Best historical destinations in Asia
Best historical destinations in Asia
Dynastic temples and preserved heritage ruins across Asia
Asia's historical depth is staggering, encompassing some of the oldest continuous civilisations on earth and a range of empires, belief systems and cultural traditions that have shaped the modern world in ways that are still only partially understood in the west. The physical evidence of that history, in the form of temples, monuments, ancient cities and sacred landscapes, survives across the continent in extraordinary quantity and variety.
The range of historical experience available is unlike any other region. Ancient temple complexes, imperial palace cities, silk road trading towns, colonial port settlements and the landscapes of more recent twentieth century history all exist within a continent where the past is rarely far from the surface. Some sites are among the most visited on earth. Others of equal significance receive a fraction of the attention.
Preparation pays off more in Asia than in almost any other historical region. The cultural and religious context required to fully appreciate many of the continent's most significant sites is not always obvious on arrival and a modest investment in background reading before departure tends to transform the quality of the experience considerably. A knowledgeable local guide makes a further significant difference at the most complex sites.
Lists by region
Town in Pakistan
Taxila
Ancient Buddhist university frozen in time
Taxila flourished as a centre of learning along ancient trade routes into South Asia. Buddhist stupas and monasteries mark the ruins scattered across the surrounding valley. Scholars once travelled here to study at what some consider an early university. Excavations have uncovered artefacts spanning Greek, Persian and Buddhist influence.
City in Japan
Nara
Giant Buddha, tame deer and ancient temples
Nara served as Japan's first permanent capital, established in the year 710. A giant bronze Buddha sits inside Todaiji, among the world's largest wooden buildings. Tame deer roam freely through Nara Park, considered messengers of the gods. Ancient temples and shrines fill the city, predating even those of Kyoto.
City in India
Palitana
Majestic temple complex amid desert serenity
More than 900 marble temples crowd Palitana's sacred hilltop, built over roughly 900 years. Jain pilgrims climb thousands of steps at dawn to reach the temple complex. No overnight stays are permitted atop the hill, kept purely for worship. Shatrunjaya, the hill's name, ranks among Jainism's holiest sites.
Region in Myanmar
Bagan
Ancient Temples and Timeless Sunsets
More than 2,000 ancient temples and pagodas rise across Bagan's central Myanmar plain. Kings built most of the structures between the 9th and 13th centuries. Hot air balloons drift over the temples at sunrise, framing the plain in golden light. Brick and stucco cover many of the temples, weathered by centuries of exposure.
City in Nepal
Kathmandu
Temples, chaos and Himalayan magic
Kathmandu's Durbar Square holds palaces and temples built across several centuries of Nepali dynasties. Boudhanath's massive stupa ranks among the largest in the world. Swayambhunath, known as the Monkey Temple, overlooks the valley from a forested hilltop. Newar craftsmanship fills the valley's carved wooden temples and courtyards.
Town in Lebanon
Byblos
Ancient city by the sea
Byblos ranks among the oldest continuously inhabited cities on Earth, settled for more than 7,000 years. Phoenician, Roman and Crusader ruins overlap within the old town's compact centre. A medieval castle built by Crusaders overlooks the harbour below. The city's name gave rise to the word bible, tied to its ancient papyrus trade.
Town in China
Dunhuang
Desert Wonders and Ancient Art
The Mogao Caves near Dunhuang hold nearly 500 Buddhist grottoes carved over a thousand years. Painted murals and sculptures fill many of the caves, preserved by the dry desert climate. Silk Road traders once passed through Dunhuang on routes linking China to Central Asia. Sand dunes rise just outside town, framing the historic oasis.
Region in China
Yunnan
Vibrant landscapes and ancient cultural crossroads
Lijiang's Old Town preserves canals and cobbled streets built by the Naxi people centuries ago. Dali's ancient walls once guarded a kingdom that ruled the region for centuries. Ethnic minority villages across Yunnan preserve traditions dating back generations. Tea horse road trails once carried goods through Yunnan's mountainous terrain.
State/Prefecture in India
Rajasthan
Desert palaces and vibrant cultural tapestry
Rajasthan's fortified cities preserve centuries of Rajput history across its desert landscape. Amber Fort's mirrored halls overlook Jaipur from a hilltop above the city. Jaisalmer's sandstone fort still houses residents within its centuries-old walls. Painted havelis line streets in several of the state's historic merchant towns.
City in Japan
Nagasaki
Peace memorials, trade history and harbour views
Nagasaki opened to Dutch traders in the 1600s, one of Japan's only links to the West. Glover Garden preserves colonial-era homes built by foreign merchants on a hillside. Nagasaki Peace Park commemorates the 1945 atomic bombing that devastated the city. Oura Church, built in 1864, ranks among Japan's oldest surviving churches.
City in China
Lhasa
A Spiritual Journey in Tibet
Lhasa has served as the spiritual centre of Tibetan Buddhism for more than a thousand years. Jokhang Temple draws pilgrims who prostrate themselves along the surrounding Barkhor circuit. Monasteries dot the hills surrounding the high-altitude city. Traditional Tibetan architecture fills much of Lhasa's old town.
City in Japan
Himeji
Famed white castle and samurai gardens
Himeji Castle has survived earthquakes, fires and wartime bombing largely intact since the 1600s. Its white plastered walls earned the nickname White Heron Castle. A maze of gates and passages was designed to confuse attacking forces. Cherry blossoms bloom each spring across the castle's surrounding grounds.
Region in China
Hunan
Vibrant landscapes and ancient culinary heritage
Fenghuang's ancient town preserves wooden stilt houses along Hunan's Tuo River. Yueyang Tower has overlooked Dongting Lake since it was first built in the 700s. Stone bridges and cobbled lanes wind through several of Hunan's preserved old towns. Mao Zedong's childhood home sits preserved as a museum in Shaoshan.
City in India
Agra
Home of the Majestic Taj Mahal
Emperor Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal in Agra as a tomb for his wife Mumtaz Mahal. White marble covers the mausoleum, inlaid with semiprecious stones in floral patterns. Agra Fort sits nearby, a red sandstone stronghold used by Mughal emperors. The Taj Mahal took roughly 20 years and thousands of workers to complete.
City in India
Delhi
A Kaleidoscope of History and Culture
Delhi's Red Fort served as the residence of Mughal emperors for roughly 200 years. Qutub Minar rises as the tallest brick minaret in the world, built starting in 1193. Humayun's Tomb inspired the later design of the Taj Mahal. Old Delhi's narrow lanes preserve centuries of Mughal-era architecture and markets.
City in Japan
Ise
Japan's most sacred Shinto shrine city
Ise Grand Shrine ranks among Shinto's most sacred sites, rebuilt every 20 years since ancient times. Two main shrines sit within forested grounds, connected by a long gravel path. Wooden torii gates mark the entrance to each inner sanctuary. This rebuilding tradition has preserved ancient construction techniques for over a thousand years.
City in Russia
Saint Petersburg
Where history and elegance meet
Peter the Great founded Saint Petersburg in 1703 as Russia's window to the West. The Hermitage Museum fills the former Winter Palace with centuries of imperial art. Canals and baroque palaces line much of the city's historic centre. Catherine Palace's Amber Room was famously reconstructed after wartime looting.
City in Russia
Kazan
Where Europe Meets Asia
Kazan Kremlin blends Russian Orthodox and Islamic architecture within one fortified complex. Qol Sharif Mosque's blue domes rise beside a centuries-old Orthodox cathedral nearby. Tatar and Russian cultures have mixed here since the 1500s. The Kremlin's white walls overlook the Volga and Kazanka rivers below.
City in Jordan
Jerash
Roman Grandeur in Jordan’s Hills
Jerash preserves a large stretch of Roman provincial architecture outside Italy. Colonnaded streets still stand along the ancient city's central avenue, lined with worn stone. A vast oval plaza connects the city's main temples and theatres. Chariot races are reenacted today within the city's restored hippodrome.
City in Israel
Jerusalem
Ancient History Meets Modern Culture
Jerusalem's Old City packs Jewish, Christian and Muslim holy sites within ancient stone walls. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre marks the traditional site of Jesus's crucifixion and burial. Narrow markets wind through four historic quarters inside the walls. Layers of the city's history sit stacked beneath its current streets.
City in Syria
Damascus
Ancient Alleys, Bazaars and Minarets
Damascus claims among the longest continuous histories of any inhabited city on Earth. The Umayyad Mosque stands on a site used for worship since ancient times. Narrow alleys in the Old City wind past centuries-old courtyard houses. Traders once passed through Damascus along Silk Road routes connecting East and West.
Town in Uzbekistan
Khiva
A Step Back in Time
Khiva's walled inner city, Itchan Kala, preserves an intact Silk Road trading town. Minarets and madrasas built from sun-dried brick line its narrow lanes. Slave caravans once passed through Khiva's markets on desert trade routes. The city's fortified walls have stood largely unchanged for centuries.
City in Indonesia
Yogyakarta
Java’s soul: temples, art, street eats
Yogyakarta's sultan still rules from a palace at the heart of the city's old quarter. Borobudur and Prambanan temples sit within a short drive of downtown. Traditional batik workshops preserve techniques passed down across generations. Ancient royal bathing pools remain a short walk from the sultan's palace.
National Park in India
Ranthambore National Park
Majestic Tigers Roam Ancient Fort’s Shadow
A ruined 10th-century fort rises above Ranthambore's forest, overlooking the park's tiger territory. Ancient temples and chhatris sit scattered among the ruins within park boundaries. Lakes near the fort once supplied water to the historic settlement. Wildlife now roams freely through what were once royal hunting grounds.
City in Japan
Kamakura
Great Buddha, Zen temples and surf beaches
A bronze Buddha statue has sat exposed to the elements in Kamakura since the 1200s. Kamakura served as Japan's political capital for roughly 150 years under the shogunate. Hundreds of temples and shrines fill the hillsides surrounding the coastal town. A tunnel of orange torii gates leads to Hokokuji's bamboo grove nearby.
City in Japan
Tokyo
Japan's capital of temples, towers and food
Tokyo grew from the fishing village of Edo into a shogunate capital starting in 1603. Imperial Palace grounds now sit where Edo Castle once stood at the city's centre. Traditional neighbourhoods survive alongside the city's dense modern skyline. Museums across Tokyo trace the transition from feudal Edo to the modern capital.
City in Japan
Kyoto
Temples, geisha districts and kaiseki dining
Kyoto served as Japan's imperial capital for more than a thousand years before Tokyo. Nearly 2,000 temples and shrines remain scattered across the city and surrounding hills. Geisha still perform in the historic Gion district's traditional teahouses. Wooden machiya townhouses line several of the city's older neighbourhoods.
Town in Cambodia
Siem Reap
Gateway to Ancient Temples and Culture
Siem Reap serves as the gateway to the ancient temples of the Angkor Archaeological Park. French colonial buildings line parts of the town's older streets. Night markets sell handicrafts near the town's centuries-old riverside district. Cambodian classical dance performances draw visitors most evenings in town.
Town in China
Wuzhen
Timeless canals weave historic charm
Canals wind through Wuzhen's old town, lined with wooden buildings dating back over a thousand years. Stone bridges arch over the waterways connecting the town's historic quarters. Traditional indigo-dyeing workshops still operate using centuries-old techniques. Boats ferry visitors along the canals past preserved Ming and Qing-era architecture.
City in Syria
Palmyra
Ancient Silk Road's Desert Bride
Palmyra flourished as a wealthy caravan city along ancient Silk Road trade routes. Its ruins once included a grand colonnaded street stretching over a kilometre. Queen Zenobia briefly ruled an empire from Palmyra before Rome reasserted control. Recent conflict damaged parts of the site, prompting international restoration efforts.
City in Saudi Arabia
Medina
A Spiritual Oasis
The Prophet's Mosque in Medina holds the tomb of the Prophet Muhammad beneath its green dome. Medina served as an early capital of the growing Islamic community. Pilgrims often visit Medina before or after completing Hajj in nearby Mecca. Date palm groves surround much of the historic city.
City in Turkey
Pamukkale
Cotton Castle of Thermal Pools
Ancient Hierapolis grew beside Pamukkale's white travertine terraces, drawn by their thermal waters. Romans built baths and a theatre here, believing the springs held healing powers. A necropolis nearby holds hundreds of ancient tombs and sarcophagi. Ruins of the old city still overlook the white cascading terraces below.
City in Uzbekistan
Samarkand
The Silk Road’s Shimmering Gem
Samarkand flourished as a major Silk Road hub under the conqueror Timur in the 1300s. Registan Square's three grand madrasas remain covered in detailed blue mosaic tilework. Timur's mausoleum, the Gur-e-Amir, inspired the later design of the Taj Mahal. Markets and mosques throughout the city trace centuries of Central Asian trade.
City in India
Udaipur
Royal palaces and desert sunsets
City Palace rises above Lake Pichola, built by Udaipur's Mewar dynasty starting in 1559. Marble balconies and mirrored halls fill the sprawling palace complex. Boats cross the lake towards Jag Mandir, a palace built on its own island. Udaipur's old city preserves narrow lanes lined with centuries-old havelis.
Country
Iraq
Ancient cradle of civilization
Babylon's ruins along the Euphrates preserve remnants of one of history's earliest great cities. Ur's ziggurat, built more than 4,000 years ago, still rises above the surrounding desert. Baghdad's House of Wisdom once drew scholars from across the medieval world. Ancient Mesopotamian sites across the country trace the roots of early writing and law.
City in India
Varanasi
India’s Timeless Spiritual Heartbeat
Varanasi ranks among the oldest continuously inhabited cities on Earth, sacred to Hindus for millennia. Stone steps called ghats line the Ganges, used for bathing and cremation rituals. Pilgrims gather each evening for a fire ceremony along the riverbank. Narrow lanes wind through the old city past centuries-old temples.
Village in India
Hampi
Ancient ruins in boulder landscapes
Hampi's ruins spread across the former capital of the powerful Vijayanagara Empire. A stone chariot carved from a single boulder stands within the Vittala Temple complex. Boulders and granite hills surround the ruins, scattered across a dramatic desert landscape. Traders once brought goods from across Asia to this wealthy 14th-century city.
City in China
Beijing
Ancient history meets modern dynamism
Beijing has served as China's capital for roughly 800 years across multiple dynasties. The Forbidden City sits at the heart of the old imperial city. Hutong alleyways preserve traditional courtyard housing in several older neighbourhoods. Temples and palaces across the city reflect centuries of continuous imperial rule.
Region in China
Xinjiang
Vibrant Silk Road crossroads of ancient cultures
Silk Road oasis towns dot Xinjiang, once vital stops for caravans crossing Central Asia. Kashgar's old city preserves mud-brick architecture and centuries-old bazaars. Buddhist grottoes near Kucha hold murals dating back over a thousand years. Desert ruins across the region mark long-abandoned Silk Road settlements.
City in Turkey
Ephesus
Ancient Wonders and Roman Grandeur
Ephesus once ranked among the largest cities of the ancient Roman world. The Library of Celsus stands partially restored, its facade among the site's best-preserved structures. A grand theatre here once seated roughly 25,000 spectators. Marble streets still lead visitors past the ruins of temples and public baths.
City in Turkey
Istanbul
Where East meets West in stunning contrast
Istanbul spans two continents, its history layered across Byzantine, Roman and Ottoman rule. Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque both rise within view of each other downtown. The Bosphorus strait divides the city's European and Asian sides. Centuries-old bazaars and palaces line streets throughout the historic peninsula.
City in Yemen
Sana'a
Timeless Towers and Ancient Alleys
Sanaa's Old City preserves tower houses built from mud brick, some dating back centuries. Detailed white gypsum patterns decorate windows across the old quarter's facades. The city has been continuously inhabited for more than 2,500 years. Narrow alleys wind past mosques and markets throughout the historic centre.
City in China
Xi'an
Where history whispers through time
Thousands of life-sized terracotta warriors guard Emperor Qin Shi Huang's tomb near Xian. Each soldier was crafted with individual facial features by ancient artisans. Xian's city walls, built in the 1300s, still encircle much of the old town. The city once marked the eastern starting point of the Silk Road.
City in Vietnam
Hue
Imperial Vietnam on the Perfume River
Hue served as Vietnam's imperial capital under the Nguyen Dynasty for over a century. A walled Citadel encloses the former Forbidden Purple City within its grounds. Royal tombs of past emperors sit scattered across the surrounding countryside. The Perfume River winds past pagodas and palaces throughout the old city.
City in Saudi Arabia
Mecca
A spiritual journey like no other
Mecca has drawn Muslim pilgrims for over a thousand years to sites tied to the Prophet Muhammad's life. Mount Arafat, a key Hajj site, sits just outside the city centre. The Grand Mosque expanded repeatedly over centuries to accommodate growing crowds. Non-Muslims remain barred from entering the city under longstanding religious law.
Town in Japan
Nikko
Tokugawa shrines, waterfalls and hot springs
Toshogu Shrine in Nikko holds the mausoleum of shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu. Elaborate wood carvings cover the shrine, including the famous three wise monkeys. Cedar-lined avenues lead through the surrounding mountains towards the shrine complex. Nikko's temples and shrines date largely to the early 1600s, built under Tokugawa rule.
City in Iran
Isfahan
Persia's Architectural Masterpiece
Naqsh-e Jahan Square ranks among the largest public squares ever built, dating to the 1600s. Blue-tiled mosques frame the square's edges, decorated with detailed geometric patterns. Bridges spanning the Zayandeh River have stood since the Safavid era. Bazaars beneath the square's arcades have traded goods for centuries.
City in Japan
Hiroshima
Peace Park, okonomiyaki and Miyajima ferry
The Atomic Bomb Dome stands as a preserved ruin near the 1945 blast's centre. Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park surrounds the dome, dedicated to victims of the bombing. A flame in the park has burned continuously since 1964. Miyajima's floating torii gate sits a short ferry ride from the city.
City in Japan
Toyota
Car capital with Korankei maple gorge
Toyota's Sanage kiln sites trace ceramic production in the region back over a thousand years. The city grew around this pottery tradition long before the automaker took its name. Local shrines and temples preserve the area's pre-industrial farming history. Museums nearby document the region's shift from ceramics to manufacturing.
City in Syria
Aleppo
Ancient Markets and Resilient Spirit
Aleppo's Old City has stood since ancient times, layered with Byzantine, Islamic and Ottoman history. Its historic citadel rises on a hill overlooking the surrounding streets below. Souks once stretched for kilometres through covered stone passageways. Recent conflict damaged parts of the city, prompting ongoing restoration efforts.
City in India
Amritsar
Golden spirituality in Punjab's heart
The Golden Temple's gilded dome rises above a sacred pool at the heart of Amritsar. Sikh pilgrims circle the temple's marble walkway throughout the day and night. A communal kitchen here feeds tens of thousands of visitors daily, regardless of faith. The temple's foundation stone was laid by a Muslim saint in the 1500s.
City in South Korea
Gyeongju
Ancient Treasures in a Modern World
Gyeongju served as the capital of the Silla Kingdom for nearly a thousand years. Burial mounds of ancient royals dot the city's parks and open fields. Bulguksa Temple's stone terraces have stood since the 700s. Seokguram Grotto holds a serene Buddha statue carved into a hillside cave nearby.
Palace in Beijing
Forbidden City
Ancient Imperial Majesty Center
Nearly 1,000 buildings fill Beijing's Forbidden City, home to Chinese emperors for roughly 500 years. Red walls and yellow-tiled roofs mark the palace's imperial architecture throughout. Ordinary citizens were barred entry for centuries, giving the complex its name. Thousands of dragon carvings decorate the palace's stairways and rooftops.
Region in Turkey
Cappadocia
A surreal land of fairy chimneys
Early Christians carved churches and homes directly into Cappadocia's soft volcanic rock. Underground cities here sheltered thousands of people during times of invasion. Frescoes painted centuries ago still colour the walls of several rock-cut chapels. Fairy chimney formations rise across the valley, shaped by wind and water erosion.
Town in Vietnam
Hoi An
Charming Lanterns and Timeless Streets
Hoi An's Old Town preserves centuries of trade between Vietnamese, Chinese and Japanese merchants. A covered wooden bridge built by Japanese traders still crosses a canal in the centre. Lantern-lit streets glow each evening during the town's monthly full moon festival. Wooden shophouses along the river date back several hundred years.
Cathedral in Moscow
St. Basil's Cathedral
Majestic domes echoing centuries of faith
St. Basil's Cathedral's colourful onion domes have marked Red Square's skyline since 1561. Ivan the Terrible commissioned the cathedral to celebrate a military victory. Each dome features a distinct pattern and colour scheme, unlike any other in Moscow. Narrow interior chapels connect through a maze of passageways inside.
City in Thailand
Ayutthaya
Ancient Ruins and Timeless Temples
Ayutthaya served as Thailand's capital for more than 400 years before its destruction in 1767. A Buddha head sits famously entwined within a tree's roots at Wat Mahathat. Rows of headless Buddha statues line temple grounds across the ruined city. Rivers once surrounded the island city, aiding its defence and trade.
Archaeological Site in Pakistan
Mohenjo-daro
Ancient Indus Valley civilization revealed
Mohenjo-daro's ruins reveal one of the world's earliest known urban civilisations, built around 2500 BC. Grid-patterned streets and brick drainage systems show advanced ancient city planning. A large public bathing pool remains among the site's best-preserved structures. Archaeologists still debate what caused the Indus Valley civilisation's eventual decline.
City in Uzbekistan
Bukhara
Ancient Silk Road Splendor
Bukhara flourished as a Silk Road trading hub for more than a thousand years. The Kalyan Minaret has towered over the old city since 1127. Mosques and madrasas built from sun-dried brick fill the historic centre. Legend holds that Genghis Khan spared the minaret when his army destroyed the rest of the city.
City in Russia
Moscow
A grand city of history and power
Moscow's Red Square has hosted centuries of coronations, parades and revolutions. Onion domes and fortified towers define much of the city's historic centre. The metro system doubles as an underground gallery of Soviet-era mosaics and chandeliers. Centuries of Russian history are layered across the capital's monuments and museums.
Museum in Istanbul
Basilica Cistern
Mystical Underground Byzantine Wonder
Hundreds of marble columns rise from the Basilica Cistern, an underground reservoir built in the 500s. Byzantine engineers constructed the cistern to supply water to the Great Palace above. Two column bases carved with Medusa heads sit at the cistern's far corner. Walkways let visitors cross above the still, shallow water.
Palace in Istanbul
Topkapi Palace
Ottoman Empire’s Majestic Seat
Ottoman sultans ruled from Topkapi Palace for roughly 400 years after its construction in 1459. Rooms across the palace display imperial jewels, weapons and relics. Courtyards separate the palace into sections once reserved for different levels of the royal household. Views from the palace grounds stretch across the Bosphorus and Golden Horn.
Church in Istanbul
Hagia Sophia
Architectural Wonder of Istanbul
Hagia Sophia has served as a church, mosque and museum across nearly 1,500 years. Its massive dome once ranked among the largest in the world when built in 537. Byzantine mosaics remain visible alongside later Islamic calligraphy inside. The building now functions again as an active mosque in Istanbul.
Palace in Lhasa
Potala Palace
Majestic fortress perched on Lhasa's hilltop
Potala Palace rises thirteen stories above Lhasa, once the residence of Tibet's Dalai Lamas. Builders began construction on the current structure in the 1600s. More than a thousand rooms fill the palace, including chapels and tombs. Its white and red facades dominate the city's skyline from a hilltop above.
Temple in Kyoto
Kiyomizu-dera
Kyoto's hillside temple with the wooden stage
Kiyomizu-dera's wooden stage extends over a hillside, built without a single nail. The temple takes its name from a waterfall running beneath the main hall. Cherry blossoms and autumn leaves frame views from the stage each season. Pilgrims have visited the site since the temple's founding in 778.
Palace in Seoul
Changdeokgung Palace
Seoul's harmonious royal retreat
Changdeokgung's Secret Garden covers a wooded hillside behind Seoul's second royal palace. Korean kings once used the garden for private study and relaxation. Wooden pavilions dot the garden, arranged to follow the natural landscape rather than override it. The palace itself dates to the early 1400s, rebuilt after wartime destruction.
Country
Mongolia
Land of endless steppes
Genghis Khan united Mongolian tribes here before building the largest contiguous land empire in history. Karakorum served briefly as the Mongol Empire's capital in the 1200s. A towering steel statue of Genghis Khan now rises on the steppe outside Ulaanbaatar. Buddhist monasteries dot the countryside, rebuilt after decades of Soviet-era suppression.
Region in China
Qinghai
High‑altitude plateau with turquoise lake vistas
Ancient Tibetan Buddhist monasteries dot Qinghai's high plateau, some standing for centuries. Kumbum Monastery has drawn pilgrims since it was first founded back in 1583. Trade routes once crossed Qinghai, linking Tibet with China's interior provinces. Nomadic herding traditions here have continued largely unchanged across many generations.
Palace in Beijing
Summer Palace
Imperial Garden of Tranquil Beauty
Empress Dowager Cixi rebuilt Beijing's Summer Palace using funds diverted from the imperial navy. Kunming Lake covers much of the grounds, crossed by an ornate marble boat. The Long Corridor stretches along the lakeshore, painted with thousands of individual scenes. Pavilions and bridges dot the surrounding hills within the palace grounds.
Shrine in Kyoto
Fushimi Inari-taisha
Thousands of torii gates up a Kyoto mountain
Thousands of vermillion torii gates form a tunnel up the mountain behind Fushimi Inari Taisha. Merchants and businesses have donated the gates since the Edo period. Fox statues guard the shrine, seen as messengers of the rice deity Inari. Trails climb well beyond the main gates towards smaller shrines on the hillside.
Temple in Bangkok
Wat Arun
Temple of Dawn and Stunning Views
Wat Arun's central tower rises along Bangkok's Chao Phraya River, decorated in colourful porcelain shards. Sunlight catches the mosaic surface differently throughout the day. Steep steps climb partway up the temple's main spire for river views. The temple's name honours Aruna, the Hindu god of dawn.
Temple in China
Temple of Heaven
Majestic Symbol of Ancient Harmony
Emperors once prayed for good harvests at Beijing's Temple of Heaven, built in the 1400s. Its circular main hall was constructed without a single nail. Blue-tiled roofs symbolise heaven, part of the temple's careful symbolic design. Locals still gather in the surrounding park each morning for tai chi.
Temple in Indonesia
Borobudur
Majestic stone monolith echoing ancient devotion
Borobudur rises as the world's largest Buddhist temple, built in the 9th century on Java. Its structure forms a massive stepped pyramid topped with bell-shaped stupas. More than 2,600 relief panels cover the temple's stone walls. Volcanic ash buried Borobudur for centuries before its rediscovery in the 1800s.
Landmark in Beijing
Great Wall of China
Ancient Marvel Spanning Centuries
The Great Wall stretches thousands of kilometres across northern China, built over multiple dynasties. Watchtowers along the wall once signalled approaching threats using smoke and fire. Sections near Beijing, including Mutianyu and Badaling, remain well preserved for visitors. Construction methods varied by region, from rammed earth to solid stone.
Landmark in Kyoto
Kinkaku-ji
Gold leaf pavilion beside a mirror pond
Gold leaf covers the upper floors of Kinkaku-ji, Kyoto's famous Golden Pavilion. A reflecting pond mirrors the temple's gilded exterior across still water. Fire destroyed the original structure in 1950, later rebuilt to match its historic design. Zen Buddhist monks once used the building as a retirement villa.
Monument in Agra
Taj Mahal
Radiant marble echoing timeless love
The Taj Mahal's dome shifts in colour with the changing light, from pink dawn to golden sunset. Calligraphy quoting the Quran runs along its marble archways. Reflecting pools lead visitors towards the mausoleum along a symmetrical garden path. Shah Jahan intended to build a matching black marble tomb across the river, never completed.
Historic Site in Jordan
Petra
Ancient city carved into rose-red stone
Petra's Treasury facade was carved directly into rose-coloured sandstone cliffs by the Nabataeans. A narrow canyon called the Siq leads visitors towards the hidden ancient city. Tombs and temples line the surrounding canyon walls, dating back more than 2,000 years. Camels and horses still carry visitors along parts of the ancient route.
Region in Japan
Izu Peninsula
Hot springs, volcanic coast and beaches
Shimoda's harbour opened to foreign trade in 1854 after centuries of Japanese isolation. Perry's fleet anchored here, marking a turning point in Japan's history. Old merchant buildings still line streets near the harbour in Shimoda. Hot spring towns across the peninsula have drawn travellers for hundreds of years.
Historical Palace in Seoul
Gyeongbokgung Palace
Seoul’s grand Joseon dynasty palace
Gyeongbokgung served as the main royal palace of Korea's Joseon Dynasty from 1395. A changing of the guard ceremony still takes place at its main gate daily. Mountains rise behind the palace, framing its traditional wooden architecture. Japanese occupation forces destroyed much of the complex, later restored over decades.
Mosque in Istanbul
Blue Mosque
Ottoman Masterpiece in Istanbul
Six minarets rise above Istanbul's Blue Mosque, an unusual number for a single mosque. More than 20,000 handmade blue tiles line the interior, giving the mosque its nickname. Sultan Ahmed I commissioned the building in the early 1600s. Its location faces Hagia Sophia across a shared public square.
Castle in Kyoto
Nijō Castle
The Tokugawa shogun's Kyoto palace and gardens
Nijo Castle's floors were built to chirp underfoot, alerting guards to approaching intruders. Tokugawa shoguns used the castle as their Kyoto residence starting in 1603. Painted screens inside the Ninomaru Palace depict tigers, cranes and pine trees. Moats and stone walls still surround the castle's original grounds.
Historic Fortress in Moscow
The Moscow Kremlin
Majestic citadel echoing centuries of power
The Moscow Kremlin has served as the seat of Russian power since the 1100s. Its red brick walls enclose cathedrals, palaces and government buildings within one fortified complex. Cannon Tsar, a massive bronze cannon, sits displayed within the Kremlin grounds. Armoury Chamber inside holds imperial jewels and historic royal regalia.
Temple in Tokyo
Sensō-ji
Tokyo's oldest temple beyond a red lantern gate
Senso-ji ranks as Tokyo's oldest temple, founded in the year 645. A giant red lantern hangs over the Kaminarimon gate leading to the temple grounds. Nakamise shopping street stretches between the gate and the main hall, selling traditional snacks. The temple survived wartime bombing that destroyed much of the surrounding district.
Place of Worship in Jerusalem
Dome of the Rock
Ancient Shrine with Golden Dome
The Dome of the Rock's golden roof has marked Jerusalem's skyline since it was completed in 691. Islamic tradition holds that the Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven from the rock inside. Detailed blue tilework covers much of the shrine's exterior walls. The site sits atop the Temple Mount, sacred to multiple faiths.
Place of Worship in Mecca
Kaaba
The Sacred Heart of Islam
The Kaaba stands at the centre of Mecca's Grand Mosque, Islam's holiest site. Muslims worldwide face this cubic structure during daily prayers. Pilgrims circle the Kaaba seven times during the Hajj, a rite performed for centuries. A black stone set into one corner draws crowds hoping to touch or kiss it.
Palace in Bangkok
Grand Palace
Majestic Heart of Thai Royalty
Bangkok's Grand Palace has served as the royal residence since 1782, its founding year. Gilded spires and colourful tiled roofs cover much of the sprawling complex. The Emerald Buddha, carved from a single block of jade, sits inside Wat Phra Kaew nearby. Guards in traditional dress still stand watch at several entrances.
Place of Worship in Jerusalem
Western Wall
Sacred Remnant of Ancient Jerusalem
The Western Wall remains from the retaining structure of Jerusalem's Second Temple, destroyed in 70 AD. Worshippers gather at the wall to pray, tucking written notes between its stones. Its stones date back more than 2,000 years, among the oldest standing in the city. The plaza in front draws visitors of many faiths.
Historic Tower in Istanbul
Galata Tower
Historic Watchtower with Stunning Views
Galata Tower has stood above Istanbul's skyline since Genoese merchants built it in 1348. An observation deck near the top offers panoramic views across the Bosphorus. The tower once served as a watchtower for fires across the old city. Legend credits an early aviator with gliding from its top across the strait.
Historic Site in India
Ellora
Three faiths carved in stone
Ellora's caves were carved directly from a basalt cliff over roughly 500 years. Kailasa Temple, the largest single rock-cut structure on Earth, sits among the 34 caves. Hindu, Buddhist and Jain monuments stand side by side across the site. Sculptors removed an estimated 200,000 tons of rock to create the temple alone.
Historic Site in Yazd
Persepolis
Majestic ruins of ancient Persia
Persepolis served as the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Persian Empire starting around 518 BC. Carved reliefs along its staircases depict delegations bringing tribute from across the empire. Alexander the Great's forces burned much of the city in 330 BC. Massive stone columns still stand among the ruins today.
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