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| Window shutters are seen in the charming old town district of Ipoh, Malaysia. — Pictures courtesy of Lonely Planet |
Bali, Phuket or Shanghai for your next trip? Try Perak instead. That’s right, Ipoh has made it to Lonely Planet’s top 10 destinations in Asia.
Ipoh's old world charm and booming hipster cafes has impressed the largest travel guide book publisher in the world, Lonely Planet, after the city was listed as one of the best Asian destinations to visit in 2016.
The world’s leading travel media company today announced its inaugural Best in Asia list that highlights the continent’s 10 best destinations to visit over the next 12 months.
In their pick of where to go in the next 12 months, Lonely Planet listed Hokkaido, Japan at first place, followed by Shanghai, China and Jeonju, South Korea.
In their pick of where to go in the next 12 months, Lonely Planet listed Hokkaido, Japan at first place, followed by Shanghai, China and Jeonju, South Korea.
Ipoh is the only city in Malaysia to be listed, at sixth place.
According to the website, the lesser-known food capital has new flair thanks to a crop of boutique cafes that have sprung up in its historic quarter.
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| Mount Rishiri’s steep volcanic ridges tower over a field of wildflowers off the coast of Hokkaido, Japan. |
"At the heart of Ipoh’s renaissance is other worldly concept hotel Sekeping Kong Heng, replete with glass attic rooms and wall-free rooftop quarters.
"Art-cafes like Roquette, Burps & Giggles and Everyday Lifeshop have appeared nearby, among creaky kedai kopi (coffee shops) and elegant colonial buildings.
"But food pilgrims still clamour for Ipoh’s old favourites: Lou Wong’s chicken with crisp beansprouts, and tau fu fah (tofu pudding) at Funny Mountain," said the website's description.
It also mentioned wild escapes, like birdwatching by bicycle through Kinta Nature Park or whitewater rafting near Gopeng are a must visit for tourists.
"Also, clifftop temples and fragrant Gaharu Tea Valley nearby, Ipoh’s revival seems sure to tempt new crowds," concluded Lonely Planet.
The Ipoh railway station at night
"In compiling our Best in Asia 2016 list, our Asia-expert authors have explored the continent’s most electrifying cities, trekked through steaming jungles and even swum in bountiful seas to seek out the spots you simply cannot afford to miss,” said Lonely Planet Asia-Pacific spokesperson Chris Zeiher.
“The result is a varied hit list of classic destinations offering a fresh twist for travellers, regions packed full of action, and edge-of-the-map places you may never have heard of,” he added.
In fourth place is the Con Dao Islands in Vietnam, followed by Hong Kong. Pemuteran in Indonesia was listed as the seventh top destination with Thailand’s Trang Islands, India’s Meghalaya, and Taiwan’s Taitung finishing off the list.
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While the rest of city has been industrialised, Jeonju Hanok Village retains its historical charms and traditions.
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| 怡保的街边美食，吸引了不少游客。 |
国际知名旅游指南《孤独星球》（Lonely Planet ）公布2016年亚洲10大最佳旅游景点，好山好水但不是国际著名景点的怡保“爆冷”入榜，排名第6，日本北海道则位居榜首。
美国有线电视新闻网（CNN）报道，《孤独星球》派遣其以亚洲为重点的旅游作家，通过当地的自然和都市丛林跋涉后，汇编了亚洲未来值得一游的城市。
《孤独星球》亚太区发言人克里斯说：“本次的名单有别于传统的经典景点，提供旅游者一个全新的选择，选出一些或许你闻所未闻的好地方。”
街边美食闻名
美国有线电视新闻网（CNN）报道，《孤独星球》派遣其以亚洲为重点的旅游作家，通过当地的自然和都市丛林跋涉后，汇编了亚洲未来值得一游的城市。
《孤独星球》亚太区发言人克里斯说：“本次的名单有别于传统的经典景点，提供旅游者一个全新的选择，选出一些或许你闻所未闻的好地方。”
街边美食闻名
马来西亚怡保位居第6，主要是当地拥有较不为世人所知的街边美食，以及特色咖啡馆林立。
日本北海道最知名的为粉状雪，但它荣登榜首的原因是四季皆有不同的景色。可抵达北海道南边的新干线于3月开通，预计到2030年将延伸到北海道首府札幌。
第二名的上海，面貌随着中国首座迪士尼乐园开幕及超高的上海中心大厦竣工而改变，不过上海榜上有名的原因是景观快速改变和丰厚的历史底蕴。
香港名列第5 ，太平山或维多利亚港令人难以抗拒的魅力不是它上榜原因，而是因为天然景观。香港地质公园获联合国教科文组织（UNESCO）列入世界地质公园名单中。
狭长的台东位于台湾东南岸，紧邻太平洋，没有被遮蔽的景致一览无余，傍晚时银河星空清澈闪耀。三仙台八拱跨海步桥为知名观光景点。
霹大臣:天然环境历史古迹 怡保亚洲第6受欢迎景点'
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| 怡保二奶巷近年来冒起成为热门景点，人潮络绎不绝。（档案照） |
霹州怡保在孤独星球《Lonely Planet》国际旅游书籍最新发起“十大亚洲最受欢迎景点”的投票中排名第6，成为对州政府在旅游业作出努力的一项肯定。
州务大臣拿督斯里占比里博士对此感到兴奋，并披露州政府有自身一套政策，来发展旅游业。
“我们除了保留及维护主要景点，也以天然环境、海边及历史古迹等综合配套来吸引许多国内外的游客。”
占比里今日主持州行政议会后说，该投选结果是通过CNN旅游视频播出，获得推荐的怡保特色包括芽菜鸡、观鸟、水上活动及复古餐厅等。
他披露，州政府目前正设法鉴定更多的地区成为州公园及森林保护区，近期已鉴定在九洞美露的一处森林，让游客在怡保也能欣赏该些园景。
“此外，州政府也与联合国教科文组织合作，寻找可作为观光景点的石灰岩及山洞，吸引更多游客。”
他补充，除了《孤独星球》的投选外，根据最新出炉的国家统计局数据，霹州成为最多本地游客到访的州属，达796万人。
“怡保如今就算在平日，也迎来众多游客；州政府也会将一些旧建筑物重新注入活力，成为吸引人的景点。”.
