BEST IN ASIA
1. Hokkaidō, Japan
Hokkaidō's perfect powder snow put it on the international map, but it has also
blinded visitors to the year-round charms of Japan's northernmost
island: a wild, mountainous landscape that begs exploration on foot, bike or
motorbike; alpine villages where you’ll stumble upon hidden onsen; and
sumptuous seafood – including crab, sea urchin and scallops – pulled from rich,
cold seas. Hokkaidō has become a lot more accessible this year thanks to the
new bullet train linking its southern port city, Hakodate, to Tokyo. The route is covered by the popular Japan
Rail pass (which allows for unlimited bullet train rides), and the line will
eventually extend all the way to dynamic Sapporo, the provincial capital and host of next year's Asian
Winter Games.
2. Shànghǎi, China
Looking for the centre of
the universe right now? It’s surely Shànghǎi,
where it often seems as if all 24 million-odd residents are hell-bent on having
a good time. So why not join them? Ballroom dancing in parks, sipping delicate
brews in old teahouses, or bolting platefuls of vinegar-soaked dumplings. The
booming cocktail and craft beer scenes amid the forest of neon-lit skyscrapers
show how international the city has become, yet Old Shànghǎi is never far away:
shikumen lanes bustle with life, while grand art deco buildings still line the Bund. This year’s a big one, with the first Disney resort in
mainland China
opening here, as well as the completion of the long-awaited Shànghǎi Tower, the world’s second tallest building.
3. Jeonju, South Korea
In the middle of Jeonju is one of Korea's
best-preserved traditional villages – hundreds of wooden villas with gracefully
upturned roofs housing an intriguing assortment of museums, teahouses and
artisans’ workshops. Yet tell any Korean you're headed here and they're more
likely to rave about the food than the architecture. Having long flown under
the radar as the country’s top foodie destination, Jeonju has finally started
to make mouths water further afield: Unesco crowned it as a City of Gastronomy
in 2012, and the birthplace of Korea's most famous dish, bibimbap – an
arrangement of vegetables on rice, topped Jeonju-style with bean sprouts, mung
bean jelly and beef tartar – now lures a younger crowd thanks to its
fast-emerging street food scene.
4. Con Dao Islands, Vietnam
The Con Dao Islands have moved from darkness into light: for
decades the site of a brutal penal colony, this archipelago now ranks among
Asia’s hottest emerging destinations. A national park since 1984, their appeal
encompasses coral gardens that offer Vietnam’s
best diving, rewarding hikes in wildlife-rich tropical forests, and a coastline
studded with gorgeous white-sand coves. A crop of zany café-bars have opened in
historic Con Son town to satisfy the growing backpacker market, while the
luxurious Six Senses resort caters to the international jet set. With
improved flight connections from Ho Chi Minh City, there is no better place right now to feast
on fresh seafood, explore in search of a perfect beach and revel in a castaway
vibe.
5. Hong Kong, China
This skyward-bound
metropolis always beguiles with a blend of culture, cuisine and consumerism,
but now Hong Kong is focusing on its natural heritage – specifically,
the Unesco-designated geopark, a 50-sq km region to the northeast. A shuttle
bus between the geopark’s Sai Kung town and its ancient rock formations debuted
this May, hard on the heels of a ferry service to Lai Chi Wo Village. This once
semi-deserted village has a new lease of life, too – returning villagers are
running eco-tours and cooking workshops. Back in the urban jungle, meanwhile,
artists are brightening old neighbourhoods like Sham Shui Po, and top
restaurants like Fish School
and Kin’s Kitchen are turning to local produce for inspiration on
the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to China.
6. Ipoh, Malaysia
Malaysia’s lesser-known food capital has new flair thanks to a crop of boutique
cafes that have sprung up in its historic quarter. At the heart of Ipoh’s renaissance is otherworldly concept hotel Sekeping Kong Heng, replete with glass attic rooms and
wall-free rooftop quarters. Art-cafes like Roquette, Burps & Giggles and
Everyday Lifeshop have appeared nearby, among creaky kedai kopi (coffee shops)
and elegant colonial buildings. But food pilgrims still clamour for Ipoh’s old
favourites: Lou Wong’s chicken with crisp beansprouts, and tau fu fah (tofu pudding)
at Funny Mountain. Wild escapes are close, like birdwatching by bicycle through
Kinta Nature Park or whitewater rafting near Gopeng; and with clifftop temples and fragrant Gaharu Tea
Valley nearby, Ipoh’s revival seems sure to tempt new crowds.
7. Pemuteran, Indonesia
As you float on the
teal-hued waters off Menjangan Island in Bali's
far northwest corner, the kaleidoscope of colours below you is suddenly
obscured by a rising column of bubbles… yes, divers down there are gawping at
one of Indonesia's
best coral walls. This undersea wonderland is the prime – but far from the only
– reason to stay in Pemuteran, a double bay of beaches near Menjangan (which is
part of Bali's only national park). Emerald-green rice terraces line the road
en route from the bustling south of the island to everybody's next discovery...
but don't wait until everybody arrives; catch the buzz now from this alluring
mix of art-filled resorts, inventive new restaurants and the mellowest vibe
around.
8. Trang Islands, Thailand
Thailand’s Trang Islands pack the same knockout punch as their more
famous Andaman Coast neighbours, Phuket, Ko Phi-Phi and Ko Lanta; all they lack are the crowds. Blonde beaches glisten
amid shards of jungle-topped karst; beachfront bungalows line crescents of
squeaky sand; rainbows of fish flit through the aquamarine sea. Throw in
ever-improving transport links and a sprinkling of development, and Trang’s
laid-back isles look as irresistible as a steaming plate of pad thai. Laze on
slinky Ko Kradan; snorkel off coral-fringed Ko Ngai; whizz between rice fields
on Ko Sukorn; paddle pirate-style into Ko Muk’s Emerald Cave; look for
endangered dugong off mangrove-wrapped Ko Libong. Go, now – while these sleepy
islands bask in untouched splendour.
9. Meghalaya, India
If ever there were a
candidate for India’s Lost World, it would have to be Meghalaya, the lofty limestone plateau dividing Assam’s Brahmaputra Valley from the Bangladeshi plains. So
much rain falls here that it holds the title of wettest place on earth; but
when the sky clears and the sun shines, it reveals raging waterfalls, tribal
outposts and bridges woven from the living roots of jungle trees. Opportunities
for hiking, climbing, caving and rafting abound. After decades off the tourist
map, people are starting to notice this backwater where Christianity is the
main religion, archery is the favourite sport and farmers wear turtle shell-shaped
baskets to keep dry during downpours. Meghalaya won’t stay this quiet for long;
go before thrill seekers storm the Khāsi Hills.
10. Taitung, Taiwan
Bounded by green hills and
the turquoise Pacific, Taitung is Taiwan’s secret wild card. This cradle of indigenous culture
is the place to party after harvest with music festivals and sweet millet wine.
Every Chinese New Year, Taitung town hosts arguably the island’s barmiest
festival: Bombing Master Handan, which involves throwing firecrackers at a
near-naked volunteer as they parade through the streets in a sedan chair. In
the summer, the coast comes alive for the Taiwan Open of Surfing, while the sky
fills with colour during the Taiwan International (Hot Air) Balloon Fiesta.
Stay until September to wade knee-deep through fields of orange lilies, then
feast on their spiced, deep-fried petals. Or take advantage of this rural
county’s superb whale watching, stargazing and cycling.
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