VI
EN
Swat Valley, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Behind the political instability, Pakistan still retains its captivating beauty, emanating from its snow-capped mountain ranges, pristine green valleys, and towering cliffs waiting to be explored, such as the Swat Valley in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, known as the "miniature Sweden" of Pakistan.
Swat offers numerous attractions for adventurous travelers, such as Lake Mahodand, the Ushu Forest, Malam Jabba, and historical sites. You can also visit hilltop viewpoints in Bahrain and Malam Jabba to enjoy panoramic views of the mountains and the winding rivers flowing through the valleys. Imagine waking up in Swat to the soothing sound of water cascading over rocks, or witnessing the majestic Shingrai Falls at dawn. However, when traveling here, be prepared for rough roads, challenging conditions, and the risk of landslides, floods, or flight cancellations.
Lamayuru, Ladakh, India
Lamayuru Ancient Village is one of the great destinations to learn about Asian culture in general and Indian culture in particular. It boasts an ancient Buddhist monastery, the main attraction of the village, making it an ideal place for visitors to learn about Tibetan Buddhism. This Buddhist monastery is also the venue for many annual festivals. Additionally, there is Yuku Kabgyat, where lamas perform a mesmerizing and captivating masked dance.
Fenghuang Ancient Town, Hunan, China
Fenghuang Ancient Town is one of the most beautiful ancient villages in Asia. If you are a fan of Chinese historical dramas, you will find this ancient village very familiar because Fenghuang Ancient Town is an extremely famous location, frequently chosen as a filming location.
This ancient town, over 1000 years old, was built alongside the Da Jiang River, with its rows of ancient houses nestled against the mountains, all reflected in the river's waters. The combination of architecture and the natural beauty of the river and mountains creates a picturesque landscape, making everyone want to visit Fenghuang Ancient Town at least once.
Damyang, Jeollanam-do, South Korea
Damyang Bamboo Village is considered a natural wonder in South Korea, where visitors can admire the straight, lush green bamboo trees in a beautiful forest. As you stroll through the forest and immerse yourself in the canopy, the tranquility and serenity will give you a relaxing "forest bath," a respite from the stress and hustle of big cities.
When visiting Damyang, one cannot forget to mention the Damyang Bamboo Festival. The festival is an opportunity for Damyang to showcase bamboo souvenirs to visitors from all over, such as handicrafts, bags, traditional games with bamboo themes, writing on bamboo paper, reciting poetry about bamboo, making lanterns, and crafting bamboo fans. In addition, the bamboo garden offers unique Jukro tea tasting sessions under the cool shade of bamboo trees, helping visitors relieve fatigue and worries from daily life.
Biei-cho, Hokkaido, Japan
Biei-cho is a village in Hokkaido famous for its beautiful natural scenery. Locals affectionately call it "The Town of the Hills." True to its name, the views from the hills are sure to overwhelm you with vibrant carpets of flowers. During the summer and autumn months, the hills and vast fields are covered in countless varieties of blossoms, creating a dazzling and enchanting landscape. The best way to enjoy this magnificent display of color is by cycling or driving along the farmlands.
Jiufen, Taiwan
Jiufen Old Village is a village nestled in Keelung Mountain in Taiwan, about 50km from Taipei City. This ancient village preserves many old architectural styles and boasts a unique local lifestyle and culinary culture. Jiufen attracts backpackers with its romantic charm of ancient houses built against the mountainside overlooking the coast and its incredibly tranquil atmosphere. Built along the mountainside, the village consists of four layers of architecture divided according to altitude. The village is named Jiufen because originally only nine families lived there. Whenever they bought goods from the foot of the mountain, they would order nine portions. Gradually, the name Jiufen became associated with the village and remains so to this day, as it has become a famous tourist destination in Taiwan.
Baguio, Philippines
Located 730 km north of Manila, Baguio is a cool mountain town with pine forests, flower gardens, universities, mines, and winding roads. Visiting Baguio offers a welcome escape from the heat and humidity of the lowlands. The city retains historical landmarks, impressive colonial architecture, and is also a fantastic shopping destination; its shopping districts and markets offer a wide variety of local handicrafts. The most common way to get there is by bus, a six-hour journey. The best time to visit is during the dry season (November to April). Visitors should avoid Holy Week (the week before Easter), as the city experiences a population surge due to domestic tourists, and hotel prices increase accordingly.
Wuyuan, Jiangxi, China
Wuyuan is famous for its ancient houses with unique architecture, especially during the rapeseed flower season. From early March to mid-April, vibrant yellow rapeseed flowers bloom across the landscape, making Wuyuan look like a fairyland. The ancient town of Wuyuan is known as "the most charming village in China," with its irresistible beauty sure to captivate anyone at first sight. It's a wonderful destination for those who love the ancient beauty of Asia.
Pariangan, West Sumatra, Indonesia
Pariangan village is located opposite the Marapi volcano. It is one of Asia's most beautiful ancient villages, featuring 300-year-old Minangkabau houses with intricate wood carvings, woven bamboo walls, and traditional pointed roofs, known as rumah gadang. The village also boasts a 19th-century mosque and a hot spring that remains operational after centuries. The village's scenery is incredibly elegant, surrounded by perpetually warm hot springs. Pariangan is a village that holds some of the oldest cultural values in Indonesia, receiving national preservation.
Zuluk, Sikkim, India
Located on the ancient Silk Road, Zuluk is an exotic destination with the Chinese border just a few kilometers away. It has only recently opened to tourists and requires a special permit to visit the village.
Here, visitors will be amazed by the diverse and beautiful forests with their largely unexplored flora and fauna, as well as the winding roads offering breathtaking views of Mount Kanchenjunga. The spectacular beauty of Zuluk is something visitors will never forget.
Hongcun, Anhui, China
Located near the southwestern slopes of the Huangshan Mountains, Hongcun has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its distinctive features as a traditional Chinese village, with ancient roads, bridges, stone steles, an ancient library, clay statues, and numerous stone and wood sculptures. The village was founded in 1131 during the Southern Song Dynasty and has over 800 years of history. Its original name was "Hongcun," but it was changed to "Hongcun" to avoid the taboo of using the name "Hongli" from the Qianlong Emperor's reign.
With its artificial water system and unique gardens, Hoang Thon is known as "the village in a painting." Viewed from above, the village resembles a buffalo lying on a landscape of mountains and water. The nearby Lei Cuong mountain is the buffalo's head, the two ancient trees are its horns, the neatly arranged old houses at the foot of the mountain are its body, and the semicircular embankment in the middle of the village is its stomach. A one-meter-wide canal, winding for kilometers around the houses to bring spring water in, resembles the buffalo's intestines. Four bridges spanning the streams are the buffalo's four hooves.
Currently, Hongcun has about 150 ancient houses dating back to the Ming and Qing dynasties that are relatively well-preserved, each with its own unique style. One of them is a small museum. Scenes from the movie "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" were filmed in Hongcun.
Bukchon Hanok, South Korea
When mentioning the most beautiful traditional villages in Seoul, Bukchon Hanok Village cannot be overlooked, a wonderful destination for tourists wanting to learn about Korean culture. During the Joseon Dynasty, Bukchon Hanok Village was home to nobles and high-ranking officials. Today, it is a residential area for local families. In addition, many houses have been developed into guesthouses, tea houses, cafes, and cultural centers, showcasing distinctive Korean styles to serve tourists.
Currently, within the Bukchon Hanok Village complex, there are over 900 houses with a unique architectural style. Their exteriors are simple yet sturdy, while the interiors are decorated harmoniously and elegantly. These houses were built during the Joseon Dynasty, 600 years ago, and have been preserved and maintained intact to this day.
Shirakawa-go, Gifu, Japan
The ancient village of Shirakawa-go, nestled among towering pine-covered mountains in central Japan, is one of Asia's most famous ancient villages. The peaceful village boasts the unspoiled beauty of the Japanese countryside, with its wooden houses scattered along the edge of the forest, their thatched roofs in the gassho-zukuri style resembling the clasped hands of monks in prayer, and their slopes reaching 60 degrees.oTo prevent snow accumulation and retain warmth, it is commonly used for raising silkworms in winter.
Winter is the most beautiful and romantic season in the village. Snow blankets the rooftops and trees, making this small village appear ethereal and dreamlike. It takes less than half an hour to reach Shirakawa-go village from Takayama. Visitors can take a bus on the Tokyo – Toyama – Kanazawa route and then take another bus from there to the village.
Xitang, Zhejiang, China
Xitang Ancient Town is nestled between the historic city of Suzhou and the modern metropolis of Shanghai. From Shanghai, it takes only about an hour by car to reach Xitang Ancient Town. As an ancient town over 1000 years old, Xitang has long been known as "paradise on earth," a must-visit destination in China, especially for those who appreciate the ancient charm of old villages.
Xitang is a riverside town with various small rivers dividing it into eight sections, connected by 27 stone bridges. Standing on each bridge, you can see rows of old-style houses along both banks, most beautiful at sunset with its vibrant red hues. Xitang is also famous for serving as a filming location for the action movie "Mission Impossible 3," starring Tom Cruise.
Ban Rak Thai, Thailand
Ban Rak Thai, an ancient village in northern Thailand, is home to over 1,000 Chinese residents. Situated at an altitude of 1,776 meters above sea level, it's only about 44 kilometers from Mae Hong Son. The villagers still communicate in Chinese, although some younger people speak very little Thai. The Chinese community primarily earns their living through tea cultivation and processing. Ban Rak Thai is particularly famous for its vast, lush green tea plantations, giving it a pristine and ancient beauty.
Located near the border between Thailand and Myanmar, Ban Rak Thai village, although not well-known to many international tourists due to its remote location, is considered an ideal vacation spot for Thai tourism in general and Thai people in particular. To get there, you can fly to Chiang Mai and then take a bus (approximately 5-6 hours) to Mae Hong Son province. Alternatively, if departing from Chiang Mai, you can take a direct flight to Mae Hong Son, which takes only 30 minutes.
Cua Van, Ha Long, Vietnam
Nestled amidst majestic limestone mountains, the floating village of Cua Van is truly a unique charm, preserving the country's traditional culture through its moored boats and colorful floating houses. Clearly, the lives of the people have remained undisturbed by modernization.
Over 200 families have made the fishing village their home, with numerous settlements along the edge of the rocks. Visitors can take a boat from Ha Long Bay out into the open sea to enjoy the scenery of the limestone cliffs rising above the shimmering water.
