This significant temple complex, within the dense jungles on the northern edge of the Angkor Archaeological Park, was commissioned by the great King Jayavarman VII in honour of his father and the Bodhisattva of universal compassion, Avalokiteshvara. Known as Preah Khan, or the Sacred Sword, the temple was erected in 1191 during the golden years of the ancient Khmer Empire.

This UNESCO World Heritage area, also known as Halong Bay on land, stretches along the Ngo Dong River and is flanked by views of majestic karst cliffs, limestone caves, grottoes, and vibrant green rice fields. Tam Cốc literally translates to “three caves,” referring to the Ca, Hai and Ba caves carved by centuries of flowing water. Locals often refer to the surrounding fields as the Green Sea, a poetic nod to the way the wind ripples through the endless rice paddies like waves

The Red Cliff Carvings, also referred to as the Red Cliff Grottoes, are indeed ancient but their exact age is not definitively documented. Based on the creation of the nearby Leshan Buddha, these carvings likely date between 618AD and 960AD. They are located on the northern cliffs of the Emei Mountain Range, one of the Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains of China and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In the heart of Zhengzhou, the capital of China’s Henan Province, stands a structure that quietly guards the soul of a civilization, the Henan Museum. With its soaring, bronze-coloured dome echoing the shape of an ancient Chinese cauldron, the museum is not just a building, it’s a portal to one of the oldest and most culturally rich regions in China. Here, the spirit of one of the world’s oldest civilizations lingers in every artifact, whispering stories from millennia ago.

In the year 774, in the small town of Zentsūji on the island of Shikoku, Japan, a child named Kūkai was born. This child would grow up to become one of the most influential and revered figures in Japanese religious history. Known posthumously as Kōbō-Daishi, Kūkai would not only found the Shingon school of esoteric Buddhism but would also leave a profound legacy that shaped both religious practices and Japanese culture for centuries to come.

Formally known as Rokuonji, the Golden Pavilion is richly adorned with shimmering pure gold leaf and casts an impressive reflection off the surrounding waters of Kyōko-chi, the mirror pond. An icon of Japanese architecture, it is listed as a ‘Historic Monument of Ancient Kyoto’ as a World Heritage Site. The pavilion’s striking beauty, especially when mirrored in the still waters below, exemplifies the harmony between architecture and nature that defines traditional Japanese d

Built in the late 12th century under the rule of King Jayavarman VII, the long terrace fronts the eastern side of the Royal Palace within the walled city of Angkor Thom. It served as a grand platform from which the king could view military parades, public ceremonies and state functions. The terrace, also known in some records as the Terrace of Honour, is richly decorated with intricate carvings and sculptures of life sized elephants.

The spacious Ueno Park was established on the grounds of Kan'ei-jiin Temple after the Battle of Ueno, in 1873. Amongst Japan’s first public parks, Ueno now showcases a number of museums and several historically significant monuments which weren’t otherwise destroyed during times of war. In 1924, Ueno Park was presented to the city by Emperor Taishō, receiving the official name that lasts to this day (Ueno Onshi Kōen), the Ueno Imperial Gift Park.

Hidden beneath the dramatic limestone cliffs of Guilin’s Seven Stars Park lies a sprawling karst cave system, veiled in myth and mystery. Named after the seven towering peaks that crown the landscape, said to mirror the celestial pattern of the Big Dipper, this subterranean realm has captivated explorers and spiritual seekers for a millennia.

Founded more than 1700 years ago during the Han Dynasty, Huanglongxi began as a vital Silk Road trade settlement nestled on the banks of the winding Huanglong River in Chengdu. Legend says the town earned its name from a fierce yellow dragon that once guarded the serpentine stream weaving through its cobbled alleyways, a guardian spirit as mysterious and enduring as the town itself.

Often considered as one of the most beautiful mosques in Asia, The Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque pierces the skyline of Bandar Seri Begawan, its golden dome shimmering over the lagoon below. Completed in 1958 under Brunei’s 28th Sultan, it is a monument of precision and faith, showcasing the beauty of Islamic architecture while standing as a powerful symbol of the nation’s history, culture, and religious devotion.