East Asia

Overview

East Asia is characterised as being made up of the nations which have historically been influenced by the oriental cultural sphere. Geographically they are the countries lying at the most eastern end of the Asian continent and are regarded as being China, Japan, North and South Korea, Taiwan, Mongolia, Macau and Hong Kong.

These nations share many common cultural elements, such as the dominance of Confucianism and Buddhism and have led to similarities in ethical philosophy. The rise of Communism in the last century has created political divides in the region but things are rapidly changing. China opening up to the west has lead to a swing from a planned to a market economy and has resulted in dramatic economic growth.

Japan and China dominate the region. Japan is a progressive society with an interesting mix of technology and traditional cultures. If money is not an issue, Tokyo's bright lights and its extraordinary people are an amazing experience. China is a cheaper alternative. The country is full of ancient monuments, spellbinding landscapes and the Giant Panda. The country's most famous monuments include the Great Wall of China, The Terracotta Army of Xian and the mountains of Guilin. Other destinations include, Taiwan with the largest collection of Chinese artifacts in the world, flashy Hong Kong or more relaxed Macau. Mongolia offers a different experience in terms of lifestyle and culture with its nomadic groups as opposed to large cities and integrated societies.