Pretend you’re traveling back in time along the ancient Silk Road while you hike up and down the sweeping golden sand dunes of Mingsha Shan. When enough sand blows off the top of the dunes in an avalanche, it sounds as if they are singing, or groaning, which is how they got the name of Singing Sand Dunes.
The Malaysian state of Kedah is nicknamed the Rice Bowl of Malaysia, so it’ll come as no surprise that it’s home to the Rice Garden Museum (Laman Padi Langkawi)—where thousands of acres of rice paddy fields thrive with different rice varieties. The emerald expanse is also home to water buffalo and a rich variety of birds.
Built to celebrate the quarter-century reign of Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, the Jame'Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque features Brunei’s signature lavish architecture. The mosque has 29 gleaming gold domes and four towering minarets and is a recognizable symbol of Bandar Seri Begawan’s opulent skyline.
The building is the star attraction at the Gorkha Museum: The old-school collection of Nepali historical and cultural artifacts is housed in the early-19th-century Tallo Durbar, a beautiful red-bricked, tile-roofed Newari building (the Newars being a Nepali ethnic group). History buffs may be interested in the displays about Gorkha’s favorite son, King Prithvi Narayan Shah, and the unification of Nepal.
You’ll often see Boracay on lists of the world’s best beaches, and Yapak Beach (Puka Shell Beach) makes it easy to see why. A serene alternative to the island's bustling White Beach, this stretch boasts powdery sand and turquoise waters backed by lush greenery. It gets its name from the puka shells that once lined the beach.
The Solang Valley, north of Manali, is one of several smaller valleys stretching off the long Kullu Valley. Travelers come here to hike, ski, camp, paraglide, and ride the cable car for great mountain views, depending on the season. The valley is also the starting point for the Beas Kund Trek, which leads to a high-altitude lake.
Located on Canton Road in Kowloon, Ocean Terminal is both a cruise terminal and shopping mall, which provides easy access to bustling Hong Kong. Use Hong Kong Ocean Terminal as a jumping-off point for exploring the cosmopolitan city, a world-class destination known for its skyline, shopping, food, and attractions both modern and ancient.
Ginza Wako is a prestigious department store offering high-end goods, including luxury watches, handbags, jewelry, and fashion items. As well as coming to shop, visitors flock here to capture photos of the iconic Hattori Clock Tower—which dates back to 1932 and has even appeared in the Godzilla movies. You’ll also find an art gallery and gourmet chocolate and tea shops.
Spread out across 32 square miles (83 square kilometers), the Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary provides a refuge not only for sloth bears, but for all sorts of other creatures, from porcupines to monitor lizards. The sanctuary is also home to more than 70 different bird species and lots of butterflies.
One of the largest mosques in Central Asia, the resplendent, Bishkek Central Mosque wouldn't look out of place in Istanbul—in fact, Turkey funded its construction. Completed in 2018, the Ottoman-style building has quickly become a major hub for Islamic worship and learning. The exterior has silver domes and striking minarets, while the interior is decorated with Islamic calligraphy and tiles.
While far enough away to feel remote, Okinawa’s Zamami is one of those rare tropical islands that’s accessible enough for an easy visit. The second-largest island in the Kerama chain is just a ferry hop from the Okinawan capital of Naha, enticing travelers with a slower pace and welcoming atmosphere, as well as coral beaches, sea turtles, and other marine life.
For a relaxing beach day, head to Maenam Beach. This isn’t a party atmosphere like you’ll find on other Koh Samui beaches like Chaweng or Lamai. Grab a lounge chair and a good book, and enjoy the gorgeous caramel-colored 2.5-mile (4-kilometer) stretch of beach. This is one of the best spots on the island to relax, but still close to excellent restaurants and resources.
The largest marine ecology display center in the country, the National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium is one of southern Taiwan’s top attractions. Tunnels, a touch pool, and other exhibits let you get up close and personal with a diverse array of marine life, including whale sharks, belugas, and penguins.
Located around 18 miles (30 kilometers) outside Bishkek, Alamedin Gorge is what Kyrgyzstan is all about: stunning mountain ranges, plush alpine meadows, and crystal-clear waterholes. This popular hiking spot is within the Tian Shan mountain range, but don’t expect snow-capped peaks and challenging technical climbs—you can leave the crampons at home. Here, it’s all about laid-back walking trails and picnic spots.
On pocket-sized Shimizu Island, flying buttresses of jagged karst frame slender pale gold beaches. Sculptural rock formations, gin-clear waters, and colorful coral offer impressive snorkeling, while small caves and slithering monitor lizards add to the Lost World feel—all within easy reach of the ever-popular Secret Lagoon.
Central Java’s Chicken Church—officially Bukit Rhema Gereja Merpati Putih—is a quirky building in the hills near the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Borobudur complex. It was built in the 1990s after its designer, Daniel Alamsjah, claimed to receive a divine vision of a building shaped like a dove. The structure looks more like a chicken to most people though, hence the name.
The Jagir Waterfall is actually two falls—one a short walk from the parking area, and the other close by, a little way upstream. Flowing down cliffs surrounded by lush forest, Jagir Waterfall is a nice place to cool off from the tropical heat and makes a refreshing change from the volcanic attractions of East Java.
Mt. Aso is best known for its rugged, jagged, steaming volcanic landscape, but Kusasenri provides an interesting, mellow contrast. Its grasslands are bright green in the summer, or brown and white with snow at other times of year. From here, admire the views of Aso’s volcanic peaks, visit the observatory and museum, or take a sightseeing ride on horseback.
Penang’s oldest Chinese temple and a hub for the Chinese community, the Goddess of Mercy Temple (Kuan Yin Teng) sits amid Muslim, Christian, and Hindu places of worship on George Town’s Street of Harmony. Devotees burn paper money in metal vessels and neon pink incense sticks smolder, while protective dragons guard the inner sanctum.
The impressive Shenyang Imperial Palace, also called Mukden Palace, dates back to the Jin and Qing Dynasties in the 17th and 18th centuries when it was the center of Manchurian power before it moved to Beijing. The palace has 114 buildings, all fine examples of traditional Chinese palatial architecture that are well worth a visit.
Formerly Jungang Market, Sokcho Central Market is the ultimate representation of the city’s vibrant cultural scene. In this huge commercial space, stalls are piled high with everything from clothing to clams. Here you can sample hot and cold street food, raw fish, seafood, Korean fried chicken, and traditional blood sausage.
In one of India’s largest cities, it’s hard to find natural places to escape the honk of traffic and press of humanity, but at Kolkata’s New Town Eco Park you can do just that. This 480-acre (194-hectare) urban park has cycling and walking trails, a lake for kayaking and boating, themed zones, and many other activities and facilities.
In a town jam-packed with ancient temples and shrines, Nara’s 8th-century Toshodaiji Temple stands apart as different in style. It’s also quite far from the very popular Nara Park, so it’s not as inundated with visitors and has a more peaceful atmosphere. It was fully dismantled and renovated in the 2000s, so visitors can now admire the restored buildings and lush grounds.
Historically, Macau was home to two small islands that sat just offshore of the mainland: Coloane and Taipa. Following recent land-reclamation efforts, however, a third island, Cotai, has filled in the gap. Each of the three areas, now merged into one island, retains its own identity, offering distinct experiences for travelers.
A fairytale version of Russia featuring replicas of famous and lost buildings, Volga Manor sits on a river just outside Harbin. The tourist resort is particularly magical in winter when snow decks the trees and frames the onion domes and red-brick buildings, and travelers can enjoy activities like sledding, skating, and saunas, as well as Russian-themed shows, art, and eats.
Few religious structures in India are as immediately recognizable as the Kandariya Mahadeva Temple, a 10-story sandstone wonder with exaggerated erotic carvings that could make the most world-weary traveler blush. Among India’s greatest monuments, Kandariya Mahadeva is the largest of the ornately decorated temples in the Khajuraho Group of Monuments, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
While Elephant Beach on Havelock Island might only be accessible by foot or boat, its lack of road access only adds to the allure of its beautiful white sands, crystalline waters, and countless opportunities for water sports. No wonder this scenic spot is one of the most popular beaches in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Hue’s An Dinh Palace was home to Vietnam’s last and final King—deposed in 1945—and while it’s not quite in ruins, the building is equal parts spooky and impressive. Combining elements of both Asian and European architecture, the UNESCO–listed site welcomes visitors through a spectacularly ornate gate and into a world of not-so-long-gone royalty.
Noah's Ark Hong Kong was the world’s first full-size replica of the famous biblical vessel and remains a Hong Kong attraction for Christian families. The centerpiece of the park is the full-scale replica ark, which houses a collection of smaller ark models, an interactive children’s museum, plus a hotel, a cinema, and restaurants. Outside in the garden, guests walk among 67 pairs of life-size animal sculptures.
Museum Geologi is one of the oldest museums in Indonesia, which traces the country’s fascinating geological investigations through 250,000 rocks and minerals, and 60,000 fossils. Spread across two stories, multimedia exhibits explore everything from active volcanoes and the development of human settlements to fossils of ancient human skulls discovered in the Indonesian archipelago.
