With an abundance of explorable outdoor space, it’s no wonder that the country is earning a reputation as an adventure travel destination, especially among those taking to trails on foot.

Is Kyrgyzstan the Next Adventure Travel Destination?

Breathtaking hikes, yurt stays and opportunities for cultural immersion are attracting trekkers from around the world

Tang yuan fill the bowls of Asian households worldwide during Lunar New Year celebrations, the white, spherical desserts serving as edible representations of the moon shining overhead.  

A Lunar New Year Staple, Tang Yuan Are a ‘Dose of Luck and Sweetness’

The chewy rice balls ooze with indulgent filling and layers of symbolism

This small, bucolic waterfall in Western New York has one highly photogenic feature: a grotto lit by a dancing orange flame.

Seven Natural Phenomena Worth Traveling For

You need to be in the right place at the right time to see these celestial and earthly wonders

This May brings the Kunstsilo Nordic Art Museum to the southern Norwegian city of Kristiansand.

The Most Anticipated Museum Openings of 2024

Scheduled to launch this year are new institutions dedicated to astronomy, Nintendo and women artists

Located in the White Andean Mountain Range near Huaraz, Alpamayo is among the most beautiful peaks in the world.

Smithsonian Photo Contest Galleries

Grab Your Hot Cocoa and Enjoy These 15 Gorgeous Images of Snowy Landscapes

These highlights from the Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest feature winter wonderlands

Malus sieversii is a wild apple native to the mountains of southern Kazakhstan.

Saving the Apple’s Ancient Ancestor in the Forests of Kazakhstan

Found in the Tian Shan mountains, Malus sieversii could hold the secret to making other species of the fruit more stress-resistant

Plov is a dish made of rice, beef or lamb, oil or animal fat, carrots (usually cut into matchsticks), and onions, cooked with cumin and salt in a large pot.

Rich or Poor, Uzbeks Eat Plov

The beloved medley of rice and meat is the national dish of Uzbekistan

Almost like an arrow, the somewhat triangular shape of the architectural framework points this pedestrian in the right direction.

Smithsonian Photo Contest Galleries

Appreciate Awesome Architecture With These 15 Photos

No passport is needed for this virtual tour of beautiful buildings around the world

Just before sunset, the peaks of Gokyo Ri in Sagarmatha National Park peek through the clouds.

Smithsonian Photo Contest Galleries

Soar Through the Himalayas With These 15 Breathtaking Photos of Nepal

Travel vicariously to one of the world’s most picturesque locales

This year's top titles include The Last Ride of the Pony Express, Elixir, Airplane Mode, and more.

The Best Books of 2023

The Ten Best Books About Travel of 2023

Take a trip without leaving home with these adventurous reads from this year

A bustling street in Hanoi, Vietnam, in March 2023, when retired Colonel Robert Certain (pictured in inset) returned as part of a special trip with other veterans.

Fifty Years After Their Release, Former Vietnam POWs Journey Back to Hanoi

A group of American veterans return to the infamous compound where they and hundreds of other service members were held captive and tortured during the war

Kakadu peaches, like these harvested in Murdudjurl country in Kakadu National Park, are earthy with botanical notes.

The Next Superfoods May Come From Australia

But Indigenous people—who stand to benefit the most from the commercialization of “bush tucker”—represent only 1 percent of the industry

A high school soccer player remembers to keep her eye on the ball, even when soaring midair.

Celebrate the Women’s World Cup With 15 Stunning Soccer Shots

Achieve the goal of viewing these highlights from the Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest

The train will now travel along two seasonal routes between Singapore and Penang.

This Luxury Passenger Train Will Return to Southeast Asia

The revamped Eastern and Oriental Express will begin running again in February 2024

Researchers standing next to the tree at Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon National Nature Reserve look small by comparison.

See the New Tallest Tree in Asia, a 335-Foot Cypress

Easily taller than the Statue of Liberty, the behemoth is likely the second-tallest known tree in the world

Spam musubi, a Japanese-American dish created in Hawaii, is made of Spam, rice and seaweed.

How Spam Became a Staple of Asian Cuisine

When American G.I.s fought abroad in wars in the 20th century, they left behind an unlikely legacy: canned meat

Since the pandemic began, the country has implemented strict zero-Covid poicies.

China Fully Reopens to Travelers After Three Years of Closures

Hoping to boost its tourism industry, the country is now issuing all types of visas

Even before the Covid-19 restrictions, tourism numbers were dropping amid widespread demonstrations.

Hong Kong Is Giving Away 500,000 Free Plane Tickets

The government hopes to boost tourism in the wake of the pandemic and civil unrest

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The Sake Master Who Bucks Ancient Tradition—in America

The ancient Japanese art of brewing a fragrant alcoholic drink from rice is being reinterpreted by Atsuo Sakurai in an unlikely setting

Yakumo Academy High School karate team members practice a kata. Competitors are judged on such things as strength/power, deportment and interpretation.

The Paris Olympics

The Centuries-Old Sport of Karate Finally Gets Its Due at the Olympics

With the games set for Japan, the martial art will at last debut at next month’s competition

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