text:
East Africa

East Africa is the part of Africa around and east of the Great Rift Valley, a land feature stretching from the Gulf of Aden in the north, the Guardafui Channel in the east, and the Mozambique Channel in the southeast.

East Africa is the cradle of mankind, as the first species of the Homo genus evolved here, and migrated to the rest of the world. The region is also famous for its savannas, with the well-known African flora and fauna.

Countries and territories

 * The East African Islands (including Madagascar) off the coast form their own region.

Cities

 * — the huge capital of Ethiopia and a major hub for NGOs and the African Union
 * — Tanzania's gateway to the Northern Safari Circuit
 * — Tanzania's hot and humid metropolis has little to keep the traveller there, but is a major transit point of the region
 * — the bustling, friendly capital of Uganda
 * — aside from the genocide memorials, there is little to interest the traveller in Rwanda's capital; this is a passing through city
 * — historic coastal Kenyan city thought to be more than 2,500 years old
 * — the capital of Kenya and home to the only national reserve within a city
 * — the capital of Zanzibar, and a centre of Swahili culture

Other destinations

 * (Aksum) — the ancient capital of Ethiopia famous for its stelae and the ruins of various palaces
 * — attracts tourists and pilgrims alike to its medieval rock-hewn churches

 * — Africa's highest mountain and a great trekking destination in Tanzania
 * — home of the almost mythical, otherworldly scenery of the Mountains of the Moon in Uganda
 * — huge national park in Tanzania, perhaps the archetypal African game park; becomes the Masai Mara National Park over the border in Kenya
 * — stunning mountain scenery and important wildlife populations in Ethiopia
 * — in Rwanda is full of impressive rainforest and volcanic scenery of the Virunga Mountains, and is perhaps the best place in the world to see rare mountain gorillas. Also crosses into Uganda where it is known as Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

History
Within the historical era, East Africa has received immigration and influences from the Bantu peoples, Malay peoples of Southeast Asia, the Islamic world, and the Western world.

Prior to colonialism, the Swahili Coast, which comprised the coastal areas of what is today Kenya, Tanzania and northern Mozambique was a very prosperous region, being home to numerous wealthy city-states such as Zanzibar, Mombasa and Kilwa Kisiwani. The former in particular was the hub of trade routes that went across the Indian Ocean and Sahara Desert, including that of the Arab Slave Trade. Ethiopia became one of the world's first countries to adopt Christianity as the state religion, having much older Christian roots than most European countries, and with numerous impressive churches that reflect that heritage.

The East African countries have developed very differently in modern times. In the late 19th century, the British Empire tried to create a chain of colonies from Cape to Cairo, competing with German East Africa until the defeat of Germany in World War I, after which present-day Tanzania was transferred to the British. Ethiopia famously resisted European colonialism (except a brief occupation by Italy in the 1930s), and the Dervish State wasn't colonized until after most other precolonial African states. Economically the countries range from Kenya, an emerging economy, to Somalia, one of the world's least developed countries.

Geography
East Africa contains spectacular geography, with the African Great Lakes, and most of the continent's tallest mountains. It is geographically isolated from the rest of the continent by mountains, deserts, and the African Great Lakes. The climate is more arid than it is on similar latitudes on the Atlantic coast, which makes the land dominated by savanna and desert.

While the climate in East Africa is tropical (except the tallest mountains, where snow can occasionally be found), humidity varies a lot, with jungles, savannas, and deserts.

Talk
English is understood throughout some of the East Africa region.

Swahili is understood and spoken by a large number of people, especially Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya, where it is an official language.

By plane
The vast majority of travelers to the region will arrive by air, and the larger East African capitals are accessible by air from Europe, the Middle East, and South Africa. By far the largest carrier in the region is Ethiopian Airlines, which maintains a large, crowded hub in Addis Ababa and which also connects the region to the Americas, several East Asian hubs, and a large number of smaller cities in Africa. Kenya Airways takes second place with a sizable hub of its own in Nairobi, and Rwandair punches above its weight. However, Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea and Somalia are very poorly connected, and likely require a connection in Ethiopia or a trip on a dodgy local airline from Dubai.

Flying to this part of the world is likely to be expensive, though it increasingly features in cheap-flight deals. European budget and charter operators do run reasonable flights to coastal destinations like Mombasa and Zanzibar, however.

Get around
With vast tracts of flat land, driving (usually offroad driving) and general aviation are the most practical ways to get around.

Natural Attractions
East Africa's dramatic landscapes - and the wildlife that inhabit them - are a major draw for East African tourists. This part of Africa is where you can find the quintessential savanna safari experience, venturing out in a Land Rover across the plains to scout lions, cheetahs and elephants. The Maasai Mara and Amboseli National Park in Kenya, and Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National Park in Tanzania are very popular locations for game drives, offering the visitor the chance to spot the vaunted "Big Five" (lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos and buffaloes). However, there are dozens of locations offering wildlife spotting in these two countries, including both public parks and preserves and privately-run safari properties, and running the gamut from elaborate luxury experiences in the bush to a quick morning cruise through Nairobi's Nairobi National Park. Both Uganda and Rwanda also offer their own compelling safari opportunities, but both are better known for gorilla trekking, the once-in-a-lifetime (and hugely expensive) adventures into the jungle to spot silverbacks and mountain gorillas.

Looming large over many of the most visited natural areas is Kilimanjaro, the world's most prominent mountain and Africa's tallest. You don't need to climb it or even go out of your way to seek out a good view and appreciate its majestic beauty, since it's visible across a huge swath of both Kenya and Tanzania. Mount Kenya also dominates the landscape of Central Kenya's highlands, and the landscapes of Ethiopia's Simien Mountains and Uganda's Rwenzori Mountains are a draw for trekkers to those areas.

East Africa isn't just plains and mountains, however. Desert covers a huge chunk of the Horn of Africa, creating bizarre, almost extra-terrestrial areas like Ethiopia's Danakil Depression or Djibouti's Lake Assal. Much of Rwanda and Uganda is covered in lush, hilly jungles. And the white beaches of the Swahili Coast offer their own type of natural beauty.

Do
The national parks of East Africa are known as great safari locations.

Drink
If you've never been to a developing country, it's important to be intentional in your approach to drinking water. Across the region, your best bet is to drink bottled water, which is widely distributed in all but the most backwater areas. Piped water is not particularly common outside of urban areas, is almost certainly not potable, and will likely still taste a bit like dishwater even after boiling. If you're traveling in rural areas or spending long periods in nature, it's advisable to bring water purification tablets.

The beverage the region is perhaps best-known for is coffee. Most East African countries have a solid chunk of their agricultural base devoted to growing coffee for export, and have some level of facilities for coffee tourism. While there is a large variety of high-quality coffee being produced in East Africa, Western-style coffee culture hasn't caught on with the masses, and is largely confined to the urban middle and upper classes. Drip coffee is nonetheless widely available in restaurants, though espresso drinks are less common.

Some may be surprised to learn that tea is even more popular than coffee in some parts of East Africa, and especially among the working classes (who often can only afford Nescafe). The drink was brought to the region during colonization, and is often cultivated in parts of the region with high and humid climates. East African tea is often served with lots of milk and sugar, and sometimes as a spiced flavor akin to Indian chai. Unlike with coffee, and in contrast to other tea-enjoying cultures like China, there is little artisanal/premium tea, and what is produced is chiefly for the mass-market.

Fruit juices are consumed throughout East Africa, and the fresh stuff can be of high quality. Local and foreign brands of soft drinks alike are widely available. Energy drinks are a new arrival, but are of growing popularity.

Alcohol is widely enjoyed in non-Muslim areas; in Muslim countries like Djibouti and Somalia, it is unheard of. Mixed areas like Ethiopia or the Swahili Coast still appreciate their tipple and distribute it widely. Beer is the most widely-enjoyed alcohol in the region and is widely available. Most beers produced in the region are Euro-style pale lagers, though Guinness (the stiff, caramel-y African "Foreign Extra" version) is also common, and craft beer has begun to emerge in expat-heavy capital cities. In rural areas, you may encounter home-brewed low-alcohol millet beers, which won't kill you but which also will probably not be an amazing experience.

Hard liquor is probably in second place after beer - sometimes a distant second - and both local and imported liquors can be found. Among the more professionally produced liquors are Ugandan waragi and Tanzanian konyagi, both of which are akin to a mild, low-grade gin. You can also find locally-produced whiskeys, rums and vodkas in most countries, along with typical Western mid-shelf brands.

Other local concoctions include "banana beer", a fermented banana drink known under a variety of local names in Rwanda and Uganda, and tej, a honey-based wine found in Ethiopia, where honey-flavored beer is also produced. Wine is not especially popular, as few grapes are grown in the region. It can be found in urban supermarkets and at higher-end restaurants, but the vast majority is imported.

Like other parts of sub-Saharan Africa, East Africa is known for its nightlife. In hotspots like Kampala and Nairobi, rowdy nightclubs keep revelers dancing until dawn. Local and continental hits are dominant on the region's dancefloors, though American hip-hop, Western EDM, and Caribbean dancehall also have a steady presence. In the 2010s, a homegrown alternative electronic scene developed. Outside of nightclubs, local bars are widespread, often decked out in the colors of a local beer brand. These can be as simple as a couple of plastic tables and chairs set up on a roadside to more elaborate multi-bar complexes. Note that music is often played at a volume that non-Africans would consider loud, even when there is no obvious place to dance. For those who like to sing, karaoke bars/nights are also popular.

Stay safe
If you are travelling by boat, yacht or jet ski, you should be vigilant around the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, due to the activities of Somali pirates. There have also been incidents involving jihadists attacking non-Muslims in various parts of East Africa where they would target those who are unfamiliar with the Quran.

Go next
Southern Africa is readily accessible from Tanzania and shares numerous similarities with the region; you can also visit Central Africa and the Sahel region.

Flights also connect to Middle East just a few hours away by plane.

title: East Africa


text:
East Antarctica

East Antarctica is the part of Antarctica that falls in the Eastern Hemisphere, east of the arbitrary line of 0° longitude on the South Africa-facing side down to the South Pole then 180° on the Australia-facing side. It's mostly a high, even plateau with an intensely cold dry climate and no wildlife, not even tundra.

As with the rest of the continent, this area is governed by the Antarctic Treaty, which seeks to protect the fragile environment and sets aside national claims. Thus, various nations own and operate bases here and have hypothetical claims to territory which they waive. References to nations on this page should be understood accordingly. The Treaty also forbids military use but there is no objection to military support to the civilian research effort: nothing could get done here without military-grade transport.

Regions

 * Within this hemisphere but described elsewhere are:
 * The South Pole, in both the eastern and western hemispheres, or alternatively in neither.
 * Scott Island and the Balleny Islands are described as Antarctic islands, as they lie well north of the mainland and have a different oceanic climate.
 * Coat's Land east of the Weddell Sea by some definitions is part of East Antarctica, but on these pages is described in West Antarctica.
 * The Ross Sea is bisected by the 180° line. McMurdo Station is a major hub for transport towards the pole, often visited by cruises from Australia and New Zealand.
 * Queen Maud Land is a pie-segment of Antarctica nominally claimed by Norway, east of Coat's Land and extending from the pole to the coast, where it forms impressive ice cliffs. This sea (unofficially known as the King Haakon VII Sea) was traditionally a Norwegian whaling area. The coast is backed by high mountains (with Isachsen reaching 3425 m), so it was the first part of the mainland to be sighted, by Bellingshausen in 1820, but the ice long prevented exploration. Staffed bases and camps are E Base (South Africa, summer), Novolazarevskaya (Russia), Maitri (India), Aboa (Finland, summer), Kohnen (Germany, summer), Jinnah (Pakistan, summer), Princess Elisabeth (Belgium), Syowa (Japan), Tor (Norway, summer), Troll (Norway) and Wasa (Sweden, with Svea its outlying camp). (See Coat's Land for others.) Far inland is Kunlun (China, summer) and the 4093 m Ice Dome Argus.
 * Australian Antarctic Territory is a huge pie-segment, almost a third of the area of the continent, nominally claimed by Australia. It includes almost all the area east of Queen Maud Land round to the Ross Sea, namely Enderby Land (with Kemp Land), Mac. Robertson Land, Princess Elizabeth Land, Kaiser Wilhelm II Land, Queen Mary Land, Wilkes Land, George V Land and Oates Land.
 * Enderby Land is geologically interesting, as its mountains have rocks 4 billion years old, revealing the continent's evolution from Gondwanaland. The highest point is triple-peaked Mount Elkins (aka Jökelen) at 2300 m, prominent near the coast. There are nowadays no permanent bases here, but Molodyozhnaya (Russia) and Vechernyaya (Belarus) in the Thala Hills are occasionally still used. The region is named for the Enderby brothers of London who owned whaling ships and encouraged their captains to explore this coast. The eastern edge of this region is called Kemp Land, and deep in its interior are the "Pole of Inaccessibility" and South Geomagnetic Pole.
 * Mac. Robertson Land has the Prince Charles Mountains, a 400 km ridge with the highest point Mount Menzies at 3228 m / 10,591 ft. Bases here are Beaver Lake and Mawson (both Australian); Russia's Soyuz is mothballed. The region is named for the confectionery magnate Sir Macpherson Robertson of Melbourne, who funded the 1929/31 expedition to this coast, and other dashing exploits such as the London to Melbourne air race.Dumont dUrville.png
 * Princess Elizabeth Land has several "oasis" areas not covered by glacier, which became early sites for exploration and bases. Active bases in the Larsemann Hills above Prydz Bay are Bharati (India), Law-Racoviță (Romania / Australia, summer) and Zhongshan (China); Russia's Progress II station has been rebuilt after a fire but (as of 2020) has not yet re-opened. In the Vestfold Hills oasis is Davis (Australia). 500 km inland is Taishan (China), while far inland Vostok (Russia) may be the coldest place on Earth.
 * Kaiser Wilhelm II Land is the next slice of Antarctica; yes, he put up the money to explore it. There are no bases.
 * Queen Mary Land is difficult to approach because of the Shackleton Ice Shelf. The only base is Mirny (Russia).
 * Adélie Land is a thin pie-slice nominally claimed by France, dividing the Australian claim. March of the Penguins was filmed near the coastal base Dumont d'Urville (France). This is named for the colourful explorer and botanist Dumont, who discovered the Adélie penguin. Far inland near "Dome C" is Concordia base (France-Italy).
 * Wilkes Land further east resumes the Australian claim. It's named for the 19th century US naval explorer Charles Wilkes, who established that Antarctica is indeed a continent. Casey station (Australia) stands on Vincennes Bay, and there's also the fictional underground lab in the X Files soap opera. One km below Wilkes' ice, a 500 km-wide depression may be a giant impact crater - now that's a real cover-up of an alien arrival.
 * George V Land nowadays has no bases, but in Commonwealth Bay are Mawson's Huts, established during his 1911-14 expedition. Mawson reckoned it was the windiest spot on earth, where katabatic winds often blow at hurricane force. The Mertz glacier outflows here, with a tongue 80 km long - it used to be much longer, but in 2010 half of it broke away as an iceberg the size of Rome. This went aground off nearby Cape Denison where it blocked the access of Adélie penguins to the open sea, so the former colony of some 150,000 has dispersed elsewhere along the coast. The region is regularly visited by cruise ships from Australia.
 * Oates Land is the westernmost slice of the Australian claim, stretching from George V Land to the Ross Sea; there are no bases. It's named for Lawrence "Titus" Oates, who perished with Scott on their return from the South Pole.
 * Victoria Land, nominally claimed by New Zealand, is the next segment. It forms the western shore of the Ross Sea and is described on that page.

Get in
See Antarctica for flights and cruises to this region. The easiest approach is by cruise ship from Australia or New Zealand. These tour the Ross Sea then sometimes follow the coast as far as Commonwealth Bay before turning for home.

Get around
Skis, snowmobiles, tractors, snowcats, helicopters and ski planes are all used to get around. Cruise ships use RIBs/zodiacs (sturdy inflatable powerboats) to ferry tourists between ship and shore; bases close to open water also use these. But several places described on this page are very far from each other or from the coast (or at least from open water – an ice-breaker can't penetrate 30 m-high ice cliffs). So for these you need a ski plane, lots of spare fuel, and a robust emergency plan.

See and do

 * See Antarctica for general suggestions, but the most important thing for you to do here is to come home safe.
 * on Cape Denison in Commonwealth Bay were built in 1912 during the Australasian Antarctic Expedition. This expedition made a huge contribution to polar study, both from land-based work and from their ship Aurora. (They'd also planned aerial photography, but the aircraft was damaged before they set out.) Minor huts held instruments e.g. for magnetic observations and astronomy, while the main hut housed the 18 men and their workshop. The plan was to stay for one winter, but Mawson himself went on a lengthy trek towards Oates Land with two companions, who died. When he finally made it back alone, Aurora and the men perforce had sailed away to escape the oncoming winter, leaving a relief crew of six. These seven then spent a second winter here. The base was in regular radio contact with Australia, a communications first, but the radio operator went mad. The huts are in the care of the Australian National Heritage.
 * or "Dome A" in Queen Maud Land is the highest of the major ice domes A-F within the plateau ice sheet. It reaches 4093 m (13,428 ft) but like the others is not prominent, just a gradual rise. The Gamburtsev Mountains here are the size of the European Alps yet are nowhere to be seen – they're 2.5 km below the ice. This area has a claim to be the coldest place on earth (though that's probably in the ridge 150 km southeast) but more notably is among the driest and with the clearest weather. This remote spot is like the "eye of the hurricane" - clear and still while the fierce winds spiral outside. Kunlun station (China, summer) and a remotely-operated astronomical observatory therefore stand here.
 * , sometimes called "The Pole of Cold", is believed to be around Vostok station in Princess Elizabeth Land. This certainly has the longest run of reliable records and lowest average temperature, with a low of −89.2 °C (−128.6 °F; 184.0 K). That largely reflects its elevation of 3488 m (11,444 ft), so on average it's 5–10 °C colder than the South Pole which is lower-lying. Weather satellites have detected a "spot" low of −93.2 °C in this area, under a ridge where hollows trap intensely cold air flowing down the slope.
 * Lake Vostok is a very large freshwater lake 4 km below Vostok station, so its surface is 500 m below sea-level. It's 250 km long by 50 km wide and as much as 800 m deep, comparable to Lakes Baikal, Michigan or Tanganyika. It's the largest of some 400 subglacial lakes known to exist, with the water kept liquid by the intense pressure of ice above. That pressure also means a high content of oxygen and other dissolved gas. The waters of Lake Vostok have probably been isolated since the continent froze 15 million years ago, so they may contain unique life forms, and mimic conditions elsewhere in the solar system (such as Jupiter's moon Europa, and Saturn's moon Enceladus). Attempts to draw biological samples have so far only resulted in a backflow geyser of drill fluid and contaminated water. It's been politely suggested to the investigators that they first try for a smaller lake, in case they trash it.
 * The South Geomagnetic Pole is also in the vicinity of Vostok station. The earth acts as a giant bar magnet, and if indeed it was one, then the axis of its dipole would intersect the surface here. However the earth is not a perfect dipole, so the point at which the field lines become vertical, and a compass aligns straight up / down, is a considerable distance away. This point is the South Magnetic Pole and is off the coast of Wilkes Land. Both points are shifting by 10–15 km per year, as are their northern counterparts.
 * in Kemp Land is the point in Antarctica furthest from any coastline – though, given the difficulty in defining that coastline, it can only be described as "around here someplace". (One common definition is the "grounding line" – the point where the ice lifts free of its base to float on the sea – but there are others.) The Soviet Union built a station at this particular spot, 878 km from the South Pole and at 3800 m elevation. They only occupied it for a couple of weeks in Dec 1958, then left because it was too far from anywhere else, a discovery as remarkable as realizing that it was a tad cold. The station became covered by snow except for the bust of Lenin on its roof, a fitting memorial for the man who sent hundreds of thousands of people to icy death in Siberia. Very few adventurers have since reached this spot, and presumably if many were able to come, it would have to be renamed the pole of something else.
 * World Marathon Challenge attempts to run 7 marathons on 7 continents in 7 days. The tour assembles at Cape Town on 28 Jan 2025 (there's no event in 2024) then flies out to run the first marathon at Novo on Jan 31. "Novo" is Novolazarevskaya (aka Pazarevskaya) Station in Queen Maud Land and you make 8 circuits of the runway. Over the following days you run in Cape Town, Perth in Western Australia, Dubai, Madrid, Fortaleza in Brazil, and Miami. The entry fee is €42,000. The same company puts on marathons in the Arctic and up volcanoes, so probably their next venture will involve the moon. See West Antarctica for the rival event held at Union Glacier.
 * are described as part of the Ross Sea coast.

Eat

Like anywhere else on continental Antarctica, food is served in bases, and must be carried when away from those.

Drink
"Water, water everywhere yet not a drop to drink:" you are surrounded by freshwater ice that is deep-deep-frozen. Bases can melt it but equipment to do so in bulk is heavy and needs fuel. So on extended trips away from base, this adds weight, and lugging weight raises a thirst.

Sleep
This is not the place for wild camping. You (or your trip organiser) must negotiate access to a base, or bring a heavy-duty self-sufficient expedition.

Whichaway Camp in Queen Maud Land near Wolfs Fang airfield is Antarctica's nearest thing to glamping. Visitors arrive by business jet from Cape Town.

Stay safe
East Antarctica is extremely cold and remote, and medical care on the bases is limited. Travel / health insurance that covers a cruise trip to the Ross Sea will not be valid for the hazards involved in visiting the interior of this region. The cost of a medical evacuation would be huge.

Go next
The problem is that you can only get here on specialist round trips, with few onward options. Reaching anywhere else in Antarctica (even within East Antarctica) might mean doubling back via Australia. Ask ahead about cross-country supply flights that might connect you to another base such as McMurdo.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: East Antarctica


text:
East Asia

 * "Far East" redirects here. It should not be confused with Russian Far East.

East Asia was the cradle of ancient civilizations such as Imperial China, ancient Korea, ancient Japan, and the Mongol Empire, and is today home to 1.6 billion people. Sometimes described by the Eurocentric term Far East, the region contains world metropolises such as Tokyo, Seoul, Shanghai, and Hong Kong, elaborate temples and complex traditions, as well as vast plains and high mountains.

Countries and regions

 * The Russian Far East is part of East Asia, but is also part of Russia and covered on Wikivoyage as such.
 * While Vietnam has a cultural connection with East Asia, it is usually considered part of Southeast Asia.
 * While Wikivoyage classifies Mongolia as part of East Asia, it has important cultural and historical ties to Central Asia.

Cities

 * — surviving five dynasties, the Communist Revolution and the Cultural Revolution, over 800 years of ancient cultural sites can be found throughout this very modern city
 * — Cantonese-Chinese port city with a long British heritage crowned by Victoria Peak
 * — ancient capital of Japan, considered the cultural heart of the country, with many ancient Buddhist temples and gardens
 * — dominated by some of the most dystopian communist architecture
 * — the main business center in China; an ultramodern, cosmopolitan metropolis on the cutting edge of a new world
 * — beautiful palaces, great food and a hopping nightlife, Seoul is a frenetic way to experience the Asia of old and new
 * — center of government, commerce and culture of Taiwan
 * — a huge, wealthy and fascinating urban jungle with high-tech visions of the future, side by side with glimpses of old Japan
 * — Mongolia's capital and the starting point for most travel in Mongolia

Other destinations

 * - home to Mongolia's eagle hunters and highest mountain.
 * — longer than 8,000 km, this ancient wall is the most iconic landmark and an archeological wonder of China
 * — iconic snow-topped volcano, and highest peak in Japan (3776 m)
 * — the only tourist site in the world where the Cold War is still reality
 * — South Korea's most renowned national park and mountain range
 * — incredible place for hiking in East Asia
 * — mysterious place in the Himalayas with a unique local culture, considered by many to resemble the mythical Shangri-La

Understand
East Asia, also popularly known as "the Far East" (especially when compared with the other "East", the Middle East) is the core of what used to be known in the West as The Orient, supposedly a mysterious land inhabited by a race of inscrutable tea-sipping Orientals. Behind the caricature, though, is a uniting factor in the form of Chinese influence: China, as by far the largest and, historically, the most technologically and societally advanced culture in the region, has given its writing system (Chinese characters), religion (Mahayana Buddhism) and philosophy (Confucianism) to all the countries in East Asia.

However, underneath these superficial similarities lie a vast range of differences. The geography alone covers the gamut, from the arid steppes of Mongolia and the vast deserts of northwestern China to the lush rice paddies of south central China and the beaches of the subtropical islands of Okinawa. The upheaval of the past centuries has also led the countries of the region along strikingly different paths, with the hyper-modern skyscrapers and consumerist culture of Japan having little if anything in common with the Stalinist austerity of North Korea or traditional nomadic lifestyles of many Mongolians.

Despite the unifying factor of Chinese influence, scratch below the surface and you will find a wide range of cultural differences. Even within the "Han Chinese" community, the local customs, traditional architecture and cuisine vary widely from region to region, and people native to one region may find certain customs from other regions entirely foreign. In addition, many regions of China have their respective ethnic minorities with their own local customs. While the traditional cultures of Korea and Japan have obvious Chinese influences, they are emphatically not Chinese.

There are cross-cultural influences evident throughout the region, including Tibetan Buddhism reflected in Mongolia.

History
East Asia was one of the cradles of world civilisation, with China developing its first civilisations at about the same time as Egypt, Babylonia and India. China stood out as a leading civilisation for thousands of years, building great cities and developing various technologies which were to be unmatched in the West until centuries later. The Han and Tang dynasties in particular are regarded as the golden ages of Chinese civilisation, during which China was not only strong militarily, but also saw the arts and sciences flourish. While the Mongol Empire under Kublai Khan conquered China, the invaders were assimilated into Chinese culture and became the Yuan dynasty (it was thanks to Kublai Khan that the Chinese capital was moved to Beijing from locations further south). It was also during these periods that China exported much of its culture to its neighbors, and till this day, one can notice Chinese influences in the traditional cultures of Vietnam, Korea and Japan.

Mongolia (both Outer and Inner) and the province of Xinjiang were historically home to non-Han Chinese peoples (usually from Mongolic or Turkic ethnic groups) who lived nomadic or semi-nomadic lifestyles. Before the unification of the Mongols by Chinggis (Genghis) Khan in the early 1200s, these people usually fought amongst themselves (with which the Chinese court was perfectly content) and occasionally raided deep into Chinese territories (with which the Chinese court was not content). The Great Wall was constructed as a deterrent to the nomads who wished to raid China; it was for the most part a failure at its goal. These nomads and Imperial China had a symbiotic relationship: the Chinese would give silk, iron, and princesses as "insurance" against future raids by the nomads, while the nomads would give promises not to raid and also — importantly — good horses.

Culturally, Xinjiang shares more with its Turkic neighbors to the west in Central Asia than it does with the Han Chinese heartland, although there is a growing population of Han Chinese in the province today. Historically, this region has vacillated between a full part of China and fully independent states, the most famous and powerful of which was the Uighur Khaghanate (744–840 CE), which was a sedentary Turkic state (not necessarily related to modern Uyghurs), which helped spread Buddhism into China and provided the court officials and scribes to the later Mongol Empire.

For most of history, Tibet existed relatively independent of China, and Tibetan culture to this day remains distinct from the rest of the cultures in China. The overwhelming majority of Tibetans practice Tibetan Buddhism, which is distinct from other forms of Buddhism practiced in East Asia.

Chinese dominance in the region was to end during the 19th century, when Western powers arrived and forced the various East Asian states to sign unequal treaties. This development started with the First Opium War in 1841, when China lost to the British and was forced to cede Hong Kong and Weihai to Britain. Meanwhile, Commodore Matthew Perry of the United States Navy forced Japan, which had adopted an isolationist policy for centuries, to open up to the West in the Black Ships Incident in 1853, eventually resulting in the Meiji Restoration of 1868. Japan would then rapidly modernise under the rule of Emperor Meiji, adopting Western culture and philosophies, and growing into a powerful colonial empire based on Western models, annexing Ezo, the Ryukyu Kingdom, Taiwan and Korea in the process. China, meanwhile, was slow to adapt, resulting in it losing more wars to various Western powers and its newly-industrialised neighbour, Japan. China lost Taiwan and the Liaodong peninsula to Japan, Harbin and Dalian to Russia, Zhanjiang to France, and the Shandong peninsula to Germany, while numerous foreign nations obtained concessions in various Chinese cities such as Shanghai, Tianjin, Hankou, Guangzhou and Xiamen. China also lost control of its tributaries, with Vietnam being annexed by the French, and Korea and the Ryukyu Islands being annexed by the Japanese. All this would eventually lead to the collapse of the millennia-old imperial system in China, with the Republic of China being founded by Sun Yat-sen in 1912.

World War II was to have disastrous consequences on East Asia, as Japan's drive to modernise turned into a drive to colonise its neighbours. The war brought great suffering to many, and destroyed much of East Asia's infrastructure. Japan was also not spared; much of its territory was destroyed by American carpet bombing, and the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were destroyed by atomic bomb attacks. Japan's defeat after World War II forced it to give up its colonies, with Taiwan being returned to China, and Korea regaining its independence. However, the end of the war was anything but peaceful. The Chinese Civil War continued, which resulted in victory for the Communists, led by Mao Zedong, in 1949, giving them control of much of the mainland, and the Nationalists, led by Chiang Kai-Shek, forced to retreat to the island of Taiwan and several offshore islands of Fujian. Korea was split after World War II, with Kim Il-Sung establishing a communist regime in the north with the support of the Soviet Union, and Syngman Rhee establishing a capitalist regime in the south with the support of the United States. The Korean War began when Kim Il-Sung attacked the south. The fighting lasted for 3 years, had disastrous consequences, and ended with neither side making any significant territorial gains. North Korea and the United States signed an armistice in 1953, which ended the armed conflict – but no peace treaty was ever signed and the two Koreas remain officially at war with each other to this day.

Despite decades of turmoil, East Asia has begun to grow into one of the most prosperous and technologically advanced regions in the world. Japan was the first to rise from the ashes of World War II, rapidly modernising in the 1950s–1960s and eventually conquering the world's marketplaces with its automobiles and advanced consumer electronic products. becoming the world's second largest economy after the United States. This was followed by the rise of the Asian Tigers, which included South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong, who overcame war and poverty to achieve unprecedented growth rates during the 1970s–1980s, earning their places among the world's richest economies. Today, South Korea and Taiwan are among the world leaders in consumer technology, while Hong Kong remains a leading financial center of the world.

More changes were to come at the end of the 20th century. The death of Mao Zedong resulted in the end of the disastrous Cultural Revolution. After a brief power struggle with Mao's anointed successor, Hua Guofeng, Deng Xiaoping emerged victorious and abandoned a hardline Communist policy to introduce market-oriented reforms, which have rapidly transformed China into one of the world's major economic powerhouses and lifted hundreds of millions of people out of poverty. China overtook Japan as the world's second largest economy in 2009. In the 1990s, the British and Portuguese colonies of Hong Kong and Macau respectively were returned to Chinese rule (albeit under special administration status). While the larger cities near the coast like Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou have grown to become rich and modern, much of the country still suffers from poverty, and China's former leader Hu Jintao pledged to modernize the more inland parts of the country. Whether or not China can rise from the ashes to achieve its past glories remains to be seen. Pretty much the only exception to East Asia's economic success is North Korea, which has refused market-oriented reforms and retains its hardline Stalinist policy.

Talk

Japanese, Korean and Mongolian are distinct languages, dominant in their respective countries. Japanese and Korean are not related to Chinese, but both languages have many Chinese loan words due to the long history of Chinese cultural dominance in the region.

The situation in China is more complicated, with Mandarin being the official language and lingua franca, and many mutually unintelligible dialects such as Cantonese and Minnan. Extensive travel in China will be very much helped by learning some phrases of Mandarin, since almost every non-elderly person will understand at least the basics of that language. Learning another dialect, although appreciated, will not be of much use outside of its immediate area. Bear in mind that the tonal aspect of each Chinese dialect is also difficult to master. In addition, China is home to many ethnic minorities who speak languages unrelated to Chinese.

Taiwan also uses Mandarin as its lingua franca, although most people speak other Chinese dialects or unrelated languages as their mother tongues. Cantonese is the main language in Hong Kong and Macau, but Mandarin has been compulsory in all government schools since their respective handovers back to China. However, in Hong Kong, the use of Mandarin is a touchy political issue, and most locals are more proficient in English than in Mandarin.

In addition to spoken Mandarin being useful in many locations, written Chinese is more or less the same across the language varieties, and Chinese characters were the basis of the Japanese scripts and formerly used for Korean (some of them can occasionally still be seen in South Korea). Thus one may be able to get a written message across even without any common language – the characters represent meanings that can be understood by people who do not understand each other's pronunciation. Still, the meaning of the words have often drifted apart slightly or not so slightly: the characters 手紙, literally "hand paper", mean "letter" to the Japanese, while they would be taken as "toilet paper" in China.

An obstacle for the Chinese student is that Mainland China and Singapore use simplified characters (introduced for the communist literacy campaigns), while traditional characters are used elsewhere. The Japanese kanji are more or less the same as a subset of the traditional Chinese characters, but have undergone some simplifications, albeit often differently from the simplifications in China.

English remains a useful language for a traveler, although with the exception of the former British colony of Hong Kong, it is generally rare to encounter locals who are conversant in English. It is taught in school in all countries and many people have a much easier time reading and writing English than speaking it. This is mainly due to locals' fears of making mistakes or not "knowing enough", rather than a true inability to understand the language. Due to heavy American influences in Japan and South Korea since the end of World War II, the Japanese and (South) Korean words for most modern concepts are derived from American English. North Korean rejects English loan words for obvious reasons.

Russian is often spoken as a second language in Mongolia, due to Mongolia's close history with the Soviet Union.

Get in
Each country has its own visa requirements, but citizens of most Western countries do not need a visa to visit Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau and Mongolia. Most Western visitors will need to obtain a visa in advance to visit mainland China and North Korea, the latter of which is only possible to visit on a guided tour.

By plane
The main intercontinental gateways to East Asia are Hong Kong, Tokyo ( & ; for all airports), Seoul , Shanghai , Beijing ( & ;  for all airports), Guangzhou  and Taipei. However, there are also many other cities with connections to other parts of Asia, which can be convenient entry points for certain travelers. Transferring through mainland China, though increasingly an option in terms of flights, is painful and time-consuming (you may also require visas) and best avoided. If arriving from Europe, transiting via Bangkok or Singapore Changi in Southeast Asia may prove cheaper than a direct flight. The Gulf trio of Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways also often offer competitive prices for passengers coming from Europe, Africa or the Americas, if you are willing to detour via their respective hubs in Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi.

By train
The Trans-Siberian Railway connects Russia to Mongolia and China, and China is linked to Vietnam with the jointly-operated Nanning to Hanoi route. Another increasingly popular alternative is going via Central Asia and take the twice weekly service between Almaty in Kazakhstan and Urumqi in China, a journey of around 31 hours dubbed the "new silk route". There is a rail link from Russia (Khasan) into North Korea (Tumangang), with regular trains running from Moscow to Pyongyang. A train from Vientiane, Laos to Kunming, China was inaugurated in 2023.

By bus
The Karakoram Highway, which connects Pakistan to China, is the highest border crossing in the world. The Irkeshtam Pass and Torugart Pass connect Kyrgyzstan with China via the ancient Silk Road.

By boat
Cruise ships operate between Southeast Asia and East Asia, with several sailings from Singapore to Hong Kong, and occasionally even as far afield as Yokohama.

Get around
Travelling in North Korea is only possible as part of a state-sanctioned guided tour, and any form of independent travel is generally banned for visitors, who will be watched closely and placed under heavy restrictions. Other countries in East Asia present many options to travellers for travelling around and between them, though transportation infrastructure ranges from very convenient and well-developed in Japan and South Korea to somewhat outdated and lacking in Mongolia.

If you need a visa, keep in mind that Chinese embassies and consulates only issue visas to citizens and legal residents of their host country. If you wish to visit China, make sure you apply for your visa in your country of citizenship or residence before you set off on your trip. The Chinese embassies and consulates in the neighbouring countries will not issue you a visa if you are only visiting the host country as a tourist.

By plane
Plane travel is the fastest way to travel between countries in East Asia, as well as long distances within them. Plane travel within China tends to be cheap by Western standards, although there is some governmental price regulation to keep the prices from being too low. Most flights include meals, which can range from boxes with assorted snacks to steaming hot meals. Vegetarian, halal or kosher meals are usually not available at short notice, but may be available if you make arrangements with the airline well in advance. To be safe, check with the airline or your travel agent before you book your flights. Delays are common in some places (like China), sometimes by several hours.

Osaka, Seoul, Shanghai and Taipei each have two main airports; one close to the city centre for domestic flights and some short range international flights, and one far from the city for most international flights, while Tokyo and Beijing have two major international airports. Transferring between airpors can take up to two hours or more, depending on traffic conditions, so make sure you give yourself ample time to make any transfers.

By train
Japan, South Korea and Taiwan have extensive and modern train networks, but for reasons of geography and politics none of them connect to other countries. China also has an extensive network which is the main mode of long distance travel domestically. International services are available from China into North Korea and Mongolia, and there is also a rail link from mainland China into the Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong. Mongolia's railway network is restricted to a single line that passes through Ulaanbaatar on the way from Moscow to Beijing. North Korea's network, while relatively extensive, has outdated infrastructure and its use by tourists is generally forbidden, the exception being the line from Pyongyang to Beijing via Sinuiju. Although the railway networks between North and South Korea are physically connected, the political situation means that cross-border trains do not operate, and will likely not do so for the forseeable future.

Japan has a well-developed high-speed rail network known as the Shinkansen, which covers most of the country except Shikoku and Okinawa. While Shinkansen are fast, clean safe and reliable, you will pay relatively high prices, even compared to similar trains in Europe. South Korea and Taiwan also have high-speed networks, known as the Korea Train Express (KTX) and the Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) respectively, with high-speed services along the main business corridors between Seoul and Busan in South Korea and between Taipei and Kaohsiung in Taiwan. China's high-speed rail network, known as China Railway High-speed (CRH), is the longest in the world, with connections between all the major cities, and an "international" link to Hong Kong. Where high speed rail exists, it is usually the fastest mode of transport over short to middle ranges and often (though not always) more cost-effective than flying. Extremely long services without change of trains are only available in China, where some high speed trains have sleepers, but they are not as fast as flights.

By bus
Bus travel is a popular cheaper option in East Asia, though in general somewhat slower than taking the trains, with many long distance bus routes connecting most cities domestically.

By car
Domestic travel by car is possible, though with the exception of Japan, and Hong Kong, driving habits and road courtesy are not up to the standards of the West which varies from annoying to outright reckless. Roads are generally well maintained, though snow can be a problem in the winter in the northern parts of Japan and China, with expressways often having to close due to heavy snow.

Those with no experience driving in big cities should generally avoid doing so in East Asia. East Asia is one of the most densely populated regions in the world, meaning that most of the major East Asian cities are plagued with massive traffic jams, coupled with expensive to non-existent parking spaces. These, combined with reckless driving habits, mean that exploring the cities by car is not for the faint hearted. East Asian cities have some of the best public transportation networks anywhere in the world, and you should try to use that as your main mode of transport.

Renting a car is usually the best way to see the countryside and smaller towns, although driving around Asia's mega cities are not for the faint of heart, and touring the likes of Tokyo, Shanghai or Taipei in a rented car is really considered a bad idea.

Traffic drives on the left in Hong Kong, Macau and Japan, and drives on the right everywhere else in this region.

By ferry
China has a good network of ferries for its internal river network as well as internationally to Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau.

South Korea has a ferry network between the mainland and its many islands, most of which do not have airports. Ferries also depart for China and Japan.

Japan also has a domestic ferry network connecting its different islands. While rail service is available between Honshu and Hokkaido, this is restricted to passenger service, and the only way to transport a car between the islands is by ferry.

See

 * China
 * Stroll through Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City in Beijing and then walk along the famous Great Wall
 * Enjoy the iconic karst scenery in and surrounding Guilin in the Guangxi Region
 * Take a boat cruise along the Yangtze River
 * Hike on the breathtaking Tibetan Plateau and enjoy the local culture in Western Sichuan and Northern Yunnan
 * Stroll the Bund with a fabulous view of the Pudong skyscraper district in Shanghai
 * Marvel at the scores of Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an
 * Visit the historical sites along the old Silk Road in the Xinjiang Uyghur Region
 * Explore the treasures of the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang
 * Ascend the hill to Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet and take the long bus ride across Tibet to Mount Everest base camp

 * Hong Kong
 * Ride the tram up to Victoria Peak in Central Hong Kong
 * Take a ride across Victoria Harbour on the famous Star Ferry to Kowloon for the best skyline views
 * Climb 268 steps to the massive Tian Tan Buddha on Lantau Island

 * Japan
 * Ride the Bullet Train and stay in a capsule hotel or traditional ryokan
 * Play Pachinko, vertical pinball
 * Ride a cable car to Mount Aso, the world's largest caldera.
 * Climb Mt. Fuji or relax at the resort town of Hakone to its southeast.
 * Stroll through the manic neon world of districts like Shinjuku in Tokyo
 * See the Peace Park in Hiroshima and the Peace Museum in Nagasaki
 * Observe the probably-spewing-ash volcano in the bay of Kagoshima
 * Ski some of the best powder in the world at resorts on Hokkaido and in Northern Honshu.

 * Korea
 * Watch the Arirang Festival's Mass Games, said to be one of the most impressive performances in the world in Pyongyang, North Korea
 * Visit the DMZ, the last frontier of the Cold War in either North or South Korea

 * Macau
 * Admire centuries-old Portuguese architecture and ruins or test your luck at one of the numerous casinos of Macau

 * Mongolia
 * Witness Kazakh Eagle Hunters in action at the Golden Eagle Festival in Ölgii in Western Mongolia.
 * Wander through the ruins of the original capital of the Mongol Empire at Karakorum.
 * See (and go inside) the world's largest equestrian statue at the Chinggis Khan Statue Complex located an hour and a half to the east of Ulaanbaatar and just south of Gorkhi-Terelj National Park.

 * Taiwan
 * Ascend Taipei 101, once the world's tallest building, in Taipei
 * See the finest collection of Imperial Chinese artifacts and regalia at the National Palace Museum in Taipei.

Itineraries

 * Russia to Japan via Sakhalin

Baseball
East Asia is the best place to experience baseball culture outside the Americas. The sport is hugely popular in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, with professional leagues that often draw a full house of spectators. In fact, Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) is considered by many to be the best professional league outside the United States.

Pop culture
The entertainment industry is huge in East Asia, which has caused it to develop a distinctive pop culture scene. Famous pop stars often perform at concerts which attract sell-out crowds.

Most Westerners are familiar to some extent with Japanese pop culture through video games, comics (漫画 manga) and cartoons (アニメ anime), though of course, it Japan itself you can find numerous other genres that are not as well-known in the West. The karaoke lounge was invented in Japan, but has since spread and is immensely popular throughout the region. Lounges vary from respectable to super-dodgy, with some geared for groups of friends and colleagues getting together to sing their favourite songs and socialise, and others best known for extortionately priced booze and skimpily dressed hostesses who provide sexual services.

South Korea is known for the hallyu, or Korean wave phenomenon that took much of Asia by storm at the turn of the millennium, and as of the 2020s has also spread to the West. Despite the language barrier, South Korean singers and bands regularly perform to sell-out crowds around the world, and South Korean television series and films carry a loyal following in other Asian countries. On the other hand, the pop culture scene is non-existent in North Korea, and only government propaganda is allowed to be broadcast in the mass media.

The Chinese pop culture scene may not be as well-known in the West as its Japanese and South Korean counterparts, but it is nevertheless well-developed, and worth checking out while you are visiting. Chinese pop music, films and television series are popular among overseas Chinese communities in Southeast Asia, while Chinese period dramas also command a loyal following in Vietnam. From the 1950s to the early 2010s, Hong Kong and Taiwan were the main centres of Chinese pop culture, with most famous singers and actors originating or based in the two territories. However, the pop culture scene of mainland China has far eclipsed those of Hong Kong and Taiwan as of the 2020s, with many top singers and actors from Hong Kong and Taiwan having re-located to the mainland where they can make a lot more money. Talent shows are very popular in China, and often feature aspiring young singers being mentored by veteran superstars.

Hot Springs
For those wanting to bathe in a hot spring resort, East Asia is undoubtedly one of, if not the best places to do so. Hot springs form an integral part of the local culture in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, and as such are plentiful and usually maintained to a high standard. Facilities in resorts range from basic to over the top luxury, depending on how much you are willing to pay. Hot spring resorts are also becoming more common in China, but hygiene standards can sometimes be poor in lower end resorts.

Traditional games
Perhaps one of the unifying features among East Asian countries is the strategy board game of Go (Japanese: 囲碁 igo or 碁 go, Chinese: 圍棋(traditional) / 围棋(simplified) wéiqí, Korean: 바둑 baduk). While Chinese in origin, it is also popular in Japan and Korea. China, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan all have domestic tournaments for their top professional players, and there are also international tournaments for the top domestic players to compete for national glory.

China, Japan and Korea each has its own national variant of chess, which are significantly different from international chess. Chinese xiangqi (象棋) and Korean janggi (장기) share the same origins and as such, are similar to each other, though the rules of the modern games have diverged significantly. On the other hand, Japanese shogi (将棋) hardly resembles any other variant of chess known to exist.

Mahjong is a Chinese game played with tiles that is also popular in Japan, with Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong and each region of China each having their own versions with differing rules. It is often associated with gambling in casual settings. There is an official competition version of mahjong that has been sanctioned by the Chinese government for national and international competitions, though this version is rarely played outside official tournaments.

Buy
Every country in East Asia, as well as the Chinese special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau issue their own currencies, which are the sole legal tender in each of their respective countries/territories. US dollars and euros are accepted at most banks and money changers, and are also widely accepted in larger department stores and major tourist attractions, though rates in those areas are usually poor. Other widely accepted currencies at banks and money changers include Swiss francs, British pounds, Australian dollars, Canadian dollars, New Zealand dollars and Singapore dollars.

Costs
Prices in Mongolia and rural China are relatively cheap, but prices are generally expensive elsewhere. Expect the cost of living to be on par with most Western countries in Japan, and only slightly cheaper in South Korea, Taiwan, Macau, Hong Kong and major cities in China.

Tipping
Tipping is very rare generally in East Asia.

Eat
East Asian cuisines are extremely varied, and there is a world of difference between the cuisines of the harsh arid desert and mountainous regions, and the bountiful and fertile subtropical regions near the coasts. Japanese cuisine is probably the most celebrated internationally, and widely regarded by connoisseurs to be second only to French cuisine as the most refined cuisine in the world. Korean cuisine has also been gaining in popularity due to the popularity of Korean dramas throughout east and southeast Asia, and the large Korean diaspora in the United States. In contrast to Japanese cuisine, Korean cuisine does not emphasize subtlety, and many Korean dishes are heavily seasoned and famously spicy, with Korean barbecue perhaps being the most popular type of Korean food internationally. Chinese cuisine is the most diverse in the region due to the sheer size of the country; ingredients and taste profiles vary widely from region to region, with notably different culinary traditions in ethnic minority areas like Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang and Tibet. When travelling around East Asian countries, it is worth seeking out the local specialities, some of which are hard to find outside their respective areas.

Visitors from Western countries will be shocked to learn that a considerable number of foods associated with Asian cultures don't actually exist in a recognizable form in East Asia. Most Chinese food served in North America, such as crab rangoons, chop suey, Mongolian beef, and General Tso's chicken, does not exist in either mainland China, Taiwan or Hong Kong (most early Chinese immigrants to the U.S. came from Guangdong, and American Chinese food is usually based off Cantonese dishes but heavily modified to suit the American palate). American sushi has been localized to the point of being hardly recognizable to the Japanese. Other types of food associated with one culture actually came from another: for example, fortune cookies were invented in America by Japanese immigrants, and Mongolian barbecue does not exist in Mongolia and was instead invented in Taiwan by a Chinese restaurateur.

Chopsticks are the main eating utensil of East Asia. Outside of restaurants specializing in Western cuisine, forks are rarely available and knives are not to be used at the table but spoons are available for soup, and rice in some cases.

Rice is an East Asian staple, although in much of northern China and Mongolia wheat predominates.

Fried rice is another popular dish, prepared in a variety of ways in different regions. Fried rice usually has some combination of eggs, vegetables, meat, and/or seafood fried with the rice. Occasionally, some places have other varieties, such as fruit fried rice.

Noodles are readily available throughout the region, with Northern China, Korea and Japan providing many variations.

If you are interested in street food, then Taipei, Tainan, Seoul, and Hong Kong are excellent places to sample innovative and traditional delicacies.

Tokyo, Taipei and Hong Kong are generally regarded as the best cities in the region for fine dining, though Seoul, Guangzhou, Beijing and Shanghai also have a large number of international standard restaurants. Kyoto is also well-known for being the main centre of kaiseki, a traditional Japanese form of fine dining.

Vegetarians will have differing levels of success, depending on where they travel. Generally, it is not difficult to find vegetarian restaurants in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau, as well as in the Han Chinese heartland of mainland China, but be careful about vegetable dishes in ordinary restaurants, as they may be prepared using non-vegetarian ingredients like oyster sauce and lard. In contrast, vegetarian dishes practically cease to exist in Mongolia and in Western China (Xinjiang and Tibet), since the environment makes the intensive agriculture of plants difficult. Japanese, Korean and some regional Chinese cuisines make heavy use of seafood, although nori (seaweed) is vegetarian. Vegans may have difficulty in finding dishes that don't use any animal products, as most places will use eggs or stock in their dishes, but excellent vegan food can be found at Buddhist restaurants in the Chinese cultural sphere. Buddhist vegetarian food also exists in Japan and South Korea, but it is considered to be a form of fine dining and hence, very expensive. Generally, larger cities and cities that get lots of (foreign) tourists will have at least one restaurant catering to vegetarians/vegans.

Western restaurant review websites such as Yelp and TripAdvisor are generally unreliable for East Asian countries, as locals often do not post reviews there. Instead, each area typically has its own restaurant review website. These are Tabelog for Japan, OpenRice for Hong Kong and Dianping for mainland China, the former two of which have English versions available.

Drink
Tea is the quintessential East Asian drink. Generally, green (unfermented) varieties are preferred over Western-style black tea, but the varieties available cover the entire color and taste spectrum. China, in particular, produces a wide variety of tea, ranging from green teas to black teas, and even the same type of tea comes in many different grades. Note that East Asians generally drink their tea neat, so unless you are at a shop which specifically makes milk tea, milk and sugar may not be available except in Mongolia, where milk tea is served with all meals, and Tibet, where yak butter tea is traditional.

Beer is also an important drink, especially in Northeast Asia. There are parts of Northern China where beer is drunk more widely than tea — especially in Qingdao, home to Tsingtao beer — and Kirin and Asahi beer are quite popular in Japan.

Japan is also the home of sake, commonly called rice wine though brewed similarly to beer and with a similar amount of alcohol by volume. Rice wines are also available in other parts of East Asia, perhaps most notably Korean makgeolli, which is served in many cafes and restaurants.

Liquor, such as shochu in Japan or soju in Korea, is very popular throughout most of East Asia. These drinks are ingrained in their cultures, and are an entertaining experience. Korea might be called the "Ireland of the East," given its drinking culture. Beware, however, that the most common victims of crime (what little there is) in Korea and Japan are irresponsible drinkers outside bars. China also has a tradition of drinking grain liquors known as baijiu, which often have higher proofs than European liquors such as whisky and vodka (up to 65% alcohol). Chinese baijiu comes in many different styles, some of the more common ones being erguotou and maotai. In Taiwan, the national drink is a type of baijiu known as kaoliang, which is produced on the island of Kinmen.

Legal drinking ages are 20 in Japan and 18 in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and South Korea (though note that you are regarded as one year old at birth in South Korea, counting begun years instead of completed ones).

Respect
The Chinese are Chinese, the Japanese are Japanese and the Koreans are Korean. Labeling all East Asian-looking people as a single "Asian" race is often not well-received here. Despite having cultures that are strongly-influenced by Chinese culture, the Japanese and Koreans appreciate it when visitors emphasize the unique aspects of their cultures.

When dining or visiting temples or other holy or spiritual sites, there are customs and traditions that are specific to different East Asian cultures. Look at the country pages for specific advice.

When traveling to certain areas, note the political situation. Both the PRC (Mainland China) and the ROC (Taiwan) lay claim to both Mainland China and the island of Taiwan, although for practical travel purposes they are separate countries, and there is a growing independence movement in Taiwan. Likewise, both Koreas treat each other as yet-to-be parts of each other, and will refer to each other as north Korea or south Korea (note the lowercase directions). The political status of Hong Kong vis-à-vis China can also be a touchy issue. The political status of some regions of Mainland China, especially Tibet and Xinjiang, can be a source of tension; there have been occasional reports of Chinese police dressing up as Tibetan activists to try to get unknowing tourists to 'smuggle' pro-independence materials out of China (and thus commit a crime).

Historical issues might also influence how you or your travels are received. Japanese colonial history (and the reluctance of the Japanese government to acknowledge, let alone apologize for it) has led to a certain level of Japanophobia in the Koreas and Mainland China. Usually, this is directed at the Japanese government and not at Japanese people or people who have been to Japan, but it can still color conversations. Likewise, the Korean War has resulted in strong anti-American sentiment in North Korea, and periodic anti-American sentiment has occurred in Japan and South Korea as well (although almost always tied to crimes committed by American soldiers, or planned expansions of U.S. military bases). European colonialism also left its mark on China, most evidently in the existence of Hong Kong and Macau as semi-autonomous states, but also through a slew of "unequal treaties" forced upon the Chinese government by the Europeans, Japanese, and Americans in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Cultural identity is also a sensitive issue due to history; many ethnically Chinese Hongkongers and Taiwanese, especially the youth, reject the "Chinese" identity, instead preferring to emphasize their British and Japanese colonial heritage respectively.

Stay safe
East Asia is probably one of the safest regions on the planet for travelers, at least when it comes to violent crime and is characterized by stable politics and low crime. The main exceptions are the Chinese territories of Tibet and Xinjiang, which have active independence movements and see occasional unrest, though foreigners are usually not the target of the violence. Xinjiang has a reputation for indiscriminate bombings and stabbings, but is claimed to be safer now due to the government's harsh crackdown. Be extra careful when in large crowds such as at train stations and markets. Tibet has the occasional risk of ethnic unrest. This tends not to pose much of a threat to international travellers, as foreigners are almost never targeted. The heavy police presence keeps crime low. It is standard practice to block visitor entry at the slightest hint of trouble to China's Tibetan regions or during important dates, so know before you go, or you may be turned away from buying a bus or train ticket and have to reroute your entire trip in sudden frustration.

East Asia is also known for its large organized crime syndicates like the Japanese yakuza and the Chinese triads (though these days much more active in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau than in mainland China). Members of these syndicates tend to live underground lives and rarely target people not already involved in organized crime; do not provoke them (such as by borrowing money from loan sharks and failing to repay) and they will not bother you.

Large parts of China and especially Japan and Taiwan are at significant risk from earthquakes. If you're indoors and you feel a shake, stay indoors, as running outside during a quake is the most likely way you'll be injured or killed. Extinguish gas burners and candles and beware of falling objects and toppling furniture. Shelter under furniture or a doorway if necessary. If you're outdoors, stay away from brick walls, glass panels and vending machines, and beware of falling objects, telephone cables, etc. Falling roof tiles from older and traditional buildings are particularly dangerous, as they can drop long after the quake has ended. Typhoons occur regularly during the summer months in coastal regions.

Many parts of East Asia are mountainous. Use caution when driving or trekking up in these areas. Road safety in mainland China can range from lacking in coastal regions to suicidal in western regions. General rule of thumb is: more remote the region, more reckless the driver. Buses are fairly safe during the day time but not so much at night. Sleeper buses should especially be avoided due to their tendency to self immolate, take a night train instead. Due to lack of law enforcement, self driving in mainland China is not advised. Hire a car with a driver should the need arise.

In Japan, South Korea, the northern parts of China and higher elevations in Taiwan, winters may bring heavy snows, which can shut down roads or trains (some of the only times the Japanese shinkansen, or bullet trains, have been delayed were due to snow buildup blocking passage). Places like Shirakawa-go can be isolated within minutes of a heavy snowfall, so take extra precaution when planning a trip to the Japan Alps or the Tibetan Plateau in the winter. Ulaanbaatar in the winter is the coldest capital city on the planet, and the rest of Mongolia and Inner Mongolia aren't any warmer (the average temperature on parts of the Mongolian steppe in winter is a whopping -40°C/F). If travelling during this time, take extra care to ensure your body is warm and minimize your time spent outside to 20 minutes.

Stay healthy
Healthcare systems vary widely from country to country. Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong have modern and well-equipped healthcare systems, with the hygiene levels and standards of treatment in local hospitals being at least on par with Western countries. Macau also has good healthcare facilities for routine consultations, though you may need to be evacuated to Hong Kong if your case requires attention from a specialist or certain specialised medical equipment. Mainland China's healthcare system is much more of a mixed bag. While hospitals with standards of treatment mirroring that of the West exist in major cities, you will generally be paying a steep premium for their services, and the standard of local Chinese hospitals may not be up to what Western visitors are willing to put up with. Health care in North Korea is a mixed bag. Heavy investments in the sector have been made since the 1940s, but international embargoes have hampered the development since the 1990s and critical infrastructure, such as electricity supply, may fail. There are also reports on widespread corruption. You might want to be evacuated to one of the neighbouring countries should a medical emergency arise.

The air quality in the industrial cities of northern China can border range from bad to terrible to outright dangerous. People with serious respiratory problems should seriously consider not traveling there for long periods. Check PM2.5 reading before arrival. In the winter, industrial cities and mountainous cities become choked with smog, as many people still burn coal for warmth and the air gets trapped by mountains. Ulaanbaatar in particular is a city that gets dangerously smoggy between late December and early March.

Second-hand smoke is a problem in China with 320 million smokers (over 60% of the adult male population). While few locations ban smoking, second-hand smoke mainly affects travelers on hard seat carriages on slow trains and hole-in-the-wall restaurants.

Smoking in Japan and Taiwan is not as common as in Mainland China, and most places have some sort of ban on the practice (for example, with the exception of a few overnight or long-distance trains, smoking is banned on the entire Japanese high-speed rail system).

title: East Asia


text:
East Bali

East Bali is a region of the island of Bali in Indonesia.

Cities

 * — there are there are several silver and gold craftsmen in this village
 * — a quiet coastal town, the Bali Aga and gateway to the east coast
 * — a town of great historical and cultural importance
 * — small port town from where ferries to Lombok depart. Nice white sand beach nearby known as Blue Lagoon Beach

Other destinations

 * — an area of peaceful, traditional fishing villages featuring black sand beaches, coral reefs and excellent diving
 * — active volcano Mount Batur, great mountain scenery and fruit growing
 * — highest mountain in Bali and the mother temple of Besakih
 * — mountains, the water palace and stunning rice terraces nearby

Understand
East Bali is a large region with natural habitat ranging from lush forests and black sand beaches to barren gravel plains and an active volcano. The south coast is home to the popular seaside resort town of Candidasa and ferries to Lombok at Padang Bai. Mighty Mount Agung, Bali's highest volcano, looms large over the whole of East Bali and hosts Bali's holiest of temples, Pura Besakih. In the far east, Amed is an increasingly popular and ever charming stretch of coast. East Bali provides as much for visitors as any of Bali's regions.

Climate
The climate is noticeably drier in low lying areas of East Bali than in the rest of the island, because it is in the lee of Mount Agung. On the slopes of Mount Agung (especially) and at Kintamani it gets distinctly cold. Plan accordingly.

By car
Road routes into East Bali were traditionally a little inconvenient but that changed greatly when the Sanur to Kusamba main route (officially Jalan Prof Dr Ida Bagus Mantra, but nobody calls it that) was opened in 2006/7. This not only cut drive times from South Bali in half, it also relieved pressure on the heavily used Gianyar to Klungkung road.

 * From Sanur in South Bali to Kusamba (easy access from there to Klungkung, Padang Bai and Candidasa). Time approximately one hour.
 * From Ubud in Central Bali via Gianyar to Klungkung takes about 45 minutes and from there all points eastwards are easily accessed.
 * From Kintamani in North Bali to Klungkung via Bangli. Time approximately 1 hour.
 * From Kintamani in North Bali to Besakih and Mount Agung via Suter. Time approximately 45 minutes.
 * From Singaraja in North Bali via Tulamben to Amed. Time approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

By bus
Budget travellers are urged to check the services of Perama] whose network covers in this region Padang Bai, Candidasa and Amed.

There are also other scheduled private shuttle buses into Candidasa, Padang Bai and Amed from some major tourist centres. These are widely advertised locally. Book one day in advance.

East Bali destinations are served from Batubulan bemo terminal in Denpasar.

By boat
There are public ferries from Lembar (Lombok) to Padang Bai every hour, 24 hours a day. The trip normally takes four hours (but it can be considerably longer in poor weather) and costs Rp35,000. It should be understood that this ferry has a poor safety record.

Perama runs a daily ferry service from Lombok (Rp200,000) and the Gili Islands (Rp300,000) to Padang Bai one way including bus transfers.

There are fast boat services from the Gili Islands to Padang Bai. BlueWater Express is the fast boat pioneer and one of the top operators between Bali - Gili - Lombok. These have been something of a movable feast with operators coming and going, but one constant has been the Gili Cat service for Rp660,000 one way. The travel time is 2 hours.

Get around
There is a regular shuttle bus network on the south coast which links the popular destinations of Padang Bai, Candidasa and Amed.

Motorbikes are widely available for rental in the popular coastal towns and are great for nipping around from bay to bay.

Othwerwise you are best off renting a car and driving yourself.

Besakih Temple
Besakih Temple (Pura Besakih) is considered by the Hindu Balinese to be their mother temple. This is the single most important temple on the whole of the island and is dramatically located on the slopes of Mount Agung.

The Besakih temple complex consists of more than 20 separate temples and numerous other smaller shrines, spread out over three kilometres. Each temple has a specific purpose, whether it is for the worship of a particular god, for the use of the people from a certain region of Bali or for the use of a specific Balinese caste. The only way to move around the temples of Besakih is on foot and there are some quite steep climbs as the complex gradually rises up the slopes of Mount Agung. Make sure you wear a good pair of comfortable shoes. The overall effect is quite spectacular, especially on a clear day.

Unless you are specifically there to pray or make offerings, all the main temples are off limits and will be locked. This is not however a big drawback for visitors as just about everything can be seen from outside of the actual individual temple compounds. Besakih is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Bali and the area around the entrance has inevitably grown into a small town of souvenir hawkers and a host of others all trying to scramble a living out of relatively wealthy visitors. This does put some visitors off a little, even to point where travel guides and agents issue warnings about visiting here. There is no need to be put off though. If you behave sensibly and courteously, the hawkers soon know whether you are a "buyer" or not. Pura Besakih should be a must for every visitor to Bali.

The most usual approach to Besakih is from Klungkung in the south. Take the main road which leads due north from the centre of Klungkung for about 20 km passing through Rendang. Besakih is signposted along the way. An alternative (and attractive) route is from Kintamani taken the road south from Penelokan through Suter and turning east (Besakih is signposted) just before you reach the tiny village of Pempatan.

Coastal villages and beaches
This region contains some of the most picturesque and least visited beaches on the whole island. Most (but not all) of these are black sand and tend to be quite narrow. The beaches around Candidasa are the most visited and Amed in the far east of the region is becoming increasingly popular. All the way along the south coast from Padang Bai in the west to way beyond Candidasa in the east you will find attractive waterfront villages, some far more visited than others. Take the time to explore and understand a little of coastal life in the region. The two coves (both with white sand beaches) either side of the port town of Padang Bai are absolutely gorgeous and often remarkably free of visitors. For those wanting an away-from-it-all experience but also the comforts of a developing tourist destination, then Amed fits the bill perfectly and is a great place to unwind.

Mount Agung and around
Standing some 3,142 metres above sea level, Mount Agung is the highest mountain on the island and its omnipresence dominates the region. Aside from specifically hosting Pura Besakih, the mountain is of great spiritual significance to the Balinese who regard it as a fragment of mythical Mount Meru and as the seat of the Gods. Any visitor cannot fail but be impressed by the majesty of Agung.

There are many ways to see and explore the mountain, some more formal than others. The area around the water palace at Tirta Gangga offers great views of the mountain and the terraced rice paddies in the foothills. From here you can arrange treks of all types ranging from fairly gentle exploration of the foothils through to an ascent to the very top of the mountain. The latter is not be taken lightly and the how, why and when are all explained here.

The road through the Sideman/Selat valley in the foothills of Mount Agung makes for one of the most scenic drives on the whole island. Stunning rice terraces, lush forested hill-sides and the mountain itself, all combine to make this is a magical area to visit. If you stop in the village of Selat it is easy to find local guides for undemanding hikes in the area.

A very different but nonetheless dramatic drive is around the north east coast road through Culik (the turn off to Amed is here), Tulamben and beyond. Mount Agung again looms very large but this time the aspect is one of barren gravel plains between the coast and the mountain. It is hard to believe that the lush valleys south of the mountain of Sideman are only 30 kilometres away.

The Bali Aga at Tenganan
In the hills just 4 km inland from Candidasa at Tenganan is the most famous Bali Aga (original Balinese) village. The Bali Aga people have retained an ancient pre-Majapahit Balinese culture and this is apparent in the many obvious differences from the rest of Bali which you will find in Tenganan. The villagers maintain a strict adherence to ancestor worship, cosmology and other animist beliefs as well as a rigid social organization. Villagers must live inside the village, marry from within and the village is closed to outsiders after dark. The dialect of Balinese spoken here is heard nowhere else and differs substantially from even the other Bali Aga community in Trunyan. Architecturally, the village is very different from the standard Balinese design. In short, a visit here is a totally unique cultural experience.

Those with an eye for top quality craftsmanship will also enjoy Tenganan. The unique double weave ikat fabric called Geringsing is made here and Tenganan produces what is probably the best basketwork anywhere in Indonesia.

The village is signposted from the main coast road in Candidasa and all drivers will know the way here. Alternatively grab a lift from Candidasa on a motorbike or stroll the easy 4 km track. A small admission charge to the village will be charged.

Do
The pools at Tirta Gangga Water Place are a wonderful public bathing facility and a great way to freshen yourself up in the heat of the day.

East Bali offers numerous walking and trekking opportunities. The serious trekker will find climbing Mount Agung extremely rewarding. Mount Batur is an easy two-hour climb and is one of the easiest accessed of all the active volcanoes in Indonesia. There are lots of other very scenic hiking routes through the region.

Many of Bali's best dive spots are in this region and include a notable wreck dive at Tulamben and very rewarding reef dives at Amed, Candidasa and Padang Bai. Non-divers should not feel left out with each of those locations also offering excellent snorkeling.

Eat
Fish is a very wise choice in this region as just about the whole of the coastline here is populated by traditional fishing communities.

A local speciality in the Candidasa area is satay lilit, minced fish satay served on a lemongrass stick. Look for streetside vendors. In Klungkung, the locals serve serombotan, a Balinese salad consisting of vegetables, nuts, beans and green bean with a side of coconut sambal.

Drink
There is a laid back beach bar scene in Candidasa, Padang Bai and Amed. In Candidasa you will find live music most days of the week but -due to local regulations- everything will stop quite early.

Go next

 * Ferries from Padang Bai to Lembar, Lombok run 24 hours a day.
 * Drive around the north eastern coast via Tulamben to Singaraja and Lovina.
 * Drive north from Kintamani to Singaraja.

title: East Bali


text:
East Bay

Lying across the Bay Bridge from San Francisco, the East Bay consists primarily of Contra Costa County and Alameda County. It has a unique culture that's more laid back and uncomplicated than its western neighbors. Oakland, the area's largest city, is famous for its somewhat smaller Chinatown and its beautiful waterfront Jack London Square, as well as its large port and eucalyptus-spotted hills. Berkeley, just north of Oakland, is home to the University of California and tens of thousands of students.

Cities
Here are a few of the East Bay's main cities; for more complete lists, see Inner East Bay and Outer East Bay.

 * - An island community separated from Oakland by a narrow channel
 * - Fairly large city on the shoreline of the Delta
 * - Home to the world famous University of California, Berkeley
 * - Birthplace of jazz legend Dave Brubeck
 * - East Bay's 2nd largest city with one of the largest Afghan communities in the U.S. and the northern edge of Silicon Valley
 * - California State University, East Bay
 * - The East Bay's largest city, with enough cultural diversity to rival SF
 * - One of America's wealthiest mid-size cities, with a (somewhat) historic district and numerous upscale restaurants
 * - The best shopping in the Bay Area behind San Francisco

Other destinations

 * - This East Bay Regional Park District park surrounds Lake Del Valle, and includes wilderness areas with canyons, woodlands, grasslands, and some quite dramatic rock formations.
 * - This 20,000-acre (80 km2) park provides great hiking opportunities on a mountain that dominates the landscape for most of central and eastern Contra Costa County. It offers an incredible viewshed, with views on clear days stretching to Mount Lassen.

The East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) manages numerous parklands throughout the East Bay. Some of them are contiguous but, in most cases, each park is separate. They also sometimes go by names like "regional wilderness", but they are still East Bay parks. The East Bay parks include several protected shorelines in the west; Del Valle Regional Park, Sunol Regional Wilderness, and Ohlone Regional Wilderness (the Ohlone Trail) in the south; and Black Diamond Mines Regional Park, Briones Regional Park, Las Trampas Regional Park, Tilden Regional Park, and Anthony Chabot Regional Park in the north. A longer list with more details can be found at the Hiking in the East Bay article. A popular destination in the EBRPD is Ardenwood House, in the Fremont area. It is a historic house with some parkland surrounding it.

Understand
What the locals call "the East Bay" is really two fairly distinct regions separated by the East Bay hills, the crest of the Berkeley Hills continuing into the Oakland Hills and the Pleasanton Ridge. In the inner East Bay west of the hills, the cities of Berkeley, Oakland, San Leandro and Hayward rise from the edge of the San Francisco Bay up the western face of the foothills. The climate tends to be temperate, the culture diverse, the transit frequent, and the traffic horrendous.

In the outer East Bay on the eastern side of the hills, the towns of Walnut Creek, Pleasanton and Livermore lie in the area known as the Tri-Valley region (named for the Livermore, San Ramon and Amador valleys). The climate here is more like that of the San Joaquin Valley, with foggy winters and scorching summers. The population is more homogeneous, but the traffic is still pretty awful in some places and during the rush hour. Originally, when the small towns of the Tri-Valley area began to grow into suburbs in the 1970s, many people commuted over the hills to work in the South Bay, the Peninsula or the City. Today, many large corporations have offices in the Tri-Valley area, and the suburbs of Pleasanton and Walnut Creek are growing into small cities.

The historical change in the East Bay has been from Native American tribal lands to Spanish, then Mexican ranches; then to farms, ranches, and orchards; then multiple city centers and suburbs. In general, the more urban an area is, the less obvious this progression is, and the more you have to dig to find it.

Contra Costa County is divided into three parts simply referred to as: "West County" near Richmond, "Central County" for the booming area near Walnut Creek, Concord, and Mount Diablo, "East County" for the area near the Delta which includes Antioch or Brentwood.

Though pro sports have seen a dramatic exit from the area, the East Bay has two NCAA Division I sports programs:
 * The California Golden Bears field teams in 30 sports. Through the 2023–24 school year, most teams play in the Pac-12 Conference, but that league was the main casualty of the early-2020s conference realignment. Despite the geographic oddity, the Bears will join the Atlantic Coast Conference for 2024–25 and beyond. Most Cal sports venues on campus, with the most notable being the ancient Memorial Stadium (football), which sits right over the Hayward Fault.
 * The Saint Mary's Gaels, representing Saint Mary's College in Moraga, field teams in 19 sports, mostly in the West Coast Conference. Unlike Cal, Saint Mary's doesn't have a football team. Men's basketball is the hot-button sport here, with NCAA tournament appearances not unheard of.

By plane
The only major airport in the East Bay is Oakland International Airport in Oakland. San Francisco International Airport across the Bay and San Jose's San Jose International Airport  in the South Bay are the other major airports in the area.

By car
Bridges connect the East Bay with Marin County, San Francisco, and the Peninsula. Also, the I-580 connects the Central Valley with the East Bay via Altamont Pass in the east.

By public transportation
BART connects the East Bay with San Francisco, and Amtrak serves this region as well.

Bus service, provided by Golden Gate Transit, is useful for entering the region from the North Bay; buses from Marin County stop in or near Richmond with connections to BART.

By car
Due to the population exodus from "The City" (due to $$$ high prices and low bang for the buck) and the movement of some families from the west side of the hills, the eastern portion of the East Bay is growing very rapidly and the traffic has gotten worse over the years.

There are several freeways in the East Bay, including the I-80, I-580, I-680, and the I-880. However, the large number of commuters from Stockton, Tracy, the Tri-Valley, and the Fremont area to Silicon Valley can mean that southbound traffic is poor in the weekday mornings and northbound traffic is poor during late afternoons and evenings.

By public transportation
BART lines in the East Bay radiate out from Oakland after crossing the Bay from San Francisco; this means they're very useful for getting around the cities along the bay, but their convenience starts to decrease when you go east of the Oakland hills.

AC Transit bus service is useful for getting around the dense urban parts of the East Bay west of the hills (Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda), but doesn't have much service in the eastern part of the region, where a handful of other transit agencies operate instead: Tri Delta Transit in the northeast, Wheels in the south, and County Connection somewhere in the middle.

See
The local scenery consists of some rolling peaks, higher mountains, and wooded regions in the west. Mount Diablo sticks out like a sore thumb toward the north; in the south, generally the mountains are parts of ridges, so they do not stand out so much. The picture on the right is a fairly good example of countryside on the southern side of the East Bay.

The urban areas in the west of the East Bay can be gritty, but there are some quality museums, interesting cityscapes, and vibrant arts scenes. UC Berkeley is a highlight.

Itineraries

 * East Shore Trail
 * Iron Horse Trail
 * Ohlone Wilderness Trail

Do
The East Bay Regional Park District maintains 65 parks across the East Bay, ranging from easy access picnic areas to off-limits wildlife sanctuaries. More than a dozen campsites range from "family camping" to backpack areas.

Berkeley and Oakland have frequent events, and the outer parts of the region have some as well, like the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton.

Travel topics

 * Hiking in the East Bay

Learn
The University of California, Berkeley (often called "UC Berkeley" or just "Cal") is world renowned for its educational standards and its liberal viewpoint of most things. There is a Cal State school in Hayward (CSU East Bay - formerly known as "CSU Hayward"). There are many two year junior colleges here but one of the biggest is Diablo Valley College, in Pleasant Hill.

Buy
There are many malls and shopping centers in the East Bay. Sunvalley Mall (Concord), Stoneridge Mall (Pleasanton), Bay Fair Mall (San Leandro), Newpark Mall (Newark), and Southland Mall (Hayward) are some of the largest.

Connect
The two main area codes are (510) for the inner East Bay, and (925) for the outer East Bay. In 2019, (341) was introduced as an overlay for the (510) area, but "the 510" remains a symbol of local identity in the inner East Bay.

Go next

 * North Bay – not as densely populated as other parts of the Bay Area, but home to wine country and natural scenery.
 * South Bay – this is where San Jose and Santa Clara can be found, and is known for being a major center of technology.
 * The Peninsula – a suburban region on the west side of the San Francisco Bay and is a peninsula that goes from the South Bay to the Golden Gate.

title: East Bay