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Asia travel
Survival guides, insider secrets, top things to do, eco-tours, independent hotel reviews, family-friendly itineraries: fire your imagination with the South China Morning Post’s travel guides and must-see lists for holiday destinations across China and the rest of Asia.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM
Journalist Gonçalo César de Sá at his home in Macau. Photo: Eduardo Leal

His mother stuffed zebras. He broke the biggest story in Macau’s history

Having moved from colonial conflicts in Africa to the mean streets of the Pearl River Delta, Gonçalo César de Sá has witnessed Macau’s modern history.

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The streets outside the KR (Krishna Rajendra) Market. Photo: Getty Images

Insider’s guide to Bengaluru: from flower markets to late-night bars

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An old Shanghai-style flat. Photo: courtesy hoo

This refurbished home is a love letter to old Shanghai

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Ricardo Pinto. Photo: Carlos Pimentel

He planned to only stay in Macau for a year. Now he runs the literary festival

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Wing Lei Bar’s espresso martini. Photo: Jocelyn Tam

How Macau went from cocktail desert to drinks-world darling

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A room painted in Cloud Dancer (white), Pantone’s 2026 colour of the year. Photo: courtesy Pantone

Interior design trends for 2026 reflect a decade of change

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MORE IN POSTMAG
Content from SCMP's Specialist Publications
The lavish stonework and proximity to other landmarks have long drawn tourists to the 17th century Ruins of Saint Paul, in Macau. Photo: Ronan O’Connell
Trip Inspiration

From devil-mouth caves to deer-filled parks, these sites deserve more love

From ancient temples in Bali to royal tombs in Korea, Asia’s World Heritage sites reveal rich histories beyond the spotlight.

Singapore

Singapore begins ban on ‘undesirable’ visitors, airlines to comply or face fine

India

Nipah cases in India raise regional anxiety but experts say escalation unlikely

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Japan

Why Japan’s public is ‘happy’ to see a Chinese tourist drought

Travel operators say business has so far remained resilient, with strong demand from other parts of Asia, Europe and the US.

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A Chinese tourist group is led by a tour guide in Asakusa, a popular sightseeing spot in Tokyo, Japan, in November 2025. Photo: Reuters
Indonesia

‘Cruellest’ practice: Elephant rides banned in Bali parks over welfare concerns

Asian countries, such as Cambodia and India, have ended commercial elephant rides due to the same concerns.

Tourism

How Seoul became the world’s esports capital and attracts fans from across Asia

Tickets at venues like LCK Arena sell out fast as fans travel to South Korea’s capital to see the best play games such as League of Legends.

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Editor's Letter

This week in PostMag: the many layers of Macau

This issue explores the profiles, places and passions that capture Macau’s past and present – from off-duty chefs to indefatigable storytellers.

The Ruins of Saint Paul’s in Macau feature on the cover of the January 25 print edition of PostMag. Photo: Jocelyn Tam
Japan

As Muslim tourism grows, can Japan adapt to travellers’ prayer needs?

In places where purpose-built prayer rooms are not feasible, experts say flexibility is vital to enhance visitor experience.

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China travel

Foreigners flock to China’s ice and snow sights, with 130% inbound tourism spike

Freezing temperatures will not dampen the spirits of snow seekers, as China cements its reputation as the world’s ultimate winter playground.

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Japan

Has Japan’s tourism peaked? Row with China set to slow arrivals from record high

A major travel firm says tourist arrivals in Japan are expected to fall this year from a record 42.7 million in 2025.

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People walk along Takeshita Street, Harajuku, Tokyo. The number of tourist arrivals in Japan rose by 15.8 per cent to a record 42.7 million last year. Photo: EPA
Thailand

‘So fake’: viral Lisa image for Thai tourism fuels AI concerns

The image of K-pop star Lisa Manobal framed against blooms of the Red Lotus Sea has sparked a meme wave and debate about AI in creative work.

A Thai tourism promotional image featuring K-pop star Lisa. Photo: Instagram/tourismthailand
Food and Drinks

How Macau went from cocktail desert to drinks-world darling

Will the gambling mecca’s bar scene finally hit its stride in 2026? The city’s leading bartenders speak out.

Japan

Video | Japan posts record tourist arrivals despite China row

The number of mainland Chinese tourists visiting Japan had dropped 45 per cent in the month of December amid tensions between Beijing and Tokyo.

India

Video | Men grab bull by the horns in Indian harvest festival

Critics have called the sport cruel, but for some it is a vital part of life in Tamil Nadu.

Bull tamers grapple with a bull during the Jallikattu bull-taming event at the annual harvest festival called Pongal in Palamedu village on the outskirts of Madurai, India, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
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Locals' Guide

Insider’s guide to Bengaluru: from flower markets to late-night bars

Lush parks, buzzing markets and a thriving music scene define the Silicon Valley of India.

The streets outside the KR (Krishna Rajendra) Market. Photo: Getty Images
Tourism

Cebu’s quirkiest luxury resort and the former Hong Kong-based banker behind it

Plantation Bay has been a hotspot in Cebu, the Philippines, since 1996. Owner Manny Gonzalez shares why his independent property is special.

Tourism

What is glamping like in Hong Kong? A reluctant camper gives it a try

A writer and his family head to the far reaches of Hong Kong’s New Territories for grills and thrills on their first glamping experience.

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Indonesia

Indonesia finds 1 body, wreckage from missing surveillance plane

There were seven crew members and three passengers on the plane chartered to conduct air surveillance on fisheries.

Members of the Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS), look out from a helicopter on Saturday, after a passenger aircraft lost contact while approaching a mountainous region between Java and Sulawesi islands. Photo: AP
Luxury travel

Looking for a luxury Vietnamese escape with Spanish flair? We know a place

Villa le Corail, A Gran Meliá Hotel is a stunning beachfront retreat with private villas, a Michelin-star chef and even some coral conservation thrown in.

Luxury travel

Review | How the Osaka and Kyoto Ritz-Carltons blend luxury with Japanese tradition

The Ritz-Carlton Osaka in the busy Umeda district is opulent, while the tranquil Kyoto property reflects the vibe of Japan’s cultural capital.

China travel

‘Structurally hurt’: why are Chinese tourists spending less abroad than before?

China’s outbound travel sector has bounced back from the pandemic, but the era of duty-free shopping sprees appears to be over.

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Customers shop for skincare products at a duty-free shopping mall in China’s southern Hainan province. China has opened up to more duty-free retail in recent years, reducing the need for Chinese tourists to splash out while abroad. Photo: Getty Images
Tourism

What’s fuelling South Korea’s running boom? A look at the fitness obsession

From office workers to ultra-marathoners, South Korea’s running boom is reshaping streets, travel and retail as millions hit the pavement.

Runners set off during the DMZ International Peace Marathon, in the Demilitarized Zone in Gangwon province, in South Korea, on September 21, 2025. Some 10 million South Koreans now identify as runners, according to industry and tourism data, roughly double the figure from 2015. Photo: The Korea Times
Tourism

3 underrated ski resorts that should be on your radar this winter

Ski in sight of Italy’s Mont Blanc, go from piste to onsen in Niigata and Nagano in Japan, or hit the snow at Quebec’s Club Med in Canada.

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The Philippines

Philippine tourism chief’s magazine cover draws backlash as visitor numbers slip

Christina Frasco’s cover appearance has drawn accusations from critics that self-promotion is being prioritised over strategy and results.

China travel

China’s outbound travel set to soar by 10 million trips – but halve in Japan

Chinese tourist flows to Japan could plunge to as low as 4.8 million this year from 9.3 million in 2025 amid political dispute, survey finds.

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Tourists crowd an alley in Seoul’s popular Bukchon Hanok village. Chinese outbound tourism is expected to grow in 2026. Photo: The Korea Times
Japan

Meow arriving: Japan railway’s newest cat stationmaster clocks in

Yontama is the third cat to become stationmaster on the Kishigawa Line in Wakayama prefecture after the death of her predecessor last year.

Newly appointed cat stationmaster Yontama is held by Wakayama Electric Railway President Mitsunobu Kojima on Wednesday, in Kinokawa, Wakayama prefecture, Japan. Photo: Kyodo
Tourism

Inside central Vietnam’s first integrated resort, a stone’s throw from Hoi An

Hoiana Resort & Golf has four properties, more than 20 restaurants and bars, a golf course and a casino, and is close to Hoi An Ancient Town.

Thailand

Thailand tightens cannabis sales as dispensaries face closure ahead of election

Thailand, the first country in Asia to decriminalise cannabis in 2022, tightens rules to appeal to conservative voters ahead of pivotal election.

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