10 Places in Asia To See Before You Die
Asia has become more and more attractive for people from the West to travel to or backpack in. It’s relatively cheap to get around and the cultures are so different from back home that travelers are simply stunned by amazement. There is an endless number of amazing places to see in Asia but these following top 10 are my personal favorite places I have traveled to so far.
Seoul
South Korea’s capital is not only a vibrant and colorful megacity, but offers its visitors also a great insight in the country’s history and culture. My favorite places in
If you’re looking for an even broader overview, go and check out the Namsan Tower, which stands 236 meters high over the city and marks its highest point.
Buy: Korean beauty proucts, tea, soju
Hong Kong
HK is one of the most popular destinations in Asia – well deserved. If you are looking for a place with a fascinating history of Asian and colonial influences and modernity galore, make sure you put Hong Kong on your travel bucket list. Visit the 香港歷史博物館: Hong Kong Museum of History, the Ladies’ Market, where you can buy souvenirs and electronics galore, take the old tram up to Victoria Peak with a view of the entire city. Don’t forget to take the cable car to the Tian Tan Buddha! Try Cantonese dim sum at the many restaurants in downtown!
Buy: Electronics, chopsticks, tea
Beijing
the Great Wall, copyright Linda Dunsmore
China’s capital is on the travel bucket list of many people due their dream to see the Great Wall of China. However, Beijing has much more to offer than the wall and the astonishing Forbidden City. One of my favorite places in Beijing are the Hutongs, an area made up of traditional courtyard residences and narrow alleys. Make sure to visit Nan Luo Gu Xiang Street where you should try “Old Beijing Tea” (老北京茶汤), a tea flavored pudding that was eaten in ancient China. Don’t leave until you stopped by Beijing’s oldest and biggest Peking Duck restaurant and you tried their specialty! Check out my vlog about the restaurant!
Buy: tea, old Beijing paper cuts, Peking Opera masks
Luang Prabang
Downtown Luang Prabang, copyright Linda Dunsmore
Laos’ old capital Luang Prabang gives you a great insight in the country’s history as well as its people’s modern lives. It’s French colonial influences are visible all over town, especially with the number of French bakeries offering the most delicious croissants in Asia. Make sure to stop by some of Luang Prabang’s many temples to understand the county’s strong buddhist roots. Wake up early to experience the traditional alms giving ceremony where the monks collect the food for the day form the locals. Take a cruise along the Mekong to the famous Pak Ou Buddha Caves.
Buy: Lao lemongrass tea, spices, handwoven scarves
Bangkok
Bangkok Skyline, copyright Linda Dunsmore
A pulsating megacity with lots of history and modern entertainment. Make sure to visit the Grand Palace and Wat Prakaew, a temple complex next to the king’s home. The Temple of Dawn (Wat Arun) is one of the most spectacular temples to see during dawn. Don’t forget to take a bus to the city’s outskirts to take part in the bustling floating markets where you can buy fresh fruits or souvenirs from vendors on boats.
Buy: hippie Thai pants and bags, silk scarves
Xi’an
Famous for its Terracotta Warriors, Xi’an is so much more than just the home of the thousands of unique statues protecting Qin Shi Huang’s Tomb. The city was the origin of the famous Silk Road and brought millions of tradesmen into the Middle Kingdom, most of them from the Middle East, establishing the largest Muslim community in China. The great mosque is one of the buildings established by the Chinese Arabic population. Xi’an’s food street also reminds you a lot of a Turkish bazaar with specialties from the Middle East.
Buy: Terracotta Warrior replicas, glazed pottery, traditional paintings
Busan
Busan. copyright by Linda Dunsmore
One of my favorite cities in Korea: Busan! It’s the second largest city, after
Buy: dinnerware, Busan’s preferred soju / Cheonnyeonyaksok (천년약속)
Fukuoka
copyright by Linda Dunsmore
So far the only city in Japan I’ve been to and I was absolutely impressed. Fukuoka is a coastal city 3 hours form Busan by ferry. The food is very unique, with Japanese food stalls (called Yantai) offering local specialties such as ramen. Be sure to check out the City Museum to indulge in the city’s history and get to know its most famous festival Yamakasa. Check out Kushida Shrine, from the shinto belief, an indigenious religion of Japan that focuses on ritual practices to connect with nature and its elements. If you want to get the full Japan experience, go and rent a kimono!
Buy: Hakatatoorimon candy, mochi
Xishuangbanna
One of my favorite places in China is the autonomous region of Xishuangbanna with its capital city of Jinghong. Home to a large number of Chinese minorities, this area couldn’t be more different from the rest of China. Be sure to visit a minority village to experience their culture first hand. Search for elephants in the local wild elephant reserve where you can take cable car up the rainforest and spot wild elephants in their natural habitat. Don’t forget to check out local temples which remind of Thai or Lao architecture.
Buy: Pu’er tea
Bonus: Koh Phi Phi
copyright by Linda Dunsmore
My favorite islands in Thailand: Koh Phi Phi. This island is the exact spot where the 2000 movie “The Beach” featuring Leonardo DiCaprio was filmed. The island was hit by the 2004 tsunami but returned to be a tropical paradise for locals and tourists alike. Full moon parties and beach restaurants offering the freshest fish are normal here. Ride the famous Thai long tail boats and be sure to go snorkeling and see the most colorful fish you could ever imagine!
Buy: Buddha statues, incense sticks, hammock
Which one is your favorite?
What would you add to the list?
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Thanks for stopping by my blog. I hop you find what you are looking for and return for more.
I’ve never been anywhere in Asia outside of Korea. I hope to get out there and explore.
I’ve also heard the Philippines is a very beautiful country. I’d also like to see Myanmar too.
I’ve been to so many of these cities! But the place I want to go to the most is Koh Phi Phi. It’s breathtaking!
The more time I spend in Asia, the more places I want to see, and it makes me realize I’ve seen so little. I am most interested in seeing Hong Kong and the Great Wall on your list. Other than that some of my top destinations for Asia include India, Singapore, Borneo, Philippines, and Myanmar. Unfortunately, I felt Busan was over hyped when we visited it, I was not impressed. But we are going to give it another try this year! Hopefully something makes it dazzle for me!
Nice list! I’d definitely add Angkor Wat as something which shouldn’t be missed — it deserves each and every bit of hype it gets. Another one would be the Pamir Highway… not as accessible, but your jaw will hit the floor on a regular basis!
I made a very similar list to this. I don’t think I’ll be going back to China anytime soon 🙁 I think Kyoto also deserves a mention because it is awesome!!
Great list. Unfortunately, Korea is my first country in Asia. I still have some of the countries you’ve listed in my bucket list. Most especially; Hong Kong, China and Thailand. I think Phuket in Thailand could have been on the line-up. hear so much about its niceness and liveliness.
I hope this list gives you some inspiration for your next vacation! 🙂 I have been to Phuket but I thought Koh Phi Phi was so much nicer and the other islands I have been to in Thailand too. Didn’t like Phuket too much..
I really love Hong Kong! I don’t think Busan is *that* great if I’m honest. I think there are far more scenic and unique places in Korea. I have been to quite a few of these places, but I think countries such as Myanmar and Cambodia definitely deserve spots on this list!
totally agree! I am still quite new to Korea so I haven’t been to so many places here yet! Haven’t been to Myanmar or Cambodia but it’s on my list! 🙂
I’ve been to almost everyone of those places. Some places that I would have added would be Angkor Wat, full of history and some people like looking at the tombs that Tomb Raider was shot.
Phnom Phen, Cambodia, another great place if you want to learn about some of the history that happened there. Many movies have been made sharing some of the atrocities that happened there during the Vietnam War.
I would also feature some of the beach cities in Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand… all gorgeous
But that’s the thing about Lists like this… they can get so long.
Great list. I tell people to visit Taiwan – such an underrated country!
Wonderful list! Vietnam and Cambodia should also be added to this list. Koh phi phi looks amazing, this is the first time I have heard. Asia is just beautiful!