5 underrated destinations in East Asia

Looking forward to exploring East Asia but not a fan of crowded, mainstream destinations? Then check out these underrated East Asia travel gems.

Xi’an, China

If you’re looking for another cool city to visit – one without the hordes of tourists and dodgy air quality – Xi’an is where you want to be. The city is arguably the root of Chinese civilisation, having been the country’s capital for several dynasties.

It holds several magnificent historical ruins, including Emperor Qin’s mausoleum, his Army of Terracotta Warriors, and the 12th-century Bell Tower. That’s not all! Xi’an is also home to a large Muslim community, and, as a result, an exquisite dining scene. Don’t miss the bazaar in the Muslim Quarter, and make sure to try an authentic Xi’an Roujiamo meat sandwich while you’re there.

Nagano, Japan

We can all agree that vacationing in Japan during winter is a dream! It’s hard to say “no” especially with the abundance of natural onsen (hot springs) and ski resorts all over the country. Nagano is one hot spot that’s popular for these very reasons. The capital of the Nagano Prefecture on the island of Honshu, the city is surrounded by the Japanese Alps. What’s more, it’s home to the Edo-era Matsushiro Castle and Zenkō-ji, one of the oldest Buddhist pilgrimage sites in the world.

Outside the city, adventure awaits. There’s Shiga Kogen, an enormous ski resort situated in the highlands with ski runs and onsens leading to the summit of Mount Yokote. Other than that, you can also watch snow monkeys bathe in the hot springs at Jigokudani Monkey Park. And if you’re going all out, there’s the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route located on the Japanese Alps which lets visitors hike along mountainous valleys and even walk through 20-metre-high snow corridors!

Kanazawa, Japan

If you’re fond of Kyoto’s shrines, and seafood in Osaka, you’ll be pleased to know that Kanazawa offers just as many, if not more, unforgettable experiences. Its quiet location, famous provincial cuisine, and extremely well-preserved Edo period landmarks make it a true hidden gem of a holiday destination in Japan!

The city is home to major cultural spots such as the Kenrokuen Garden (one of Japan’s top 3 gardens), the charming Nagamachi Samurai District, and the serene Teramachi Temple District. Kanazawa’s dining scene is also an amazing gastronomic affair, with its sake (rice wine) said to be the very refined and one-of-a-kind.

Tainan, Taiwan

The oldest city in Taiwan, Tainan has existed since the 16th century with its history dating back to Dutch colonial times and the Qing dynasty. It holds a plethora of ancient landmarks, like Fort Provintia, and the Taiwan Confucian Temple which conducts ancient Confucian ceremonies to this day.

You’ll also want to check out Anping Old Streets, where you’ll find alleys of traditional rammed earth houses which offer a glimpse into Tainan’s olden days. Don’t miss Qigu Salt Mountain too, where you’ll get to climb up the salt mountains and enjoy authentic salt ice-cream found only in Qigu, Tainan.

Chongqing, China

At first glance, Chongqing may come across as a city without much to see. However, one cannot be more wrong with that assumption! In reality, Chongqing offers an endless amount of things to see, do, and eat, which will have its visitors wanting to discover more.

For starters, embark on a cruise down the iconic Yangtze river and marvel at the picturesque landscapes. Then, travel back in time and explore China’s rich history up close through a tour at Hong Ya Dong, an old town leaning on the side of a mountain. It used to be the military headquarters which belonged to famous military leader Chiang Kai-Shek. Afterwards, indulge in a hearty hot pot meal… with caution. That’s because hot pot in Chongqing is an unquestionably spicy affair!

See more: Top underrated destinations in South Korea

Source: Internet

A historical tour around Old Delhi

Old Delhi is a walled part of New Delhi, founded by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in 1639 and originally named Shahjahanabad. It remained the capital of the Mughals until the end of the Mughal dynasty and was later rechristened Old Delhi by the British. It offers spectacular pieces of architecture, a mouthwatering variety of food, and a living, breathing a piece of history.

Old Delhi Food

Food is a religion in this city. The narrow gullies of old Delhi have an overwhelming variety of cuisines to offer. The heavenly aroma of food literally liberates the taste buds here. Acclaimed by national and international food guides, the food will never fail to tempt you. The cuisine is generally dominated by meat, and also offers delicious hot parathas, chats, and sweets. The famous Paranthe Wali Gali is a narrow street located in Chandni Chowk and has a series of shops offering parathas, a fried Indian bread which is stuffed with fillings and served with mint chutney, tamarind chutney, pickles, and curries. Over 30 variety of parathas are available. The Ghantewala Halwai is one of the oldest sweet shops in India, founded in the year 1790. It is famous for its sohan halwa and Karachi halwa along with badaam barfi, kalakand, pista samosa and mootichoor ladoo.

Chandni Chowk and Chawri have many street joints that offer spicy and tangy chaats, dahi bhalle, tikki, kulle fruit chaat, and phirni (a sweet dish). Karim’s Place is very famous for its kebabs. It is situated in the area of Jama Masjid. It was established by Haji Karimuddin with the idea of opening a dhaba in 1913. All meat lovers must make a pit stop at Karim’s for their wonderful kebabs and divine mutton nahari.

Old Delhi Architecture

Old Delhi architecture is a spectacular example of Mughal architecture, with plenty of charisma and nostalgia. While walking the bylanes of old Delhi you realize every wall has a story to tell. Old Delhi is a walled city shaped roughly like a quarter circle with the Red Fort as a focal point. The old city was surrounded by a wall enclosing about 1500 acres with 14 gates. Although the walls have largely disappeared, most of the gates are still present.

The Red Fort is named for its massive walls of red sandstone and its proximity to the Salimgarh Fort. It was a political and ceremonial center for the Mughals. Constructed in 1648 by Shah Jahan, the architecture reflects the fusion of Persian and Timurid traditions, along with a huge beautiful garden. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2007. The Red Fort has an area of 254.67 acres enclosed by 2.41 kilometers of defensive walls, punctuated by turrets and bastions varying in height from 18 meters on the riverside to 33 meters on the city side. The fort is octagonal, with the north-south axis longer than the east-west axis. The marble, floral decorations and double domes in the fort’s buildings exemplify later Mughal architecture.

Located in Chandni Chowk, Jama Masjid is one of the largest mosques in India. Built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan between 1644 and 1656 at a cost of one million rupees, it has three gates, four towers, and two 40m high minarets constructed of strips of red sandstone and white marble. The mosque is built on a red sandstone porch which is about 30 feet from ground level. The courtyard can accommodate 25,000 people. The Red Fort stands opposite to Jama Masjid. The floor is covered with white and black ornamented marble to look like a Muslim prayer mat. Beside it, a thin black border is marked for worshippers.

The immense culture of Old Delhi never loses its charm, giving us a window to look into history.

Read more: The most colorful places in Asia you must visit

By Suyasha Kale/ The Culture Trip

Relax on weekend with the best cinemas in Saigon

Tired of strolling around the city all day in Vietnam vacation? Watching a movie in Ho Chi Minh City cinemas is a great way to relax after a long day of going sightseeing. Nothing is more wonderful than rewarding yourself with the latest movie to learn more about Vietnamese film culture as well as enjoying blockbuster movies all over the world at state-of-the-art cinemas in Saigon. Consider top 5 best cinemas that you should pay a visit in your Ho Chi Minh City tours below.

CGV Cinema 

CGV is one of the top five global movie theaters and publishers. Therefore, CGV is the biggest cinema in Vietnam and the best cinema in Ho Chi Minh City. In CGV cinema, you will not only enjoy a wide variety of movies through innovative technologies such as IMAX, STARIUM, 4DX, Dolby Atmos audio system but also enjoy a whole new and different cuisine while experiencing the highest quality service. This is the first cinema system in Vietnam with luxurious cinema rooms such as L’amour, Premium, Gold Class, Stadium, Art House and Sweet Box for couples who love privacy.

In addition, CGV always has attractive promotions for students and CGV members. Especially, every last Monday of the month, in CGV, you can enjoy all films in the 2D format with only VND 50,000 / ticket for all types of seats.

Address:

• Floor 5th, Crescent Mall, Tan Phu, Ho Chi Minh City
• Liberty Central Citypoint Hotel, District 1, 59 Pasteur, Ben Nghe, Ho Chi Minh City
• 126, Tan Da, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City
• Floor 3rd, Pandora City, 1, Truong Chinh, Ho Chi Minh City
• Level 3, Aeon Mall, 30, Bao Tan Thang, Celadon City, Son Ly, Ho Chi Minh City
• Floor 5th, Parkson Paragon, 3, Nguyen Luong Bang, Tan Phu, Ho Chi Minh City

Lotte Cinema

Also from Korea, Lotte Cinema is another popular choice for both locals and tourists to watch movies in Ho Chi Minh city. Lotte Cinema are equipped with fully newest facility and systems including  Dolby Atmos, Digital screen, 4-way speakers, couple-seat. And the most specially, Lotte Cinema has luxurious waiting rooms for V.I.P members. When coming to Lotte cinema, you will have a comfortable time enjoying movies on the big screen.

Address:

• Floor 7, Cantavil Premier, Hanoi Highway, An Phu Ward, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City
• Floor 4, Pico Plaza, 20 Cong Hoa, Ward 12, Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City
• 13th Floor Diamond Plaza, 34 Le Duan, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

BHD Cinema

As a famous cinema system in Saigon, BHD cinema is loved by young people, not only by its large space but also with its cheap price. Located at floor 3 and 4 of Bitexco Building in the heart of District 1, BHD Star Bitexco is one of the most popular movie theaters in BHD cinema system on weekends with a romantic and lively space design. This cinema will give you the most emotional movie, the happiest time with your friends, or simply a fun movie night in Saigon.

Address:

• 3rd and 4th floor, ICON 68, 2 Hai Trieu, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
• Floor B1 & B2, Vincom Business Center, No. 190 Quang Trung, Go Vap, Ho Chi Minh City
• 5th floor, Vincom Business Center, 159 Ha Noi Highway, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City
• 4th floor, Vincom Plaza Le Van Viet, 50 Le Van Viet, District 9, Ho Chi Minh City
• 4th floor, Satra Pham Hung, C6 / 27 Pham Hung, Binh Chanh, Ho Chi Minh City
• 5th floor, Vincom Supermarket 3/2, 3C 3/2 Street, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City

CineStar Cinema

CineStar has become a favored cinema system by extremely cheap ticket, popcorn and drinks prices with a premium service. Visitors can experience the Dolby Atmos audio system designed specifically for high-end movie theaters. Moreover, many events are constantly launching new films and exciting promotions available only at CineStar.

Address: 

• 271 Nguyen Trai Street, Nguyen Cu Trinh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
• 135 Hai Ba Trung street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

Galaxy Cinema

Galaxy Cinema has several locations in the city like CGV and BHD. However, this cinema is the most convenient for you to find when you get a house on Pham Ngu Lao street. From the centre of Ho Chi Minh city, you can reach either of their cinemas (one on Nguyen Trai street, the other on Pham Ngu Lao street) in very close distance, approximately in a 5 to 10 minute walk.

Having Western standards, the admission fee for a ticket is considered inexpensive. Prices do vary according to the day and the time you want to watch a movie. Prices for a 2D ticket start around 90,000 VND while the same ticket on a Wednesday afternoon is only 60,000 VND. For a 3D movie, you should expect to pay around 120,000 VND and if you want to have a VIP seat, which gives you the best seats in the cinema for an optimized viewing experience, you will pay around 160,000 VND on the weekend, but this option often comes with a drink and popcorn.

Address: 

• 116 Nguyen Du Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
• 230 Nguyen Trai, Ho Chi Minh City
• 3rd floor, CoopMart Foodcosa, Go Vap District, Ho Chi Minh City

Read more: Discover the most unique streets in Saigon

Source Internet