Asia attractions

An ever-popular retreat from Manila, Villa Escudero Plantations and Resort is a historic hacienda and working coconut plantation. Attractions here run from a restaurant set in a waterfall, where you dine with water running over your toes, to swimming pools, a river, a museum, buffalo-cart rides, bamboo rafts, and cultural dance shows.

One of Vietnam’s most important pilgrimage sites, the Perfume Pagoda is a vast complex of Buddhist temples, grottos, and shrines dotted around Huong Tich Mountain. The shrines lie amid a flooded valley of towering karst cliffs and lotus fields—a stunning backdrop that makes for some incredible photo opportunities.

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 Museum of the Mausoleum of the Nanyue King houses the contents of the royal tombs of the Nanyue ruler Zhao Mo. The skeletons of Zhao Mo, along with 15 of his courtiers, who were buried alive to serve him in death, and several thousand objects from the empire are on display.

One of the most important Shaivite sites in Rajasthan, this temple attracts devotees from across the state who come to pay their respects to the gargantuan four-faced idol of the god housed within its interiors. It’s also a popular side-trip from Udaipur, particularly suited to those interested in local spiritual customs.

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.

The Missionaries of Charity (MOC) Mother House in Kolkata is a mission center founded by Mother Teresa in 1950. It was from here that the now canonized Catholic nun began administering to the city’s poor and sick, and it now serves as a residence for the charity’s nuns and as her burial place.

Located in Kowloon, Goldfish Market (Tung Choi Street) is one of the more unusual streets in Hong Kong. As the name suggests, the street is full of shops and stalls selling goldfish, as well as other types of fish and marine creatures, amphibians, reptiles, and other small animals, along with aquarium supplies and accessories.

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.

Built in 1969, the National Revolutionary Martyrs’ Shrine is dedicated to the 390,000 soldiers who died in the Chinese Civil War. Today, the striking landmark is popular for its hourly Changing of the Guard ceremony. Located on the slopes of Mt. Chingshan on the Keelung River, the shrine was inspired by the Forbidden City’s Hall of Supreme Harmony in Beijing.

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.

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.

Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the destroyer in the Hindu trinity, Babulnath Temple (Babulnath Mandir) is a beautiful, intricately carved building made of limestone and marble, situated atop a small hill. The current temple dates to 1890, but people have been worshiping at the site for much longer, and a previous temple was built there in the 18th century.

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.

The Mong Kok district in Kowloon is one of the busiest and most densely populated areas in the world. Known for its lively street markets, massive shopping malls, a seemingly endless array of food options, as well as billboards, neon, and people everywhere, it’s also a great place to experience local Hong Kong culture.

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.

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.

Shinjuku is where neon-bright dreams of futuristic Tokyo come to vivid life. Centered around the busiest railway station in the world, the always-buzzing neighborhood is crammed with tall skyscrapers, hidden bars, restaurants to satisfy any palate, and a host of department stores. Whatever you're seeking in Tokyo, you'll likely find it in Shinjuku.

Among the most important religious sites in Japan, the renowned Zenkoji Temple houses one of the first Buddhist statues brought to the country after the introduction of the religion in the 6th century. For hundreds of years, the city of Nagano developed around the temple, which shows a replica of the statue to the public every six years.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The biggest lagoon in all of Southeast Asia, Tam Giang stretches for some 15 miles (24 kilometers) north of Hue, Vietnam. Framed by mountains to the west and the lapping South China Sea to the east, it’s one of the richest sources of flora and fauna in the region. In other words, come here for great views, great nature, and, course, great seafood.

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.

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.