A single visit to Asia can never be enough to fully experience the astounding sights and wonders of the Orient, and any self-planned trip should immediately be followed with plans for another. For the traveler that cannot make multiple trips, a great way to enjoy the beauty of the Far East is to take a holiday on a small ship cruise in Asia.
Without further ado, here are five amazing places to consider visiting each time your ship makes a stop.
If your ship passes through Japan and docks at the ports of Shimizu, Tokyo, or Yokohama, then you can take the time to visit the mythical Mount Fuji, which is one of Japan’s three sacred mountains and is respectfully referred to as “Fuji-san” by the Japanese.
The seventh highest peak worldwide, Mt. Fuji is breathtaking at first glance, with its peak covered in snow and basked in sunlight. There are many excursions to the mountain that take groups to get a good view of the mountain as climbing it may take more time than the ships are usually docked for.
The Great Wall of China is a world-famous defense fortification that runs across Northern China and was constructed over 2,000 years ago. Extending for more than 13,000 miles, passengers whose ships dock at Beijing, China and possess valid visas can join tour groups to go about 40 miles into the northern part of the city where they can take a walk on the wall and marvel at the innovation that went into creating this magnificent relic that was listed as a UNESCO Heritage Site in 1987.
Be careful where and how you choose to climb, though, as some parts of the wall are steep and slippery.
For passengers that set anchor in Shanghai, China, there is a great opportunity to visit the City of Gardens, Suzhou. Suzhou first became known for its awe-inspiring gardens in the 6th century BC, and by the time of the Qing Dynasty from 1644 to 1911, there were at least 200 gardens in the city of Suzhou. Now, the remaining gardens number 69, and nine of them are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Tourists can wander the Lingering Gardens, the Canglang Pavilion, the Lion Grove Garden, and other locations with their guides, taking time to enjoy the botanical beauty present in Suzhou. More than a garden city, Suzhou is also a riverine city that has more canals and bridges than any other Chinese city. Tourists can also walk through the terraces and over bridges as they enjoy the marine view.
A stop in the port of Keelung, Taiwan gives cruise ship passengers the opportunity to visit the National Palace Museum in Taipei – a world-famous museum that is the seventh most visited of all the museums in the world. It features an expansive collection of over 650,000 artifacts that were acquired from the Forbidden City of Beijing’s Palace Museum between the time of the Japanese invasion of China and the Chinese Civil War from the 1930s to the late 1940s. Among the many items displayed are the Carved Olive-Stone Boat, the Jadeite Cabbage, and other precious scrolls, statues and jewels.
The Bulguksa Temple is accessible to passengers of ships that make stops at Busan port. The temple is a monument to the golden age of Korean Buddhism and is believed to have been built as far back as the 6th Century. An official UNESCO World Heritage Site, Bulguksa is home to seven of Korea’s national treasures including the Lotus Flower and Seven Treasures Bridges, the gilt-bronze Buddha of Enlightenment, and the gilt-bronze statue of a seated Amitabha Buddha. The temple itself is a striking work of ancient architecture, and many people who visit Korea are drawn to visit and pay homage at this sacred place.
An Asian cruise is always full of many amazing sights and monuments, and every port it stops at is a doorway to wonders. Holiday seekers can book luxury cruises and expeditions on Ponant.com. Whether your cruise ship stops in Tokyo, Beijing, or Taipei, there is an amazing Asian experience waiting to leave you breathless.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sabrina Iovino is the founder of JustOneWayTicket.com. She's half German, half Italian and has traveled to more than 50 countries around the globe. She feels weird to write about herself in the third person, so she'll switch now. Phew...much better! Let's restart: Hi, I'm Sab! This is my blog and I write about the things I love. Mostly.
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