The Caspian Sea is the world’s largest saltwater lake, located in the heart of the Eurasian continent, between Asia and Europe. Its surface lies about 27 metres below sea level, and reaches a maximum depth of 1,025 metres near the southern part. The Caspian Sea has 50 islands, most of which are small, with Chechen Island in the northwest being the largest, followed by Tyuleny...
Attraction Introduction Located in northwestern Turkmenistan, south of the Amu Darya River. Urgench was the capital of the Khorezm region, part of the Achaemenid Empire. The monuments bear witness to outstanding achievements that influenced architecture and…
Attraction Introduction The Kaplankyr Nature Reserve is located on the Kaplankyr Plateau in Turkmenistan, bordered by Lake Sarykamysh to the north and the Gochkunyuk Depression to the southwest. This nature reserve lies within the Karakum Desert region. Features: The shrub vegetation here was once devastated, and despite 10 years of protection following the establishment of the reserve, the vegetation has not noticeably recovered...
Attraction Introduction Built with funding from Turkey, the museum opened on November 12, 1998. Located in the southern part of Ashgabat, the museum is grand in scale, covering an area of 22,500 square meters, with 16,000 square meters dedicated to exhibitions. The main building houses a conference hall, exhibition halls, offices, warehouses, a technical restoration department, and a café, among other facilities. …
Nisa Fortress consists of two groups of tell-like structures—old and new—that showcase the earliest and most significant urban sites of the Parthian Kingdom. The Parthian Kingdom was a major power from the mid-3rd century BCE to the 3rd century CE. For nearly two thousand years, this site has remained almost entirely undisturbed, preserving the excavated remains of an ancient civilization, and…
In the Presidential Square in the center of Ashgabat stands the Arch of Neutrality, symbolizing Turkmenistan’s status as a neutral country. The three supporting pillars represent the three inseparable foundations of the nation: independence, neutrality, and national unity. In the southern part of Ashgabat, there stands the...
The Sultan Ali Mausoleum is located on the outskirts of Daşoguz in northern Turkmenistan. It is one of the three buildings within the Kunya-Urgench architectural complex and also one of the most iconic landmarks in Turkmenistan. The Sultan Ali Mausoleum was built in the 16th century. Sultan Ali was a renowned Muslim teacher and poet from the 1…
Ashgabat is located on the northern edge of the Kopet Dag mountain range, in the Ahal Oasis and at the fringe of the Karakum Desert. It is the capital of Turkmenistan as well as the country’s political, economic, cultural, and scientific center. Ashgabat is an oasis city in the Karakum Desert, where gardens, lawns, and fountains can be found everywhere, with lush greenery...
The Kara-Kum Canal is an irrigation and water supply project that diverts water from the Amu Darya River in Central Asia to the Karakum Desert. Spanning across southern Turkmenistan, it stretches 1,375 kilometers in length and has an annual water discharge capacity of 13 cubic kilometers. Construction began in 1954 and was completed in 1988. After its completion, it supplied water for cotton cultivation and for the country's capital, Ashgabat...
The Door to Hell is located near the small town of Darvaza and is famous for the natural gas that has been burning like an inferno all year round. This gas crater was accidentally discovered in 1974 by geologists who came to drill for natural gas here, and it has been burning ever since. Back in the last century when geologists were drilling for natural gas here, they...
The Nam Ngum River, stretching 345 kilometers, is one of the Mekong River’s major tributaries. It originates from the Xiangkhoang Plateau in northern Laos, flows southward through Vientiane Province, and eventually meets the Mekong River northeast of Vientiane. Within a short distance, the river descends from mountainous terrain into the plains, featuring numerous meanders in its lower reaches. The surrounding plains constitute the largest rice-growing area in northern Laos, supporting over a million people.
Buddha Park is located on the banks of the Mekong River in the southeastern part of the capital Vientiane. It is a sculpture park and one of the most famous tourist attractions in Vientiane. Due to the many religious statues in the park, it is also known as Xieng Khuan, meaning "City of Spirit." Buddha Park was created by Bunleua Sulilat…
The main stream of the Mekong River is 4,180 kilometers long, making it Asia's most important transnational river system, the tenth longest river in the world, and the seventh longest in Asia. Its primary source is the Zaqu River, which originates in Zaduo County, Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, China. It flows through China’s Yunnan Province, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam, before emptying into…
Mang Xian refers to limestone caves located on peaks nestled between narrow valleys. These caves once served as carefully constructed residences and shelters for the leaders and troops of the Pathet Lao until the revolutionary victory in 1975, when they moved out after residing there for about a decade. The Mang Xian caves...
The Royal Palace Museum was built in 1904, located in the heart of Luang Prabang’s ancient city, nestled between Mount Phu Si and the Mekong River. It originally served as the royal residence for King Sisavang Vong and subsequent monarchs. 1…
Luang Prabang was the ancient capital of the Lane Xang Kingdom in Laos, nestled in a valley surrounded by mountains along the Mekong River, about 500 kilometers from the capital Vientiane. In 1995, it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. In this quaint town nestled between mountains and water, traditional Lao architecture is housed within...
Wat Si Saket was built in 1818 at the corner where Lane Xang Road and Setthathirat Road meet in the capital, Vientiane. It is a Buddhist temple and also the oldest temple in Vientiane. The French colonists undertook restoration work here in…
The Lao National Museum is located on Samsenthai Road in Vientiane, opposite the Laos National Cultural Hall. It is the largest museum in Laos. Its exhibits showcase the history of Laos and highlight the spirit and other fine traditions of the Lao people...
The Lao National Cultural Hall was funded and built by the People's Republic of China for Laos, and the hall was completed in March 2000. The four-story building features an auditorium that can accommodate 1,500 spectators, as well as two meeting rooms and a lounge. It is located on Samsenthai Street in Vientiane...
The Mekong River (Mekong River) has a main stream length of 4,180 kilometers, making it the tenth longest river in the world. It originates from Zaduo County in the Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Qinghai Province, China. It flows through Yunnan Province in China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam, and empties into the South China Sea at Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, serving as one of Asia’s most important transnational…