Asia attractions

Perched on the banks of the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, Bang Rak is a bustling neighborhood alive with sights, smells, and sounds. Most famous for its street food, sleek shopping malls, high-rise hotels, and Hindu and Buddhist temples, the area encapsulates all of Bangkok’s best bits.

Taipei’s Presidential Office Building has housed the offices of the Taiwan president since 1949. Built in 1919 for the ruling Japanese governor general, the building is renowned for its baroque architecture, red-brick facade, and central tower.

A must for art and history lovers, this sprawling palace complex in Tamil Nadu was first constructed by the Nayak dynasty in 1535. After being captured by Maratha rulers 150 years later, the palace’s new owners added their own unique contributions. The result is an eclectic mix of temples, towers, and halls, now home to several museums.

Floating markets are a popular attraction for travelers to Thailand, and the Tha Kha Floating Market is a less touristy, more local option that’s great for avoiding the crowds. It’s smaller than some others and is an especially good place to buy cooked food as well as fresh fruits and vegetables. It’s a fun half-day trip destination from central Bangkok and will give you a taste of the Thai countryside without going too far.

These ruins are all that remains of several grand palaces that made up a summer retreat for Chinese emperors from the 15th to mid-19th centuries. Occupying a space the size of Central Park in New York, the Old Summer Palace (Yuanming Yuan) is now a collection of marble chunks, crumbling statues, and broken columns.

Located on top of a hill in south Ulaanbaatar, the Zaisan Memorial was built to commemorate Mongolian and Soviet soldiers killed in World War II. Featuring a circular mural depicting scenes of friendship between the people of Mongolia and the USSR, the memorial also offers stunning panoramic views over the Mongolian capital.

Nine-century-old Zhouzhuang Water Town, the oldest water township in China and one of the most famous, comprises a network of scenic canals, 14 stone bridges, and well-preserved buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties. The late Chinese painter Chen Yifei immortalized the village in his paintings.

China’s signature river trip, a Three Gorges (Sanxia) cruise is the defining experience of the Yangtze, Asia’s longest river. Famed for their beauty for more than 1,000 years, the Three Gorges have been reshaped by the rising waters of the Three Gorges Dam. But the magic of Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge, and Xiling Gorge endures.

According to legend, St. Thomas, a disciple of Christ, lived out the remainder of his days in a rocky cave, known as Little Mount (Chinnamalai). Today, Little Mount is home to a Portuguese church dating back to 1551, as well as a small altar to St. Thomas and a palm print believed by some to be left by Thomas himself as he fled.

Formally known as Langkawi SkyCab, the Langkawi Cable Car takes riders high above the Langkawi rain forest on Mt. Mat Cincang (Gunung Mat Cincang) for a panoramic view of the surrounding islands and sea. It boasts Malaysia’s longest free span mono-cable car—at 3,117 feet (950 meters)—and is among the steepest on the planet.

With no cars, a small population, old-fashioned buildings, excellent hikes, hidden beaches, and al fresco seafood restaurants, Lamma Island offers welcome respite from Hong Kong’s bustle. The closest and third-largest island of Hong Kong’s outlying islands, Lamma remains largely undeveloped, with a decidedly bohemian vibe, thanks in part to its youthful expat population.

Not far from Krabi sits Pa Phru Tha Pom Khlong Song Nam (Thai for “canal of two waters”, a natural area where freshwater springs meet saltwater mangrove forests. It’s popular with kayakers, but worth visiting even if you just want to take a stroll, with boardwalks lined with wooden chairs above the water offering great views.

The ancient burial mound of Cheonmachong in Gyeongju, South Korea, is an impressive example of the Silla Kingdom's technological advancements and historical significance. Visitors can explore the interior of this UNESCO World Heritage Site to see hundreds of artifacts and get an immersive look at Korea’s Silla dynasty period.

Nestled in the jungle outside Kota Kinabalu, the Mari Mari Cultural Village lets you discover the old lifestyles of five different Borneo ethnic groups. Enjoy traditional food (and rice wine, watch demos of crafts from tattooing to fire lighting, catch a dance performance, and learn about traditional beliefs and building styles.

Set in a former quarry below Penang Hill, the 71-acre (29-hectare) Penang Botanic Gardens (Taman Botani Pulau Pinang) blend jungle with formal gardens to magical effect. Founded in 1884, and sometimes known as the Waterfall Gardens for the stream that tumbles through them, they’re crisscrossed with walking trails.

One of the oldest markets in Hyderabad, Laad Bazaar (also called Choodi Bazaar) has long been known for its bangles. Long before the city became a hive of business activity, the bangle industry emerged here, and it still thrives today: Locals and tourists come from far and wide to browse the market’s colorful creations.

Large letters atop this rocky Boracay islet spell out the name “Crystal Cove.” For some years, the island housed the Crystal Cove Island Resort, with beach bungalows, photogenic sea caves, and a collection of birds of prey. Following a shut-down of Boracay several years ago, regulations on the island have changed.

Dating from 1843, San Chao Pho Suea, or the Tiger God Shrine, is an important part of Bangkok’s rich Chinese heritage. One of the oldest and most famous temples in Bangkok, the shrine was originally constructed on Bamrung Muang Road during the reign of King Rama III but was later relocated to its current spot on Tanao Road by Rama IV.

Nestled among the mangrove forests of Semawang, the privately-owned Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary allows you observe the endemic primates during feeding times throughout the day. Fresh fruit and vegetables are provided to supplement the diets of the monkeys, who roam free in the surrounding forest.

Centered on the city of Legazpi, the Bicol region of the Philippine island of Luzon comprises the Bicol peninsula, home to four provinces, and the island provinces of Catanduanes and Masbate. While most travelers visit for the whale sharks of Donsol or volcanoes such as Mt. Mayon, the area is home to dazzling beaches and quirky festivals.

Immigrant Chinese and Japanese communities throughout Vietnam socialize and pass on traditions in social assembly halls. Founded in 1786, the colorful Cantonese Assembly Hall in Hoi An’s Ancient Town is one of five such community centers in the city. It’s a local tourist attraction with grand entrance gates leading onto an ornamental front courtyard, followed by a main hall and elaborate altar room.

One of several Talu Islands in Thailand, the Koh Talu Island Resort is a private island off Bang Saphan in the Gulf of Thailand with a dramatic natural stone arch. The white sand beach offers gorgeous sunset views, while activities run from snorkeling and diving to kayaking, sailing, hiking, massage, and cooking classes.

Sitting in the Tripunithura district of Kochi, the Hill Palace Museum was built in 1865 as a palace for local maharajahs. Now a museum housing Keralan archaeological and royal artifacts, its building remains an architectural gem, with classical Keralan columns and courtyards standing in 52 acres (21 hectares) of gardens.

Opened in 1954, the National Gallery of Modern Art features an extensive collection of Indian paintings and sculptures, most of which date from 1850 onward. While the art is the main feature here, there's also a library and a gift shop selling postcard reproductions of many of the museum's most celebrated pieces.

With their comically long noses and ginger fur, proboscis monkeys are a highlight of any visit to Borneo. And the Klias Peninsula (Klias Wetlands, an expanse of coastal forest a couple of hours south of Kota Kinabalu, is the perfect place to watch them swing through the trees. After nightfall, fireflies flicker and glitter by the river.

Thai kickboxing—or Muay Thai—is world-famous, and the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium (also spelled Lumpini) is one of the top places in the capital to see traditional matches. Expect to see some of Thailand’s best Muay Thai boxers in matches that are held three times a week.

Nicknamed the “Golden City of 1,000 Temples,” Kanchipuram was the capital city of the Pallava Dynasty in Tamil Nadu and boasts numerous intricately carved shrines, most dedicated to Vishnu or Shiva. The city’s buildings also offer an excellent chance to admire examples of Dravidian architecture.

A popular side trip on a Three Gorges cruise, the Shennong Stream (Shennong Xi) meets the Yangtze River between Wu Gorge and Xiling Gorge opposite the town of Badong. Trips typically wind through Mianzhu (Bamboo) Gorge, Yingwu (Parrot) Gorge, and Longchang (Thriving Dragon) Gorge, past a number of Tujia minority villages.

Located inside Ranthambore Fort in Ranthambore National Park, Trinetra Ganesh Temple is believed to be the oldest Ganesh temple in Rajasthan, constructed in about 1300. It’s an especially significant temple to devotees, who revere the temple because it contains idols of not only the Hindu elephant-headed god, Ganesh, but his entire family.

Learn all about the history and development of tea in China, tea culture, tea ceremonies, tea wares, and different types of tea at the National Tea Museum (Zhongguo Chaye Bowuguan). Nestled within the hills of idyllic Longjing (Dragon Well) Village, the National Tea Museum is the only national museum in China focused entirely on tea.