The country's third major destination is Pagan, lying on the Irrawaddy downstream from Mandalay. Here, spread over a huge plain, are the ruins of more than 2,000 temples dating back to the 11th century. Pagan has been aptly described as "the most remarkable religious city in the world", and its architectural masterpieces are rivalled in the region only by Cambodia's Angkor.

Yangon, Mandalay and Pagan are the must-see destinations, but with so much more of the country becoming increasingly accessible, there is the chance to explore further afield and discover remote and picturesque places untouched by the modern world in a land where travel is still and adventure.

China's southwestern province of Yunnan, bordering Laos and Myanmar, is arguably the most exotic and intriguing of all the regions that make up this vast nation. It offers a staggering variety of scenery, from the high, snow-covered mountains of the north to the lush sub-tropical greenery of the south. In between are other natural marvels, such as the haunting Stone Forest and, of course, the Mekong which plunges through steep mountain gorges before entering a fabulously fertile valley in the south of the province.

Natural wonders are complemented by Yunnan's amazing cultural diversity. Although Han Chinese account for two-thirds of the population, the province preserves an extraordinary ethic mix with 24 different minority nationalities. Each group has its own identity defined by cultural, historical and linguistic differences, but most readily seen in the colourful traditional costumes which are still worn.

Yunnan is easily reached by direct flights from Bangkok to the provincial capital, Kunming, a charming place that fully justifies its popular title of "the City of Eternal Spring". Quietly confident in its own identity, it successfully blends a long past with modern comforts.

To the north lies Dali, on the shores of Erhai Lake, home of the Bai ethnic minority. It is an ancient town, still with its old walled gates, which combines a superbly picturesque setting with a number classic sights, notably the towering architecture of the Three Pagodas. Beyond is the remote town of Lijiang, centre for the Naxi tribal people, where the surrounding mountain scenery is truly spectacular.

In complete contrast, the Xishuangbanna region to the south is an area of forested hills and fertile river valleys dotted with orchards and tea plantations. Centred on the Mekong town of Jinghong, it is home to the Dai, ethnic cousins of the Tai, whose neat villages form colourful focal points amid the vivid green of a timeless landscape.

The attraction of Laos, smallest and least known of the Mekong countries, once known as "the Land of a Million Elephants", lies in its quite, traditional character and the glimpses it affords of old Asia.
The gateway is Vientiane, the capital, located on the opposite bank of the Mekong river from Thailand's Nong Khai province and accessible via the Friendship Bridge. Alternatively, there are flights from Bangkok. It is a small, tranquil city where recent development has brought a reasonable choice of hotels and a number of good restaurants. The principle sights are That Luang, the nation's most sacred shrine, and Wat Phra Keo which once enshrined the Emerald Buddha now in Bangkok.

To the north is Luang Prabang, the old royal Lao capital hidden amid the folds of high jungle-covered mountains. Wonderfully preserved in this utterly enchanting town are exquisite examples of traditional Buddhist monasteries. The resplendent former royal shrine of Wat Xiengthong, built in 1560, and the late 18th-century Wat May with its magnificent five-tiered roof are just two of half a dozen magnificent temples whose architecture is the very stuff of Oriental fairy tales.

Southern Laos is also well worth exploring, with the town of Pakse being the gateway to the Khone falls, the largest cataracts on the Mekong, and to the evocative temple ruins of Wat Phu.

After its tragic recent history, Cambodia is once again emerging as one of the region's prime tourist attractions, with the big draw being the extensive temple ruins of Angkor, perhaps Asia's single most spectacular archaeological site.More.
 

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