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The 7 Wonders of the Asia represent some of the most iconic innovations or achievements of mankind from across the continent.These wonders represent the work of mankind, whereas the natural wonders of Asia are a separate collection.
- Thailand
It is located in Southeast Asia sharing borders with Laos,...
- Turkey
Turkey is considered an Asian country that serves as the...
- Bangladesh
Officially known as the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, the...
- Vietnam
The country is the easternmost situated on the Indochina...
- Japan
Japan is an island-based country located off the eastern...
- Nepal
Mount Everest is the highest elevation on earth. It is one...
- South Korea
7 Wonders of South Korea Officially known as the Republic of...
- United Arab Emirates
7 Wonders of United Arab Emirates The United Arab Emirates,...
- Thailand
Asia’s natural charm and range of qualities is the starting point to discovering its wonders. Great minds spawn even greater monuments that persist through time. Explore the Seven Wonders of Asia boundless quantities of wonders from the depths of history.
- Overview
- Gokyo Lakes Trek, Nepal
- Chocolate Hills, the Philippines
- Mount Kelimutu, Indonesia
- Zhangye Danxia Landform, China
- Hang Son Doong Cave, Vietnam
- Ban Gioc-Detian Falls, Vietnam-China Border
- Jigoku Valley, Japan
You are probably going to want to add some of these to your bucket list.
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A stunning alternative to the popular Everest Base Camp trek is summiting Gokyo Ri (17,576 feet) via the turquoise waters of the Gokyo Lakes. Fed by enormous Ngozumpa Glacier, the six lakes fan out over more than six miles of land, and make up the highest freshwater lake system in the world. The summit of Gokyo Ri affords vistas of towering Himalayan giants such as Lhotse, Nuptse, Makalu, Cho Oyu, and Gyachung Kang, weather permitting. Stellar Everest views are part of what makes this trek appealing—a view that comes without taxing the limited infrastructure at Everest Base Camp itself.
Getting There: Book a Gokyo Lakes trek with a tour company in Kathmandu, via a short flight to Lukla.
In rainy season these conical hills are more green than chocolate, but once the rains stop the Chocolate Hills turn brown. Consisting of about 1,776 mounds jutting up from the island of Bohol, the hills are a national geological monument of the Philippines. Geologists theorize that karst rocks eroded in unison and formed the hills, leaving behind a landscape now covered in flora. Several local legends offer more colorful explanations. Among them: Two giants went to battle, hurling stones and sand back and forth until they were too tired to fight. Left in their wake? The perfectly formed Chocolate Hills.
Getting There: From Tagbilaran, Bohol’s capital, take a tour to the hills, or DIY via a bus to Carmen, followed by a 10-minute walk from the main road.
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MOUNT KELIMUTU
Time-lapse of the crater lakes show their glistening colors. Video by Olga Khotoshunova, Shutterstock
While remote, Mount Kelimutu’s lunar landscape and shimmering waters make it a worthwhile trek. Located on the island of Flores, Kelimutu’s claim to fame is its three summit crater lakes, each with a different-hued pool. Geologists have studied the crater over time for its chameleonlike properties. Each lake has shifted from one color to another over the years as it comes into contact with mineral-rich underwater fumaroles. The surprise element of a Kelimutu visit is that you rarely know what colors will greet you when you summit the volcano.
The term “Danxia landform” describes not only the mountains of the Zhangye Danxia Landform Geological Park near Zhangye, China, but also several other areas in China. Each was created over millions of years when the movement of tectonic plates and the weathering of sandstone created these magnificent vistas. The striation within the Danxia rocks results from the crumpling of limestone as the rocks compressed together over time. In 2010, UNESCO recognized six landforms as the China Danxia. The Zhangye Danxia landform is the biggest, covering more than 3,200 square feet. Several viewing platforms offer scenic glimpses of the surrounding rainbow rocks.
Getting There: Zhangye, in China’s Gansu Province, is the nearest city. A taxi can be arranged from Zhangye to the park. Day tours are also possible via Zhangye.
Located within Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Hang Son Doong is one of the world’s largest, with its main cavern big enough to house a Boeing 747 plane. A wide, fast river that tunneled through the Earth over time formed Hang Son Doong, whose name translates from Vietnamese to “mountain river cave.” Ho Khanh, who took refuge within it during a storm, discovered Son Doong in 1991. Lost again until 2009, the cave is now open to tourism. Proposed developments, including a cable car, have raised concerns with environmentalists. For now, only Oxalis Tours is licensed to guide tourists through Hang Son Doong.
Getting There: Oxalis offers multiday expeditions for $3,000 (U.S.). An alternative for those in the area is Thien Duong Cave (Paradise Cave) in the same national park. Buses run to Phong Na from Dong Hoi and from Hanoi.
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Ban Gioc-Detian Falls
This aerial footage offers a captivating look at the expansive falls that sit on the border of China and Vietnam. Video by Jimmy Tran, Shutterstock
Much like Niagara Falls, straddling the United States and Canada, Ban Gioc-Detian Falls sits on a border in Asia: that between Vietnam and China. Surrounded by karst rocks and green forest, the twin waterfalls tumble down in tiers to the Quay Son River below. While the waters’ vertical drop is slight, the width of the cascades make for an impressive sight. Swimming is prohibited, but you can take small bamboo rafts to the very edge of the falls. During the hot rainy season from May to September, the Quay Son swells, widening the water flow considerably.
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Located on the island of Hokkaido, Jigoku Valley is part of the Shikotsu-Toya National Park near the town of Noboribetsu. The region is famous for its healing onsen thermal hot springs, experienced via spas at the city’s hotels or outdoor mineral pools. A more sulfurous option is Hell Valley, the 24-acre geothermal crater left in the wake of Mount Kuttara’s eruption thousands of years ago. The city has set up boardwalks around the valley, allowing people to meander through the many steam caves and geysers. Don’t miss the Oyunuma Brook natural footbath, a healing spring within the park.
Getting There: Trains service the Noboribetsu station in town, a quick bus ride away from the hot springs area.
- Raja Ampat Islands, Indonesia. Located just off the island of New Guinea’s West Papua province, the Raja Ampat islands, otherwise known as the “Four Kings”, enjoy some of the most spectacular marine-biodiversity in the world.
- Inle Lake, Burma (Myanmar) Inle Lake may not be the largest in Burma (Myanmar), but we think it is the most beautiful. As James Jayasundera, Ampersand’s MD, vividly describes upon his most recent visit: "Slicing through the water on Burma’s Inle Lake on a long-tail boat: The water, mountain and sky seemed to merge with one another and the colours were washed out into shades of blue and grey.
- The Taj Mahal, Agra, India. We could not forgive ourselves, nor would any of our clients, if we did not include the Taj Mahal in our list of The Seven Wonders of the Asian World.
- Great Wall of China, China. The building of The Great Wall of China began in some sections as early as 7th century BC. It was largely maintained by the Ming Dynasty in order to prevent attacks from the surrounding nomadic tribes and was most famously penetrated by Genghis Khan and his formidable army.
May 19, 2015 · As the world's largest continent, Asia is home to many of Earth's most breathtaking sites. Here are 27 of our favorite natural wonders in Asia.
- Caroline Morse Teel
Jan 10, 2022 · Seven Wonders Of Asia: The continent has its own natural charm and is home to amazing monuments, wildlife, and so much, here are the seven wonders of the largest continent asia and much more on ...
Oct 24, 2022 · From vast deserts and tropical rainforests to magical underwater worlds and majestic mountains, there are plenty of natural wonders in Asia to explore!
