Early Edo Gardens

As you travel through Tokyo near the Imperial Palace grounds, you may be mystified by the frequent watercourses and sudden embankments along the train tracks and roads. All across central Tokyo, you come across these reminders of old castle defenses.

The gardens and parks of present day central Tokyo hint of the open spaces that once surrounded the area until Japan started to modernize in the 19th century. Looking at a map, you can get a good impression of what the city must have looked like in the early days.  But today, the only place you can really see what Tokyo was like when it was still called Edo is in the East Garden of the Imperial Palace. It's one of two gardens you should visit if you really want a glimpse of old-time Edo.

Imperial Palace – East Gardens

When Tokugawa Ieyasu decided make the small castle town of Edo (the name for Tokyo before 1868) Japan's center of political power, he started constructing what would be the largest castle in Japan. When it was completed in 1638, it was the tallest building in the country, and its white roof tiles were made to rival Mount Fuji. But shortly after, in 1657, the castle burned down in a fire and was never rebuilt. The foundations are still there, open to the public at the East Gardens.

A wide lawn surrounds the foundations of the central tower, and barracks and gates remain to show visitors what old castle life was like. The area has been turned into a pleasant park with large trees climbing over the winding paths, which were actually part of the castle's system of defense. It's harder for an invading enemy if he does not have a straight line of attack.

Today, this is a favorite spot for Tokyoites who want to enjoy the autumn foliage, and for tourists looking for a window into history. There is no sitting on the lawn and you have to keep dogs on leashes (there are wild waterfowl in the thickets). The Imperial household also maintains the rules, so it is much quieter and more orderly than an ordinary Japanese public park. There are several buildings associated with the Imperial household in the garden area, and also the small but interesting Museum of Imperial Collections.

Hama-Rikyu Gardens

After Tokyo became the capital, the emperor maintained some of the playgrounds of the shoguns. Some of them were hunting grounds – the central Tokyo of today was then at the edge of the old city. The falcon-hunting grounds, where the shogun made day-long expeditions with trained birds in what was then a lush forest surrounded by rice paddies, is now a very ordinary a public park in Nerima (around the Ekoda-no-Mori Hospital). The duck hunting grounds on the waterfront of Tokyo Bay are more interesting. They have became the Hama-Rikyu gardens.

The area became a garden already in 1654, when the younger brother of the fourth of the Tokugawa shoguns (later the fifth shogun himself) used it for a residence. It became a detached villa of the shoguns, and eventually of the Emperor.

Surrounded by a saltwater moat, these gardens today show little that you can associate with duck hunting, except the large pond that serves as the center of the garden. Two duck-hunting sites remain, consisting of narrow watercourses with duck blinds, where hunters could shoot the sitting ducks. Near them, there is a small mound was built to console the spirits of the ducks killed over the centuries.

The duck hunting sites are features of the pond that rises and falls with the tide, the last remaining saltwater pond in central Tokyo. But the garden today is more famous for its 1,000 peonies and the 310-year old pines that surround the waterscape.

The Top 10 Tourist Destinations in Asia

Chiang Mai, Thailand - Many travelers prefer Thailand's pleasant northern capital over the hectic pace of life in Bangkok. Most of the tourist action happens within Chiang Mai's Old City, where orange-robed monks from the many temples smile as they pass. From cultural festivals and sprawling night markets to mountain trekking and numerous temples -  Chiang Mai attracts over a million visitors annually who can't wait to come back.

 Penang, Malaysia - Known as the "Pearl of the Orient," Penang is a place to relax, eat to the brink of misery, and appreciate Malaysia in a new way. Malaysians are quite proud of their large island. A legacy of colonization in Penang has produced what is arguably some of the best cuisine in all of Southeast Asia. Penang hawker food combines the best of Malay with influences from Chinese and Indian immigrants to produce mouthwatering creations such as laksa noodles. Superb eating is not the only indulgence on the island. Home to nesting sea turtles, the Penang National Park is Malaysia's youngest national park.

Singapore - Notoriously expensive and needlessly shunned by budget travelers, tiny Singapore is a modern-yet-green city/country well worth a visit for the food, mega-mall shopping, and unique blend of cultures. Yes, Singapore costs far more than neighboring Malaysia or the rest of Southeast Asia, however, the city has a pleasant vibe, lively Indian and Chinese culture, speaks good English, and is pleasant enough just to stroll. You could spend months living in Singapore and still discover hidden                                                                                       places and eateries the guidebooks have missed!

Malaysian Borneo - Sabah, one of two states belonging to Malaysian Borneo, is a natural paradise. Plentiful rainforest, endangered orangutans, and indigenous cultures are certainly worth grabbing a cheap flight from Kuala Lumpur. Sabah is the perfect balance between wild and developed. Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah, is a happening tourist city in the shadow of towering Mount Kinabalu.

Islands in Thailand - Some too small to merit a dot on a map, the islands in Thailand are among the world's most beautiful. Imagine white sand and blue water, cheap diving, and your choice of isolated tranquility or savage nightlife. The diversity of the Thai islands is amazing. Phuket and Koh Samui are developed, tourist hot spots with vibrant nightlife, while tiny Koh Lipe barely maintains electricity. Beautiful Koh Lanta is the perfect compromise.

Siem Reap - is the gateway for exploring one of Southeast Asia's most fascinating UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Angkor Wat. Over 900 years old, the temples of Angkor are scattered across 600 square miles of jungle. The jungle is slowly reclaiming the ancient temples as vines strangle ruins and break apart bricks. The picturesque Angkor temples frequently serve as movie sets and bring to life the inner-archaeologist in over one million visitors each year.

Beijing, China - Crowded, polluted, dreadfully appealing - love it or hate it, Beijing is the pounding heart of China. Amazing UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as the Great Wall and the Forbidden City make navigating Beijing's urban sprawl well worth the effort. Give Beijing a chance; rather than fleeing from the madness, stick around long enough to become a part of it. Wandering the busy streets can actually become quite addictive.

Bali, Indonesia - Bali, with its miles of beaches and volcanic landscapes, is nothing short of magic. Once only a destination for honeymooners and surfers, Bali is now one of the top destinations in Asia. Most of the action culminates in South Bali at hedonistic Kuta Beach. Travelers in search of more than a hangover head for Ubud - the peaceful cultural center of Bali - or even opt to climb a volcano in the Kintamani Region. Excellent beaches, a welcoming Hindu culture, and beautiful scenery make Bali the busiest island in Indonesia.

Tokyo, Japan - Perhaps not the cheapest of places to visit in Asia, bustling Tokyo is the world's largest metropolitan economy, even exceeding New York City. Urban marvels, talking toilets, and an aloof culture begging to be understood await as soon as you exit the airport.

Goa, India - Goa is India's smallest and wealthiest state, mostly thanks to abundant tourism. Once mainly a haven for hippie culture and electronic music lovers, Goa has grown into a sophisticated destination. Today, many excellent beaches ranging from highly developed to relatively untouched lure travelers away from hectic Mumbai and Delhi.

Ganzi Сonvent

Ganzi convent is situated at an altitude of 3500 meters in the northern part of the city of the same name. Here live about 400 monks. Around the city are scattered a dozen of various monasteries, but this one - the largest and most easily accessible if you looked into the city just for a day or two.

The Hanging Temple or Hanging Monastery

One of the most amazing monasteries in the world - an incredible church, hanging over a cliff at an altitude of 246 feet. Hanging Temple was built 1,500 years ago in China

Is a temple built into a cliff (75 m or 246 ft above the ground) near Mount Heng in Hunyuan County, Shanxi province, China. 

The passages in the rocks associated with each other for more than 40 rooms and halls. Began to build the temple is just one monk. A century later continued his other undertakings. An interesting feature of the hanging church is its own particular religion, combining Buddhism with Taoist and Confucian religious elements.

For centuries, the temple hangs over the precipice, he fears neither wind nor storm raging in the area

Most of the buildings are mounted on wooden beams, firmly driven into the rock. Not the best place for tourists, who are afraid of heights. But, if you are looking for experiences, this is a place for you to ensure.

The Temple Of the Sun In Kanark

Worldwide, there are over 1.5 dozen of temples dedicated to celestial body, without which there would be no life on earth - the Sun. About 10 temples of the Sun is in India, the rest - in China, Thailand, Pakistan, USA, South America. One of the temple stands on the shores of the Indian state of Orissa sun, in a small village Kanark.

This is not the largest of the temples of the Sun (the largest in South America), and not the oldest (the oldest temple of the Sun is in the territory of modern Pakistan). But the temple in Kanark is probably the most majestic of extant - in fact, many ancient temples have survived in the ruins. It was built in the XIII century and is a huge chariot drawn by horses with 12 wheels, which represents the course of the sun. In the church there are a lot of pictures and sculptures of figures, mostly on erotic theme.

The temple has the shape of a chariot being dragged by seven horses. True, the horse sculptures badly damaged, it is difficult to discern. On the walls of the temple carved out of stone of 12 pairs of huge wheels (equal to the number of months per year), and the whole structure represents the course of the Sun from dawn to dawn, and the movement of life.

Originally the church was much larger and grander, it consisted of 3 buildings. It is preserved to our time Jagamohana Hall (or Hall for receptions) and a dance hall. The main part of the church in which worship was twice preserved Jagamohana, but in the early 19th century it was destroyed by hurricanes and tsunamis, which often occur on the shores of Bay of Bengal. But those buildings that have survived in place of the temple of the sun, amazing courage and beauty of ideas and the extent of its implementation.

The walls of the temples are decorated with bas-reliefs depicting animals, humans, geometric patterns. On the walls of the dance hall carved stone figures of dancing men and women.

Terracotta Army. China

The complex is the tomb of Qin Shih Huang Ti is the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty - is located at the foot of Mount Lishan in more than 20 km from the city of Xian in Shaanxi province. Tomb is    striking in its originality. Qin Shi Huang (259 - 210 years. BC.) created China's first centralized state and proclaimed himself as the founder of the Qin empire. Claiming during his life to rule over all the  kingdoms, Qin Shi Huang couldn't accept the loneliness after his death. To date, the complex tomb are discovered the ruins of more than 600 graves and crypts for burial objects that were buried with the dead. On campus the tomb of Qin Shih Huang Ti found three grand tomb in which the buried terracotta statues of warriors and steeds of war. This terracotta army in detail reproduce this military unit, stand by all the rules of the Qin empire.

According to preliminary estimates, after excavation of all three crypts it will be possible to extract more than 7000 terracotta statues of warriors than 600 terracotta statues of horses, more than a hundred chariots, a few hundred thousand samples of weapons. Statues of warriors and horses are made at full-length, the height of the statues of soldiers is ranging from 1.7 to 2 m, which averages about 1.8 m. Each figure is unique. The warriors are different in appearance, posture, facial expression, as if each statue was clung from real people. The height of the statues of horses usually reaches 1.5 m, body length - 2 meters long was found just a few of the statues of warriors and steeds of war, forming part of the tomb complex of Qin Shih Huang Ti, but now this the discovery is regarded as a miracle. Archaeologists say: the tomb complex of Qin Shih Huang Ti is too grandiose to reveal all its secrets. If to work in the traditional way, then to excavate the entire complex are needed at least 200 years. It is still unknown how many more wonders the tomb of Qin Shihuna hides, and for how long will remain the undisturbed sleep a mysterious underground palace.

The Great Chinese Wall

For local residents and all foreigners entering the country, the Great Wall of China has been and will be a symbol of China.

At the entrance to the renovated part of it is the inscription of Mao Zedong: "If you is not been to the Great Wall of China - you're not a real Chinese."
The Wall - is one of the largest and most skilled construction and technical installations in the world. It stretches from the Liaodong Bay, north-east of Beijing over the North China in the Gobi desert.

Data on its length are distinct and varied. The distance from one end to the other is 2450 km, but if you consider the waste of its other ramparts, you get 6000 - 6500 km. The Great Wall runs across the border of China, but it is a protected area and only a few parts of it are opened to the public. One of such places is Badaling Pass, the second - Juyong Pass, they are both located near Beijing.

Its present guise the Wall owns the emperors of the Ming Dynasty, the tombs of which are located nearby. In many ways, it was just re-built, earth mounds replaced with brick and stone reliable facilities.

Watch towers 12 meters high, sustained winds and bad weather, have survived to our days. Once with their sites in case of enemy attack alarm passed through the signal lights at night, and smoke signals by day. Some parts of this wall have been reconstructed to recreate the old historic look and feel with a more spectacular show of this marvel, built by human hands.

The Great Wall was built as a defense line to protect the Chinese Empire from enemies. Old people say: "If one protects the gate, then 10,000 soldiers will not go."