Exploring everything the World has to offer is a monumental task. Throughout history, many people have attempted this feat, and most have failed to even scratch the surface of the planet around them. It would be an understatement to say that Earth is big, but this is only part of the challenge people face when trying to spend most of their time travelling. To give you a helping hand with this, this post will be exploring a more realistic approach, giving you the chance to learn about the unique and interesting cities on offer throughout Asia.
Russia
While a lot of people don’t associate Russia with Asia, this massive country is the Northernmost nation making up the continent. The capital city of Russia is called Moscow, and is home to a wealth of historical and modern attractions for you to enjoy, including famous buildings like the president’s home, The Kremlin. There are numerous cathedrals and churches in the city, along with museums and other educational landmarks which will teach you about the country’s history. Nightlife is popular in Russia, making it easy to find restaurants, bars, and nightclubs when you want to let your hair down.
Mongolia
As you travel South of Russia, you will find yourself in Mongolia. A country with a rich history and wealth of interesting places, it’s hard to choose the best place to try when you go to an area like this. Ulaanbaatar is the capital of Mongolia, but it started as a camp of nomadic Buddhists, long before it was ever a permanent city. Throughout history, conflicts and occupations have altered the face of the city, creating a unique mix of traditional Mongolian architecture and buildings which were more commonly found in countries like Russia. Monasteries and temples make up a large part of Ulaanbaatar’s attractions.
China
Like Russia, China is one of the largest countries in the World. It has more people than anywhere else, and the capital city, known as Beijing, reflects this well, boasting one of the heftiest populations for a city of its size. Like Ulaanbaatar, Beijing balances a mix of old and new, with temples cutting through the modern architecture you find around you. If you go at the right time of year, the city is often taken over with street performances and light shows, especially around the time of their New Year celebrations. It will be nice and easy to find plenty of attractions in a city like this, with a lot of people finding the regular streets to be interesting enough.
Japan
As far as the rest of Asia is concerned, Japan has remained fairly isolated over the last few centuries. While they have faced wars, occupations, and other challenges, they have maintained an extremely strong culture, and there are few places in the world which offer the experience found in a city like Tokyo. From strange stores and weird restaurants, to ancient shrines and modern behemoths, there is something for just about everyone in this neck of the woods. It can be a little bit of a shock for some first-time visitors when they land in Tokyo. It’s worth keeping an open mind, though, as a lot of people also fall in love with the place very quickly.
Vietnam
Heading South West will bring you into a range of countries which are home to some of the World’s oldest records of human life. Vietnam may have faced a bit of battering over the last century, cities like Hanoi retain much of their old splendor, and you can find plenty of ancient monuments and shrines dotted about in this city. With influences from across Europe touching the place, there are also buildings which aren’t quite so traditional. The city also has plenty of culture on offer, with fine arts museums, fancy restaurants, and a surprisingly active nightlife scene.
Malaysia
When people think about manufacturing in Asia, most thoughts will go towards China. In reality, though, countries like Malaysia are responsible for a huge amount of the products which come from this part of the world, especially when it comes to computers and other complex electronics. Kuala Lumpur is a very modern capital city, filled with buildings from all over the world, including breathtaking skyscrapers, like Petronas Tower, to luxury living spaces, like Datum Jelatek. This is probably the most Westernised city on this list, so far, making it a place where most people will feel very comfortable.
Singapore
This next city is a little bit of an odd one out on this list. Rather than being a capital city, Singapore is a city-state, making the whole thing it’s own country. Boasting one of the highest standards of living across the globe, Singapore is like few other places. From the naturally infused architecture, to the dedicated curation of the country’s history, you can learn an awful lot about this place in hardly any time at all. Of course, though, sitting at the tip of Malaysia, Singapore is surrounded by coastline, and this is something which a lot of people will want to enjoy on their break.
Indonesia
Finally, as the last city on this list, it’s time to take a look at Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia. Like many Asian cities, Jakarta has a range of old and new attractions for you to explore. Sitting at the heart of Asia’s fishing trade, the old port in the city is a great place to relax and watch some traditional sailors do their work. If you prefer to do some shopping and soak up some culture, though, the city is also home to a large center. Indonesia relies on nature to provide for a large part of its economy, and this is reflected in the way that Jakarta is built and designed.
With all of this in mind, you should be feeling ready to start looking for the Asian city of your dreams. A lot of people want to see as much of the World as possible, but this can take an awful lot of time, effort, and money. Instead, choosing to see capital cities can be an excellent compromise which will enable you to explore a huge range of cultures
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