Asia attractions

From the late 1700s to the 1950s, Norbulingka was used as an official summer home for the Dalai Lama. Today, it is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Tibet’s top historical attractions. In addition to a 374-room palace, the park is home to hundreds of rare plants, rose bushes, fruit trees, and even a bit of wildlife.

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.

Flowing all the way from Ngoc Linh Mountain to the South China Sea, the Thu Bon River is responsible for Hoi An’s development as a major trading post. The river runs through Hoi An Ancient Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is flanked by some of the city’s most famous attractions, including the Japanese Covered Bridge and Hoi An Central Market.

Vientiane’s answer to Paris’ Arc de Triomphe, Patuxai (Victory Gate) towers above this low-rise city in a spectacular mixture of architectural styles: part brutalist, part Napoleonic, part Lao. Besides the elaborate artworks in the monument itself and the views from the top of the structure, it’s home to a wealth of souvenir stalls.

Located at the northern tip of Langkawi, Tanjung Rhu Beach is considered one of the prettiest beaches in Malaysia. It’s known for its lack of crowds, clean waters, long stretch of pristine white sands fringed by casuarina trees (from which the beach gets its name), and scenic views of the Andaman Sea.

Running through the Korean Peninsula for more than 310 miles (500 kilometers), the Han River (Hangang) is one of the most important rivers in South Korea. As it flows through the heart of Seoul, the river has become a gathering place complete with recreational paths and riverside parks with playgrounds and cafés.

Siam Park City, a large theme park and water park located in the Khan Na Yao district of Bangkok, may seem a little old-fashioned to international visitors. However, some of its newer attractions are impressive, including the Vortex ride, which is one of just two of the world's largest suspended looping roller coasters.

The National Museum in Delhi is one of India’s largest museums. It’s in New Delhi, amid the spacious boulevards that are full of government institutions. The museum permanently displays items from a collection spanning 5,000 years of Indian civilization and also holds exhibits on Indian and international archaeological and historic themes.

Join other Thai culture and architecture enthusiasts at Suan Pakkad Palace, a museum complex of renovated houses from all over Thailand. See artifacts and antique objects representing the arts, crafts, and traditions of Thailand in each house. The palace was formerly home to Prince and Princess Chumbhot, who made it a museum in 1952.

Looking out over the Arabian Sea in an upscale Mumbai suburb, Juhu Beach is a 7-mile strip of golden sand that attracts locals and tourists alike with its pleasant weather and laid-back vibe. It's often used for Bollywood film shoots, and you may even spot one of the city's many movie stars who live in the area.

From its elaborate royal costumes to its position within the Hue Citadel, the Royal Antiquities Museum is a portal to the Nguyen Dynasty—it’s even inside the exquisite Long An Palace, where Vietnamese royalty once lived. You’ll be impressed by the massive collection of ornaments, jewelry, ceramics, ancient coins, textiles, Champa sculptures, plus the splendor of the palace itself.

Probably Indonesia’s most spectacular live performance, the Ramayana Ballet at Prambanan takes place at an open-air theater or on an indoor stage near the Prambanan temples outside Yogyakarta. A cast of over 200 dancers and musicians perform episodes from the Hindu Ramayana epic with a traditional gamelan gong-and-drum orchestra.

Part of Singapore’s heritage-rich Civic District, the sleek Esplanade Park boasts some of the nation’s most interesting historical landmarks. Top sights include the Lim Bo Seng Memorial, a fine example of Chinese architecture; the Cenotaph war memorial; and the Victorian-styled Ta King Seng Fountain.

Emerald Cave (Tham Morakot) takes its name from the water’s vivid green color and is one of the most popular attractions in Thailand’s Trang islands. At first blush the cave looks like only a hole in a limestone cliff—but once you venture inside the dark entrance, a paradisiacal, sunny white beach appears.

One of the Roluos Group, a cluster of temples surrounding an early capital of the Khmer empire, Preah Ko is a small brick-built temple with six sanctuaries. Indravarman I built it in the late ninth century and originally dedicated it to Shiva. Its name means “sacred ox,” and you can still see statues of Nandi, the bull that Shiva rides.

Linking the Akashi Strait from Kobe to Awaji Island, the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge opened in 1998 and is one of the world’s longest suspension bridges. The bridge's central span is 1,991 meters (6,532 feet) long, and while crossing the bridge, travelers come here to see the Bridge Exhibition Center and the Maiko Marine Promenade.

A 7-story tower that looks deceivingly taller, the Six Harmonies Pagoda (Liuhe Pagoda) was constructed in 970 to ward off evil spirits believed to be responsible for the Qiantang River’s tidal bore. The pagoda is a masterpiece of ancient Chinese architecture and an enduring symbol of the city of Hangzhou.

Located in the 18th-century Nahargarh Fort, the Jaipur Wax Museum is a family-friendly attraction with many different displays. In addition to seeing some of their favorite celebrities, visitors to the Jaipur Wax Museum can also learn about the history and culture of the Rajput maharajas and maharanis of Rajasthan.

Also known as Isar Lat, Swargasuli Tower is one of the tallest buildings in Jaipur. Built as a victory memorial in 1749, it stands 42 meters (140 feet) above ground. You can climb to the top of the octagonal structure for sweeping views of the Pink City, or marvel at the architecture from the ground below.

Located in the Hoan Kiem district of Hanoi, the Vietnam National Museum of History forms part of the Vietnam National Museum. With an extensive collection of over 200,000 objects, including numerous precious artifacts and antiquities, it traces the history of Vietnam from prehistoric times to the present.

At Hokkaido’s Asahiyama Zoo, polar bears dive through underwater tunnels, seals swim past eye-level viewing domes, and penguins parade through the snow on an outdoor course. At every turn, designs mimic animals’ natural habitats—combining up-close viewing opportunities with each species’ welfare. Staggered feeding times mean you can spend the day walking between enclosures where zookeepers dole out portions of fish, meat, and foliage.

Widely known as Jimbaran Fish Market, the market that locals call Pasar Ikan Tradisional Kedonganan (Kedonganan Traditional Fish Market), is an essential Balinese experience. Every morning, brightly colored traditional fishing boats—and larger commercial vessels—unload an impressive catch. Locals will grill your purchases for a small fee.

Set in the huge underground COEX Mall, the SEA LIFE® COEX Aquarium features nearly 100 exhibit tanks, spread across 16 themed zones, including the Deep Blue Sea Tunnel, Garden of Jellyfish, and Penguin’s Playground. The Marine Touch zone offers visitors of all ages the chance to make personal contact with baby sea creatures.

Asakusa Hanayashiki is a retro amusement park that appeals to families and nostalgia seekers alike. First opening its gates in 1853, it is home to one of the country’s oldest operating roller coasters, which dates from 1953. You can also find an array of classic rides, such as merry-go-rounds and a haunted house, plus a 3D theater. There’s something for visitors of all ages.

Get a glimpse of old Hong Kong in the unusual shops and markets along Bonham Strand. Located in Sheung Wan on Hong Kong Island, Bonham Strand is known for its large concentration of shops selling traditional Chinese medicine, herbal remedies, as well as dried seafood and other exotic animal products.

A charming escape from downtown Jakarta, the Bogor Botanical Gardens (Kebun Raya) are some of southeast Asia’s oldest educational gardens, officially opening in 1817. More than 15,000 species of plants, including hundreds of palm species, deck 215 acres (87 hectares) of lush green grounds amid the cool, rainy highlands of West Java.

One of the most popular attractions in the Mount Fuji area provides quite a contrast to the volcanic mountain: it’s an underground ice cave. The Narusawa Ice Cave, formed by an ancient eruption, lies beneath the infamous Aokigahara Forest that spreads out around the base of Mount Fuji. Visitors can explore on a short circuit track.

Built in 1912, Zhujiajiao Kezhi Garden is the largest manorial garden in Zhujiajiao water town and one of the largest gardens in southern China. Featuring lovely gardens, courtyards, pavilions, pools, bridges, and paths in a peaceful and secluded environment, Kezhi Garden is one of the most popular attractions in town.

There are few places in the world with a healthier population of young orangutans than the jungles surrounding the Semenggoh Nature Reserve. This thriving population owes its success to a 30-year rehabilitation program that reintroduced hundreds of primates into the surrounding forest. Today, you can observe free-roaming orangutans during feeding times.

White Cloud Mountain (Baiyun Shan, Baiyun Mountain, or Mt. Baiyun), located just north of Guangzhou City, gets its name from the wreath of wispy clouds that circle the mountaintop after a heavy rain. A visit to the mountain and the surrounding 17-square-mile (44-square-kilometer) park area is a popular way to stretch your legs, take in some fresh air, and escape the busy city.