Besides Maldives and Tokyo, These Asian Cities Are Also Worth Visiting.

by Sarah WilliamsOctober 25, 202413 minutes read

When people talk about tourist destinations in Asia, the charming island scenery of the Maldives and the bustling urban landscape of Tokyo often come to mind first. However, this vast and diverse land of Asia still contains many other equally wonderful and distinctive cities waiting for travelers to explore and discover. These cities either possess profound historical and cultural heritages, or display unique natural scenery, or are filled with vibrant modern atmospheres. Let's unveil their mysteries together and appreciate the charm of these Asian cities that are also worth visiting besides the Maldives and Tokyo.

Kyoto, Japan - A Historic City with Melodious Ancient Rhythms

Kyoto is famous for its rich historical relics and traditional cultures.

●Beauty of ancient architecture: Kyoto has many well-preserved ancient buildings, such as Kinkaku-ji and Ginkaku-ji. The exterior of Kinkaku-ji is covered with gold foil, shining brightly under the sunlight and reflecting in the Mirror Pond, extremely beautiful, like an exquisite painting. Ginkaku-ji attracts tourists with its simple and elegant style. The garden design inside the temple is exquisite, with a different scene at every step, showing the essence of Japanese traditional garden art.

●Inheritance of traditional arts: Kyoto is also an important birthplace and inheritance place of traditional arts. Here, one can enjoy wonderful kabuki performances. The actors, dressed in gorgeous costumes, vividly present ancient stories to the audience through superb acting skills and unique dance movements. In addition, Kyoto's tea ceremony culture has a long history. Tourists can participate in tea ceremony experience activities. In a quiet tea room, savor the fragrance of matcha and feel the etiquette and philosophy contained in the tea ceremony.

●Characteristic festival activities: Kyoto holds various colorful festival activities throughout the year. Among them, the Gion Festival is one of the most representative festivals. During the one-month celebration, there will be grand float parades on the streets. The floats are decorated with exquisite carvings and gorgeous fabrics. People wear traditional costumes, singing and dancing, very lively, making people feel as if they have traveled back to ancient Japan.

Chiang Mai, Thailand - An Ancient City with Tranquility and Vitality

Chiang Mai combines the tranquil atmosphere of an ancient city with vibrant modern elements.

●Exploration of ancient temples: Chiang Mai has many ancient temples, such as Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Phra Singh. The big stupa of Wat Chedi Luang is its landmark building. After the baptism of years, although it is somewhat incomplete, it still shows a solemn momentum. The murals inside the temple are extremely exquisite, telling the stories of Buddhism and the history of Thailand. Wat Phra Singh attracts many believers and tourists to worship and visit with its gorgeous architecture and exquisite Buddha statues.

●Nature and outdoor activities: Surrounded by beautiful natural scenery, Chiang Mai is an excellent place for outdoor activities. Tourists can go to Doi Suthep behind Chiang Mai University and climb along the winding mountain road to enjoy the beautiful scenery and waterfalls in the mountains. On the mountain, one can also visit the famous Wat Phra That Doi Suthep and feel the tranquility and peace of Buddhist culture. In addition, there are many elephant camps in Chiang Mai. Tourists can have close contact with elephants here, watch elephant shows, and experience the fun of riding elephants through the jungle.

●Characteristic night market atmosphere: The night market in Chiang Mai is one of its major characteristics. The Saturday night market and Sunday night market are the liveliest. The night market is filled with all kinds of commodities, ranging from handicrafts, souvenirs to local specialty delicacies. Tourists can taste delicious Thai snacks here, such as mango sticky rice, tom yum kung soup, etc., and can also buy unique souvenirs. In the night market, people shuttle through the bustling crowd and feel the liveliness and vitality of Chiang Mai.

Hội An, Vietnam - An Ancient Water Town with Antique Charm

Hội An attracts many tourists with its unique water town scenery and rich historical buildings.

●Architectural features of the ancient town: The ancient town of Hội An has preserved a large number of Chinese and Japanese-style buildings. These buildings combine the styles of China, Vietnam, and Japan, unique and distinctive. The houses on both sides of the street are mostly wooden structures with bright colors and exquisite patterns carved on the doors and windows. Among them, the Japanese covered bridge is one of the landmark buildings of Hội An. It spans the river. The bridge body is arched, and there is a wooden pavilion on the bridge, full of simple charm.

●Water activities experience: As a water town, Hội An has rich and colorful water activities. Tourists can take a boat tour on the river and enjoy the ancient buildings and scenery on both sides. At night, colorful lanterns will be hung on the river. The boat moves slowly under the illumination of the lights, as if being in a dreamy world. In addition, one can also participate in water market activities, bargain with local residents, buy fresh fruits and vegetables, and experience the local way of life.

●Food culture tour: Hội An's cuisine is famous for its fresh ingredients and unique tastes. The seafood cuisine here is very rich. Tourists can taste various delicious fish, shrimp and shellfish. In addition, Hội An also has a special delicacy - white rose. It is a snack made of rice flour skin. It looks like a rose. The taste is soft and glutinous. Paired with a special sauce, it tastes very delicious. In the streets and alleys of Hội An, one can also find many traditional cafes and tea houses. Tourists can taste Vietnamese coffee and fragrant tea here and enjoy leisure time.

Istanbul, Turkey - A Shining Pearl Connecting Europe and Asia

Istanbul is a city spanning Europe and Asia, integrating the essence of Eastern and Western cultures.

●Historical relics tour: Istanbul has many amazing historical relics, such as Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. Hagia Sophia is a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture. Its huge dome and exquisite mosaic murals are breathtaking. The Blue Mosque is famous for its unique blue tile decoration. The interior of the mosque is spacious and bright, giving people a solemn and solemn feeling. In addition, Topkapi Palace is also a must-see attraction for tourists. It was once the palace of the Ottoman Empire and houses a large number of cultural relics and treasures, showing the glorious history of the Ottoman Empire.

●Bosphorus Strait scenery: Istanbul is located on both sides of the Bosphorus Strait. The strait scenery is beautiful and is an excellent place to enjoy the city's beautiful scenery. Tourists can take a cruise ship to tour the strait, enjoying the different scenery of the European and Asian regions while feeling the sea breeze. On the strait, one can also see the Bosphorus Bridge connecting Europe and Asia. This bridge is magnificent and is one of the landmark buildings of Istanbul.

●Food and shopping paradise: Istanbul's food culture is rich and colorful, integrating Turkish, Middle Eastern and European flavors. The barbecue, grilled fish, and grilled vegetables here are fragrant and make people drool. In addition, Istanbul also has many lively markets and shopping centers, such as the Grand Bazaar and Istiklal Street. The Grand Bazaar is one of the largest indoor markets in the world. It gathers all kinds of commodities, ranging from traditional handicrafts, carpets to modern fashion clothing and accessories. Istiklal Street is a fashionable commercial street. There are many high-end stores, restaurants and cafes on both sides of the street, which is a good place for shopping and leisure.

Xi'an, China - The Historical Charm of a Thousand-Year-Old Capital

Xi'an carries profound Chinese historical and cultural heritages.

●Shock of Terracotta Army: The Terracotta Army of Emperor Qin Shihuang is a world-renowned archaeological miracle. Thousands of pottery figurines are lifelike, as if reproducing the powerful army lineup of the Qin Dynasty. The facial expressions, postures and costumes of each pottery figurine are different, making people marvel at the exquisite skills of the ancients. Tourists can observe these Terracotta Army up close and feel the thickness and vicissitudes of history.

●Charm of the ancient city wall: The ancient city wall of Xi'an is one of the largest and best-preserved ancient city walls in China. Tourists can walk or ride bicycles on the city wall and overlook the scenery inside and outside the city wall, feeling the layout and defense system of the ancient city. At night, the ancient city wall is illuminated by lights, more majestic and spectacular, presenting a unique historical charm.

●Food culture experience: Xi'an is a city of cuisine and has many characteristic delicacies. For example, roujiamo, with crispy buns filled with minced braised pork, is neither greasy nor greasy and fragrant. Lamb paomo has chewy buns and tender meat with rich soup, warming the stomach and delicious. There are also various noodles, snacks, etc., allowing tourists to taste the authentic Shaanxi flavor. In addition, the Muslim Quarter in Xi'an is a good place to taste delicious food. Here, there are all kinds of halal cuisines and specialty snacks, very lively.

Penang, Malaysia - A Charming Capital of Multicultural Integration

Penang shows the harmonious coexistence of multiple cultures.

●Historical building style: Penang has many historical buildings that combine different cultural styles, such as the street murals and ancient temples and churches in George Town. The street murals show the life scenes and cultural characteristics of Penang with vivid and interesting pictures and have become popular photo spots for tourists. In addition, the clan jetties are a unique landscape of Penang. These wooden houses built on the sea are inhabited by surnames, witnessing the life trajectory of early Chinese immigrants.

●Food paradise: Penang's food culture is rich and diverse, integrating Malay, Chinese, Indian and other flavors. There are delicious Nyonya cuisine, which combines Chinese ingredients with Malay cooking techniques and has a unique taste. Indian pancakes with various curry sauces are fragrant. There are also various seafood cuisines, fruits and snacks, etc., meeting the taste needs of different tourists. The night markets in Penang are also good places to taste delicious food, such as the Gurney Drive Night Market and the New Lane Night Market. They are very lively and full of delicious food.

●Beaches and natural scenery: Penang has beautiful beaches, such as Batu Ferringhi Beach. The sand is white and fine, and the sea water is clear and blue. Tourists can enjoy sunshine, beaches, and water sports and other leisure activities here. In addition, Penang also has Penang Hill. Taking the cable car to the top of the mountain, one can overlook the panorama of Penang and the beautiful coastline. The natural scenery on the mountain is also very charming, with dense forests and various flower plants.

Siem Reap, Cambodia - The Mysterious Charm of Angkor Ruins

Siem Reap is famous for the Angkor ruins and is full of mysterious historical atmosphere.

●Magnificence of Angkor Wat: Angkor Wat is the pride of Cambodia and one of the largest religious buildings in the world. Its architectural style is unique. The five spires soar into the clouds. The walls inside the temple are carved with exquisite Buddha statues and mythological stories, lifelike. At sunrise, the sun shines on the spires of Angkor Wat, and the whole temple is dyed golden, like a dream, attracting countless tourists to come and watch this magnificent scene.

●Ruins of Angkor Thom: In addition to Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom is also an important historical site. Here is the magnificent Bayon Temple. The walls of the temple are engraved with huge Buddha faces, smiling and overlooking all things in the world, giving people a sense of tranquility and mystery. There are also the city gates of Angkor Thom. They are tall and majestic, and the carvings on the city gates are extremely exquisite, telling the history and culture of ancient Cambodia. Tourists can stroll among these ruins and feel the glory and vicissitudes of the ancient Khmer Empire.

●Exploration of surrounding attractions: There are also some attractions worth visiting around Siem Reap, such as Beng Mealea. Beng Mealea is an unrepaired temple that still maintains its original state. Trees and temple buildings are intertwined, forming a unique landscape, like a mysterious jungle kingdom. Tourists can experience the fun of exploration here and explore the mysteries of ancient temples.

Thimphu, Bhutan - A Peaceful and Auspicious Capital of the Buddhist Country

Thimphu is the capital of Bhutan and exudes a peaceful and auspicious atmosphere, full of unique cultural charm.

●Religious and cultural atmosphere: Thimphu is a city with a strong religious atmosphere and has many magnificent temples and religious buildings. Among them, Tashichho Dzong is one of the important landmarks of Bhutan. It is both the location of the government office and a solemn temple. The temple building combines traditional Bhutanese architectural style and Buddhist elements. The white walls and red roofs are extremely sacred against the backdrop of blue sky and white clouds. Tourists can visit the temple here and feel the piety of the Bhutanese people to Buddhism.

●Appreciation of natural scenery: The natural scenery around Thimphu is beautiful, surrounded by mountains and with fresh air. Tourists can go hiking in the nearby mountains and enjoy the magnificent mountain scenery and primitive forests. During the hiking process, one can also see traditional Bhutanese villages and experience the local rural life. In addition, the river valley area of Thimphu is also a beautiful scenery. The clear river flows by. There are patches of farmland by the river, showing a peaceful rural scenery.

●Traditional art and handicrafts: Bhutan is famous for its unique traditional art and handicrafts. In Thimphu, tourists can visit traditional handicraft workshops and understand Bhutan's traditional skills such as textile and carving. Bhutanese textiles are colorful and have exquisite patterns, with high artistic value. In addition, Bhutan's wood carving works are also very excellent. The carvings are delicate and full of national characteristics. Tourists can buy some handicrafts as souvenirs and bring them home, while also supporting the local traditional handicraft industry.

Conclusion

Asia is a vast and diverse continent with many desirable cities. In addition to the charming islands of the Maldives and the bustling cities of Tokyo, the ancient charm of Kyoto, the tranquility and vitality of Chiang Mai, the water town charm of Hội An, the integration of Eastern and Western cultures in Istanbul, the historical background of Xi'an, the multicultural integration of Penang, the charm of the Angkor ruins in Siem Reap, and the tranquility and peacefulness of Thimphu all show the rich and colorful side of Asia to travelers. Each city has its unique charm and value. Whether tourists who are interested in history and culture or those who pursue natural scenery and unique experiences can find wonderful places to meet their needs in these cities. Let's bravely embark on the journey, explore more wonderful cities in Asia, feel the collision and integration of different cultures, enrich our life experiences, and leave beautiful travel memories.