One of Indonesia’s most active volcanoes, Mt. Merapi’s name literally means “mountain of red fire.” The mountain, which looms over Borobudur, occupies a sacred place in the hearts and minds of many Javanese. When it’s not closed or partially closed due to volcanic activity, Merapi also makes for a spectacular volcano hike or climb.
The Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden conducts research to conserve Thailand’s extensive natural plant resources. Visitors can walk through an indoor southern Thai forest, see the country’s largest public display of orchids (more than 400 species), and stroll footpaths past azaleas, rhododendrons, and many other flowering plants.
The Joint Security Area (JSA), aka Panmunjom, offers a look at the still simmering tensions that remain from the Korean War. The North and South technically remain at war, and the JSA, located deep within the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), is the only place where visitors can see the actual border and North Korean soldiers on the other side. Within the town at the Military Armistice Commission (MAC) Conference Room, visitors can even cross the border without a visa. The blue building is still used for face-to-face negotiation between the two sides and is bisected by the border, meaning travelers can technically cross into North Korea by walking to the other side of the room.
Wild Wild Wet, one of Singapore’s largest water parks, has everything you’d want and expect in a water-themed amusement park. The park’s dozen or so rides and attractions range from waterslides and a wave pool to kids areas and the relaxing Shiok River, where guests can float leisurely around the perimeter of the park.
This traditional Portuguese-style neighborhood is home to many of Panaji's historic buildings, including the São Tomé Chapel, the old post office, and myriad colonial houses with red tile roofs and colorful facades. Sao Tome is best explored on foot and is often visited in tandem with the neighboring Fontainhas area.
The Kyoto Handicraft Center is an easy one-stop-shop for browsing and purchasing local handicrafts, ranging from kimonos and decorative fans to pottery and dolls, and much more. Spanning three floors, a huge variety of traditional arts and handicrafts are available here, and the center also runs classes and rents kimono.
The spiritual center of Vientiane, thanks to its sacred pillar, Wat Si Muang is the city’s busiest temple. Laos come from far and wide to pray for good luck and eliminate bad luck. Around November Wat Si Muang is also the starting point for the candle-lit procession that begins the nation’s biggest religious event, the That Luang Festival.
This towering, high-tech structure in the heart of downtown Singapore is the nation’s largest library. Seven floors of the 16-story building house the Lee Kong Chian Reference Library, which focuses on Singapore; the Central Public Library (currently closed for renovations) occupies the basement.
A surfing hotspot in Thailand’s landlocked capital, Flow House Bangkok is an urban beach club that defies nature by creating ocean waves. As well as attracting surfers and bodyboarders with the FlowRider®, the club is a one-stop destination for drinking, dining, and even soaking up panoramic views of Bangkok.
Larger than you’d expect for an island Langkawi’s size, Underwater World Langkawi is a Pantai Cenang landmark thanks to its striking frontage. With freshwater and ocean aquariums, it’s home to everything from penguins and sea lions to lionfish, catfish, sharks, and turtles—and even a tropical rain forest aviary packed with birds.
Boasting an impressive 70 rides and attractions, Chimelong Paradise is China’s largest amusement park and holds numerous world records, with many of its rides imported from abroad and made with the latest amusement park technologies. Daily live performances and a 4D theater round out the entertainment offerings.
Meandering down to the golden sands of east coast Malaysia’s Cherating Beach, the Cherating River draws travelers with its rich coastal mangrove ecosystems, home to wildlife including crabs, lizards, snakes, and monkeys. The star attraction happens at night when the mangroves come alive with jewel-like streams of sparkling fireflies.
While the Yulong Bridge is the largest single-arch bridge in the province and the Xiangui Bridge is the oldest passage across the Yulong River, the Fuli Bridge is the tallest span. When seen from a distance, the bridge’s high arched back and the reflection it creates in the water form a perfect circle, called a full moon by locals.
Opening its doors in 2012, the Phuket Botanic Garden offers a collection of rare and exotic plants, with everything from tropical palms to colorful orchids, presented over a series of 12 landscaped gardens. Highlights of the small garden include the paddy field and the koi pond, where visitors can purchase pellets and feed the fish.
Built in 1777, the Prince Gong Mansion (Gong Wang Fu) is one of the best preserved imperial mansions in Beijing, and it has been turned into an excellent museum. Be sure to visit the ornamental gardens, featuring pavilions, ponds, and winding paths. A central stage hosts Beijing opera and orchestral performances throughout the day.
Constructed in the early 19th century by British architect Duncan Macleod, Hazarduari Palace is a gargantuan palace museum that showcases a variety of historic relics and art. It’s worth visiting for the grand architecture alone, though the interiors reveal a fine collection of royal treasures, from old weaponry to European oil paintings.
Variously known as the Tigbao Hanging Bridge, Sipatan Twin Hanging Bridge, and Bamboo Hanging Bridge Sevilla, this pair of bamboo footbridges hang 82 feet (25 meters) above Bohol’s Loboc River. Steel cables have replaced the original rope, but the creaking, swaying, and wobbling as you cross is still unnerving.
Located in northeast New Territories, Sai Kung East Country Park is one of the most scenic parks in the city. A popular day trip destination, the park offers stunning scenery, numerous hiking trails, rugged peaks, unique rock formations, secluded beaches, pristine islands, and the largest reservoir in the city.
Jingjiang Wangcheng City, also called the Jingjiang Mansion, was the seat of the Jingjiang Family, who reigned in this part of China between 1368 and 1644. The mansion was designed to function as the inner city of Guilin, with extensive halls, pavilions, and more than 40 secondary buildings surrounding the main mansion.
Despite its conservative setting—housed in a pair of restored 19th-century Catholic school buildings—the Singapore Art Museum (SAM) is anything but traditional. Focusing on contemporary art, exhibitions change regularly and feature innovative works from local creatives and artists across Asia.
Home to over 150 different species, Zoo Melaka and Night Safari is the city’s longest-established wildlife attraction and one of Malaysia’s largest zoos. It offers animal shows, food outlets, educational talks by keepers, and the chance to feed animals, as well as a night safari on weekend evenings.
Set within the compound of the old Monte Fort, the Macao Museum chronicles the history of this region and its blend of European and Asian cultures. Exhibits cover the territory’s history, the relationship between China and Portugal, Macanese religion, folk customs, architecture, and urban development.
The Baipai Thai Cooking School in Bangkok provides a unique approach to Thai cooking that differs from most other classes across Thailand. Using a hands-on teaching method, it offers a home-style learning environment and teaches dishes not usually covered by other cooking schools for tourists.
Dating back to the 15th century, the compact Changgyeonggung Palace has housed Korean queens and royal concubines for hundreds of years. The main hall of the palace—Myeongjeongjeon—is the oldest main hall of all Seoul’s royal palaces and exemplifies 17th-century Joseon architecture with its artful combination of wood and stone, as well as its jade green roof tiles.
Song Xian Qiao Antique Market is the country's second-largest antiques market and an excellent place to shop for souvenirs. With more than 500 separate stalls selling exquisite watercolor paintings, fake Buddha statues, and everything in between, it’s a treasure trove for shoppers and people watchers alike.
A tribute to a famed Kadazan-Dusun warrior and headhunter named Monsopiad, the Monsopiad Cultural Village showcases heritage local lifestyles—including skulls allegedly belonging to Monsopiad’s enemies. Locals in authentic costumes go about traditional activities, from pounding rice to making rice wine, while visitors explore: Don’t miss one of the two daily dance performances.
Built in the year 678, Kamigamo Shrine (aka Kamo-wakeikazuchi Shrine is one of the oldest Shinto shrines in the country. Although it predates Kyoto’s reign as capitol of Japan by over a century, it is believed to protect the city from negative influences. The shrine played host to four Emperors between the 8th and 18th centuries.
Built in 1744, the Giac Lam Pagoda is one of the oldest temples in Ho Chi Minh City. A Buddhist structure designated as a historic site by the Vietnamese government, the site boasts an impressive sanctuary filled with gold figures and a fat laughing Buddha. The large gardens surrounding the pagoda also contain a sacred bodhi tree.
Set along the coast southeast of Qingdao, the Badaguan Scenic Area (Eight Passes) is a historic neighborhood with a colonial past. More than 200 buildings and villas representing the architectural styles of more than 20 different countries can be found here, amid charming tree- and flower-lined streets and several beaches.
A must-visit for travelers who appreciate the finer details in life, the Museum of Trade Ceramics presents a banquet of colorful pottery from around Asia. As well as stunning examples of ceramics from Japan and China, visitors can expect to admire pottery from Thailand, India, and the Philippines, some of which dates back to the eighth century.
