China's common travel circuit goes through Beijing, Xi'an, and Shanghai. But there are many other must-see destinations. Guilin and Yangshuo on the Li River, pandas and Sichuan cuisine in Chengdu, Lijiang mountains, Hong Kong shopping, Buddhist temples in Lhasa, Everest base camp, the fabled Silk Road, or a Yangtze cruise. Japan is the world's third largest economy packed into a small island. A culture all its own.
Southeast Asia is synonymous with great food, exotic culture, and wondrous sights. Thailand is the tourist hub of the region, with the gateway city of Bangkok, the hill tribes of Chiang Mai, and beaches of Phuket and Koh Samui. Vietnam features Hanoi, beautiful Halong Bay, ancient capitol of Hue, and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Cambodia is most visited for the temple complex of Angkor Wat in the city of Siem Riep. Laos has the royal city of Luang Prabang nestled on the banks of the Mekong river. Malaysia's capital or Kuala Lumpur is the gateway to Penang and northern beaches, or the orangutans and jungle island of Borneo. Myanmarremains hidden gem with its mystical cities of Mandalay, Bagan (Pagan), and Rangoon. Singaporeis the southern regional hub.