Things to Do in Asia

The Museum of Traditional Vietnamese Medicine (or FITO Museum) is housed in a unique traditional building in Ho Chi Minh City’s District 10. It offers an in-depth look at the fascinating world of traditional Vietnamese medicine, which is heavily influenced by Chinese philosophy.

The museum features a collection of almost 3000 items in relation to traditional remedies, some of which date back to the Stone Age. Visitors can browse the vast and detailed displays of some of the instruments used to prepare traditional medicines, such as mortars and pestles, grinders, and knives. There is also a large collection of books and documents on the subject.

Particularly interesting are the items found in traditional pharmacies, such as scales, printing molds, medicine cabinets, and a variety of pottery and ceramic pieces. The FITO Museum is also fitted with audiovisual equipment, which it uses to screen a documentary about the history of traditional medicine in Vietnam.

The Museum of Traditional Chinese Medicine—located off Hangzhou’s historic Qinghefang Ancient Street—is a part of Hu Qing Yu Tang, a still functioning pharmacy from the Qing dynasty. Learn about traditional Chinese medicine while appreciating the historic architecture of the 29,000-square-foot (2,700-square-meter) complex.

 

Hu Xueyan, a prominent businessman from the late Qing dynasty, founded Hu Qing Yu Tang in 1874. The museum was established in 1987 and has five parts: the Exhibition Hall, the Medicine Preparation Hall, the Chinese Health Care Clinic, the Restaurant of Medicinal Diet, and the Sales Department. There are numerous displays on different types of Chinese medicine, their component parts, as well as treatises on Chinese medicine going back thousands of years. Visitors can also learn about traditional pharmaceutical processes and even try their hand at preparing medications.

 

Hu Qing Yu Tang is easy to locate on Qinghefang Ancient Street. However, visitors may gain more insight from a guided tour, which will also typically cover other nearby attractions, such as the China National Silk Museum and Leifeng Pagoda.

 

 

Hu Qing Yu Tang is located at 95 Dajing Lane, off Qinghefang Ancient Street, east of West Lake (about a 20-minute walk) and at the foot of Wushan Hill. Take Metro line 1 to Ding’an Road (Exit C) and walk 10 minutes to the south, or bus nos. 8, 60, 127, 195, 208, or 216.

 

Hu Qing Yu Tang is open year-round. Museum staff typically provide a presentation, which is available in Chinese and English, at 9:15am, 10:15am, 1:15pm, 2:15pm and 3:15pm. Pharmaceutical process demonstrations can be requested at any time.

 

Hu Qing Yu Tang also has a functional health clinic. Those who are interested can try a foot massage, Tui Na massage, acupressure, cupping, and other traditional Chinese medicine treatments. Prescriptions can then be filled at the on-site pharmacy.

For a convenient tour of the Mekong Delta, My Tho is the most popular jumping off point, thanks to its close proximity to Ho Chi Minh City. Organized tours from the city are common and easy to find, and they include the bus ride down, a boat ride along the river canals, and stops at local attractions. These riverside stops can include visits with local beekeepers and coconut-candy makers, and village tours, before stopping for lunch at a riverside restaurant. In the village of My Tho itself, you can relax at a riverfront café and visit the Vinh Trang Pagoda, where three Buddha statues sit among the lush temple gardens. Just outside the village, the Dong Tam Snake Farm breeds cobras for food, snakeskins, and to produce anti-venom, and you can visit the farm to see various cobras and pythons on display.

Located just over 6 miles (10 kilometers) from Sapa, the emerald green Muong Hoa Valley features some of the most breathtakingly picturesque landscapes in Vietnam. Home to Ban Ho, Lao Chai, Ta Van, Hau Thao, Ta Phin and Su Pa ethnic minority populations, the valley is one of the biggest rice-growing areas in the region. The rolling emerald hills, epic views and fascinating traditional villages are just part of what greets travelers who opt to trek here.

Journeys ranging from two to six hours wind through low-lying grasslands, rice paddies and quiet villages where local women share fascinating stories about life in the countryside of Vietnam. Visitors can get an up-close look at the Hmong people’s way of life while peeking into homes, exploring farms and tasting traditional dishes. A voyage into Muong Hoa Valley is a multi-sensory experience that is not to be missed.

An open-air colonial building in Da Nang is home to the largest collection of Cham carvings in the world. The Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture opened its first gallery in 1919, and in the decades since, the collection has grown to include more than 300 pieces. Many of these terra cotta, sandstone and bronze sculptures and artifacts depict Hindu deities, as well as linga and yoni.

Among the museum’s most important items are the sandstone pieces — statues of gods and animals, pedestals and other decorative items taken from Cham temples. The museum also has an exhibit on modern Cham culture, which includes photographs, clothing and film clips.

Recognized as the first museum in Taipei, the Museum of Contemporary Art is housed in the former City Hall and displays work from local and international artists. No permanent exhibitions exist in this Mecca for modern art (which, ironically, is stationed in an outdated building), so travelers’ experience hinges on collections displayed at any given time. MOCA, as it’s referred to by locals, offers free Wi-Fi, so visitors can use phones for free guided audio tours. A popular café connected to the museum is a perfect spot for grabbing an afternoon snack before heading back out on the town. 

Learn where Sichuan got its spice at the Museum of Sichuan Cuisine. Located about a 1.5-hour drive by car outside of downtown Chengdu near Pixian Old Town, the museum not only gives a history of Sichuan cuisine but is also home to a tea house and a restaurant where guests can sample typical Sichuan food and, possibly, prepare a dish of their own. 

The museum consists of halls that show various elements of Sichuan food, from antique tools used for processing to a collection of more than 3,000 bronze, pottery, porcelain and wooden cookers that span 2,000 years. Perhaps most intriguing are the giant open-topped clay pots containing fermenting chiles and beans that are on their way to becoming douban jiang, a red, fermented paste of erjingtiao chiles and broad beans that is responsible for the deep umami flavor and penetrating heat in famous Sichuan dishes. A visit to the Museum of Sichuan Cuisine gives a guest a unique look—and taste—into one of China’s most popular palates of flavor.

Whether you hike to the top or take it easy at the Fuji Visitor Center's observation deck, visiting this UNESCO World Heritage site is an unforgettable experience for any traveler to Japan. If you're not looking to climb the mountain, plenty of viewpoints and attractions are easily accessible by bus: travelers can head to the Fuji Visitor Center to explore a small museum and view exhibits covering the Fuji Five Lakes and Mt. Fuji's cultural importance; grab a bite to eat; or catch views onto the mountain at the observation deck. Further up at 7,545 feet (2,300 meters), Mt. Fuji 5th Station offers additional unobstructed views along with shrines and souvenir shops. Both locations also serve hikers preparing for their ascent. Many travelers visit the mountain on a day trip from Tokyo (usually by bullet train), with possible side excursions for hot spring soaking, shopping, or cruising Lake Ashi.

• Mt. Fuji tours from Tokyo can last upwards of 12 hours, so prepare for a long day.
  
• Many tours include pickup and drop-off at Tokyo hotels.
  
• Wear comfortable walking shoes suitable for walking on uneven ground.
  
• Temperatures can be much cooler on the mountain than at the base, so remember to dress in layers.
  
• Combine your visit to Mt. Fuji with other popular activities, such as onsen soaking, outlet shopping, wine tasting, or a boat cruise.
  
• Mt. Fuji is notorious for its quickly changing weather conditions, so plan your trip for when visibility will be good.

Located 62 miles (100 km) from Tokyo, Mt. Fuji borders the Yamanashi and Shizuoka prefectures in Japan. The mountain can be reached by bullet train from Tokyo and then explored via tour bus. Another easy option is to take the Keio Express bus from Shinjuku in Tokyo directly to the start of the Kawaguchiko 5th Station climb. The bus takes two hours each way.

Climbing season at Mt. Fuji falls in July and August when the weather is mildest and snow is limited. The mountain is at its most crowded during this time. If you're not climbing, clearer spring skies give the best views of Mt. Fuji's snow-capped peak.

Lake Kawaguchi, one of the Mt. Fuji five lakes, provides some of the best unobstructed views of the mountain. Another popular viewing spot is Hakone, a resort town famous for its onsen, ryokan, and ropeway, where you'll find the best views. A walk on the beaches of Kamakura yields spectacular views of the mountain in the distance, and on a clear day, it's even possible to spot the peak from the top of Tokyo Sky Tree.

At 10,167 feet (3,099 meters), Mt. Emei is the highest of the Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains of China. The UNESCO World Heritage Site includes over 70 temples, monasteries, and attractions, culminating in the Golden Summit, where visitors can take in the giant Puxian Buddha and stunning mountain views.  

 

It’s possible to hike up Mt. Emei, but many visitors choose to take the bus up, and hike or take the cable car the rest of the way. The top attraction at the Golden Summit is the 157-feet-tall (48 meter) statue of the Puxian Buddha facing in 10 directions. There’s also an observation platform to take in the stunning views. With the right timing, visitors might see the “Four Wonders of Mt. Emei”—the Golden Summit Sunrise, the Sea of Clouds, the Divine Lights, and the Buddha’s Halo.

 

Many visitors staying in Chengdu combine a visit to Mt. Emei with a trip to nearby Leshan Giant Buddha, which is only about 30 minutes away. Such guided tours usually last two days, and it’s possible to add a side trip to see some pandas as well.

 

• There are separate fees for the mountain, some of the temples, the bus, and the cable car.
  
• Bring a jacket or warm layers for the top, as it will be much cooler than at the base, even in the summer.
  
• It often rains at Mt. Emei, so bring an umbrella or a rain jacket.
  
• Be careful of the monkeys. They can be aggressive and have been known to attack and rob visitors.

Mt. Emei is located 90 miles (145 kilometers) southwest of Chengdu. High-speed trains take about an hour and most depart from Chengdu East Station, with a few departing from Chengdu South Station. Buses depart from the Tourist Bus Station in Chengdu and take about three hours. Visitors then need to take a taxi from Emeishan City to Baoguo Village, at the base of the mountain.

 

Sunrise and sunsets are the best time to be at the top of Mt. Emei. April and October are the best months to visit, as there are generally fewer cloudy days. It can snow during the winter.

 

Those with more time should consider visiting some of the other top attractions on Mt. Emei, including Baoguo Temple (the mountain’s largest temple), Fuhu Temple (noted for its gardens), and Qingqin Pavilion (built on an outcropping in the middle of a stream). Popular mid-mountain attractions include Wannian Temple (the oldest temple on Mt. Emei) and Elephant Pool Temple.

One of Ubud’s big three art galleries, Museum Puri Lukisan sits slap-bang in the heart of downtown Ubud. Collections cover not only Balinese paintings and drawings but also wood carvings and work by foreign artists. The Puri Lukisan gallery is also Ubud’s oldest art museum, founded in 1956 by a foundation established in 1936.

 

Set on Ubud’s main street, Jalan Raya Ubud, Museum Puri Lukisan is easy enough to visit independently—the collection is well-labeled and easy to navigate. The east building features classical Ubud art, including 16th-century cloth paintings, ink drawings by the master I Gusti Nyoman Lempad, and art by 1930s expats star in the north building. Colorful contemporary paintings adorn the west building, including works by Dutch-born Indonesian artist Arie Smit. The south building is mainly used for exhibitions.

 

Museum Puri Lukisan is a popular stop on Ubud coach tours. To get the most out of the gallery, though, it’s worth choosing a dedicated art or cultural tour.

 

 

Set in the heart of downtown Ubud, the Puri Lukisan museum is walkable from most Ubud accommodations. The Kura-Kura Bus from Sanur stops literally at the door. Rather than brave the hectic traffic and limited parking in Ubud, many travelers from Kuta and south Bali choose to join a tour or hire a private driver for the day.

 

Open year-round, with the exception of the Nyepi "Day of Silence" holiday, Puri Lukisan Museum is generally best visited in the mornings. It’s a popular afternoon stop for large coach parties. As some of the charm is in the garden, it’s best visited on a dry day, which are more frequent during Bali’s dry season (roughly March to September).

 

From commercial art galleries to large-scale institutions and, of course, the traditional art market, Ubud is known as Bali’s art capital for a reason. The three Balinese art galleries that culturally minded visitors won’t want to miss are the Puri Lukisan Museum, the Agung Rai Museum of Art (ARMA), and the Neka Art Museum.

Bali’s Museum Gedung Arca, also known as Museum Arkeologi or the Pejeng Archaeological Museum, stands in the village of Pejeng, not far from Ubud. Established in the mid-20th century and renovated in 2016, the museum boasts an eclectic collection that covers archaeological finds from millennia of human occupation on Bali. 

At the small Museum Gedung Arca, on the outskirts of Ubud, entrance and tours are free. Guides lead visitors around the eclectic selection of Stone Age tools, Bronze Age relics, and mysterious sarcophagi. 

The museum is not a common stop on Bali tours. Those with a keen interest in prehistory or archaeology can arrange a visit with a private guide, perhaps combined with stops at historic temples such as Gunung Kawi, Tirta Empul, and Yeh Pulu.

Not far from the water temple of Tirta Empul and the rock-cut shrines (candi) of Gunung Kawi, the village of Pejeng sits on the Tampaksiring road, around 4 miles (6 kilometers) east of Ubud in central Bali. Most visitors use a private driver or driver/guide, as public transport is not an option. If you’re confident facing Indonesia’s spirited drivers, there is plenty of parking. 

The Museum Gedung Arca is closed weekends, so visiting during the week is a must. The museum is never busy, but if you’d like to take advantage of the free guide service, avoid lunchtime and Balinese festival days.

Indonesian archaeology is in its infancy, relatively speaking, yet researchers are unfolding rich layers of human occupation across the archipelago’s many thousands of islands. From Stone Age tools to Chinese ceramics and Bronze Age drums, Bali’s archaeology reveals a sophisticated web of trading and migration.

Mount Tai (or Tai Shan) is a majestic mountain located in Shandong Province. It spans two cities – Tai’an and Jinan – and is the principal mountain among the five most significant in China. In 1987, Mount Tai was listed as a Cultural and Natural World Heritage Site and later in 2006, a World Geopark.

Mount Tai has been climbed by the emperors of China’s dynasties for ceremonious events and in particular to signify they were the sole ruler of the country at the time. These days it’s the most climbed mountain in China because of its history, majesty, and the spectacular views it presents.

There are a number of ways to climb Mount Tai but the most popular – and the one favoured by the ancient emperors – is via the Red Gate/Imperial route, which involves ascending more than 6,000 steps.

My Khe Beach is situated in the northernmost part of the stunning 30-kilometer stretch of coast known as China Beach near Da Nang in Central Vietnam. Widely considered to be Vietnam's most picturesque beach, this lengthy stretch of spectacular coastline is famous for being visited by American troops during the Vietnam War.

My Khe is the ideal beach for holidaymakers visiting Central Vietnam, particularly between May and October, with its smooth white sand, gentle gradient, and abundance of coral and marine life. The beach’s low pollution, pleasant temperatures, and calm waters also add to the appeal here (although the waves become much more dramatic come September-time, making for some ideal surfing conditions).

There are an abundance of accommodation, food, and retail outlets in the area, as well as places to hire surf and snorkel equipment.

Right behind the Drum Tower, you can find the Muslim Quarter of Xian. In Chinese, it is also known as Huimin Jie, which is the home of the majority of the Muslim Hui minority. The Hui men are usually easily recognizable by their typical white hats, sitting in front of the houses and enjoying the sun, while the women wear headscarves but don’t cover their faces. Once, Muslim traders traveling the Silk Road settled here with their Chinese wives, had children and formed a tight-knit community which still lives on. If you like oriental markets, you will find tea shops, potteries, produce and much else in this haggling-paradise along the Beiyuanmen Muslim Market. For those visitors looking to recover from the whirlwind bartering sessions, a famously wide array of tasty snack and food stalls line the streets. Try some Yang Ruo Pao Mo, a soup with lamb meat and wheat bread, dig into a savory meat kebab or, if you’re just looking for a snack, purchase some dried fruit, ginger candy or persimmon pies and wash it all down with pomegranate juice. 

Apart from the food, the market and oddities such as a bird market and cricket fights, there are several mosques to be found in the Muslim Quarter. It is the biggest one, though, the Great Mosque of Xian, which forms the religious center of the district. At first glance, the building doesn’t seem that much different from the typical Chinese temple architecture - there are no minarets and no domed roofs and instead, pavilions and pagodas take over the religious functions. Still, there are some Islamic elements to be found: the mosque is facing Mekka, paths and buildings are arranged differently and there are delicate Middle-Eastern engravings to be found. But the mosque isn’t only famous for incorporating Chinese and Islamic architecture, but, having been built in 742 AD in the Tang Dynasty, is one of the largest, oldest and best preserved mosques in China. 

One of Mumbai’s most ancient temples, Mumbadevi Temple also happens to be in based in one of the city’s liveliest spots. Surrounded by the bustling bazaars, flower shops, and cloth markets of South Mumbai’s Bhuleshwar district, Mumbadevi Temple remains serene. Worshipped by Mumbai’s native Koli fishermen for many centuries, Mumbadevi is the eight-armed Hindu goddess this temple was built for, and she is also the deity that Mumbai gets its name from. 

Thought to have been built in 1675, travelers are welcome at Mumbadevi Temple. Mornings and evenings are an especially beautiful times to visit the famous temple, as this is when devotees come to attend religious aartis, when candles are offered to the goddess. But the highlight of a visit to Mumbadevi must be seeing the great deity on her altar, replete with a silver crown, golden necklace, and garland made of brilliant marigolds. Look out for the stone idol of Annapurna seated on a peacock, and a particularly fearsome-looking sculpture of a wild tiger too. 

Right outside the temple is Zaveri Bazaar. Its liveliness can be quite a shock after enjoying the peacefulness of Mumbadevi Temple, but on this narrow street you can buy all kinds of Hindu religious objects including incense, saffron, and paintings of the gods. 

Regarded as the birthplace of Taoism, and one of its most sacred mountains, Mt. Qingcheng has a history dating back 2,000 years. Surrounded by peaks and lush forests, Mt. Qingcheng offers a peaceful escape from the big city of Chengdu, and there are plenty of temples, historical sites, and cultural relics for visitors to enjoy.

 

There are two main parts to Mt. Qingcheng: the front and the rear. Most of the temples and other historical and cultural attractions can be found in the front, including Jianfu Palace, Shingqing Palace, and Tianshi Cave. The rear mountain is known for its tranquil natural scenery and is a popular area for hiking. The most popular route to climb the front is to take a ferry across Yuecheng Lake, and then a cable car up, before walking the final 20 minutes to the summit. Just that doing so doing so will bypass a number of temples and other historic and cultural sites.

 

Many visitors combine a trip to Mt. Qingcheng with nearby Dujiangyan Irrigation System (the combined area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site). While it’s possible to visit independently, visitors will gain a better appreciation of the Taoist significance of Mt. Qingcheng through a guided tour.

 

 

Mt. Qingcheng is located 40 miles (64 kilometers) east of Chengdu. For those not visiting on a tour, take the metro to Xipu, then a train to Qingchengshan station, and finally a bus to the scenic area entrance. You can also take a bus to Qingchengshan from Xinnanmen Bus Station in Chengdu. From Dujiangyan, take bus 101 or 102 to Mt. Qingcheng.

 

Mt. Qingcheng is very popular with Chinese tourists. Avoid visiting during weekends and public holidays, especially the May and October national holidays.

 

Jianfu Palace is the best preserved temple on the mountain. It was built during the Tang Dynasty and is still a fully functioning Taoist temple with over 100 monks. Situated at 3,280 feet (1,000 meters), Shangqing Palace dates from the Jin Dynasty and was rebuilt in the 1800s. Tianshi Cave is where ancient Taoist master Zhang Daolin was said to have lived. And from Laojun Pavilion, take in the stunning views over Dujiangyan City below.