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.

When the Zhangjiajie Glass Footbridge opened to the public in August 2016, it instantly shattered world records as the highest and longest glass bottomed suspension bridge. Stretching 430 metres across and suspended 300 metres above the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, it connects the dramatic cliffs of Yuanjiajie and Tianzi Mountains, terrain said to have inspired the floating mountains in Avatar.

In 1777, the Nguyen clan was extinguished in a brutal massacre that marked the end of their reign, save for one, a fifteen-year-old boy named Nguyen Phuc Anh. Orphaned and on the run, he hid in the southern reaches of Vietnam, surviving betrayal, jungle sickness and assassins sent by the rival Tay Son brothers. Legend tells of a mysterious hermit who gave the boy refuge in the sacred mountains of Thien Thai, prophesying that the boy would reclaim his bloodline and raise an em

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.

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.

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.

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.

Within the quiet, tree lined paths of Ueno Park in Tokyo lies one of Japan’s most elegant yet often overlooked historical treasures, Ueno Tōshō-gū. Built in 1627, this shrine was constructed to honour the memory of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the formidable figure who unified Japan’s fractured feudal domains and established the Tokugawa Shogunate, a regime that would rule Japan in relative peace and stability for over two and a half centuries.

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.

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.

Lacking any inscriptions describing its foundation, the mysterious history of Banteay Samre is left to speculation. According to local lore, construction may have initially commenced around 967AD for the Samré people, an isolated ethnic group believed to have inhabited the area long before the rise of the Khmer Empire. Historians believe it was later completed in the early 12th century by King Suryavarman II or his successor, King Yasovarman II.

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.

Originally established in the early 19th century as a humble hermitage tucked beneath the shade of dense tropical foliage, Vĩnh Tràng...

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.