GLOBETROTTER
PHOTOGRAPHS: © MELINDACHAN / GETTY IMAGES; © SEANPAVONEPHOTO / GETTY IMAGES; © NEIL MCALLISTER / GETTY IMAGES; © POTATO HEAD FAMILY; © EVGENYKZ / SHUTTERSTOCK; © URBAN NAPFLIN / SHUTTERSTOCK; © NIKADA / GETTY IMAGES; © ALEX_ALADDIN / SHUTTERSTOCK; © FRANS SELLIES / GETTY IMAGES; © JONES/SHIMLOCK-SECRET SEA VISIONS / GETTY IMAGESIt’s our second-annual Best in Asia list. Asia is such a vast and
diverse continent for anyone dreaming of an escape. From Astana,
Kazakhstan to Xi’an, China, this year’s line-up will inspire any
traveller, whether you’re already based here or looking to visit some
of the region’s heavy-hitting destinations. For more information,
head online (lonelyplanet.com/best-in-asia).- GANSU, CHINA
Gansu is a land of snow-capped mountains, big
skies and Silk Road history, with surreal terrain
ranging from the arid peaks of Xiahe to the
Instagrammable rainbow desert of Danxia
National Geopark. Besides this visual feast,
local cuisine (look out for Lanzhou-style
hand-pulled noodles) has earned a cult foodie
following. It’s blissfully well-connected thanks
to high-speed rail services and upgraded
highways, as well as a new metro that will ease
traffic in Lanzhou when it opens this year. - SOUTH OF TOKYO,
JAPAN
Two cities in this region are well worth making
time for the next time you’re in Tokyo.
Yokohama is just a 20-minute train journey
from the capital and packs considerable appeal
with its bayside location, eclectic architecture,
microbreweries and tasty cuisine. Kamakura is
less than an hour from Tokyo and is a classy
seaside town known for its surfing scene. It also
offers a selection of relaxed cafes and an iconic
statue of Buddha. - NORTHERN KERALA,
INDIA
2017 marks India’s 70th year of independence
and the opening of the new international
airport in Kannur will provide an easy introduc-
tion to the north. Get to know the budget-
friendly and pristine beaches around Kannur
that have a string of homestays and resorts
with magnificent beachfront views. - KEONG SAIK ROAD,
SINGAPORE
Keong Saik Road is the poster-child for hip ‘New
Singapore’. The beautiful colonial and art-deco
buildings are home to some of Singapore’s most
inventive diners. There’s Asian fusion at Meta,
and fabulous rooftop views and mouth-watering
burgers at Potato Head Singapore. - ASTANA, KAZAKHSTAN
A mirage of glass and steel with a stained-glass
pyramid, golden skyscrapers and the world’s
largest marquee make Astana, a futuristic
vision of President Nazarbayev’s. As of 2017,
citizens of 45 countries, including Singapore
and Malaysia, may visit Kazakhstan without a
visa for up to 30 days. The new LRT (light rail
transit) and improved bus network are making
a visit to this cosmopolitan even easier.
6. TAKAYAMA, JAPAN
Since the 17th century, Takayama hasn’t
changed much. Disciples of ‘temple town’
sweep, and open shoji (sliding doors); artisans
and grocers greet shoppers at the morning
markets; school children scamper across
age-old bridges over the lazy Miya-gawa. But
the city is changing, as more foreigners find
their way to Takayama. The time to treasure
history is now.
7. XI’AN, CHINA
Once Tang China’s grandest city, Xi’an’s
diverse heritage is supreme: there’s the
bustling Muslim Quarter, myth-wreaked
peaks of Hua Shan, imperial tombs and
China’s best collection of Tang dynasty
pagodas. Of course, the Army of Terracotta
Warriors remains its biggest draw and will
celebrate 30 years as a UNESCO World
Heritage Site this year.
8. SRI LANKA’S HILL
COUNTRY
Take a scenic train to idyllic Hill Country for a
temperate escape. Kandy is an ideal introduc-
tion to the region, and the green hills beyond
are carpeted with tea plantations. Other
highlights include Nuwara Eliya, a former hub
of the British Empire where you can relive
colonial times in stately hotels and tea rooms.
Elsewhere, tiny Ella is expanding rapidly as a
key hiking centre.
9. MELAKA CITY,
MALAYSIA
The scores of heritage buildings here have
always garnered tourist attention but the
focus has recently shifted to the Melaka River.
Boat rides along this meandering waterway
are popular and soon, water taxies will
connect Melaka Sentral bus station with
downtown.
10. RAJA AMPAT,
INDONESIA
This sprinkling of exotic Indonesian islands is
one of the most divine archipelagos in Asia.
Packed with white-sand beaches, lush jungle
and unusual mushroom-shaped islets, Raja
Ampat is a biological hotspot. The region is
also home to some of the richest, most
diverse coral reefs on the planet – there’re
more than 200 pristine diving spots around.
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