Located at the base of Mount Shaoshi in Henan Province, the Pagoda Forest at Shaolin Temple is a sacred necropolis within the broader monastery complex. With its origins tracing back to 618 AD during the Tang Dynasty, the forest is home to over 240 stone and brick pagodas, each serving as a tomb or memorial for esteemed monks, abbots and martial art masters.

Rising like a gleaming spine along the raw sandstone cliffs of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in China’s Hunan Province, the Bailong Elevator, also known as the "Hundred Dragons Elevator" is both a marvel of modern engineering and a looming monolith that stirs ancient fears. Piercing 326 metres into the sky, it is the tallest outdoor elevator in the world.

In a city celebrated for its canals, silk and scholars, Suzhou’s Lingering Garden represents a pinnacle of classical Chinese garden design. Often referred to as one of the “Four Great Classical Gardens of China,” it embodies centuries of artistic refinement and philosophical thought. Built in 1593 during the Ming dynasty by Xu Taishi, a high-ranking official who sought retirement and tranquility, the garden stands as a personal reflection of his scholarly ideals.

Constructed on the remains of a 7th century Chinese fortress, the Thăng Long Imperial Citadel was built on strategic reclaimed river lands on the lower Red River Delta and for nearly 13 centuries, remained the regional powerhouse of Northern Vietnamese political & military domination. Shortly after his ascension to the throne, Emperor Lý Thái Tổ declared a royal decree in the year 1010, to move the capital from Hoa Lư and establish a new Imperial City for the Lý Dynasty.

Although not formally declared a public park until 1880, the sacred origins of Nara Park stretch back to 708AD, when Japan’s capital was transferred to the Heijo Palace area, now the city of Nara. As the heart of early Japanese civilisation, Nara became a place where political ambition, religious reverence and spiritual mystery intertwined.

Founded in 1593 by the powerful samurai warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Kongōbu-ji was established as a spiritual monument dedicated to immortalising his mother. This temple’s creation was more than just an act of filial piety, it became a lasting symbol of religious devotion and architectural mastery. Nestled in Koyasan, Kongōbu-ji quickly rose to prominence as a central hub for Shingon Buddhism, intertwining Hideyoshi’s legacy with the sacred landscape of Japan.

Mount Kōya, or Kōyasan, was first settled in 819AD by the legendary monk Kūkai, also known as Kōbō Daishi, who introduced esoteric Shingon Buddhism to Japan after studying in China. Nestled in a secluded alpine basin surrounded by eight lotus-like peaks, this sacred site in Wakayama Prefecture was chosen for its geomantic significance and spiritual isolation. By imperial decree in 816, Kūkai began transforming the mountaintop into a monastic haven.

Located in the dusty outskirts of Phnom Penh lies Choeung Ek, the most infamous of Cambodia’s killing fields. Once a peaceful longan orchard, it now stands as a site of incomprehensible horror and grief. While over 300 killing fields have been identified throughout the country, Choeung Ek alone bore witness to the execution of more than 17,000 men, women and children during the Khmer Rouge regime.

In the heart of Sichuan Province, nestled at the confluence of the Min, Dadu and Qingyi Rivers, the Leshan Giant Buddha looms as one of China’s most awe inspiring historical landmarks. Towering at 71 metres high, this colossal statue is the largest stone Buddha in the world and remains a profound testament to ancient Chinese ingenuity and spiritual devotion.

Built around 1190AD during the reign of the powerful King Jayavarman VII, Bayon stood at the symbolic heart of Angkor Thom, the ancient capital of the Khmer Empire. From a distance, the temple may appear as little more than a chaotic pile of stone, but step closer and it transforms into a breathtaking showcase of Khmer "baroque" architecture.

The enormous Imperial Palace complex, commissioned by the Yongle Emperor of the Ming Dynasty in 1406AD, is the world largest palace and contains the most extensive amount of preserved wooden structures on the planet. Located in the heart of Peking, one of the great ancient capitals of China, the Forbidden City was built to legitimise Yongle's supreme authority (after he usurped the throne) and to assert the power and grandeur of the new capital Beijing, as a stronghold to thr

Stretching over 21,000 kilometres across rugged mountains, arid deserts and sweeping valleys, the Great Wall of China stands as one of the most iconic and enduring structures in human history. Built, rebuilt and expanded over many centuries by a succession of Chinese dynasties, this colossal fortification was designed to safeguard the Chinese empire from invading forces, particularly the nomadic tribes from the northern steppes, including the Mongols.

Nestled along the banks of the Perfume River in the southwest corner of Hué, King Minh Mạng’s funeral complex was the result of a grand vision and an extensive building program. Guided by the ancient practice of geomancy, which aligns structures with natural forces, the complex was designed to harmonise with the environment, blending the spiritual with the earthly.

The Shaolin Monastery was founded in 495AD during the Northern Wei Dynasty by Emperor Xiaowen to accommodate an Indian monk named Batuo. But it wasn’t until a second Indian monk, Bodhidharma arrived around 527AD that the legends really began. Bodhidharma, considered the father of Zen Buddhism, is said to have meditated in a cave near the temple for nine years, facing a wall until he achieved enlightenment.

While Angkor Wat stands in meticulously restored grandeur, Ta Prohm has been surrendered to the wild embrace of the jungle. Towering silk-cotton trees and strangler figs entwine themselves around crumbling sandstone walls, their roots creeping through sacred corridors like ghostly fingers reclaiming what was once theirs. This temple complex was constructed in 1186 AD during the reign of King Jayavarman VII, one of the most prolific & devout rulers of the Khmer Empire.

The Reed Flute Cave, or Ludi Yan as it is known locally, has a fascinating history that stretches back over 1200 years, beginning during the Tang Dynasty. This 180 million year old karst cave complex, located in Guilin, has long been a symbol of natural beauty and historical significance. Its geological formations are a breathtaking testament to the slow, steady power of time, yet its human history is just as remarkable.

Rising 535 meters above the vast Seto Inland Sea, Mount Misen stands as a sacred peak, enveloped in the mysteries of ancient worship. Located on the island of Itsukushima, this primeval mountain boasts Virgin Forests, designated as a natural monument and botanical museum, within the protective bounds of Setonaikai National Park.

Earning its rightful place on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list in 1992, Angkor Wat is the largest religious monument on the planet and one of the most important archaeological sites in South-East Asia. Commissioned in 1122AD by King Suryavarman II as a grand tribute to Vishnu, it was a bold deviation from the prevailing Shiva worship of the time. Suryavarman intended it not only as the capital of the ancient Khmer empire and a place of worship but as a funerary temple for

Set in the heart of Jiangsu Province, Suzhou is often called the “Venice of the East”, a poetic nickname but one that barely scratches the surface. Suzhou is more than romantic, it’s resilient. Its story spans dynastic splendour, foreign intrusion, civil war and a remarkable cultural revival. Founded over 2500 years ago during the historical Spring and Autumn Period, the city was once known as Wu.

Preah Ko is a profoundly significant temple that often gets overshadowed by the grandeur of Angkor Wat and Bayon. Preah Ko, which translates to “Sacred Bull,” was the very first temple built in the ancient city of Hariharalaya, located in present-day Roluos, 15 kilometres southeast of Siem Reap. This temple predates Angkor Wat by over two centuries and is key to understanding the architectural and spiritual foundation of the Khmer empire.