Asia Pacific

No Wonder Lord of the Rings' Middle-Earth Was Filmed Here

For 18 months, the cast and crew of the Lord of the Rings trilogy filmed their scenes across the tiny island of New Zealand

Eternally mysterious Mount Fuji, as seen from Lake Kawaguchiko, remains a powerful force in Japanese culture and a must-do hike for truth-seekers despite the crowds and the looming threat of eruption.

Why Mount Fuji Endures As a Powerful Force in Japan

Not even crowds and the threat of an eruption can dampen the eternally mysterious volcano

Ōkunoshima

The Dark History of Japan's Rabbit Island

Green waters of Lake Carezza, Italy.

Nine Places to Enjoy Naturally Green Waters This St. Patrick's Day

Leave the dye behind—these watery wonderlands are 100 percent natural

A Silk Road Wine Trail Karas Monument at the entrance of Rind Village in Vayots Dzor, Armenia.

Armenia

Can Ancient Techniques Make Modern Wine Better?

A new generation of wineries are going to painstaking lengths to acquire hundreds of historic clay karases

Eight Secrets of the Taj Mahal

One of the world's greatest memorials to love remains a place of mystery

The 2017 Harbin Ice and Snow World began trial operations December 21, which has attracted tens of thousands of tourists to take pictures here.

This Ice Festival in China Is a Rainbow-Colored Dream

Tony Lu prepares a dish.

Atlas of Eating

Meet the Michelin-Starred Chef Pushing the Limits of Vegetarian Cuisine in China

Master chef Tony Lu discusses China’s changing tastes and his own innovative approach to 'Vegetarian Fusion'

On a chilly day in Tokyo, customers slurp hot ramen at the Tsukiji fish market.

Atlas of Eating

You've Been Slurping Ramen All Wrong

In Japan, ramen is a culinary touchstone that goes way beyond food

A dog eats a special Christmas cake in Tokyo, celebrating with the festive red and white dessert. (AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye)

Why the Japanese Eat Cake For Christmas

A tradition beginning in war and ending in cake

This Isolated Australian Region Is Home to Over 100 Wineries

An Australian wine region with epic surfing beaches, a welcoming vibe and standout Cabernets and Chardonnays

The Burmese Monument That Appears to Defy Gravity

On the peak of Mount Kyaiktiyo is a mind-bending Buddhist monument: a 25-foot rock that balances precariously on the edge of a cliff

Sample of Niku Udon.

Japan's Most Mouthwatering Dishes Are Made of Plastic

Discover <i>sampuru</i>, the art of mind-blowingly realistic fake food

A sidewalk vendor, known as a "betel nut beauty," sells snacks on a curb in New Taipei.

Smithsonian Photo Contest Galleries

These Eclectic Images Reveal Taiwan's Many Moods

A highlight from our photo contest: Local photographer Yingting Shih captures surprising and unique moments in his travels

Japan'a see-through trains

Japan Is Getting “Invisible” Trains That Blend into the Landscape

Admiring the scenery just got even better

The ramen shops.

Discover the Real Ramen at a Shrine to Slurpy Noodles

The iconic dish has surprising regional roots

Smithsonian Journeys Travel Quarterly: India

What to Read, Watch and Download Before Your Trip to India

Know before you go

Jaya Jaitly has fought for the survival of traditional crafts such as the earthen pots, pans, planters, piggy banks and pradip, or oil lamps.

Smithsonian Journeys Travel Quarterly: India

Meet the Woman Fighting for the Survival of India's Traditional Crafts Culture

Jaya Jaitly aims to protect India's cultural heritage from the threat of globalized marketplaces

On a remote plateau, researchers reveal a royal capital whose splendors prefigure the glories of the Angkor complex.

The Lost City of Cambodia

Deep in the jungles of southeast Asia, archaeologists have rediscovered the remains of an invisible kingdom that may have been the template for Angkor Wat

A Jodhpur court artist painted “Three Aspects of the Absolute,” illustrating the universe’s creation according to the Nath sect. Completed in 1823, the 3.5-by-5-foot painting accompanies the manuscript Nath Charit, a part of the Mehrangarh Museum’s Jodhpur Royal Collection.

Smithsonian Journeys Travel Quarterly: India

Hatha Yoga Inspired Abstract Art a Century Before Rothko

Paintings recently discovered in Jodhpur's royal palace depict Nath yogis' understanding of the cosmos

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