Asia Pacific – North East
Asia Pacific North East
The definition of Northeast Asia is not static, but often changes according to the context in which it is discussed.Ingeopolitics, theCouncil on Foreign Relationsdefines Northeast Asia as Japan,North Korea, andSouth Korea.ChinaandRussiaare often included in geopolitical discussion of the region to the extent their interests and policies interact with those of Japan and the Koreas. menopoz ate basmas . TheSea of Japan, theYellow Sea, and sometimes theEast China Sea and the Sea of Okhotskare included in discussions of the region.In common usage, however, the term Northeast Asia typically includes China.In this form, the core countries constituting Northeast Asia are China, Japan, South Korea, and North Korea.InBiogeography, Northeast Asia generally refers to roughly the area spanning Japan, the Korean Peninsula,Northeast China, and theRussian Far EastbetweenLake Baikalin CentralSiberiaand thePacific Ocean.
Countries of Northeast Asia Pacific
China
China, officially thePeople’s Republic of China(PRC), is the world’smost-populouscountrywitha population of over 1.3billion. TheEast Asianstate covers approximately 9.6million square kilometres (3.7million square miles) in total area and is the world’ssecond-largest country by land area,and thethird- or fourth-largest in total area, depending on the definition of total area.
North Korea
North Korea, officially theDemocratic People’s Republic of Korea, is a country inEast Asia, occupying the northern half of theKorean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city isPyongyang. TheKorean Demilitarized Zoneserves as thebuffer zonebetween North Korea andSouth Korea. TheAmnok, or Yalu, and theTumenrivers form the border between North Korea andChina. A section of the Tumen River in the far northeast is the border withRussia.
Japan
Japanis anisland nationinEast Asia. Located in thePacific Ocean, it lies to the east of theSea of Japan,China,North Korea,South KoreaandRussia, stretching from theSea of Okhotskin the north to theEast China SeaandTaiwanin the south. Thecharacters that make up Japan’s name mean “sun-origin”, which is why Japan is sometimes referred to as the “Land of the Rising Sun”.
Mongolia
Mongolia, is alandlockedcountryinEastandCentral Asia. It is bordered byRussiato the north andChinato the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border withKazakhstan, its western-most point is only 38 kilometres (24mi) from Kazakhstan’s eastern tip.Ulan Bator, thecapitaland largest city, is home to about 45% of the population. Mongolia’spolitical systemis aparliamentary republic.
South Korea
South Korea, officially theRepublic of Korea, is asovereign statein the southern part of theKorean Peninsula.It is described in a 1948 U.N. resolution as the only lawful government in Korea.The name “Korea” is derived fromGoryeo, a dynasty which ruled in the Middle Ages.
Hong kong
Hong Kong is one of twoSpecial Administrative Regions(SARs) of thePeople’s Republic of China(PRC), the other beingMacau. Acity-statesituated on China’s south coast and enclosed by thePearl River DeltaandSouth China Sea,it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour. With a land mass of 1,104km2(426sqmi) and a population of seven million people, Hong Kong is one of the mostdensely populated areasin the world.Hong Kong’s population is 95percent ethnic Chinese and 5percent from other groups.Hong Kong’sHan Chinesemajority originate mainly from the cities ofGuangzhouandTaishanin the neighbouring Guangdongprovince.
Top Attractions of Northeast Asia
The Forbidden City of China
The Forbidden City, or Palace Museum, sits at the center of Beijing, directly north of Tiananmen Square where the famous portrait of Mao Zedong hangs on the palatial crimson wall. It was the imperial seat for Ming and Qing dynasty emperors from 1420 until 1912 when the last emperor, Pu Yi, abdicated. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.
The Great Wall of China
TheGreat Wallwinds its way across China covering over5,500 miles (8,850 km). While the latest construction occurred after 1368 during the Ming Dynasty, construction of the Great Wall began over 2,000 years ago. In fact, the Great Wall is actually made up of a number of interconnecting walls spanning China that different dynasties and warlords constructed over the years.
Gyeongju Bulguksa Temple and Seokguram Grotto Tour
Regarded as a roofless museum, Gyeongju has numerous relics and remains dating all the way back to the Silla Kingdom (BC 57AD 935).In particular, Bulguksa Temple and Seokguram Grotto, which have both been designated World Cultural Heritage Sites by UNESCO, are must-see destinations.Dabotap and Seokgatap, granite pagodas engraved with bamboo and lotus flower patterns, are popular spots for photo opportunities. Seokguram Grotto is a dome-shaped stone cave made from some 360 granite plates. The marveling construction of Seokguram Grotto, built with unprecedented precision, features a gem on the forehead of the beautiful and magnificent Buddha statue and is an incredible sight to behold at sunrise.
DMZ-Tour
The DMZ is a place where you can see the truce line that separates Korea into south and north, making it the only divided country in the world. As public access to the DMZ is strictly restricted and the area is guarded by both South and North Korean soldiers, the DMZ remains a virtually undisturbed zone. Therefore, rare plants and animals are often spotted there. You can also see stern guards defending their respective territories at the Panmunjeom security posts. You may even get a glimpse of North Korean residents through a telescope at any number of observatories.
Mount Kumgang
Mt. Kumgang is located in the southeast part of North Korea that is well-known for its picturesque beauty. Today, the mountain is not accessible from the North because it has been launched as a Special Tourism Zone, which is under an absolute arrangement with the Hyundai company of South Korea. The said agreement started in November of 1998 and since then, almost two million visitors from South Korea and from other countries have visited Mt. Kumgang.
Kaesong Old Quarter
Kaesong Old Quarter has about two hundred thousand residents but eight hundred years ago, its population was near to four times when it was still the capital of the Koryo Dynasty. Kaesong used to be an extravagant, wealthy and sophisticated metropolitan area that was filled with Buddhist nobles. However, it was neglected for centuries and three major wars left the metropolis in ruins. Nowadays, there are a few relics and museums in Kaesong Old Quarter that present various significant artifacts and depict the history of the city.
Goryokaku Fort
Goryokaku is unarguably one of the top sites to see in Japan and also one of the most recognizable landmarks in the country because of its beautiful star-shape design. The military fort of Goryokaku is today a stunning park surrounded by thousands of cherry trees making Goryokaku fort one of the best places to see cherry blossoms in Japan
Tokyo Imperial Palace
Tokyo Imperial Palace is not only one of themostpopular places to go in Japanbut also one of thetop 10 tourist attractions in Japan. The Imperial Palace is truly an impressive landmark to visit not only for its beauty but also for its historic value being the residence of the imperial family who make special appearances throughout the year such as on New Years Day
Waterfall Ulaan Tsutgalan (Orkhon)
It is a waterfall on the Ulaan River cascades from an impressive height of 20 meters, and it extends for 100 meters from the Orkhon River. The Orkhon River flows through basalt rocks from the Gyatruu range to Karakorum soum. The waterfall is a great spot for bird watching and fishing. You can also visit a local horsemen family. There we have an opportunity to experience their way of life, their culture and traditions
Karakorum and Erdene zuu monastery
The sites of this ancient capital of Mongolia Karakorum ( spelled also Kharkhorin) and the Erdenezuu monastery with their 108 stupas are undoubtedly at great interest to travelers. Located 370 km away from Ulaanbaatar Elevation is 1600 meters above sea level. Genghis Khan’s fabled city was founded in 1220 in the Orkhon valley, at the crossroads of the Silk Road . Building was completed by his son, Ogedei Khan, after Genghis’ death, but Karakorum served as the capital for only 40 years before Kublai Khan moved it to what is now Beijing . Following the move, and the subsequent collapse of the Mongolian empire, Karakorum was abandoned and then later destroyed by hordes of Manchurian soldiers. The symbolic ruins of Karakorum monumental walls (400 m of length) with 108 stupas, surround the first Buddhist monastery in Mongolia Erdenezuu Monastery, built in 1586. In 1792, it housed 62 temples and 10,000 lamas; which itself was badly destroyed during the Stalinist purges in 1930s. After democratic movement in 1990, it has become an active monastery again. Turtles carved from the stone marked the boundaries of the complex. Today it retains much of its former glory. Enclosed in an immense walled compound, the 3 temples within are dedicated to the 3 stages of Buddha’s life: as a child, adolescent and adult. The main, central temple is called the Zuu of Buddha and has statues of Buddha as a child. Outside the monastery walls are 2 ‘turtle rocks’. Four of these once marked the boundaries of ancient Karakorum.
Ocean Park
The citys best theme park by a mile, Ocean Park is packed with both high adrenaline, stomach churning rides, and some jaw dropping sealife shows. The selection of attractions makes the theme park a good day out for all ages and there is more than enough to keep everyone interested for a full day. Dolphin shows and sharks (not together) and a spectacular Jellyfish exhibition, which uses lasers and lights, are just some of the highlights. Hong Kongs Giant Pandas also call Ocean Park home. Find out more in our full review.
Hong Kong Heritage Museum
The unimaginative name might conjure up images of dusty pieces of pottery and random Skelton parts, but the Hong Kong heritage museum offers so much more, with interactive displays and exhibitions meaning there are plenty of buttons to press and videos to watch. Hands-down Hong Kongs best museum, if you want to discover a little more about this often misunderstood city, and you dont want to be bored, the heritage museum is a must.
