilions, five hot-spring pools, and a hill with a Taoist temple. It also offers cultural shows on summer evenings.

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.

When volcanic activity permits—an evacuation zone has been in place since 2017—the sacred volcano Agung offers one of Bali’s most challenging and exciting hikes. Towering 9,444 feet (2,878 meters) above northeast Bali, it’s typically climbed in one long and tiring day, either from Pura Pasar Agung or from the Mother Temple of Besakih.

Jakarta Chinatown, better known to locals as Glodok, was born after the massacre of 5,000 Chinese in 1740, when the remaining population were moved to a separate settlement outside the city walls. Today it’s a bustling hub where Chinese eateries, temples, street markets, and medicine shops nudge up against electronics stores.

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.

The ornate, covered Thanh Toan Bridge—Cau Ngoi to locals—humbly crosses a canal in Thuy Thanh, a rural village about 5 miles (8 kilometers) from Hue. If you love Hoi An’s famous Japanese covered bridge, you’ll love Thanh Toan: Built in the 18th century in both Japanese and Chinese styles, it’s got all of the pomp and circumstance of Hoi An’s, but without the crowds.

More than 2 million people cross the Howrah Bridge each day, earning it the title of the busiest cantilever bridge in the world. The 2,313 foot (705 meter) expanse of steel girders hanging over the water connect Howrah and Kolkata with eight lanes of chaotic auto rickshaws, scooters, bikes, cars, animals and pedestrian traffic.

Busan’s proximity to the sea is one of its charms, and Haeundae Beach is perhaps the most famous beach in South Korea. Nearly a mile long (1.5 kilometers), this stretch of coastline is lined with some of Busan’s top international hotels, as well as an assortment of restaurants, shops, and the Sea Life Busan Aquarium.

In Bali’s cultural capital, Ubud, the Neka Art Museum is one of the town’s big three art galleries. Founded by Suteja Neka, its airy pavilions are home to a treasure trove of Balinese and Indonesian art, as well as a collection of wavy daggers known as “keris.” The Balinese Painting Hall is a good place to explore the work of local artists.

Encrusted with diamonds and other precious stones, Chaukhtatgyi Paya’s (Chauk Htat Gyi Buddha massive reclining Buddha is an awe-inspiring sight. A viewing platform gives visitors a good look at elegant detailing on the Buddha statue’s feet, which contain 108 segments—a sacred number that’s deeply significant for Myanmar’s Buddhists.

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.

Deep in the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, the Kanheri Caves comprise 109 basalt grottos that were carved between the first century BC and the 10th century AD. The caves served as Buddhist monastic dwellings for many centuries, and some of the newer ones feature intricate carvings, pillars, and even rock-cut cisterns.

Often referred to as the “rice bowl of Asia” for its emerald-green rice paddy fields, the Mekong Delta is surrounded by fertile land. On Vietnam’s mighty Mekong, sleepy floating communities live alongside an abundance of tropical fruits, buffalo wallowing in paddy fields, and mangroves rich with birdlife.

The 35-acre (14-hectare) UN Memorial Cemetery is one of Busan’s most peaceful spots. Established in 1951, the quiet park and cemetery honors a total of 2,300 United Nations soldiers representing 16 countries who were killed during the Korean War. Manicured hedges and flower bushes add to the beautiful and somber sight.

Opened in 1868, in a grand building on Merdeka Square, Indonesia’s National Museum is one of Jakarta’s most fascinating attractions. A rich collection spanning hundreds of thousands of years covers everything from early hominids to the archipelago’s spectacular range of textiles, along with gold, statuary, and architectural models.

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).

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.

Kuala Lumpur Butterfly Park, one of the largest butterfly gardens in the world, is home to more than 6,000 species. Its tropical rain forest setting provides a tranquil escape from the bustle of Kuala Lumpur and offers an engaging and educational experience for kids and adults alike.

The colonial heart of Manila, Intramuros—which means “within the walls”—is the capital’s oldest district and home to some of its most impressive historic monuments. Founded by the Spaniards in the 16th century, the gigantic stone citadel is surrounded by impressively preserved city walls, stretching for almost 3 miles (5 kilometers).

Dating back nearly 2,000 years, the Wuhou Memorial Temple (Temple of Marquis Wu) in a southern suburb of Chengdu is steeped in history and lore. The site is meant to honor Liu Bei, emperor of the Shu Kingdom, as well as his much revered military strategist Zhuge Liang (later Marquis Wu)—two immensely popular figures in Chinese history.

Shiraito Falls (Shiraito no Taki) is located in Japan's Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park in Shizuoka Prefecture. Shiraito Falls translates to "White Thread Falls" because the wide cascade makes the falling water look like many hanging threads of white silk. The site, which stretches nearly 500 feet (150 meters) across and 65 feet (20 meters) high, is officially a Natural Treasure of Japan.