Tessa Kaur

If you grew up in certain parts of Asia, the thought of Chinese food might evoke thoughts of Lunar New Year reunion lunches, comforting meals made at home, and late-night dim sum suppers. But Chinese cuisine is far more than that, and has been reinterpreted by culinary masters across the continent, showcasing its potential for sophistication and what Chinese gastronomy can look like. Elite 15 Asia has just released its ranking of the fifteen most distinguished restaurants across the region, guided by the Asia Taste Advisors Panel, chaired by acclaimed food critic Agnes Chee, and composed of Michelin-starred chefs, entrepreneurs, and cultural leaders. These restaurants, found in China, Hong Kong, Taipei, and Macau, showcase the best and most innovative of Chinese cuisine. Topping the list is The Chairman, a modern Cantonese spot in Central, Hong Kong. The one Michelin-starred restaurant, which had a modest start in a quiet lane in Sheung Wan, is one of the world’s most influential Chinese restaurants. With a focus on fresh ingredients rather than recipes or novelty, the restaurant is best known for its steamed fresh flowery crab with aged Shaoxing wine, fragrant chicken oil, and flat rice noodles. This signature dish remains on the menu, but diners can only order one of the set menus emailed to them a few days in advance of their reservation. The second entry on the list, and right next door to The Chairman in Central, Hong Kong, is Wing, the second restaurant from chef Vicky

In a world first, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) has announced that, starting from October 1, 2026, travellers flying out of Singapore will be charged a Sustainable Aviation Fuel Fee as part of their flight ticket. This only applies to outbound passengers and not transit passengers. Don’t worry, the levy isn’t unreasonable, especially if you tend to travel on a budget. The amount charged depends on the distance flown and whether you’re in economy or a premium cabin (business and first class).  This means that if you typically fly economy or premium economy, your lowest levy will be just SGD $1 to fly within Southeast Asia, and the highest will be SGD $10.40 to fly to the Americas. That said, if you fly business or first class, you’ll pay four times more than economy travellers, which means SGD $4.00 to fly within Southeast Asia, and SGD $41.60 to fly to the Americas. This is because longer flights consume more fuel. The bands and prices are as follows: Band 1, Southeast Asia. SGD $1 for economy, SGD $4 for premium. Band 2, Northeast Asia, South Asia, Australia, Papua New Guinea. SGD $2.80 for economy, SGD $11.20 for premium. Band 3, Africa, Central and West Asia, Europe, the Middle East, the Pacific Islands, and New Zealand. SGD $6.40 for economy, SGD $25.60 for premium. Band 4, Americas. SGD $10.40 for economy, SGD $41.60 for premium. It’s still extra money out of your pocket, but take heart in the fact that you’re supporting meaningful change for the env

You’re probably familiar with UNESCO as the part of the United Nations that establishes World Heritage Sites, giving landmarks with cultural and natural heritage legal protection under an international treaty.  You’re probably less familiar with its Creative Cities Network, which recognises cultural hubs for their work in “championing creativity as a driver of sustainable urban development”. UNESCO has just added 58 new cities to its network, which now comprises 408 cities across more than 100 countries, including several cities within Asia.  Among the Asian cities added is Dumaguete City, Philippines, as a City of Literature. Dumaguete has produced several literary award winners and is the home to two of its National Artists. It is the home of the Silliman University National Writers Workshop, the longest-running writers' workshop in Asia, and the Silliman University Library, which houses around 100,000 literary works. The city also has an annual literary festival. Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City was also honoured as a City of Film, the first in Southeast Asia. The city is a cinematic cultural hub for the country, holding international film festivals and events, and it continues to support filmmakers in the city with creative spaces, facilities, cultural centres, and startup centres.  Another notable addition was Songkhla, Thailand, as a City of Gastronomy. The city is known for its unique culinary culture, drawing on influences from Thai, Chinese, Malay, and Persian cuisines. It

You’re not alone if you’re feeling like you’ve got to pinch pennies in the coming year – the economy is bad, and outside of crossing your fingers for a big pay raise, there isn’t much we can do about our finances but tighten up our budgets. That shouldn’t stop you from taking a well-deserved break from life and exploring new cities, though. In fact, there are quite a few places that are definitely more worth visiting now than they were last year, because the prices of plane tickets there have dropped. The popular flight price comparison website Skyscanner has crunched the numbers to figure out which destinations have seen the biggest year-on-year price drops, making them the most worth visiting in the coming year. Even better, two of those locations are in Asia, making them even more affordable to travel to if you already live in the region. Coming in second place on the list is Goa, India, which has seen a hefty 34 percent drop in ticket prices. The city has long attracted tourists with its beautiful white sand beaches offering sunbathing and water sports, exciting nightlife and rich culture, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and high-end luxury resorts. Visit in March to celebrate the colourful Holi festival, or between November and February for the best weather. It’s generally cheapest to fly in February. Tenth on the list is Phnom Penh, Cambodia, which is tied with Ottawa, Canada, and Murcia, Spain, with a 20 percent price drop. The oft-overlooked city, Cambodia’s capital, is

There are a lot of reasons to love cruises – ample activities for the whole family, entertainment galore, and a plethora of dining options – and Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas is one of the most luxurious cruise operations around. If you’ve been itching to check this particular ship out and hop on a getaway, great news: it’s finally returned to Singapore, where it will remain until March 2026.  Ovation of the Seas has an absurd number of activities available on-board. For the adrenaline junkies, the ship has RipCord, the first skydiving simulator at sea, FlowRider, its iconic surfing simulator, and a 40 foot rock climbing wall. SeaPlex, a sprawling indoor activity area, has bumper cards, roller skating, arcade games, and a sports court. The North Star, a jewel-shaped capsule that brings you 90 meters above sea level, will give you breathtaking 360-degree views of the sea. There are a whopping 17 dining options, including Jamie’s Italian, from celebrity chef Jamie Oliver. If you’re looking for nightlife, there’s the Latin-themed club Boleros onboard, and a state-of-the-art space named Two70 that combines aerial acrobatics, robotics, and projection-mapped visuals.  If this all sounds like a dream come true, you’re going to love this next part. As part of Royal Caribbean’s 11.11 sales, if you book select Ovation of the Seas vacations from Singapore to Penang, Phuket, or Bali, you can enjoy up to SGD $1,300 in savings, including instant savings of at least $150 per room. I

If you’re from one of those countries where train or metro stations are just a means to an end, a dreary sight that you tune out on your daily commute, you’ve likely never thought of train stations as having a ton of aesthetic value. In some places, however, special effort is made to make these transitory spaces beautiful and pleasant to be in. The Prix Versailles, one of the world’s most prestigious and respected architecture and design awards, has just announced its prizewinners for 2025, honouring outstanding buildings in sectors like hospitality, museums, campuses and airports. This includes its list of the six most beautiful train stations of the year, which includes one in Asia. Baiyun Station in Guangzhou, China, was opened in December 2023 and designed by Japanese architectural firm Nikken Sekkei (the second biggest architectural practice in the world!) alongside collaborators within China. Residing in the centre of northern Guangzhou’s new CBD area, the station connects high-speed railways, subway lines, and bus terminals to move hundreds of thousands of people a day. But it’s more than just a transportation hub – it has offices, commercial facilities, serviced apartments and housing, focusing on using land efficiently to create a mixed-use building that isn’t just functional, but offers spaces for tourists and locals to relax. It has a circular walkway connecting lush green gardens, turning it into what Prix Versailles calls an ‘urban park’ that ‘unites the local co

2026 is fast approaching, which means it’s time to start thinking about and saving up for next year’s vacations. Thankfully, there are plenty of travel publications helping to pinpoint the most exciting places to visit. Familiar haunts are developing new cultural niches that make them worth revisiting, while formerly sleepy areas get revitalised into lively destinations. While some of these places might be far-flung, CN Traveller has handpicked a few Asian spots that feel like they’re practically in your backyard. Whether you’re looking to take a shorter visit to a nearby gem or a longer journey to a place you never expected to go, we’ve got you covered. One of CN Traveller’s picks is Hong Kong, an already popular destination because of its rich culture, excellent food, and array of activities. If you’re interested in the arts, the WestK Performing Arts Centre is opening three top-tier dance and theatre stages in 2026 within the West Kowloon Cultural District, all the better to showcase the city’s flourishing cultural scene. If you’re looking to spend some time in nature, there are improved hiking trail facilities at four of Hong Kong’s famous peaks: The Peak, Lantau Peak, Tai Mo Shan, and Sai Kung Hoi.  For the foodies, renowned chef Daniel Boulud is also opening a new rooftop French spot in Central, Terrace Boulud, as part of Mandarin Oriental’s ambitious revamp. And if you want a beautiful view of the city’s landscape, sky100 Observation Deck is reopening with new visitor

The Maldives is a holiday destination you’ll find on a lot of bucket lists because of its pristine beaches, luxury resorts, and marine biodiversity. In some ways, its natural beauty makes it unique as a tourist hub. It’s also unique in that it is the first and only country to introduce a smoking ban for people born on or after January 1, 2007. The ban applies not just to citizens and residents, but also to visitors. This means that, unlike most countries, which ban the sale of tobacco to people under a certain age, the Maldives is banning the sale of tobacco to an entire generation. Selling tobacco products to anyone born after the cut-off will now carry a fine of 50,000 rufiyaa (£2,465), while using a vape device will carry a fine of 5,000 rufiyaa (£246). Retailers will be required to verify a person’s age before selling them any form of tobacco product. In a press release, the Maldivian health ministry described the ban as a “historic milestone in the nation’s efforts to protect public health and promote a tobacco-free generation”. It said the law “reflects the government’s strong commitment to protecting young people from the harms of tobacco”. While the law might make some young visitors think twice about visiting, Ahmed Afaal, vice chair of the archipelago’s tobacco control board, says he doesn’t think the ban will hurt tourism to the country. “People don't come to the Maldives because they're able to smoke,” he said. “They come for the beaches, they come for the sea, th

Tired of Bali’s party culture and bustle? There are plenty of other places in Indonesia to visit if you’re looking for a total vibe shift. Yogyakarta, for example, is one of the country’s great cultural centers, since it’s full of activities, great food, and classical Javanese fine arts. As if that’s not enough, it’s the home of three UNESCO World Heritage Sites. One of those, the Prambanan Temple Compounds, has been attracting tourists from all over the world for decades. Here’s everything you need to know about it. What makes Prambanan Temple Compounds special? Prambanan Temple is the largest Hindu temple in Indonesia and the second-largest in Southeast Asia. Built in the 8th or 9th centuries, the temple is a grand archeological site like few others in the region. The grounds have been restored with great attention to preserving its authenticity, which has led to it being designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991.  Where is it and how do I get there? If you prefer to take public transportation and don’t mind a bit of walking, you can take Trans Jogja bus route 1A from the Mangkubumi bus stop (near the Malioboro tourist area) for about an hour, get off at Terminal Prambanan, and walk a kilometer and a half. You could also take the Yogyakarta commuter rail towards Palur from Yogyakarta station for a much shorter, 20 minute ride, with a walk of about the same distance. It’s also easily accessible by car, so you can get a private hire vehicle or taxi. When is the best tim

Japan is a wildly popular tourist destination, made all the more compelling in recent years by the weakness of the yen, but be warned: the cost of travelling there might be getting higher very soon. According to The Nikkei, prices for entering and exiting the country may rise significantly as the government seeks to address overtourism concerns by raising the departure tax and the prices for single- and multiple-entry visas.  But don’t panic – we’ve gathered all the information you need to know about the changes. What is the departure tax? The departure tax, or international tourist tax, is the tax you pay when you leave Japan. It’s included in the price of your plane ticket, so an increase in prices will mean more expensive plane tickets.  How much are prices rising? It’s unclear right now. The tax is currently ¥1,000, but if raised to international standards (the US charges $22.20, or ¥3,300), this could triple. Single- and multiple-entry visas cost ¥3,000 and ¥6,000, respectively, and if brought in line with other countries, they could cost much, much more. For example, the UK charges £127, around ¥25,700. Canada charges $100 CAD, around ¥10,700.  I hold a visa-free passport. Do I still have to pay a higher visa fee? Nope! Lucky you. If you have a passport from one of the 74 countries that don’t require a short-term visa to enter Japan (like Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand, for example), you won’t be affected by the visa price hike.  You will still have to pay

Cruises can be the perfect way to travel when you have a big family – you can drop the kids off at the kids’ club, and leave your parents to watch the shows onboard while you disembark at port and explore a new destination for a day. These haven’t always been accessible to everybody, though. Cruises can often be boozy affairs and don’t always offer halal meals, making them unfriendly to Muslim guests. That’s now changing in Malaysia, where the first ‘Muslim-friendly’ cruise ship in the country will be homeported at Port Klang from November 29 as part of Malaysia’s push towards promoting Muslim-friendly tourism and establishing a reputation as a regional cruise hub. This is a huge move towards inclusivity for travellers of all faiths, which, of course, is much-needed in the diverse Southeast Asian region. What to expect on Malaysia’s first Muslim-friendly cruise ship The M/V Piano Land, a collaboration between Astro Ocean Cruise and Hwajing Travel & Tours, aims to meld luxury cruising with halal values, respecting Muslim culture while maintaining the level of hospitality you’d expect from a high-end experience.  This doesn’t just mean that the cruise will serve halal food, though that will be one part of it. There will also be dedicated spaces for worship. Onboard entertainment will align with Muslim values. Itineraries will be designed to avoid intrusions into prayer times. There will be alcohol-free options and family-friendly activities. And, of course, staff will be traine

If you’re one of those perennial travellers who are always looking for new places to visit that live somewhat off the beaten track, you’re likely already familiar with Lonely Planet and its annual lists of the most unforgettable travel destinations and experiences. Those already planning getaways for next year are in luck – 2026’s list is out, and there are a few solid options just within Asia alone. Jaffna, Sri Lanka, has been pegged as the best destination for ‘culture, cuisine, and island adventures’, and for good reason. Since the end of the Sri Lankan Civil War in 2009, the historical city, which has been under Portuguese, British, and Indian foreign rule, has been undergoing a revival as a cultural hotspot. Visit the Jaffna Fort and Jaffna Public Library to better understand its long and storied history, and make sure to get a look at the Dravidian architecture of its gorgeous Hindu temples, like the Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil.   Photograph: Shutterstock   Also on the list is Jeju-do, South Korea, a spot that’s already popular with Asian tourists for its natural beauty and wealth of outdoor activities. If you love hiking, consider taking on Jeju’s gorgeous and diverse Olle trails, spanning 27 routes and 437 kilometres around the island, through small towns and beautiful coasts. Or summit Hallasan, the near 200-metre-tall volcano at its heart. If you’re more of a diver, there are gorgeous reefs and tropical fish around Seogwipo, its southern city, but be careful of strong