8 Unmissable Asian Destinations
Until a few years ago, the definition “Far East” evoked images of mystical journeys to distant lands, rich in exotic charm and mystery, known only by the most intrepid explorers and by that classmate from university days who never finished it. to tell you about his backpacking trip through Vietnam and Cambodia… But now all this is changing!
Although a trip to Asia requires planning well in advance, the creation of new routes linking Europe to Asia has seen a steady increase over the past few years: reaching many destinations is now cheaper, easier and faster than in the past.. Furthermore, when compared with those in Europe, the costs of a stay in many areas of Asia (and Southeast Asia in particular) are quite low, which balances the great distance that separates the two continents. We have chosen from the abundance of available destinations 10 destinations that we consider unmissable: some are very famous, others less, but all will be able to meet your expectations, from the gastronomic to the spiritual ones: the Far East is no longer so extreme.
Be Surprised by Laos
Laos is still largely immune to the flows of mass tourism and is able to surprise and fascinate even the most seasoned travelers. Thanks to the contrasts of its beautiful natural landscapes, hikers, cyclists, canoeists, casual travelers, climbing lovers and more generally any sporty active person will feel as happy as a child in a candy shop. Add a pinch of great food, a more relaxed approach to life, the amazing culture and welcome of the locals and that’s it – what more can you ask for?
Laksa Curry in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur is a thriving, dynamic and lively city: while futuristic-looking skyscrapers stretch towards the sky, at street level thousands of small kiosks of different cultures, communities and interests are united by the same lowest common denominator: food. Here Malaysian, Chinese, Indian and Western cuisine come together to give rise to a culinary mix able to put all palates in harmony. Going out of the city, Malaysia continues to amaze with its diversity: incredible coasts await you here, lush vegetation densely populated by orangutans, dark jungles, isolated villages and international metropolises: Malaysia never ceases to amaze.
The Beating Heart of China – Taipei, Taiwan
Taipei is a cosmopolitan, distinctive and contemporary destination. It is a city with a Chinese heart, but the Japanese, American and Southeast Asian influences are evident, and it is this mixture of cultures that makes the city so peculiar. The expanse of shops, kiosks where to eat, cafes, museums and monuments is often interrupted by green areas, gardens, waterways and trees perfectly integrated into the fabric of the city.
The City That Never Sleeps – Seoul, South Korea
At first glance “the city that never sleeps” might seem a definition used too easily, but Seoul fully deserves this title and has nothing to envy to cities like New York, Mumbai and Las Vegas. The capital of South Korea is in fact a cutting-edge city where soaring skyscrapers tower over Buddhist temples, elevated highways are converted into urban gardens and everything seems to pass through the lens of pop culture. If during a visit to Seoul you try not to look at the clock, you could easily lose track of time, passing between a traditional neighborhood and a glittering skyscraper, a food cart and a restaurant, a bar where to sip Soju (the traditional of South Korea) and a club.
Discovering a Thousand-Year History – Xi’an, China
If archeology piques your interest, Xi’an is a must-visit destination. We’re not talking about Indiana Jones-style archeology, so forget about secret passages and uniformed pursuers, but rather archaeological sites and museums that will blow your mind with their millennial history. The most famous of these is undoubtedly the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor, the site where the Terracotta Army was unearthed: a massive army of 8,000 life-sized terracotta statues buried over 2,000 years ago and now open to public. Other museums are also nearby: the Banpo Museum, a settlement dating back to the Neolithic era and the Shanxi History Museum, where the remains of Homo erectus lantianensis, a subspecies of the Homo Erectus that inhabited this region are exhibited. about 1.7 million years ago.
In The Footsteps of Karate Kid – Okinawa, Japan
Okinawa, as those who were children in the 1980s will remember well – and fans of “The Karate Kid” in particular – is the home of the martial art of karate. Okinawa is the largest island and gives its name to the entire archipelago located off the coast of Japan. The island is the most different you can imagine from Tokyo’s Shinjuku station (the first station in the world by number of passengers) and its forests, beautiful beaches with transparent waters and its coral reef still intact, make the island a paradise that attracts many tourists, especially Japanese.
An Essential Destination: Phuket, Thailand
Phuket needs no introduction: it is the largest island in Thailand and is also known as “the pearl of the Andaman”. It is a destination visited by tourists from all over the world attracted by the beautiful rugged coastline that offers beautiful sandy beaches lapped by crystal clear waters, granite cliffs and lush tropical vegetation. Here you can go hiking, diving and try your hand at water activities of all kinds, as well as enjoy the wide range of night activities available.
The Most Vertical City in the World – Hong Kong, China
If you are looking for solitude, calm and tranquility, Hong Kong is not the ideal city. Hong Kong is in fact famous for the abundance of skyscrapers and for being the most vertical city in the world, due to the limited building space forced between the mountains and the coast.