Choose from 1,872 Fun Things to Do in Asia
ShowingFilter 1861-1872 of 1872 listings.
Yingge
Situated in Taipei County, the town of Yingge is well-known for its production (and celebration) of all things ceramic. It's true that pottery and ceramic fans will be in their element here, with several hundred pottery shops, an annual festival, and even a ceramics museum.
For the annual Yingge International Ceramics Festival, Jianshanpu Road is undoubtedly the main hub, and is in fact where the ceramics industry in the town all began. Despite being modernized, this road still features an old coal-fired kiln chimney along with a number of other ancient buildings. A pedestrianized section of Jianshanpu Road is known as Ceramics Old Street and is home to numerous ceramics shops, as well as the odd street performance.
To delve deeper into the history of the ceramics industry in Taiwan, head to the Yingge Ceramics Museum. Opened in 2000, the museum takes visitors on a complete journey through the history and development of pottery in Taiwan, as well as giving an insight into the production process.
Practical Info
The town of Yingge is a 30-minute train ride from Taipei Main Station, with trains running every 20 minutes or so. On arriving in Yingge, all the attractions are within a 10-minute walk from the station. The Yingge Ceramics Museum is open from 9:30am to 5pm Tuesday to Friday and 9:30am to 6pm on the weekend. The museum is closed on Mondays and public holidays. Admission is free.
Address: Yingge, Taiwan
From $ 45
Langtang National Park
Basics Information
Langtang National Park was established in 1976 as Nepal's first Himalayan national park and the country's fourth protected area. It exceeds an altitudinal range of 6,450 m (21,160 ft) and covers an area of 1,710 km2 (660 sq mi) in the Nuwakot, Rasuwa and Sindhulpalchok Districts of the central Himalayan region encompassing 26 village communities. In the north and east it is linked with Qomolangma National Nature Preserve in Tibet. The western boundary follows the Bhote Kosi and Trishuli Rivers. The southern border lies 32 km (20 mi) north of the Kathmandu Valley.
The high altitude sacred Gosainkunda lake is located at an altitude of 4,300 m (14,100 ft) inside the park. The Dorje Lakpa range at 6,988 m (22,927 ft) bisects the park from west–east to south–east. The summit of Langtang Lirung (7,245 m (23,770 ft)) is the highest point in the park.
Langtang National Park is part of the Sacred Himalayan Landscape.
From $ 818
Yangon City Hall
Yangon City Hall is the seat of the various departments of the Yangon City Development Committee, the city's administrative body, the head of which is Yangon's mayor. As the place where the city's leaders meet, the building was also the point of many a demonstration protesting political decisions and situations. In 1964 for example, 200'000 people met here to support Thakin Kodaw Hmaing, an important leader of the peace movement. City Hall marks the center of Yangon and can be best viewed from the Maha Bandoola Garden right opposite the building.
Construction of this building finished in 1936 and the city hall is now considered to be one of the most beautiful examples of combined British and Burmese architecture. It was designed by the prominent Burmese architect U Tin, who also planned Yangon's central train station. U Tin's style is well known for its fusion of the seemingly conflicting western and Myanmar's indigenous styles. Accordingly, the newly repainted bright white City Hall building features tiered roofs, intricate ornamentations on the pillars and arches, but also the solid but elegant colonial build.
Practical Info
You can find Yangon City Hall right in the center of Yangon, next to the Sule Pagoda and in front of the Maha Bandoola Park on Maha Bandoola Road. If you don't want to go there on foot or by taxi, the Vandoola Park Bus Terminal and Sule Station are right nearby. You can't go in there unless you are there for business, but the building is beautiful to look at from the outside as well.
Address: Maha Bandula Rd, Yangon, Myanmar
From $ 51
Mahasawat Canal
The Basics
Khlong Maha Sawat in Thailand, it is a khlong that starts from Khlong Lad Bang Kruai (tip phase of Khlong Bangkok Noi) near Wat Chaiyaphruek Mala, flowing through a demarcation line between Nonthaburi's Bang Kruai with Taling Chan and Thawi Watthana of suburb Bangkok, then flows through mostly area of Phutthamonthon and meet to Tha Chin River at Tambon Ngio Rai in Nakhon Pathom's Nakhon Chai Si. Total distance is 28 km (about 17 mi). Moreover, it is also known as Khlong Chaiyaphruek
Regarded as one of the oldest khlongs in Thailand, because it was canalized since the reign of King Mongkut (Rama IV) to be a shortcut to travel to worship Phra Pathom Chedi[1]. At present, Khlong Maha Sawat is a well-known as agritourism destination. Villagers on both sides still maintain the traditional way of life, they still use natural water to bathe, drink and use as the main route for traffic.
Visitors can cruise by the long-tail boat to see the scenery and agricultural gardens throughout the route. And participate in collecting lotus or visit the fruit garden of locals to watch the orchard and mixed farming with seasonal fruits. Also, visit the paddy fields.
Nowadays, Khlong Maha Sawat is very popular place with tourists both Thais and foreigners, especially Japanese on the weekend.
From $ 24
Yatai Kaikan Hall
Each autumn, the historic city of Takayama hosts Takayama Matsuri, ranked as one of Japan's top festivals. Throughout the remainder of the year, the Yatai Kaikan Hall displays several of the elaborate floats used during the festival. These colorful floats, of which four of 11 are on display at any given time, date back to as early as the seventeenth century and are adorned with intricate carvings, hanging Japanese lanterns and marionettes. Each float is mounted on wheels and requires a team of 20 people to maneuver them through the streets.
While a visit to the hall lacks the theatrics of the actual festival, it's the next best thing if you can't make it for the main event.
Practical Info
Yatai Kaikan Hall, located next to Sakurayama Hachiman Shrine, is a 15-minute walk from Takayama Station. The entrance fee also gets you into Sakurayama Nikko Kan, another exhibition hall housing an impressive replica of Nikko's Toshogu shrine.
Address: 178 Sakuramachi, Takayama, Japan
Hours: 8:30 to 17:00 (March to November); 9:00 to 16:30 (December to February)
Admission: 820 yen
From $ 861
Urauchi River
The Urauchi River, the longest river in Okinawa Prefecture, flows for 24 miles (39 kilometers) through the heart of Iriomote Island's dense mangroves and subtropical forest, and cascading down two waterfalls, Kanpiuree and Maryudo, along the way.
The most popular way to experience the spectacular scenery along the Urauchi River is on a river cruise. These popular excursions depart frequently throughout the day from the Urauchibashi bus stop and take visitors along a 5-mile (8-kilometer) segment of the river to Gunkan-iwa Rock. From there, it's possible to trek for 30 minutes through the jungle to a viewing platform overlooking Maryudo Falls.
Alternatively, visitors can rent canoes and paddle their way along the Urauchi River, or take a guided canoe tour with motorized boat transfer upriver.
Practical Info
Urauchi River Cruise commentary is typically only in Japanese, but you can pick up an English language pamphlet to read more about the sights you'll see along the river.
Address: Japan
From $ 0
Yangon Chinatown
The Chinatown in Yangon, also called Tayoke Tan, is, if possible, even busier than the rest of Yangon. The trick is to let yourself be carried along by the crowd through the typical vibrant Chinatown-ness you can find in Chinese neighborhoods across the world. Big signs with Chinese characters fight for attention above jewelry, gold, flower, fruit, medicine and apparel shops and a variety of restaurants and food stalls beckon visitors with inviting smells, sizzling sounds and persistent attendants. There are a few temples to be found as well, such as the Guang Dong Kwan Yin Temple, where all the major Chinese festivals and celebrations are held throughout the year. These clan temples belong to either one of the two communities living in Tayoke Tan, the Hokkien community who historically mainly resided on Strand and Anawratha Road or the Cantonese community located on Mana Bandoola Road.
Especially 19th street has become a bit of a landmark and is known for the extensive barbecue stalls and the many restaurants with the small plastic chairs. The street is packed at all times of the day with locals and tourists alike. Menus are a rarity and if you don't want dumplings or pastries, you are instead expected to point at piles of whatever skewers of meat, tofu, chicken, garlic, vegetables and seafood you want. In true Chinese build-your-own-dinner style, these skewers are then tossed on the charcoal grills or into steaming hot pots and accompanied by a big mug of draft beer. Sit down where it's busiest, as the food there is bound to be the best.
Practical Info
Chinatown stretches between Shew Daung Dan Street and Shew Dagon Pagoda Road, as well as on 17th through 24th street in the Latha Township. As it is located in the center of town, it's easiest to get there on foot or by taxi but once you reach the neighborhood, commence on foot as the streets are very busy.
Address: Yangon, Myanmar
From $ 33
Wat Khlong Thom Museum
This museum within the grounds of the Wat Khlong Thom temple in Krabi displays artifacts unearthed during excavations carried out behind the wat.
Bronze tools, beads and stone ornaments form the majority of the exhibits, dating back to perhaps 5,000 years ago.
The beads are a particularly significant part of the collection, made of glass and stone. Roman coins have also been found here, along with pottery and ceramic shards.
Practical Info
The Wat Khlong Thom Museum is on the Phetchakasem Highway heading east of Krabi towards Trang, in the district of Khlong Thom.
Address: Phetchakasem Highway, Krabi 81000, Thailand
Hours: Open daily 8:30am - 11am and 1pm - 5pm
Admission: Free
From $ 51
Zenkō-ji Temple
In the year 642, Zenko-ji Temple was founded when one of the earliest Buddhist statues in Japan, brought over from the Korean Peninsula, was enshrined at the site. Today, the temple is one of the most important Buddhist sites in the country, as well as Japan's third largest wooden structure, with the entire town of Nagano built up around it.
The structure as it stands today dates back to 1707 and contains a large hall displaying a variety of Buddhist statuary, a main alter and an underground passage beneath the alter where visitors can pass in complete darkness, feeling for a single key on the wall -- the key to paradise -- that's believed to grand salvation to any who touch it.
Behind the main temple, a newer pagoda houses the Zenko-ji History Museum with its collection of statues of the Buddha and his disciples.
Practical Info
Temple lodgings lining the approach to the temple make a perfect spot to spend a night for visitors who want to attend a daily sunrise service.
Address: Motoyoshicho-491, Nagano, Japan
Hours: Vary
From $ 104
Whisky Village (Ban Xang Hai)
A shot (or several) of lao-lao, the national rice whiskey, is a Laotian rite of passage. The Whiskey Village (Ban Xang Hai), just 4 miles (6.5 kilometers) from the Pak Ou Caves on the Mekong River, specializes in churning out this potent stuff. You can watch lao-lao being produced, taste it, and buy it.
The Basics
Most people visit Whiskey Village Ban Xang Hai on a boat cruise to or from the Pak Ou Caves, 4 miles (6.5 kilometers) upstream on the Mekong River. There are advantages to taking a guided tour of Whiskey Village, not least that a guide can explain what's going on during the defiantly low-fi production process, but you don't need a guide to explore this friendly village.
Things to Know Before You Go
- If you're already a fan of Beer Lao, then a trip to Whiskey Village to buy lao-lao is a must.
- While Ban Xang Hai is most popular with younger travelers, it's a traditional Lao village as well as a whiskey distillery. Families shouldn't avoid a tour just because it stops at Whiskey Village.
- The word "lao-lao" means "Lao alcohol""”the two "lao" sounds have different tones and different meanings.
- Souvenir stalls at Whiskey Village also sell textiles.
- Disembarking a boat at the village requires decent mobility and balance.
How to Get There
Whiskey Village (Ban Xang Hai) sits on the banks of the Mekong, roughly 12 miles (20 kilometers) by road from Luang Prabang and 4 miles (6.5 kilometers) by boat from the Pak Ou Caves. It's more interesting to visit by boat as part of a Mekong River cruise, and this is how most guests arrive. Tour boats depart from the pier close to Saffron Cafe in Luang Prabang.
When to Get There
There's no bad time to visit the Whiskey Village (Ban Xang Hai), although it is at its busiest during the tourist peak between November and January. If you're planning on drinking more than a snifter of lao-lao, or sampling multiple bottles to select souvenirs, you're best off visiting during the afternoon after you're done with the Pak Ou Caves.
Bear Paw Whiskey: Just Say No
Animal rights are not far advanced in Laos, and a depressing menagerie of wildlife, much of it endangered, can be added to bottles of lao-lao in an attempt to improve virility. Bear paws and tiger bones are sadly common, and it's important to understand that by buying a product containing endangered species you are contributing to their extinction.
Address: Ban Xang Hai, Laos
From $ 84
West Bali National Park (Bali Barat National Park)
Occupying a swath of Bali's northwestern corner, West Bali National Park (Bali Barat National Park) is Bali's last true wilderness. Highlights include the reefs around Menjangan Island, mangrove and tropical savanna landscapes, and wildlife the likes of monkeys, deer, macaques, and the white Bali starling"”the preservation of which was a main reason the park was created in 1941.
The Basics
Independent guests to West Bali National Park must pay national park fees and use its chartered guide service. Boat trips are through the park's fixed-rate charter service. As the park is far from popular tourist destinations, many visit with a tour or with a prearranged private driver/guide. The park is near Gilimanuk, where ferries leave for Java, so some tours stop between Ijen Crater (Kawah Ijen) and other East Java attractions.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Abundant birdlife, including kingfishers, herons, and the rare Bali starling, make West Bali National Park a must-do for birders.
- Macaques, monkey, and deer are commonly seen from the trails. Creatures such as wild boar, wild buffalo, and leopard cats are less frequently spotted.
- A horseback safari makes a splendid way to explore West Bali National Park.
- Menjangan Island, known for its sea fans and corals, lies within West Bali National Park and is popular with divers.
How to Get There
West Bali National Park is hard to reach by public transport. Pemuteran Shuttle runs a shuttle service from Ubud, Kuta, and Sanur to the resort town of Pemuteran, around 15 miles (25 kilometers) away. Public buses run from Denpasar's Ubung terminal to the port of Gilimanuk, around 6 miles (10 kilometers) away. If you speak some Indonesian, you can pick up a "bemo" minibus from Gilimanuk or Pemuteran.
When to Get There
The dry season (roughly May to October) is the best time to watch wildlife in the park, both from a comfort perspective and because the grounds are less overgrown with greenery, but the park is worth visiting year-round. If you're staying in Pemuteran or the resorts on the fringes of the park, aim to start wildlife watching around 6am when the animals are most active.
Big Cats of Bali National Park
The West Bali National Park was once home to the Bali tiger"”but the last sighting was more than 80 years ago, and that one was shot. There is no leopard population, but there are leopard cats. Despite their leopard-like patterns, they are not much larger than a standard domestic cat.
Address: Jalan Raya Denpasar-Gilimanuk 82253, Indonesia
From $ 313
Vietnam Military History Museum
Formerly the Army Museum, the Vietnam Military History Museum covers the country's combat history from ancient times to the American War (Vietnam War). Learn about the many battles that Vietnam has fought for independence throughout its history through extensive photos, propaganda videos, weaponry, war machines, and other war relics.
The Basics
The Vietnam Military History Museum's exhibits are spread across three buildings, as well as outside in the courtyard. Many museum highlights can be found outside, including a mound of plane debris that includes a B-52, F-111, and a French transport plane, surrounded by a selection of intact planes, tanks, and other war machines. Climb up Flag Tower of Hanoi (Cot Co Flag Tower), next to the museum, for panoramic views of the city.
Combine a tour of the museum with a sightseeing tour of other top war attractions, including the infamous Hoa Lo Prison (referred to as the Hanoi Hilton by American pilots during the Vietnam War) and Ngoc Ha Village, where part of a B-52 shot down in 1972 is preserved.
Things to Know Before You Go
- The Vietnam Military History Museum is a must-visit for war and history buffs.
- There is an extra fee to take photos or videos inside the museum.
- Bags must be stored at the entrance; lockers are available.
- The museum includes some graphic photos and portrayals, which may not be appropriate for young children.
How to Get There
The museum is located in central Hanoi, near Ba Dinh Square and the Ho Chi Minh Complex, which are about a five-minute walk away. It's easiest to take a taxi there directly.
When to Get There
The museum is closed on Mondays and Fridays, and also closes for two hours for lunch (11:30am to 1:30pm). Visitors tend to spend about 1"“2 hours here, depending on their level of interest in military history. The museum's proximity to to the Ho Chi Minh Complex, and also the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum and the Temple of Literature, makes it easy to visit the different sites together.
Flag Tower of Hanoi
The Flag Tower of Hanoi was built in 1812 and once formed part of the Hanoi Citadel, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Once the tallest site in Hanoi, it is 108 feet (33 meters) tall, topped by the national flag of Vietnam. One of the few structures not destroyed during the French invasion in the late 19th century, it offers panoramic views of Hanoi and of the courtyard to the Vietnam Military History Museum next door.
Address: 28A Dien Bien Phu St, Hanoi, Vietnam
From $ 314