Asia attractions

Topped by Bakheng—one of the earliest temples in the Angkor area—Phnom Bakheng (Bakheng Hill offers spectacular sunset views over Angkor Wat. Built around the year 900 AD, Bakheng temple ascends in five separate tiers, and its many towers reflect Hindu cosmology.

Jagdish Temple—in the heart of Udaipur's Old City—is a stone's throw from the City Palace. This 3-story structure dates back to 1651 and its architecture is the main draw. Its intricately sculpted bell roof and columns are stunning but it's also worth sticking around to listen to devotional singing—a regular feature here.

Tokyo’s Rikugien Garden dates back to around 1700, and was once the residence of Japan’s feudal leaders. It follows a traditional design, so it’s a delightful place to appreciate Japanese aesthetics while relaxing or strolling in nature. This garden is especially popular during the autumn leaf-viewing season, but is a beautiful destination year-round, with rhododendrons, camellias, azaleas, and magnolias among its highlights.

Located within the grounds of the Forbidden City, the Imperial Garden of the Palace Museum was built in the Ming Dynasty as a private retreat for China’s emperors. Here, you can stroll past ancient cypress trees, rock gardens, traditional pavilions, and hidden courtyards. It’s one of the most peaceful and atmospheric corners of the vast palace complex, and the perfect place to take a break from sightseeing.

A national park made up of dense jungle encompasses much of mountainous Cat Ba Island, the largest island in the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Ha Long Bay area. Known for its golden sand beaches, the park is home to an extraordinary array of animals, including the critically endangered Cat Ba langur. Other attractions on the island include Hospital Cave (a Vietnam War–era medical facility) and a range of fishing villages.

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.

To experience both original and restored portions of the Great Wall of China without straying far from Beijing, many visitors choose the stretch between Jinshanling and Simatai, a trek seemingly made for hikers and adventurers. The 4-hour hike ranks among the wall’s most popular and rewards intrepid travelers with some of the most photogenic views.

Located in the Xicheng District of Beijing, Yandaixie Street is one of the oldest streets in Beijing, and dates back to the Yuan dynasty. Stretching for about 761 feet (232 meters, Yandaixie Street today is a vibrant mix of old and new, full of shops, cafés, restaurants, and bars, in reconstructed Ming and Qing dynasty era buildings.

Jamek Mosque (Masjid Jamek), formally known as Masjid Sultan Abdul Samad Jamek, is Kuala Lumpur’s oldest mosque, dating back to 1909. Inspired by the Mughal mosques of India, it’s a beautiful brick-built affair in the heart of the city, where the Gombak and Klang rivers meet. Some areas are off-limits to non-Muslims.

Named in honor of Russian astronaut Gherman Titov during his 1962 visit to Halong Bay, Titop Island (Đảo Titop) offers a striking sight from a distance—a swooping tower of limestone rising out of the sea and blanketed with thick rain forest. Its main highlight is the crescent of pristine white sand lining its shore.

Rice-field landscapes studded with volcanoes make Central Java’s Magelang region a gorgeous spot for a hike or even a bike ride. However, most travelers head here for one reason alone; Borobudur, the 8th-century temple crafted from two million blocks of stone that’s Indonesia’s single most famous sight.

Often touted as Kyoto’s two most photogenic streets, Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka are pedestrian-only shopping lanes that lead up to Kiyomizu-dera Temple. The area’s painstakingly restored wooden townhouses are now occupied by cozy tea houses, traditional restaurants, and shops selling snacks and handmade crafts.

One of Tibetan Buddhism’s most sacred sites, the 6-acre (2.5-hectare Jokhang Temple sits at the heart of Lhasa and holds UNESCO World Heritage status. With a history dating back over 1,300 years, throngs of pilgrims and red-robed monks come to worship at the Jowo Shakyamuni golden Buddha statue, lighting lamps, and spinning prayer wheels.

Formerly known as Victoria Terminus (and still called "VT" by many), this train statio, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is best known for its over-the-top Indo-Saracenic architecture, which blends neo-Gothic elements with Mughal and Indian features. It's Asia's busiest train station—one you may have seen in the film Slumdog Millionaire.

Less visited than Siem Reap’s “big three” (Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, and Ta Prohm), Banteay Kdei is a 12th-century Buddhist monastery that lies conveniently close to Ta Prohm and Srah Srang. The towering trees that overgrow the site add atmosphere, while it’s easy to imagine ancient monks praying and sleeping in the tiny cells as you stroll.

One of the largest wholesale spice markets in Asia, Old Delhi’s Khari Baoli is well worth a visit for the intensity of its sights and smells alone. Along with fresh spices of all shapes, sizes, and colors, this market sells myriad nuts, herbs, dry fruits, and grains—often displayed in heaping, photo-worthy mounds.

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, considered one of northern Thailand's most sacred temples, is among its most recognizable as well. Its golden spire glitters on the summit of Doi Suthep, a mountain overlooking Chiang Mai. Visitors come here to admire the ornate shrines and views across the city and beyond, while experiencing an active place of worship where Buddhist traditions—such as chanting and meditation—still remain a part of daily life.

The Bai Dinh Temple (Chùa Bái Đính comprises an almost 3-square-mile (8-square-km complex of temple buildings, gardens, and a towering 13-floor pagoda structure on the slopes of a rounded hill in Ninh Binh province. Highlights of the site include a 30-foot (9-meter bronze Buddha statue and a 72,000-pound (32,600-kg bronze bell.

Built in the 6th century by Prince Shotoku—a cultural hero who helped to bring Buddhism to the country—Shitenno-ji is one of Japan’s oldest temples. The complex includes a multi-tiered tower, pagoda, lecture hall, and gate. Though most of the current structures are from the 1963 rebuilding, they still reflect the 6th century design.

Overlooking Tiananmen Square, the Meridian Gate (Wumen) is the southernmost and largest of the Palace Museum gates, and one of the most recognizable landmarks of the Forbidden City. Comprised of five towers and five gateways, the Meridian Gate currently provides the only entrance into the Forbidden City.

Water puppetry originated around 1,000 years ago in the flooded rice fields of northern Vietnam. The art form has broad appeal, but if you've got kids in tow, you’d be remiss to leave Hanoi without catching a show at the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre. An orchestra of traditional Vietnamese instruments accompanies the water puppets, with some modern special effects.

Ueno Park (Ueno Koen) is a public park in central Tokyo, which is home to several of the city’s top museums, including the Tokyo National Museum and the National Museum of Nature and Science. You’ll also find Ueno Zoo (Tokyo’s oldest zoo), a boating lake, and other attractions for the whole family here. The park also boasts four temples and shrines, including the Edo-era Kan'eiji Temple.

A heavily restored 12th-century temple, Banteay Samré feels more like a citadel. The Khmer emperor Suryavarman II built the complex, which includes a hall, two libraries, a temple, a dry moat, and fringing walls. Though Banteay Samré is smaller than many other Angkor-era monuments, it boasts some impressive carvings.

A popular Osaka destination for shopping and entertainment for more than 350 years, Shinsaibashi is a 1,698-feet- (600-meter- long shopping arcade. Countless boutiques, specialty shops, department stores, cafes, and restaurants line either side of the strip, making it is a great place to both shop and people-watch.

Sera Monastery is one of the largest and oldest monasteries in Lhasa. One of six great monasteries dedicated to the Gelugpa, or Yellow Hat, sect of Tibetan Buddhism, Sera is an important religious center home to hundreds of monks, three colleges, and a surrounding prayer circuit. It’s best known, however, for hosting afternoon courtyard debates between monks six days a week.

Nestled in the town of Nuwara Eliya in Sri Lanka’s hill and tea country, Gregory Lake was built as a reservoir in 1873 by the island’s British Governor, Sir William Gregory. Framed by mist-swathed hills, the lake and its park offers visitors plenty of activities, from watersports to footpaths and cycling trails.

Located in the Arashiyama area of Kyoto, Tenryu-ji Temple is one of the five great temples of Kyoto. Make a stop at this sprawling Zen temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that dates from the 14th century, to experience its traditional Japanese landscape garden.

The Saigon Opera House—aka the Ho Chi Minh City Theater—is a landmark piece of French colonial architecture and an essential stop for any visitor to this bustling Asian city. Built in 1900, it’s home to the Ho Chi Minh City Ballet and Symphony Orchestra, but it’s best known for evening cultural shows, such as À Ố, a Vietnamese bamboo circus.

The Beijing Drum Tower (Gulou) stands just south of its sibling, the Bell Tower (Zhonglou), in the Beijing district that bears its name. First built in the 13th century, the striking red structure has been rebuilt several times. It originally held 25 drums that kept time for the city, and today it hosts regular drumming performances.

Millions of travelers flock to the Japanese Covered Bridge (Chùa Cầu) in Hoi An every year. Built in the 18th century, the bridge features intricate carvings and statues of dogs and monkeys and provides great views of the Thu Bon River. Put aside extra time to cross the frequently crowded bridge—it’s the most popular spot in the Old Town.