10 Destinations in Asia to Add to Your Bucket List

Asia is the world’s largest continent, home to various landscapes to explore, from tropical islands in the Philippines or Thailand to big, bustling cities in China or Singapore. There are festivals to attend, local markets to shop at, temples and churches to see, and cultures to learn about. You will also find monkeys to hang out with, delicious authentic food to try, and incredible locals to meet. There are SOOOO many places to visit in Asia that it was hard to narrow down this list. Below are 10 destinations in Asia to add to your bucket list.

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#1: Prambanan Temples, Yogyakarta-

Can you believe the Prambanan Temples exist? WOW! The ruins are stunning. The Hindu architecture built in the 9th century collapsed due to an earthquake. The beautiful Hindu temples in Indonesia should be at the TOP of your bucket list. After exploring the temples, you can catch a Ramayana Ballet performance in the park.

-Prambanon Temple Tickets!

#2: Hong Kong-

Hong Kong has delicious food, spectacular skylines, hiking trails, and hidden beaches. There are so many things to do in Hong Kong, but we will narrow down the list to the top 6 activities!

Gardens- Visit different parks, including Nan Lian Garden, Hong Kong Park, and Tsing Yi Park.

Views- Witness amazing views at Victoria Peak, Peak Tram, and Dragons Back.

Beaches- Swim at beaches, including Clearwater Bay Peninsula, Middle Bay, Shek O Beach, and Turtle Cove Beach.

Culture- Visit beautiful and intricate Temples, Monasteries, and Cathedrals. A few of the thousand to see are the Man Mo Temple, Hong Kong China Temple, Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery, Western Monastery, and St. John’s Cathedral.
Landmarks- Admire the INCREDIBLE landmarks, including the Big Buddha and Tang Chung Ling Ancestral Hall.
Museums- Go to different Museums, like the Hong Kong Museum of History, Hong Kong Science Museum, and Hong Kong Heritage Museum.

#3: Philippines-

There are so many different islands in the Philippines to explore.

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Apo Island- Apo Island is also known as Turtle Island because you will see giant sea turtles constantly surfacing for air. I highly recommend jumping off the boat to swim with them.

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Bohol Island- Visit the infamous Chocolate Hills and explore the Tarsier sanctuary to observe their cute primates at Bohol Island. The tarsier is the second smallest primate on earth!

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Palawan- Visit the small and big lagoon in El Nido, go scuba diving or snorkeling, and visit the Puerto Princesa Underground River in Palawan for a perfect getaway!

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Borocay– Watch the sunset and sunrise at the beautiful white sand beaches, experience the lively nightlife and events, and go cliff diving at Borocay.

Cebu- The best things to do in Cebu are to swim with Whale Sharks at Oslob Beach and to complete Kawasan Canyoneering, a hike down a canyon. Lastly, you can go parasailing, jet skiing, and banana boating.

4-South Korea-

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South Korea is rich in history and culture. You will find amazing Buddhist temples and delicious cuisine!

Seoul- Seoul is the capital of South Korea. You have to visit the Traditional Gyeongbukgung Palace, stroll along Bukchon Hanok Village, and admire the city view from Seoul Tower. Did I forget to mention? You MUST take a tour around Changdeokgung palace and Deoksugung Palace. Do you want to relax on your trip? GO TO A KOREAN SPA!

Gynegou– Gynegou is a coastal city in South Korea, home to parks, archeological sites, and more. It would make for a perfect weekend trip from Seoul to South Korea. Don’t forget to admire the incredible sunset from the beautiful red Woljeonggyo Bridge that lights up gold at night. You have to explore the beautiful temples in Gynegou, including the Golgulsa Temple.

#5: Thailand-

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Thailand is one of the world’s favorite travel destinations, as it has a tropical climate. All year round is a pleasant time to visit. Thailand is a cheap place to travel to, as for only $1.00 you can have delicious Pad Thai, and for $5.00 you can sleep in a hostel. Aside from the perfect climate, the nature surrounding the area is beautiful. You’ll find dense jungles, rice fields, crystal-clear beaches, whirling rivers, and incredible wildlife.

Ayutthaya- Ayutthaya is a famous city mainly because the country is home to ruins that are a part of the Ayutthaya Historical Park. This archeological site holds palaces, temples, and many statues.

Bangkok- Bangkok is a large modern city with ancient temples and is famous for hospitality, as the capital is bustling with tourists. You will find golden temples, canals, shops, restaurants, and a great nightlife scene.

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Chiang Mai- Chiang Mai is in the mountains of Northern Thailand, where you can explore Buddhist temples and ruins. The best things to do are to visit Doi Suthep, which is a famous attraction, explore Inthanon National Park, home to the highest mountain in Thailand, bathe an elephant at an Elephant Sanctuary, shop at the Warorot Market, and go on a boat ride along Mae Ping River.

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Ko Lipe- You will find palm trees, turquoise beaches, and white sand in Ko Lipe, making it the perfect place to spend any holiday or vacation.

#6: Japan-

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Japan is home to temples, shrines, natural landscapes, gardens, and delicious food.

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Kyoto– Kyoto is Japan’s most beautiful city, with over 1,000 Buddhist temples. Kyoto is the historical and cultural heart of Japan. The best thing to do is to visit Arashiyama, a 30-minute trip from the center of Kyoto. Go on the trip of a lifetime entitled the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove Walking Tour. The other best thing to do is to visit the Fushimi-Inari Taisha Shrine. The best way to get around Japan is by purchasing a Japan Rail Pass. The pass can get you from Tokyo to Kyoto and save you money. For example, you can buy a 7-day Japan Rail Pass to take you to Tokyo, Kanazawa, and Kyoto.

Tokyo -Tokyo is another fascinating place to see in Japan. Don’t forget to visit the Meiji Shrine, Tokyo National Museum, Sensoji Temple, Imperial Palace, and the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden.

#7: China-

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China is the most populous country in the world, home to almost one-fifth of the world’s population at 1.3 billion people. The Chinese cultural values include harmony, benevolence, righteousness, honesty, and loyalty. There is so much to explore, from incredible architecture to ancient traditions.

Great Wall- The Great Wall of China is one of the most impressive handmade structures ever built. The wall spans over 20,000 km and will leave you in awe. Did you know? If you were to walk the entire path, it would take you 18 months. Of course, you will find shorter routes and trails perfect for a one-time visit. The most famous hiking section is about 1 to 3 hours from Beijing. The views throughout the hike are stunning!

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Mount Everest- Mount Everest is earth’s highest mountain at 29,000ft above sea level between Nepal and Tibet. It is a VERY dangerous trek, so BE CAREFUL if you ever decide to take on the adventure!

Huanglong- You will find beautiful limestone formations and hot springs to dip into at Huanglong in China !!! You HAVE to visit and add this destination to your ASIA bucket list. The light blue river has many waterfalls to admire!

#8: Singapore-

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Singapore is a city with 64 ISLANDS! WOW! The waterfalls in Singapore are man-made and gorgeous! The best gardens and parks to relax at are Singapore Botanic Gardens, East Coast Park, and the Gardens by the Bay. The best museum to see is the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum! Don’t forget to go on a River Cruise!

#9: Kandy, Sri Lanka-

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Kandy is a major city in Sri Lanka situated near tropical tea plantations. Don’t forget to relax near Kandy Lake, visit the Degal Doruwa Raja Maha Vihara cave temple and the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic!

#10: Vietnam-

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Vietnam has traditional delicious food and a heroic history. The architecture and archaeology are incredible. Do not forget to catch a performance of Vietnamese Water Puppets and go to the temple in Hoan Kiem Lake. Ha Long Bay makes an excellent backdrop if you would like to go on a dragon boat cruise!

We listed 10 destinations in Asia to add to your bucket list. Have you ever been to Asia? Please comment below about your experience!!

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25 Things to Do in China — Photo by Tom Fisk on Pexels.co

China is the most populous country in the world as it is home to almost one-fifth of the world population at 1.3 billion people. The Chinese cultural values include harmony, benevolence, righteousness, honesty, and loyalty. There is so much to explore, from incredible architecture to ancient traditions. Below are 25 things to do in China!

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Fun Facts:

The highest mountain on the border with China is Mount Everest.
The longest river in China is the Yangtze River.
Beijing is its capital
Shanghai is the largest city
Chinese is the official language
China is a one-party communist state

Things to do:

1- The Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China is one of the most impressive handmade structures ever built. The wall spans over 20,000 km and will leave you in awe. Did you know? If you were to walk the entire path, it would take you 18 months. Of course, you will find shorter routes and trails perfect for a one-time visit. The most famous hiking section is about 1 to 3 hours from Beijing. Views throughout the entire hike are stunning and this is for sure worthy of a bucket list item.

2- Walk of Faith at the Tianmen Mountain

The glass walkway called the Walk of Faith sits at 1,430 meters above sea level and is 61 meters long at the top of Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain.

3- Forbidden City

Visit the forbidden city or Tiananmen Square. Tiananmen Square can hold up to a million people at once, where they have a daily flag-raising ceremony every morning. The square is a national symbol dedicated to the martyrs who revolted against the country’s oppressors.

4- Heaven’s Gate

Did you know? There are 999 steps that lead to Heaven’s Gate, which is an arch that is 130 meters tall at Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain.

5- Terracotta Army

The Terracotta Army is in Xi’an, a fascinating city in China. This site seriously lets history come to life as archeologists have restored infamous statues. China’s first emperor created The Terracotta Army to serve as his guardian in his afterlife. The archeological site was discovered 50 years ago.

6- Visit Shanghai at the Bund

Most of Shanghai has modern skyscrapers; however, you need to see the Bund because this area is contrived of European Gothic, Renaissance, and Romanesque-styled buildings. If you love architecture, then be sure to visit the Bund!

7- Zhangjiajie National Park

Zhangjiajie National Park is the inspiration for Avatar. The scenic peaks are beautiful and mesmerizing.

8- Observe Pandas at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding

The Giant Panda is super cute and is native to southwest china specifically. There is a breeding center in Chengdu, where you can see pandas being cared for before being released into the wild. The breeding center is necessary for survival because the sleepy creatures who consume bamboo are increasingly in danger.

9- Kung Fu Performance at the Shaolin Temple

Shaolin temple is the birthplace of Shaolin kung fu and the Zen Buddhism movement. The temple lies at the foot of the Song Shan Mountain range.

10- Leshan Giant Buddha in Sichuan

Leshan Giant Buddha is the tallest stone Buddha in the world. It was built to calm waters that were common in the area and is about 71 meters high on the Leshan River. You can visit the statue on a boat or foot.

11- Silk Route

The Silk Route is an international trade route transporting luxury goods like silver and silk. It was the only route where the transportation of valuable goods was allowed until the middle of the 15th century.

12- Lhasa

Lhasa is a spiritual city and the capital of Tibet. You will find three great monasteries.

13- Mount Kailash

Mount Kailash is a stunning snowcapped mountain surrounded by two lakes.

14- Ice Sculptures at the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival

Witness structures made with snow and ice at the largest ice sculpture festival in the world. The city transformed into a winter wonderland.

15- Yangtze River Cruise

The Yangtze is the longest river in China, passing three major cities like Shanghai. Cruises range from $500 to $3,000, depending on the itinerary and how long you would like to go.

16- Li River

Taking a bamboo raft down the Li River should be on your China bucket list! The beautiful river is surrounded by incredible rock formations and rice paddies.

17- Yellow Mountain (Huangshan)

The Yellow Mountain is one of China’s most beautiful destinations. The nearby village, known as Hongcun, will take you a step back in time. On the mountain, you will find twisted pine trees and stone spires.

18- Summer Palace

The Summer Palace in Beijing is home to lakes, mountains, and palaces. It was an imperial garden during the Qing Dynasty. The Palace’s intricate detail alone makes it worth a visit.

19- West Lake, Hangzhou

This freshwater lake has temples and gardens to explore near it, as well as natural and artificial islands within it. The islands formed five separate lakes.

20- Buddhist Art in the Magao Caves in Gansu

The Magao Caves are home to artwork that dates back more than 1,000 years. There are 750+ caves to explore, where you will see statues to intricate murals all celebrating the Buddhist religion.

21- Admire the Lights and Limestone at the Reed Flute Cave in Guilin, Guangxi

The cave has rock formations, including both stalactites and stalagmites. Multi-colored lighting artificially illuminates the caves.

22- Visit the Xian City Wall

The Xian City Wall is well-preserved and was built under the rule of a Chinese Emperors’ military defense system.

23- Gardens of Suzhou

Gardens to visit in Suzhou are Humble Administrator’s Garden, Lion Grove Garden, Canglang Pavilion, Lingering Garden, and Master of the Nets Garden. Each classical garden has a ton of florals and is unique.

24- Jiuzhaigou

Jiuzhaigou is a lake surrounded by mountains and has waterfalls. The crystal-clear water allows you to see all of the fish very clearly and leaves that have fallen to the bottom of the lake.

25- Waterfall in Guizhou

Asia’s highest waterfall is in Guizhou. The waterfall stands 74 meters high. Huangguoshou Falls is a site you do not want to miss!

We listed 25 things to do in China! Have you ever been to China? Please comment down below about your experience.