Asia Travelers Recommend

After spending a night in a city of 11 million people you’re probably going to want to find some peace and quiet. At the same time, you just arrived in Chengdu so you won’t want to travel too far to get away. At 35 miles outside of the city center, the forested wilderness of Mt. Qingcheng is just the right distance for planning your escape. The preferred trekking destination of choice for local Chengdu residents, the summit of the most sacred mountain in Taosim is reachable via a 4 hour climb past ancient temples and lonely caves. You’ll want to be up early in order to reach the Giant Panda Breeding Center, easily Chengdu’s most famous attraction, for the 9am feeding time—the best chance you’re going to have of seeing active giant pandas. After learning about the curious mating techniques of captive giant pandas, take a taxi back into town for a gander at the famously strange sculpture at Qingyang Palace.

No visit to Xian’s ancient wonders would be complete without seeing the city’s symbol, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda (AD 652) and the old City Walls. Built in 1370 during the Ming dynasty, the walls are part of only a handful of ancient city walls still standing in China. A fascinating blend of Chinese and Islamic architecture, the Great Mosque is one of the largest in China. The mosque is still an active place of worship, so you’ll have to admire it from the courtyard. Next stop, Little Goose Pagoda. First constructed in the Tang Dynasty, the pagoda is a square brick construction with dense eaves and a missing top, which was shaken off by an earthquake! A visit to the 14th century Bell Tower and the Drum Tower will enlighten you as to how the ancient Chinese kept order and marked the beginning and the end of each day. You can visit all these sites, plus the Shaanxi History Museum on a full-day sightseeing tour.

Known as the cradle of Japan's cultural heritage, Kyoto was Japan's capital. Today it's the country's seventh largest city, thoroughly modern while remaining Japan's most traditional city. Day 1: Kyoto in a dayTake a one-day sightseeing tour to acquaint yourself with the layout of the city and its highlights, such as Nijō Castle, the Golden Pavilion, Kyoto Imperial Palace and Kyoto Handicraft Center. Day 2: Sushi and NaraTake a guided walk through the mile-long, covered Nishiki food markets and eclectic back streets of Kyoto, then learn how to make Japanese home-cooked food from market ingredients. Follow that up with a visit to a sake brewery museum to really cover all your Japanese gourmet bases. Day 3: Bamboo groves and neon lightFor a totally tranquil start to the day, stroll the rural bamboo groves and mountain temples of the Arashiyama and Sagano districts just outside of Kyoto.