If you’re heading to Shanghai for Expo 2010, you certainly won’t be alone. Over 25 million tickets have already been sold, and Shanghai city officials are predicting 70 million visitors to visit by the time the Expo wraps up in October. If you tire of traipsing through the rest of the world in the many [...]
There are some things that are obvious choices from your trip to Japan. Extra memory card to capture all those wild street fashions. Extra suitcase for vending machine trinkets. But tissues? Lonely Planet staffer Ali Lemer shares a few of the things she wishes she’d packed.
Non-Lacing Shoes
One of Japan’s best-known customs is removing shoes upon [...]
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Bali may be small in size – you can drive around the entire coast in one long day – but its prominence as a destination is huge, and rightfully . Ask travellers what Bali means to them and you’ll get as many answers as there are flowers on a frangipani tree. Virescent rice terraces, pulse-pounding [...]
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The mysterious karst peaks of Guilin and Yangshuo may lure most travellers to this province, but more and more, it’s Guangxi’s mosaic of nationalities that makes people linger.
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While the limestone scenery, dotted with rice terraces, covered bridges and drum towers makes for a bewitching combination of sights and is one of the most photographed parts [...]
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The former Portuguese colony makes more money from gambling than anywhere else in the world (US$6 billion a year), it’s the most densely populated place around (18,000 folk per sq km) and it’s home to the world’s largest casino, The Venetian.
It’s also a place where bling is king and high-rollers are driven around in Bentleys [...]
We asked international film star Jackie Chan what his perfect trip through China would look like. Here’s what he told us.
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First destination: Hong Kong
Hong Kong is my hometown and of course it’s on my list of places that people should visit in China. The first place you should go in Hong Kong is Victoria Peak [...]
No matter what you think it’ll be like the Great Wall will still blow you away. You can’t prepare yourself for the awe, but you can prepare for experiencing this ultimate historical hotspot. Here’s how:
When to visit
The best departure point for main sections is Beijing.
Go early morning or late afternoon to avoid crowds and [...]
China may be changing fast, but it’s still a highly traditional society. Showing respect for local customs will make your travels more pleasant for you and those around you. Here’s some tips to help you avoid a gaffe.
The Archaeological Survey of India has been struggling to control water damage to ancient Buddhist paintings in the Ajanta Caves in the state of Maharashtra.
The 29 caves in this UNESCO World Heritage Site are decorated with sculptures and paintings dating back as far as the second century B.C. They depict Buddhist tales and images of [...]
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This land-locked mountainous country is gaining a reputation as an ecotourist destination. Its many rivers criss-crossing the country and unspoilt national parks are ideal for activities such as trekking, kayaking and caving. The capital, Vientiane, and the other major towns have been spared major modern developments with traditional and colonial architecture still dominant.
Vietnam is an utter assault on the senses; it is at once dizzying, frenetic and fascinating. Yet it is lovable. The Vietnamese are friendly and endlessly generous, and travelling the country is nothing but a delight. The cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are both chaotic and captivating: the capital Hanoi is the [...]
The islands of the Indonesian archipelago are strung like beads across the equator. Clear blue seas lap pristine beaches, gentle breezes carry scents of spices and flowers, and divers are entranced by the ocean’s riches. Inland, dramatic volcanic ranges tower above a green mantle of terraced hillsides and lush rainforest.
Bali, Lombok and Jakarta
Bali offers an [...]
In May 2002, after 450 years of continuous foreign occupation, East Timor became the world’s newest independent state. However, East Timor’s road to independence was long and traumatic.
The Portuguese first arrived on the island in the early 16th century and by the 1550s had occupied the eastern part. The Dutch took control of the western [...]
Although a tiny state with a small population, Brunei has one of the highest standards of living in the world thanks to sizeable deposits of oil and gas.
Situated on the northern coast of Borneo in South-East Asia, Brunei is a heavily forested state where visitors will encounter the grandeur of Islamic architecture and royal tradition. [...]
The Kingdom of Bhutan is locked in the Himalayas, between India and Tibet.Countries neighbouring Bhutan are: India and China.
Only a lucky few thousand people, who can afford to spend two hundred dollars a day, get to visit the kingdom of Bhutan in a year.
The policy of restricted tourism is meant to safeguard the culture and [...]