Asia Archives

Hiraizumi: In Buddha’s Pure Land

Once rivaled by Kyoto for its regal beauty, Hiraizumi is now known for its temples and garden complex that represents the pure land of Buddha.

With a 600-plus-year history, the villages of southern Anhui (安徽) offer a glimpse into a traditional way of life that gradually disappeared.

Though today standing in geentel ruins, Ayutthaya offers a glimpse into the past glory of the long-lived kingdom of Siam.

Safranbolu is like a living museum that exhibits the finest examples of traditional Ottoman architecture and urban layout.

Gigantic yet surprisingly intricate, the lanterns of Aomori are the highlights of Nebuta Matsuri – one of Japan’s biggest summer festivals.

The granite peaks of Huangshan (黄山) give the impression of a traditional black ink painting, inspiring painters and poets for centuries.

Following the conquest of Constantinople, the Ottoman sultans revitalized the new capital city, Istanbul, with palaces, mosques, and bazaars.

Azerai Can Tho is a one-of-a-kind resort. It spreads over an islet on the Mekong River where seclusion, comfort, and natural beauty abound.

Bánh is the most diverse category in Vietnamese cuisine. It can be interpreted as a bite-sized snack that can be eaten by hand or chopsticks.

Situated a few kilometers away from Ranthambore National Park, Oberoi Vanyavilas is a glamorous base to explore the famous tiger reserve.

In Istanbul, Byzantine legacies stand in tandem with monuments of the Ottoman era. Some are obvious, while others require some imagination.

A landscape of endless rice paddies, An Giang is a perfect overture to all that is distinctive about Mekong Delta.

Yen Tu is one of Vietnam’s most sacred site. It features a series of temples, pagodas, and towered stupas set amid a lush mountain landscape.

Once the hunting grounds of maharajas, Ranthambore is now one of India’s best places to see the majestic Bengal tigers in the wild.