BEIJING, China -- Rising in Qingyang County of Anhui Province, Mount Jiuhua consists of ninety-nine peaks, among the most magnificent being Heavenly Terrace (Tiantai), Lotus Flower (Lianhua), Sky Pillar (Tianzhu), and Ten Kings (Shiwang).

NAKHON PATHOM, Thailand -- Of the approximately 27,000 Buddhist Temples in Thailand, perhaps none are more visibly impressive than that of Wat Phra Pathom Chedi. Towering 383 feet (120 meters) over the small provincial town of Nakhon Pathom, the ``chedi (pagoda),'' with its highly glazed orange tiles gleaming like a golden sphere in the sky and visible for miles, is the world's tallest Buddhist monument.

Shahr-i-Gholghola, Afghanistan -- It is eerily quiet in the ruined hilltop fort as two Afghan soldiers, guarding against artefact thieves, look out on the valley and the towering cliff niches where colossal stone Buddhas once stood.

Tokyo, Japan -- Wearing a short white robe and conical hat and carrying a wooden staff, Namiko Yada, 49, strides along a mountain path beside the rapids in Chichibu, 80 kilometers northwest of Tokyo. She is among a group of 93 pilgrims headed for Hoshoji, a 770-year-old Buddhist temple on the hill.

Henan, China  -- Henan province is the cradle of ancient Chinese civilisation and home to three former capitals - Anyang, Luoyang and Kaifeng. Located in China's central region, its current capital is Zhengzhou, and that is where this journey into history began.

Timphu, Bhutan -- The legend of Taktshang (tiger's lair) evolves from tantric mythology when, in 747 AD, Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava) chose a cave on this sheer rock face to meditate and, assuming his wrathful form, Guru Dorji Droloe, astride a tigress, subdued the evil spirits that were haunting the region. Taktshang thus became one of the most important monuments to the establishment of Buddhism in Bhutan and one of the most popular pilgrimage sites in the Buddhist world.

Shanghai, China -- Tucked down a long alley in Zhujing Town, Jinshan District, Donglin Temple is a wonderful place to recharge your spiritual batteries.

Change comes to Ladakh's tourism
 
LEH, Ladakh (India) -- In late December an excitable Web site called UFO Roundup reported that a large base staffed by extraterrestrials was hidden underground in the Himalayas, specifically in Ladakh, the spectacular region of Jammu and Kashmir, India's only Muslim state.

A visit to Chiang Mai can be an education and an adventure

Chiang Mai, Thailand -- Wat Suan Dok in Chiang Mai is one of the many places of interest for tourists visiting the area. Dating back to the 14th century, the monastery has abundant historical significance and admirable architecture.

Jenjarum, Selangor (Malaysia) -- THE quiet of Jenjarom has been ?disturbed?? in recent days by busloads of visitors who come to the Dong Zen Fo Guang Shan Temple during the Chinese New Year season.