The very edge of the Eurasian continent, caressed by the waters of the Pacific Ocean, East Asia is a clear example of how seemingly obvious opposites can coexist in a small area. Here is planned-socialist China, in the neighborhood are the economic wonders of Taiwan, and a little further away is the spiritual center of mankind Tibet, where the ideas of both communism and capitalism decisively lose all value. Here is South Korea, progressive and democratic, but North Korea is ideologically sustained, collectivist and “a step to the right, a step to the left – execution.” Here is the steppe Mongolia with endless flat plains stretching beyond the horizon, shaggy horses and koumiss, but skyscrapers, artificial islands and exquisite puppet traditions of Japan. Primitiveness and futurism, wild nature and scientific progress, conservatism and openness – all this awaits you in East Asia.
This amazing contrast is the first thing you should go to East Asia for. Sitting in an ultra-modern restaurant on the “twentieth” floor of some skyscraper in Ginza, it is hard to imagine that just a couple of hundred meters behind the “paper” sliding doors of a traditional house under a roof with a ridge, a measured life that has not changed for centuries is slowly going on. And being in the Demilitarized Zone, it is no less difficult to realize that the sad events of the division of countries and peoples are still taking place in the modern, seemingly progressive and spiritual world.
Speaking about other advantages of East Asian tourism, it is certainly worth mentioning the more than attentive, if not to say, loving attitude of the local population towards foreign guests. This is expressed, firstly, in an exceptionally high level of service: in Japan, for example, you can, without fear, settle in a modest “kopeck piece”: the maximum possible comfort of a tourist is a priority for Japanese hoteliers. Secondly, punctuality flourishes here: you can add up legends about going on excursions minute by minute!
Among other things, with the “red-faced” guests here they literally rush like a chicken and an egg: it is absolutely impossible to get lost during independent walks – they do not suggest the way here, but personally take them to the right place.
There is no need to list the “obvious” objects of tourist interest in East Asia: any fifth grader knows about the Great Wall of China and the terracotta army of Qi Shi Huang, and any fashionista knows about Mikimoto pearl farms and miraculous cosmetics based on oyster extracts. In addition, in the region you can play golf with high quality and inexpensively (there are more than 150 clubs in Korea alone), improve your health at thermal springs, move away from the hustle and bustle and find yourself in the monasteries of Tibet soaring above the clouds, climb the Himalayas, and have a good time on the beaches Hainan, walk along the centuries-old roads of the Great Silk Road, and finally understand what real Chinese noodles are, and learn how to really pick up slippery rice grains on ephemeral sticks (and even bring them to your mouth!).
Of the few disadvantages of the direction – a long flight (of course, from the European part of Russia, residents of the Far East surf the East Asian expanses without much effort and expense) and the need to obtain a visa. Well, it is worth mentioning the relative high cost of the region – Japan, for example, will significantly lighten your wallet. However, as compensation, unforgettable impressions of East Asia will remain – colorful, amazing and invariably welcoming.
According to Countryaah, Eastern Asia has the following countries:
- People’s Republic of China
- Republic of China (Taiwan)
- Japan
- North Korea
- Republic of Korea
- Mongolia
