Asia attractions

Miyajima Island (officially named Itsukushima) has been a Shinto holy place for centuries and is home to the Itsukushima Shrine, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For travelers, this island off the coast of Hiroshima is best known for the red torii gate rising from the water off the shrine’s shore. However, it’s also home to many other shrines and temples among its forests of maple and cherry trees, as well as plenty of tasty local snacks and oysters.

One of a cluster of islands that stud Nha Trang Bay, Hon Mun island is the epicenter of the Hon Mun Marine Protected Area. Spanning 30,000 acres (12,000 hectares) of protected ocean, the zone is home to colorful coral and marine life. Visit to snorkel one of Vietnam’s favorite underwater spots.

The Bull Temple (aka the Nandi Temple was built in the 16th century in typical South Indian Dravidian style, and is one of Bangalore’s oldest temples. It’s referred to locally as “Dodda Basavana Gudi” (Big Bull Temple, named after the gigantic 15-foot high and 20-foot long statue of Nandi, Lord Shiva’s bull, found here.

It's no wonder why Kanazawa's Kenroku-en Garden is among the city's most popular attractions. Built during the Edo Period, and revamped continuously over the centuries, this gloriously landscaped spot is considered among Japan’s most beautiful. It’s also a great place to see different types of traditional landscaping from across periods.

When volcanic and seismic activity permits, 12,224-foot (3,726-meter) Mt. Rinjani is one of Indonesia’s great volcano climbs—even if you stop, as many climbers do, at the crater rim. The towering peak, complete with crater lake, dominates north Lombok, so even when the mountain is closed to visitors, hikes on the lower slopes appeal.

Built by Timur’s wife, this gorgeous mosque was one of the grandest in 15th-century Samarkand and is still an architectural wonder. Surrounded by legends and love stories, this monument isn’t to miss. It also has delicate, ornate tilework in the style of several other Samarkand hot spots and a colossal marble Quran stand, where the story says that if a woman crawls under it, she’ll bear many children.

The China Central Television (or CCTV Headquarters is situated within an unusually shaped skyscraper in Beijing’s central business district. This seemingly gravity-defying structure, designed by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas, is playfully nicknamed "Big Pants" among Beijing locals.

The weekend-only Chatuchak Market is a one-stop shopping spot in the Thai capital, with stands selling everything from street food to blue jeans, and silk scarves to beauty products. If you can’t find it at the sprawling Bangkok market, it probably doesn’t exist.

Located on the northern edge of Taiwan, just a quick trip from Taipei, Yangmingshan National Park offers a dose of nature for city-dwellers and those touring the bustling capital. Visit Yangmingshan to hike through its volcanic scenery and rolling hills, soak in its hot springs, and, in the spring, see the cherry blossoms in bloom.

Ubud’s Blanco Renaissance Museum celebrates the colorful life and baroque-erotic work of Philippine-born Spanish artist Antonio Blanco. Blanco arrived in Bali in 1952 and married a famous Balinese dancer. Set on a hill amid elaborate gardens and an aviary, the museum’s architecture, a hybrid of Spanish and Indonesian influences, is a highlight.

Singapore’s largest Anglican place of worship, the pristine Victorian Gothic and dreamy spire of St. Andrew’s Cathedral nestles amid skyscrapers in the heart of the Civic District like a colonial wedding cake. Originally built in 1838, but rebuilt in 1856 after lightning struck not once but twice, it’s a Singapore landmark.

America-Mura (American Village) is the go-to Osaka district if you want to get a taste of the city’s street culture. The area earned its name in the 1970s when it began filling up with shops selling imported goods from the United States. Today it’s an enclave of youth-focused and offbeat stores, as well as cafes, bars, and nightclubs.

The Dhammek Stupa is a giant cylindrical Buddhist stupa situated in Sarnath, near Varanasi. This huge structure was built on the site where the Buddha was said to have given his first sermon to his disciples after attaining enlightenment, and is one of India’s most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites.

The Bangladeshi capital’s Armenian Church has stood since 1781, and it's one of Dhaka’s most historically significant religious landmarks. Reflective of the once-thriving Armenian community that relocated to the city in the 17th and 18th centuries, it offers a window into the city’s past, as well as a tranquil place to unwind.

Situated on a bustling canal lined with teak storefronts opening onto the water, Amphawa Floating Market comes alive each afternoon as Thai locals come to shop or grab a bite from one of many boats-cum-floating restaurants. While smaller than the more famous Damnoen Saduak, this floating market offers a more authentic experience.

Located in Singapore’s super-sleek business district, Fort Canning Park is a hilltop oasis that encompasses nine smaller historic parks. In addition to a fragrant spice garden, an art gallery, and some grandiose Gothic gates, Fort Canning Park is also home to a World War II bunker and command center.

Doi Suthep-Pui National Park protects a swath of verdant forest and mountain ranges in Northern Thailand near Chiang Mai. Named after a hermit who lived in the forest before it became a national park, Doi Suthep-Pui is perhaps most famous for the temple at the summit of Doi Suthep Peak (known for its stunning views of Chiang Mai).

The Asan Market area is one of Kathmandu’s most ancient parts. It’s sat at the crossroads of trade routes through the Himalayas for centuries, and is still a busy, thriving, and culturally fascinating part of the central city.

Visiting the Osaka Museum of Housing and Living is like stepping back in time to the streets of mid-19th-century Osaka to see how they might have looked during the Edo Period. The museum is laid out in a series of recreated houses—each depicting an element of daily life—including merchant houses, a bathhouse, and a town hall.

The Bali outpost of a popular Southeast Asian attraction, Upside Down World is tailor-made for the selfie generation. A series of rooms replicate typical houses, with the twist that furnishings and decorations, from stairs and sofas to light fittings and wallpaper, are placed upside down, enabling hilarious trick photography.

Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park is in the north of the Kathmandu Valley, a chance to enjoy nature close to the city. There are many hiking and mountain biking trails through the park, and on a clear day visitors can see snow-capped mountains to the north. It’s a great place to come for a quick escape from Kathmandu, or to embark on a longer trek.

Spread out over 200 acres near the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Qutub Minar, the Mehrauli Archaeological Park is full of ruins and tombs, some of which are 1,000 years old. You’ll find ruins from the Khajli, Tughlaq, and Lodhi Dynasties, as well as from the days when India was under Mughal and British Raj rule.

Located along the waterfront in Hong Kong’s Tsim Sha Tsui district, the Avenue of Stars is the city’s answer to the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Celebrating the film industry of Hong Kong, the promenade features celebrity handprints, statues, and plaques of renowned actors such as Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan. The area is particularly popular in the evening, as visitors gather here to watch unobstructed views of the nightly light show, A Symphony of Lights.

India’s expansive Bandra-Worli Sea Link (Rajiv Gandhi Sea Link, which connects the western suburbs of Mumbai to the well-heeled neighborhood of Bandra, is no exception. This 8-lane bridge opened to the public in 2009 and cost the equivalent of $250 million dollars to construct.

Namtso Lake is the second-largest salt lake in China and a major tourist attraction in Tibet. Its reflective blue waters are surrounded by snow-capped peaks and the occasional nomad camp. The lake sits at a high elevation—15,479 feet (4,718 meters)—and has spiritual significance for Tibetans.

Carved apsaras dance across a cluster of temples at the Roluos Group, atmospheric buildings that mark the site of an ancient Khmer population center. Bakong Temple is the centerpiece, between Preah Ko and Lolei. While the Roluos Group is smaller in scale than the landmarks of Angkor Archaeological Park, it’s a fascinating place that’s rarely crowded.

Pasar Badung (Badung Market) is Bali’s oldest and largest market, at the heart of the island’s capital, Denpasar. The 4-story structure burned down in 2016, and while a replacement is underway, most stallholders are housed in and around a converted supermarket. Besides being Bali’s number-one fruit and vegetable market, it’s great for street food.

Flanked by the sacred Kaveri (AKA Cauvery River, this island town was the capital of the Kingdom of Mysore during the rule of Tipu Sultan and the site of many important historical buildings, including Daria Daulat Bagh, Tipu Sultan's summer palace, Sri Ranganathaswamy and the remains of Tipu’s Fort.

It might sound like one of the more offbeat things to see in Bangkok, but the Royal Barges National Museum is a fascinating collection of boats that will interest travelers with a range of interests. On display are eight ornately decorated barges that are used in royal processions (which are only held occasionally. Come here to learn more about Thai history and culture.

Just north of the resort town of Sapa, Tram Ton Pass (Deo Tram Ton) is Vietnam’s longest and highest mountain pass—and it’s a beauty. Snaking for 75 miles (120 kilometers) through the Hoang Lien Son Mountains, it peaks at roughly 6,200 feet (2,000 meters), where a lookout offers its travelers an aerial taste of the absolute wonders of northwestern Vietnam.