there are some asian places that are worth knowing and enjoying, and we are not referring to the most famous ones such as the Great Wall of China. But to some that despite their beauty and importance are not among the most famous. Asia is the largest continent by both size and population, a diverse and multicultural melting pot of some of the oldest civilizations on Earth.
If you want to know a little more about these places in Asia that you must know and enjoy, read on! Here you will find a list of places in Asia ranging from the majestic slopes of Mount Fuji to the architectural wonder of places like Angkor Wat in Cambodia.
What are the 10 places in Asia you must visit?
1. Mount Fuji
Although Mount Fuji is an active stratovolcano, it has not erupted since 1708. The impressive snow-capped mountain is one of Japan’s “Three Holy Mountains”, which are traditionally considered to hold particular power.
The base of the mountain is also home to Aokigahara. Also known as «Suicide Forest,» this dense forest growing on hardened lava is home to ice caves, a sound-absorbing combination that creates an eerie sense of solitude.
2. Dead Sea in Israel
The dark blue waters of the Dead Sea touch the borders of Jordan and Israel. Actually a lake despite its name, the Dead Sea sits at the lowest land elevation on Earth, over 430 meters below sea level. With a salt concentration of around 31 percent, nearly 10 times saltier than the ocean, the Dead Sea is so dense that nothing can sink into it, and anyone who enters it will naturally float.
While the shoreline around the lake has become a thriving tourist and spa destination, there is also a large influx of religious tourism in the area. Jericho is located just a few minutes northwest of the Dead Sea, and several other cities, including the legendary Sodom and Gomorrah, as well as Zoar and Admah, are also located here. zone. The area has some of the oldest inhabited cities in the world.
3. Phuket, Thailand
Thailand’s largest island is also a visitor magnet, and for good reason. Phuket boasts some of the best beaches in the country, with clean, soft, rippled sands and turquoise waters as far as the eye can see.
The beaches of Kata, Hat Karon and Kamala receive a large number of tourists during the high season (November to February). Beautiful coral reefs line the coast, offering incredible opportunities for snorkeling and diving, but also for sea kayaking. sea and jump from island to island.
Between hours of basking in the sun, visitors can head to the white and gold Wat Chalong, the largest and most important Buddhist temple on the island, or climb a hill to reach the Big Buddha, a 45-meter-tall covered statue. with marble from Burma.
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4. Beijing, China
Beijing, one of the most populous cities in the world, is also one of the oldest. You can catch a glimpse of that history by walking through Beijing’s hutongs, the narrow alleys lined with traditional houses and courtyards.
China’s capital is home to seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Imperial Summer Palace and Gardens, the world’s oldest canal, and the Forbidden City, a palace complex once home to China’s emperors for 500 years beginning in the 1420s. The Forbidden City, made up of almost 1,000 different buildings, is one of the most impressive tourist attractions in Beijing.
5. Hoi An, Vietnam
The ancient city of Hoi An is home to one of the oldest trading ports in Asia and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Every full moon cycle, Hoi An celebrates the Lantern Festival, which honors ancestors through light. The night before the full moon, all the lights in the Old City are turned off and lanterns and colored candles are placed in windows, inside houses, and on boats floating lazily down the river.
6. Kingdom of Bhutan
Bhutan is a landlocked country surrounded by the Himalayas, Tibet, and parts of India. A nation of rugged mountains, green valleys and swift rivers, Bhutan is home to the 7,570-meter-high Gangkhar Puensum, the world’s tallest unclimbed mountain.
Some of the most beautiful views in the country are high up, perched on cliffs; the Tiger’s Nest Monastery is a good example, located more than 3,000 meters high in the mountains and can only be reached on foot.
Places worth visiting include the fortress and Buddhist monastery ruins of Drukgyal Dzong, the Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary (home to the rare black-necked crane), and a number of dzongs or religious fortresses.
7. Kathmandu, Nepal
The capital and largest city of Nepal is also known as the «City of Temples». A melting pot of Hindu and Buddhist religious influences, Kathmandu is full of stupas, including Nepal’s holiest Buddhist site, UNESCO World Heritage-listed Boudhanath and Swayambhu, home to sacred monkeys and one of the oldest temples in Nepal. Nepal.
Situated at an elevation of more than 1,400 meters above sea level, Kathmandu is a popular gateway to the Himalayas and to nearby destinations such as the ancient city of Patan. Climbers from all over the world flock here to embark on their 15-day Everest Base Camp trek.
8. Jaipur, India
Known as the “pink city” due to the unique color of the stone used to build many of the surrounding structures, Jaipur is also home to a community of artisans. Many of Jaipur’s most impressive attractions are architectural wonders, including the impressive Jal Mahal palace, which sits in the center of Man Sagar Lake.
Many other pink monuments and structures are within 10 kilometers of the city, including the ancient Galtaji temple complex, built on narrow hills and surrounded by sacred kunds. The world’s largest stone sundial at Jantar Mantar and the 10th-century red sandstone and marble Amer Fort are also located on the outskirts of the city and attract many visitors.
9. Luang Prabang, Laos
Luang Prabang and 33 of the surrounding villages are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Luang Prabang City. Together, these sites are home to an incredible mix of cultural and architectural heritage that has shaped Laos over the centuries.
The Wat Xieng Thong or “Temple of the Golden City” is a good example of this: a 16th-century structure displaying impressive examples of Lao arts and crafts, but also a place of historical importance where all kings were once crowned. from Laos. Right in the center of the city, Mount Phou Si is home to Wat Chom Si and offers one of the best views in the city once you reach the top.
10. Siem Reap, Cambodia
Siem Reap is best known for being the gateway to the Angkor region and the magnificent temples left behind by the Khmer civilization. The largest religious monument in the world, Angkor Wat was built in the early 12th century and spreads over an area of more than 160 hectares.
Siem Reap itself is an exciting mix of Chinese and French colonial architecture, a place where traditional Apsara dance performance spaces mingle with French bakeries, galleries and rice paddies.