Asia attractions

Select Citywalk was the first large-scale shopping mall to open in south Delhi, back in 2007. This vast shopping center features hundreds of retail stores representing major Indian and international fashion brands, along with a gym, tons of restaurants, and even a multiplex cinema.

A historic town with a rich Hakka culture, Luodai Ancient Town sits on the outskirts of Chengdu. Attractions include four guildhalls built for Hakka people from other provinces of China, a Hakka Museum, gardens, parks, temples, and a wealth of food stalls. The town hosts dragon dance festivals twice a year.

Located at the foot of Lantau Peak, Wisdom Path is a landscaped installation made of 38 wooden columns inscribed with the complete verses from the centuries-old Heart Sutra. Walk the Wisdom Path—a short distance away from the Big Buddha and Po Lin Monastery—to experience art and philosophy in a peaceful environment with lovely views.

In the heart of Hoi An Ancient Town, Hoi An Central Market (Chợ Hội An) is a bustling space that offers a glimpse into Vietnamese culture at its liveliest. Colorful stalls that spill onto the pavement outside sell everything from fresh fish and spices to exotic fruit and silk garments. At the east end of the market, some of Hoi An’s famous tailors tend shop.

Once an imperial residence, the palace of the Forbidden City had an inner and an outer court. While the outer court was for official business, the inner court held the royal family’s personal living quarters and gardens. Visitors can now enter these once-private areas, to see how emperors lived until the 1720s.

Just 30 minutes from Miri, Lambir Hills National Park offers tumbling waterfalls, rushing streams, rainforest walks, and birdwatching in 27 square miles (69 square kilometers) of wilderness. It’s home to species such as pangolins, tarsiers, gibbons, sun bears, and clouded leopards, plus a wealth of birds and butterflies.

A family-friendly destination that’s popular with locals when the mercury rises, Melaka’s A’ Famosa Water Theme Park is among the largest water parks in Malaysia. Highlights include the family raft adventure, wave pool, sandy beach, and several long, fast, and high waterslides for thrill seekers.

Historic Sonargaon contains some of the oldest buildings in Bangladesh and is a beautiful and atmospheric place to visit. Sonargaon was the ancient capital of Bengal, a historic kingdom now divided between India and Bangladesh. It was also home to Hindu merchants who fled in the mid-20th century. Archaeological sites, historic buildings, and cultural museums are spread around the city.

Reached by the Langkawi Cable Car (Langkawi SkyCab, 2,323-foot (708-meter Mt. Machinchang (Gunung Mat Cincang stands second only to Mt. Raya (Gunung Raya. The Langkawi Sky Bridge winds its way between two of its peaks, while hiking trails ramble through its forested slopes, home to the Machinchang Cambrian Geoforest Park.

The district of Jongno constitutes the northern half of Seoul’s main historic area. As the cultural and financial heart of the city, Jongno is home to a wealth of shrines, temples, parks, and other important sights, including four of the five Grand Palaces of Seoul.

According to local legend, the founder of Chiang Mai had a vision for the city on the hill that Wat Phra That Doi Chom Thong sits atop. In addition to offering panoramic views, the Lanna-style temple is home to a 14th-century golden stupa.

If you were to visit Kota Belud during the week, you’d be forgiven for thinking the small village in north Sabah was pretty unremarkable. However, come here on a Sunday for the weekly tamu (market) and you’ll be greeted with a kaleidoscopic mix of stalls and—occasionally—local horsemen wearing brightly-colored costumes. Locals come to socialize, sell their goods, and buy everything from regional produce to hot street snacks to household items.

Rising 217 feet (66 meters), Solitary Beauty Peak (Duxiu Feng) has been a famous scenic spot in Guilin since ancient times. Also known as the “Pillar of the Southern Sky,” it’s one of the area’s highest peaks. Climb to the pavilion at the peak to take in sweeping views over the city.

Seoul’s Trickeye Museum does just what it says: It teases your senses with an optical illusion technique calledtrompe l'oeil that gives two-dimensional works of art a 3-D appearance. This is also one of the few museums in the world that makes art interactive, so you’ll have a camera full of unique souvenirs to take home with you.

Just outside of Fatehpur Sikri, Korai is a small, traditional village that's largely populated by members of the Qalandar community. In recent years, travel companies and village residents have made efforts to bring in tourists, making Korai a great place to learn about life in rural North India while supporting the local economy.

A pretty little park lined with flowers and trees, Little Fish Hill Park (Xiaoyushan Park) stands atop a low hill with views of Qingdao, Little Qingdao, and the maple-forest-surrounded ocean. The tallest of its three pavilions, the 3-story Lanchao Pavilion, has the best views; the two smaller pavilions are the Bibo Pavilion and Yong Cui Pavilion.

Built in the Indo-Saracenic architectural style, the Ripon Building serves as the headquarters of the Corporation of Chennai, the oldest municipal body of the Commonwealth outside Great Britain. The highlight of the structure is the 8-foot (2.5-meter) clock, known as the Westminster Chiming Clock, on the building’s central tower.

The Telangana State Archaeology Museum, also known as the Hyderabad Museum and the AP State Museum, is among Hyderabad’s oldest museums. It’s home to artifacts excavated from an archaeological site below the museum building, a Nizam-era palace. Items include idols, bronzes, and Ajanta paintings from various dynastic periods—but the most popular is the mummy of an Egyptian princess.

The Cao Son Market, held on Wednesdays, is a great place to shop for Vietnamese handicrafts. Even if you aren’t in the market for souvenirs, it’s worth visiting the market to learn about some of the communities that live in the mountainous northern parts of the country while sampling tasty regional specialties.

Running west of Kandy, the Alagalla Mountain Range is located deep in Sri Lanka’s heartland. At its northern end is Alagalla Mountain, a 3,740-foot (1,140-meter) peak that draws hikers eager to stand on its summit, the potato-shaped rock that gives it the nickname Potato Mountain and commands magnificent panoramic views.

One of Taiwan’s most prized natural attractions, the East River Valley National Scenic Area (Huadong Valley is a long, narrow tract of land that stretches from Hualien to Taitung. It encompasses mountains, fields of flowers, hot springs, and other scenic highlights, and is popular among trekkers and day-trippers alike.

Create (and document) the illusion that you’re walking on the ceiling, levitating in the bathroom, or doing a handstand on the refrigerator at Upside Down House Melaka. Everything in this everyday home is turned upside down and stuck to the ceiling, enabling you to create hilarious selfies and memorable wefies with the help of staff.

Located upstream and across the Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy) River from Mandalay, Mingun was once an ancient capital of Myanmar. The area is most famous for the Mingun Pahtodawgyi Pagoda, a massive unfinished stupa, in addition to one of the world’s largest ringing bells, and the architecturally unique Hsinbyume Pagoda.

Learn about the aboriginal cultures of Taiwan, stroll through a beautifully landscaped garden, and enjoy thrilling amusement park rides—all in the same visit—at Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village. Comprising three distinct areas, the village offers a day of educational fun for travelers of all ages.

Bali’s ancient subak rice farming system holds UNESCO World Heritage status. The Jatiluwih Rice Terraces, part of an area in Bali’s featured UNESCO listing, showcase its beauty. Stepped rice terraces descend lush valleys, clouds of dragonflies flit amid the palm trees, and family farmers grow the same organic rice varieties they have for centuries.

Kabukiza Theatre is often touted as one of the best places in Tokyo to watch kabuki—a type of Japanese performing arts that dates back to the early 17th century. With translations available, it’s a great choice for tourists keen to experience this traditional form of theater.

Japanese culture and history enthusiasts with a passion for architecture and design will love the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum. Set within Koganei Park in western Tokyo, the traditional buildings on display were moved or reconstructed here in an effort to preserve Japanese architectural history, much of which had already been destroyed through fire, earthquakes, or war. Walk around and see how people once lived in Japan, from farmers to politicians.

Built in the 17th century as a fortification against foreign aggression, Guia Fortress is located at the highest point on the Macau Peninsula, the 300-foot (91-meter) Guia Hill. Guia Fortress also includes a lighthouse and a chapel. It offers panoramic views of Macau, and forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Macau Historic Centre.

The Himeyuri Peace Museum is a monument to the young women and teachers who lost their lives in the Battle of Okinawa, many of whom were serving as nurses for the Japanese Army. The site features the museum surrounded by a cenotaph, a cave (used by students and teachers to hide in battle), and a beautiful garden.

Part of the UNESCO-listed Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park (home to Hang Son Doong, the world’s largest cave), Paradise Cave is often hailed as the most beautiful of Phong Nha’s otherworldly cave complexes. Floodlights illuminate the enormous stalactites and stalagmites to make them appear ghostly. If you’re lucky, you might spot some of the eyeless fish that live here.