Hottest things to do in Asia right now: Asia's best urban attractions

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This was published 7 years ago

Hottest things to do in Asia right now: Asia's best urban attractions

By Ute Junker
Updated
The National Palace Museum in Taipei, Taiwan

The National Palace Museum in Taipei, TaiwanCredit: iStock

Odd, isn't it, how many people think of Australia as being a long way from anywhere, when in fact we have arguably the best backyard in the world. Asia lies at our doorstep, a continent filled with beauty, adventure, and history. From the snow-capped Himalayan peaks to verdant tropical jungles, from supercharged cities to tranquil villages surrounded by rice paddies, Asia has so many enticing attractions that it's hard to know where to start.

When we asked Traveller's writers to come up with a list of the 100 essential Asian experiences, the one thing we expected was diversity, and we weren't disappointed. Our list includes everything from thrilling wildlife encounters and colourful festivals to ancient temples that were already old when Europe's grand cathedrals were being built.

Some of the inclusions will cover familiar territory: how could we leave out a hike along the Great Wall of China, or feasting on pho on a sidewalk in Ho Chi Minh City? Others, however, are insider secrets. From exploring the rugged landscapes of the Golden Mountains in Russia's far east, to waking up in a high-altitude lakeside retreat in Myanmar – or even touring a Kolkata slum after dark, to discover how solar lighting is changing the lives of the locals – Asia has so many amazing adventures to uncover. Try some of these on for size.

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THE BEST URBAN ATTRACTIONS

By Ute Junker

GEORGETOWN, PENANG

You can see it in the streets, you can taste it in the food: the cultural collisions that shaped Penang's unique culture. Who can resist a town where mosques jostle up against Chinese shophouses, and Indian spice aromas meld with the charcoal tang of hawker stalls?

JAISALMER, INDIA

For old-school romance, nothing beats your first sight of the desert fortress of Jaisalmer, rising from the sandy plains like a golden mirage: unless it is discovering the magnificently decorated merchants houses carved from honey-coloured sandstone that line its streets.

TOKYO STATIONS

Japan's bullet trains are all well and good, but let's talk about those super-sized railway stations, particularly those in the nation's capital. You could spend an entire day in Tokyo Station alone, wandering the multi-storey labyrinth with its endless array of stores and restaurants and sake bars.

ANURADHAPURA, SRI LANKA

Over 100 kilometres of walls once surrounded the mighty city of Anuradhapura, a city which maintained its status as a power centre for an extraordinary 1300 years. Largely forgotten today, the ruins of its stupas and temples, palaces and reservoirs, are fascinating to explore.

BANGKOK, THAILAND

The streets may be raucous and crowded, but in Bangkok your escape is just an elevator ride away. The city's many rooftop bars are the perfect place to while away a tropical evening, whether you opt for the Gotham-esque Sky Bar or Red Sky, famous for its passionfruit martinis.

CHINA

In a country that is relentless about embracing the future, China's picturesque water towns – all canals, stone bridges and winged roofs – offer a rare glimpse into the past. Among the loveliest are Zhouzhuang near Shanghau, Fenghuang in Hunan and the tiny Huangyao Ancient Town in Guangxi province.

TAIWAN

It would take days to check out every exhibit in Taiwan's National Palace Museum, home to the world's biggest collection of Chinese treasures. And that's just the start: Taiwan's other impressive include the Fine Arts Museum and the Shunyi Aboriginal Museum, dedicated to the island's indigenous people.

BUSAN, KOREA

Never heard of Busan? You're not alone. Yet with a spectacular setting sheltered by mountains and fringed by beaches, a thriving contemporary art scene, a sprawling seafood market and serene seaside temples, South Korea's second city may be Asia's most underrated destination.

CHANDIGARH

Chandigarh is India done differently, a grid of wide boulevards lined with trees and modernist buildings. Architecture fans who flock here to admire modern India's first planned city, overseen by modernist master, Le Corbusier, discover a very different Indian destination.

HOI AN, VIETNAM

When Hoi An's river silted up more than 100 years ago, the bustling port declined overnight – which turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to it. The town's historic Japanese merchant houses, Chinese temples and disused warehouses make Hoi An one of Vietnam's most inviting destinations.

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