rbarnes2's User Profile - Atlas Obscura
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Places visited in Kashi Diqu, China
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Places visited in Jiuquan, China
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Places visited in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
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Places visited in Miyoshi, Japan
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Kunming, China

Shilin Stone Forest

270 million year-old forest of stone.
Zhangjiajie, China

Tianmen Shan

999 stairs lead visitors through a massive hole in a mountain known as the Gateway to Heaven.
Zhangjiajie, China

Avatar Hallelujah Mountain

This vertical pinnacle in China was the inspiration for the floating mountains in the movie “Avatar.”
Datong, China

Hanging Temple of Hengshan

A 5th-century temple improbably built into the side of a cliff.
Nikko, Japan

Three Wise Monkeys of Tōshōgū Shrine

See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.
Kamakura, Japan

Kamakura's Seven Entrances

Narrow passes cut out of mountains surround the medieval capital of Japan.
Kyoto, Japan

Rokuon-ji Temple

This 14th-century temple is also known as the "Temple of the Golden Pavilion" for its gorgeous gilded reliquary hall.
Kumamoto, Japan

Kumamoto Castle

The iconic castle that withstood a magnitude 6.2 earthquake has become a symbol of resilience.
Miyoshi, Japan

Peeing Boy of Iya Valley

A statue erected on an infamous cliff where young boys would hold dangerous "pee offs" to prove their mettle.
Aso, Japan

Mount Aso Caldera

The largest volcanic caldera in Japan holds an entire city in its maw.
Kyoto, Japan

Kiyomizu-Dera Temple

A shrine contains nearly 200 statues of the Buddhist deity Jizo, dressed in bibs by parents who have lost a child.
Kamakura, Japan

The Great Buddha of Kamakura

A bronze statue dating back as far as 1252, still has remnants of gold on its right cheek from ancient gilding.
Hiroshima, Japan

Hiroshima's Hypocenter

A plaque marks the site directly below the mid-air detonation of the atomic bomb over Hiroshima.
Himeji, Japan

Kokoen Garden

Nine Gardens in one—with tea service.
Hatsukaichi, Japan

Itsukushima Shrine

Japanese national treasure originally built in 593 CE.
Miyoshi, Japan

The Vine Bridges of Iya Valley

Hanging over one of Japan's "hidden valleys," these vine bridges must be remade every three years.
Kyoto, Japan

Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine

The 10,000 Torii shrine.
Kyoto, Japan

Nishiki Market

This 700-year-old street food market features baby octopus and soy donuts.
Nara, Japan

Tōdai-ji Daibutsuden (The Great Buddha Hall)

This massive wooden building contains a giant Buddha, healing pillars, and tame deer wandering the grounds.
Kyoto, Japan

Sagano Bamboo Forest

The sound of swaying stalks in this stunning grove has been named a governmentally recognized sound.
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Reunification Palace

Meant to be a lavish presidential home, the palace became a symbol of the fall of South Vietnam.
Huế, Vietnam

Thien Mu Pagoda

Giant pagoda houses the car that drove Thích Quảng Đức to his death by self-immolation.
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon

Witnesses claim the Virgin Mary statue outside the church once mysteriously shed a single tear.
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Saigon Central Post Office

This French colonial post office is arguably the grandest in all of Southeast Asia.