Asia attractions

Fans of director Hayao Miyazaki’s Studio Ghibli—which produced the films Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, My Neighbor Totoro, and Howl’s Moving Castle, among others—can see the filmmaker’s animated fantasylands brought to life and uncover the secrets behind the movies at the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, Tokyo. Tickets are only available online and are hard to secure; have a clear ticket-buying plan if you want to visit while in Tokyo.

The fishing village of Tai O, located on the western coast of Lantau Island, is known for its traditional culture and seafaring way of life. Once a bustling trade port, the village features stilt houses, seafood markets, and graded buildings that provide insight into a Hong Kong of the past, while its street food, cafes, and wildlife-watching boat tours keep it a popular destination today.

The Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor (Qin Shi Huang Tomb) houses China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang. It reportedly took nearly four decades to complete in the third century BC with a workforce of hundreds of thousands of people. Emperor Qin was entombed here, surrounded by his now famous terracotta army, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Little of the tomb itself has been excavated.

Home to towering peaks and verdant valleys, Hualien County provides an escape from the modern metropolis of Taipei. Tour Hualien and use it as a gateway to the famous Taroko National Park and the East Coastal National Scenic Area, hailed as Taiwan’s most attractive driving route.

Meijiawu Tea Village, just west of West Lake, is a top producer of Longjing (Dragon Well) tea, considered one of the finest teas in China and the world. Surrounded by mountains, valleys, and streams, Meijiawu Tea Village is a picturesque locale where visitors can learn all about the heritage, production, and benefits of Longjing tea.

Located in People’s Square, Shanghai Grand Theatre (Shanghai Da Juyuan) is one of the premier performing arts centers in Shanghai. Visitors come to this architecturally significant theater to catch world-class opera, ballet, musical, symphony, chamber music concert, and Chinese opera performances in one of the three theaters inside.

Spread across six structures with 46 galleries, the Government Museum houses Chennai’s best collection of scientific and artistic artifacts. It also houses the most impressive collection of Pallava and Chola bronze sculptures (dating back to the 10th and 13th centuries) anywhere in the world.

The legendary Night Safari at Singapore Zoo goes above and beyond the typical zoo experience. Enhanced by the subtle glow of moonlight, the jungle comes to life each night for visitors to see animals exploring their free-roaming environments, designed to replicate the Himalayan foothills, Southeast Asian rain forest, and Indian subcontinent.

Busan Tower (or Diamond Tower) soars skyward 120 meters (400 feet) from the center of the city’s Yongdusan Park—where you’ll find a forest-covered mountain reminiscent of a dragon’s head. Built in 1973 and modeled on Bulguksa Temple’s Dabotap Pagoda, the tower is an architectural icon of Korea’s second city. From the structure’s observation deck, you can enjoy panoramic views that stretch across both land and sea.

This eclectic strip of bars, discos, shops, and attractions is the epicenter of entertainment in Patong. It offers a taste of local traditions and access to plenty of Western amenities, such as high-end boutiques in the modern Bangla Mall and restaurants that serve everything from pizza to pad thai.

Located at Chengdu’s Jinsha archaeological site, the Jinsha Site Museum offers insight into the mysterious Bronze Age Shu civilization. See the actual excavation site and the treasure trove of relics and artifacts that have been unearthed to date, including bronze, gold, ivory, jade, stone, pottery, and lacquerware.

Located on the South Side of Hong Kong Island, Repulse Bay offers a beach resort environment in close proximity to the city. An up-market residential neighborhood with a beautiful, crescent-shaped public beach, and plenty of amenities, Repulse Bay is an easy and popular escape from the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong.

Once a cool hill-station escape from Jakarta, today Bogor feels more like a suburb of its sister city. Best known for the Bogor Botanical Gardens, which date back over 200 years, it also offers some splendid colonial-era architecture and makes a great jumping-off point for the lush greenery and tea plantations of West Java’s Puncak Highlands.

An early Tang Dynasty classic, Qingyang Palace (also known as the Green Ram Temple) is considered to be one of the oldest and most important Taoist temples in all of China due to its location near the boyhood home of Lao-Tzu, the father of Taoism. Much of the palace was restored during the Qing Dynasty.

After a multiyear renovation, the Shanghai History Museum (Shanghai Lishi Bowuguan) reopened in 2018 at its new permanent location on the former grounds of the Shanghai Race Club, in People’s Square. It features over 1,100 artifacts spanning 6,000 years of the city’s history and covers political, social, cultural, and commercial life in Shanghai.

The seat of the Diocese of Calcutta of the Church of North India, St. Paul's Cathedral was built in 1847, effectively shifting the hub of Anglicanism in the city from St. John's Cathedral. Though its main function is as a house of worship, the imposing cathedral also features a decent library with numerous books on theology and general interest.

Occupying two floors of a former sake brewery, the Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum introduces visitors to the history and process of sake brewing. Life-sized figures recreate scenes from the traditional brewing process, and brochures are available in English to help non-Japanese speakers get their bearings.

One of the main attractions along Yangshuo’s scenic “Ten Mile Gallery,” this large, ancient tree is said to be over 1,400 years old. At 56 feet (17 meters) tall and with a trunk 23 feet (7 meters) around, this massive tree covers an area of nearly 11,000 square feet (1,000 square meters).

A scenic option for water-sports fans and wildlife lovers who don’t have time to travel to Mabul or Sipadan, Tunku Abdul Rahman National Marine Park is just a 20-minute speedboat ride from downtown Kota Kinabalu. Comprising five small islands, the park combines white-sand beaches with coral reefs, jungle, and abundant marine life.

Calypso Cabaret is a live lip-synching and choreography show that celebrates Thailand’s transsexual performance culture.

Sam Poh Tong is a Chinese Buddhist temple on the southeastern edge of Ipoh among the limestone hills of Gunung Rapat. This cave temple dates back to the 1950s but is said to have been discovered by a Chinese monk in 1890. Aside from its religious value, the gardens and open-air cave pagoda make this temple one of Ipoh’s most picturesque.

Tucked away deep in Rajasthan’s craggy Aravalli range, the 17th-century fortress town of Bhangarh has long been touted as the most haunted place in India. Many believe that the city was abandoned due to a curse, and rumors of ghoulish activity in Bhangarh has kept the place unoccupied for centuries.

South Korea’s largest theme park is like the Disney World of Asia, a massive complex filled with rides, food, fairy-tale characters, and live stage shows. It’s also home to Caribbean Bay, the country’s largest water park. There’s something for everyone, from a zoo area with live animals to the world’s steepest wooden roller coaster.

As one of the largest Buddhist temples in Taiwan, Fo Guang Shan Monastery is a must-see destination for first-time visitors. Home to a 100-meter (328-foot) statue of a golden Buddha, as well as 500 smaller versions of the religious deity, the complex promises epic photographs and scenic views of the nearby Gaoping River.

Located in north Kowloon, Wong Tai Sin Temple (Sik Sik Yuen) is one of the most famous and popular temples in Hong Kong. Although dedicated to the Immortal Wong, a Taoist deity of healing, the temple caters to Taoist, Buddhist, and Confucian worshippers. The beautifully ornamented temple is also famous for fortune-telling and answering prayers.

Japanese and international foodies alike love Tsukishima Monja Street (actually a collection of streets), located on Tsukishima Island in Tokyo Bay. Here, dozens of shops sell monjayaki, savory fried pancakes made with cabbage and a variety of other meat or seafood toppings. Diners usually buy monjayaki as raw batter, then grill it themselves at specially designed tables. Other Japanese favorites, including fried noodles (yakisoba), can be eaten here as well.

Also known as the National Museum, the Royal Palace Museum was the home of Lao royalty from the early 20th century until 1975. An attractive combination of classic Lao and beaux arts architecture, it houses collections including state gifts and royal cars. The sacred Pha Bang golden Buddha is preserved in Wat Ho Pha Bang.

One of a raft of markets with good food offerings around Ubud, Gianyar Night Market (Pasar Senggol Gianyar) attracts the dinner crowd with reasonable prices, an authentic feel, and delicious food. The market serves up a wealth of Balinese and Indonesian fare, including spit-roasted suckling pig (babi guling), banana fritters, and jellied ice.

Sinheungsa Temple, the oldest Zen temple in South Korea, was built by a traveling Shilla monk by the name of Jajang Yulsa in AD 652 and has been destroyed by fire and rebuilt many times since. The current structure dates back to 1648. Located in Seoraksan National Park, the temple features a 3-level pagoda and two Buddha statues.

South Delhi's hip Hauz Khas Village is popular among tourists and locals alike, appealing to a younger crowd with its myriad restaurants, bars, and trendy boutiques. It's a good place to shop for Bollywood posters and designer jewelry, explore old tombs and monuments, or eat and drink your evening away.