Asia Pacific

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

Coober Pedy's Serbian Orthodox Church—owned by the Diocese of Australia and New Zealand—is just one of the city's otherworldly underground buildings.

Half of the Inhabitants of This Australian Opal Capital Live Underground

Unearth Coober Pedy, the Outback's hidden city

Trains link the greatest of Indian cities to the humblest of rice-farmer hamlets.

Smithsonian Journeys Travel Quarterly: India

Want to See More of India? Take the Indian Railway

A window on the world from a four-bunk sleeper car

One hundred and eleven new buildings were constructed in the downtown area between 1931 and 1933. The vast majority took their cues from Art Deco, the era’s cutting-edge architectural trend.

How an Earthquake Turned This New Zealand Town into the Art Deco Capital of the World

Napier turned its tragic past into an architectural wonder

Artist Jaroslaw Koziara grew different types of plants to create a fish "crop circle" between the Polish and Ukrainian border.

These Unusual Border Crossings Are Worth the Wait

From mountains to cafes, the world is full of strange and beautiful ways to cross into other countries

Otherworldly Photos From Inside One of the World's Largest River Caves

Studded with cave pearls and home to elusive giant spiders, this cave is one of Laos' hidden treasures

Smithsonian Journeys Travel Quarterly: India

Nine Unique Gifts You Should Buy in Delhi

Smithsonian Journeys Travel Quarterly: India

Smithsonian Journeys Travel Quarterly: India

Explore India's vibrant history, picturesque locales and delicious eats

A group enjoys an igloo hot tub at Iglu-dorf.

Immerse Yourself in the World's Most Breathtaking Baths

From ice-encrusted hot tubs to baths made of beer, don't miss these six spectacular soaks

The entrance to the Pavilion Kuala Lumpur mall is covered with sparkling archways.

Giant Christmas Displays Are Taking Over Malls Throughout Asia

These malls know how to get into the holiday spirit

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