Things to Do in Asia

The Cavenagh Bridge, Singapore’s only suspension bridge, was built in 1869 to offer a quicker way of crossing the Singapore River. As one of the oldest bridges in the city, the Cavenagh Bridge is one of Singapore’s most important architectural achievements.

Designed by a British colonial architecture firm, Cavenagh Bridge was actually built in Glasgow, tested, disassembled, shipped to Singapore in pieces and reassembled by convict laborers over the course of a year.

Located in the city’s Colonial District, the elegant pedestrian bridge offers a reminder of Singapore’s colonial past. As you approach the bridge, keep your eyes open for an antiquated police notice warning that no horse- or cattle-drawn vehicles are allowed to pass over. The bridge is particularly beautiful at night, thanks to a series of lights that were added during the 1990s, so consider planning to visit on your way to Boat Quay, Singapore’s nearby dining and nightlife hotspot.

Cat Cat Village, located in the hills of the Sapa District, is a great place to witness the distinct culture and traditions of the Hmong people. Originally from mountainous regions of China and known for being independent artisans and farmers, the Hmong escaped to the south to other Asian countries due to political unrest.

As the tallest structure in China and the fourth tallest freestanding structure in the world, the Canton Tower dominates Guangzhou’s modern skyline. The twisted, tapering tower rising just over 2,000 feet (609.6 meters) is home to the world’s highest and largest outdoor observatory at 1,601 feet (488 meters) above the ground. Sixteen transparent cabins carry passengers around the slanting, elliptical rooftop, offering views that extend as far as Hong Kong and Macau.

Thrill seekers can plummet from a height of 1,600 feet (488 meters) down the side of the tower with the Mega Drop. For a milder thrill, take on the Spider Walk, the world’s longest sky stairs with 1,028 steps, some of which have transparent glass flooring with views of the ground far below.

For the tame of heart, the Canton Tower houses a rotating restaurant on the 106th floor as well as a 4D cinema, wine bar and science exhibition center highlighting the engineering technology behind the tower.

The Casa Gorordo Museum, located in downtown Cebu, was originally a private home built in the 1850s Alejandro Reynes Y Rosales and later owned by Juan Isidro de Gorordo, a wealthy Spanish Merchant. The residence was passed down through the Gorordo family, with a total of four generations living there, including the first Filipino bishop of Cebu, Juan Gorordo.

Today, the recently renovated house serves as a public museum and national historic landmark filled with antique furnishings, historic books and documents, decorative arts, household items, period costumes and memorabilia from the Spanish colonial period. As one of only three remaining houses from the colonial period, Casa Gorordo offers an insight into what life was like during Cebu’s early days.

The structure of the house itself is a fascinating study in architecture, as it draws from Spanish, native and Chinese influences. The bottom floor, made from coral, was designed to keep the house cool during the midday heat. The upper floor was made from hardwood held together by wooden pegs instead of nails.

The rugged and scenic Cat Ba Island is the largest island in Halong Bay. About half of it is a dedicated national park, home to both marine life and mammals, including the endangered Cat Ba langur (also known as the golden-headed langur), civet cats and Oriental giant squirrels. Trekking and canoeing options are plentiful, and in 2004, the park was recognized by UNESCO as a Biosphere reserve of the world.

The eastern side of the island is home to several beaches worthy of exploration, fishing villages and a small town (population 8,000) that tends to get crowded on weekends and public holidays. Here, you’ll find a promenade with a strip of hotels, bars and restaurants.

This giant yellow dome first opened in 1937, and today, more than 70 years later, the Central Market is remains a destination for first-time visitors to Cambodia’s capital city. Here, travelers can wander through hundreds of stalls selling bargain goods, antique coins, clothing, clocks, fabric, shoes, food and traditional souvenirs. A popular spot, heavy rains can flood the grounds, so it’s a better bet in drier seasons.

Kuala Lumpur’s Central Market was established in 1888 as an open wet market for the local communities and ended up being so popular and conveniently located that it underwent several expansions and eventually moved into the Art-Deco structure it lives in today. The wet market moved out in the 1980s, but the Malaysian Heritage Society managed to save the original structure from demolition, instead renovating it into an arts center and heritage site.