This week in Around the World with HOLR we are visiting Eastern Asia. More specifically we will be looking at China, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Cambodia, and Malaysia.

Eastern Asia is an architecture lover’s dream. City after city with sky-high modern buildings to historically significant buildings that were crafted to perfection. Make sure to have a good camera because you will want to be taking a photo of every step you take.

Japan

Japan’s bustling capital of Tokyo is a beautiful mix of modern architecture and traditional, with neon-lit skyscrapers and historic temples. A historic temple that is often visited is the Sensō-ji, which is the temple to the goddess of mercy. Another popular place to visit is the Tokyo Skytree, a massive tower with an observation deck that has panoramic views of the city.

 China

China’s capital of Beijing has a history stretching back three millennia and is home to many monumental sights including the Great Wall of China, the Forbidden City, and the Temple of Heaven.

South Korea

South Korea is known for its hilly countryside, Buddhist temples that are multiple centuries-old, coastal fishing villages and high-tech cities like Seoul, the nation’s capital. A top sight to visit in Seoul is the beautiful palace and garden from the Joseon dynasty, Changdeokgung.

Vietnam

Vietnam is a country known for its beach, rivers, Buddhist pagodas and busy cities. The capital city of Vietnam is Hanoi. A big tourist attraction in Hanoi is the Hanoi Old Quarter. Bustling with motorbikes, tons of places to shop and has some of the best street food you will ever have.

Thailand

Thailand is most famously known for its tropical beaches, royal palaces, ancient ruins, and magnificent temples. The capital city of Bangkok is an ultramodern city known for its shrines and lively street life.

Indonesia

Indonesia is located between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is made up of over seventeen thousand islands. A popular island to visit is the Gili Islands that has beautiful coral reefs and sea turtles.

Philippines

The Philippines is in the western Pacific Ocean and is made up of 7,640 islands. A popular tourist attraction is the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River which is a protected national park with an underground river and caves to explore.

Cambodia

Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia was the hub of the Khmer Empire. It has a beautiful riverfront walk that houses parks, restaurants, the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and displays lots of artifacts from all over the country.

Malaysia

Malaysia’s capital city Kuala Lumpur is known for its modern skyline that has two 451-meter-tall towers made of glass and steel. The towers have a public sky bridge and observation deck to get a beautiful view of the city.

Where will you be booking a flight to first? Make sure to pack your walking shoes because there will be a lot of sights to see!

Published by HOLR Magazine.