Asia attractions

In the years since Beijing hosted the 2008 Olympic Games, the structures at the Beijing Olympic Park have become just as representative of Beijing as the Forbidden City or the Great Wall. While the Olympic Green houses half a dozen different venues, most visitors come to see the Beijing National Stadium and the Water Cube.

Probably the best known of the craft villages around Ubud, Mas Village is famous for its wood carvers, and it’s possible to pop into the workshops of mask-makers and sculptors around town. There are also a number of more formal galleries, such as Tony Raka, which has expanded beyond carvings into modern art and tribal pieces.

One of the tallest buildings in the world, the Shanghai Tower (Shanghai Zhongxin Dasha) has a twisting silhouette that dominates the skyline. Standing 137 stories and 2,073 feet (632 meters) high, the building features some of the world’s fastest elevators, which race to a viewing platform 1,841 feet (561 meters) above the city. On a clear day, the views are spectacular.

One of the oldest shrine complexes in the Kathmandu Valley, UNESCO World Heritage–listed Swayambhunath Stupa (Monkey Temple) is said to have arisen over 2,000 years ago. The complex comprises multiple shrines and a stupa and is mainly a Buddhist site, but it’s also considered holy to local Hindus—the two religions often are intertwined in Nepal. From its location atop a hill, Swayambhunath has one of Kathmandu’s best panoramic views

Flanked by Gyeongbokgung Palace and Changdeokgung Palace—two of Seoul’s Joseon Dynasty palaces—Bukchon Hanok Village comprises hundreds of traditionalhanok houses that today are home to restaurants, teahouses, cultural centers, art galleries, and B&Bs. It’s one of the best places to experience a taste of old Seoul.

Deep in Sri Lanka’s hill country, the Ramboda Falls is the island’s 11th highest waterfall, dropping from a height of 358 feet (109 meters). Formed from the River Panna Oya, a tributary of the River Kothmale Oya, the waterfall is framed by emerald forests—making it an especially beautiful and popular stop for travelers.

Considered one of the finest museums in China, the Shanghai Museum has a vast collection of Chinese artifacts from the Neolithic period onward. The museum’s 11 state-of-the-art galleries display ancient bronze, jade, and ceramics; painting, calligraphy, and ancient sculptures; and Ming and Qing dynasty furniture.

The heart of Kathmandu, the Kathmandu Durbar Square (Basantapur) is a vibrant public square was once the Kathmandu Kingdom royal residence. It has one of the world’s highest concentrations of well-preserved ancient buildings, making for a stunning open-air museum. Although the square was damaged during the 2015 earthquakes, there is still an array of architectural gems to see.

Located in the Xicheng District in central Beijing, Back Lakes (Houhai) is a neighborhood and one of the three lakes that make up Shichahai, along with Front Lake (Qianhai) and West Lake (Xihai). This popular area is known for its lakes, traditional hutongs (alleys) and courtyards, and a lively mix of trendy boutiques, restaurants, and bars.

The Maeklong Railway Market turns everyday shopping into an unexpected spectacle. Vendors sell fresh fruit, vegetables, and local goods beside an active railway line, then swiftly retract stalls when a warning siren sounds. Moments after the train passes, business resumes as if nothing happened. Visitors come to see this remarkable display of timing while browsing for fresh local produce in a truly unique setting.

A huge, 15th-century fortress overlooking the “blue city” of Jodhpur 410 feet (125 meters) below, Mehrangarh (Mehran Fort) is owned by the Jodhpur royal family to this day. The citadel is enclosed by thick, imposing walls and contains a museum, courthouses, gardens, and several magnificent palaces with vast courtyards and elaborate architecture.

Considered one of the world’s best examples of Indo-Saracenic architecture, the Albert Hall Museum houses the Government Central Museum (the oldest museum in Rajasthan). Inside this striking building, you’ll find an extensive collection of international art, miniature paintings, and artifacts—there's even an Egyptian mummy.

The closest village to Sapa, Cat Cat Village is a popular trekking destination to experience the distinctive culture and traditions of the Black Hmong tribe. Located in Vietnam’s Muong Hoa Valley, at the base of Fansipan Mountain, Cat Cat Village is also known for its stunning scenery of terraced fields, rolling hills, and waterfalls.

Sarangkot is a small village on the hill to the north of Pokhara’s Lake Phewa. It’s where the dozens of colorful paragliders that you can see swirling above Pokhara take off from. It’s also a popular sunrise and sunset destination, because as well as having impressive views down to Pokhara and the lake, it also offers astonishing views of the enormous snow-capped Annapurna Himalaya to the east and north.

Of all the railway stations in Japan’s capital, Tokyo Station (Tokyo Eki) is the most elegant. The neoclassical design of the red-brick facade was inspired by Amsterdam Central Station. The station sits near the Imperial Palace grounds in Chiyoda Ward’s Marunouchi business district. The Tokyo Station City development in and around the station offers many dining and shopping facilities, whether you’re catching a train or not.

A large covered market selling fresh and cooked food, Kuromon Ichiba Market is nicknamed “Osaka’s kitchen,” because many chefs and home cooks come here for supplies. It has since branched out from purely seafood options, and is typically bustling with locals and visitors hoping to get an inside look at local ingredients and cuisine.

Phnom Kulen National Park, which sits north of the famous temples of Angkor Archeological Park, features Khmer landmarks in a gorgeous natural setting. Visit to see waterfalls streaming from a holy mountain, natural pools, the phallic carvings at Kbal Spean (the River of a Thousand Lingas), and a popular Buddhist shrine.

Located 3 miles (5 kilometers) from downtown Guilin, this famous limestone cave is one of the top attractions in Guilin. It’s named for the reeds that grow outside the cave, which are used to make flutes. The cave stretches for 787 feet (240 meters), and is colorfully lit inside to highlight the interesting collection of stone pillars, stalactites, and stalagmites found within.

Just outside Varanasi in the state of Uttar Pradesh, Sarnath is an important pilgrimage site for Buddhists. Many believe that it was in this very town that Gautama Siddhartha first taught after reaching enlightenment, and it's an excellent place to visit if you want to learn about the history of Buddhism.

UNESCO World Heritage Site Nijo-jo Castle, a fortified complex dating from 1603, was the official residence of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first Tokugawa shogun. Walk in the pretty gardens or visit Ninomaru Palace to see fine Japanese artworks. It’s one of the most popular attractions in Kyoto, a city already full of must-visit attractions.

Generally known by its initials, GWK, the Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park centers on a 394-foot-tall (120-meter-tall) statue of the Hindu god Vishnu riding the mythical bird Garuda. The 148-acre (60-hectare) site plays host to concerts, festivals, and rallies, as well as shops, restaurants, and regular dance performances.

Among the most famous castles in Japan, Osaka Castle (Osaka-jo) dates back to the 16th century, and played a major role in unifying the nation. Today, the reconstructed castle houses a museum filled with historical artifacts, and you can also see the castle’s original stone walls, which were only rediscovered in the 1950s. Entering the main tower is particularly popular, as it provides views across urban Osaka.

One of the largest parks in Tokyo, Yoyogi Park (Yoyogi Koen) is a convenient place to relax before or after a stop at top city attractions, and it’s got plenty of space for kids to run around. Unwind on the walking paths, get active on the jogging or cycling paths, or watch lively weekend street performers and local youth in cosplay get-ups.

Previously known as the Lake Gardens, the Perdana Botanical Garden began life as a public park in the 1880s. Spanning more than 220 acres (90 hectares) in the city center, it offers a sunken garden, herbarium, hibiscus garden, and rainforest trees, plus artificial lakes, a waterfall, a deer park, and a boardwalk through tropical ferns.

For the farmers who reside in Southern China’s Longji region, rice terraces are simply a way of life. Yet for the thousands of annual visitors who make the 2-hour journey from the city of Guilin, the Longji Rice Terraces—nicknamed the Dragon’s Backbone—are an iconic symbol of Chinese agriculture and one of the most photographed sites in the country.

Founded in 1236, Tofuku-ji is a large Zen Buddhist temple in southeastern Kyoto. It’s one of the most important Zen temples in Kyoto (and the entirety of Japan) and it's the head temple of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism. It’s an especially popular place to see the vibrant colors of the trees in fall.

Nicknamed the Taj Mahal of Marwar, the Jaswant Thada is a marble cenotaph located in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. It was completed in 1899 as a memorial to Maharaja Jaswant Singh II, the 33rd Rathore ruler of Jodhpur. Built in the style of a temple and enclosed by a lush garden, the resplendent building is a prime example of dazzling, go-for-broke Rajput architecture.

The Potala Palace, winter palace of the Dalai Lama for over 1,300 years, towers above downtown Lhasa. Recognized with UNESCO World Heritage status, the vast structure stands 13 stories high on a hilltop and contains over 1,000 rooms. Echoing chapels and jewel-encrusted tombs create a spectacular effect.

Nusa Penida (Penida Island) sits alongside the linked islands of Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan in between Bali and Lombok. Besides snorkeling and diving—the island is known for mantas and mola molas (the world’s largest bony fish)—Penida offers unspoiled villages, temples, and rugged landscapes, as well as one of Bali’s most Instagrammed sights, Kelingking Beach, and the popular clifftop “tree houses.”

A surreal mixture of abstract structures, light features, and living plants, the Gardens by the Bay feature both indoor and outdoor gardens. Don’t miss Supertree Grove, with towering tree-like trunks that light up after dark; the Cloud Forest, home to an indoor waterfall; the Flower Dome, a botanical garden housing exotic plant life from around the world; and Floral Fantasy, a feast of flower arrangements.