Forget about the Taj Mahal—this architectural beauty stands as the most visited structure in India today. It's located in Delhi and serves as a Baha’i house of worship. Its stunning design took Canadian architect Fariborz Sahba 10 years to develop and complete, and with essentially zero straight lines, it may be considered one of the most complex and intricate structures in the world. There’s no entry cost, so you’re free to enter, worship, take pictures and even enjoy a picnic in the surrounding gardens.

For those brave enough to make the trek to North Korea, Pyongyang Ryugyong Hotel holds certain grandeur against the bleak capital skyline. Shrouded in mystery since 1987, officials claimed it would be built by 1989, but after an economic crisis and construction woes, it lay abandoned until 2008. Reports are unclear as to whether or not the recently completed hotel is actually open, but this modern wonder symbolizing the country’s aggressive power requires a visit (if your tour guide allows it).

No, you are not dreaming. Three decked-out bedrooms in this Taiwan vacation house allow you to explore all of your wildest Hello Kitty fantasies. The bedrooms, living rooms, personalized dining rooms and spa are all smeared in pink with enough Hello Kitty branding to haunt you into the next life. The best perk? You are actually escorted to the house in a Hello Kitty van. This may be the definition of amazing Asian architecture.

Entrance into a parallel universe, or one of Beijing-based MAD architects’ most natural and understated modern works? This striking ring in Tai Lake provides every room and its guests with natural light and gorgeous views of the lake, but perhaps most impressive is the exterior LED light system. While rather dim during the day, the ring becomes illuminated at night, reflecting animated patterns and colors onto the tranquil water’s surface.

Looking for an incredible day trip? Situated only 80 km from Beijing in the quaint village of Jiaojiehe, one of the most unique libraries in the world may be difficult to discern from the surrounding nature. Chinese architect Li Xiaodong used 400,000 locally sourced wooden sticks to cover the small glass walls and employed villagers to construct this space of contemplation and reading. They ask that visitors bring books to donate, and don’t forget to arrive early; its opening hours rely on natural light!

Located in one of China’s oldest cities, the Ningbo Museum is a strikingly natural structure located within the city sprawl. 2012 Pritzker Prize winner Wang Shu won the Lu Ban Prize (the top architectural prize in China) in 2009 for this uniquely slanting building. His design concept involves both ocean and mountain rock, in turn reflecting the importance that the East China Sea has had on the history of the seaport city of Ningbo.

Get there:  2.5 hours by air (from RMB1,300) 

If you’re looking for an extravagant getaway—or just a rooftop infinity pool—this stunning resort-casino offers plenty to do apart from admiring its impeccable architecture. High end restaurants, clubs and stores aside, designer Moshe Safdie and his engineering crew have called this one of the most difficult projects in the world. We think their hard work paid off, and that this nautical wonder provides a bold addition to Singapore’s skyline.

Designed by Korean architect Moon Hoon for the bass guitarist in an amateur rock group, this pop-art exploration features six vacation house units with names like “Ferrari Red” and “Barbie Pink.” The client was inspired by a trip to Spain, which somehow translated into hammocks, nets, ropes, and exaggerated three-dimensional fantasy. It’s located on the outskirts of the small mining town of Jeongseon, but who wouldn’t want to get away for a weekend given that the client’s rock band plays live sets regularly?

Designed by Hong Kong architects Dennis Lau and Ng Chun Man, the tallest building in Macao offers hotel rooms and an enormous casino space. Not to be missed is ‘The Star of Stanley Ho,’ the whopping 218-carat flawless diamond worth hundreds of millions of dollars on display. We just can’t get over how much this building resembles a pineapple—a sparkling, industrial, and stylish pineapple that has a wine list featuring more than 7,400 labels. Where do we sign up?

Though lacking in subtlety, Anhui’s Piano Violin House designed by Hefei University of Technology has secured its place among the most popular and romantic pieces of modern Chinese architecture, as vocalized by many locals and visitors. It is primarily a performance and practice place for music students in college at Huainan City, though you can often spot newlyweds snapping wedding photos in front of it. Campy post-modernism or bold innovation? Regardless, this is a truly unique example of modern Chinese architecture.

Originally the home to a minister in the late Qing dynasty, later a bank, and then deserted for decades, this Tianjin property was finally purchased by porcelain collector Zhang Lianzhi in 2002. Several years and (we kid you not) two billion yuan later, this house-museum is now one of the most dazzling and unique properties in Asia. Hundreds of millions of porcelain and crystal pieces decorate the exterior of this Gaudi-esque masterpiece.

You don’t need to be a big spender to admire the architectural beauty of this six-story Tokyo Prada store. Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron used a mix of concave, convex, and flat glass diamond frames to make up the structural shell that encases the actual frame of the building. Soft curves contrast with sharp angles to create a sense of movement, providing a truly unique viewing experience.

Covering 360,000 square meters and built at an altitude of over 12,000 feet, this 17th century Tibetan architectural wonder located in Lhasa will bring you closer to the heavens and teach you some history lessons along the way. Dating back to the 7th century as the Winter Palace of the Dalai Lama, its murals, libraries and tombs (eight former Dalai Lamas are buried here) make for a full day’s exploration. Religion and history enthusiasts should not miss this amazing emblem of Tibetan Buddhism.

Located on a man-made island in Macau, this eccentric temple space offers spiritual escape from the bustle of the tourists heading to the MGM nearby. The bronze statue of Kun Ian (or Guanyin, the Bodhisattva associated with compassion) sits atop a lotus petal base, which houses a small library of information on Chinese religion, a meditation area and of course, a souvenir shop.

Designed by world famous architect Toyo Ito, this university library in the suburbs of Tokyo stuns us with the weightlessness of its elegant simplicity. In wanting to create a space one could freely explore or cross through without an intended library visit, Ito’s final product features traditional European forms with modern Japanese inspiration that encourages movement and facilitates natural light. We want to pack up and do all of our work here.

Not to be confused with an eroding mass of rock, architect Kris Yao’s minimalist structure comes to life among the adjacent wetlands of Yilan County, Taiwan. We can’t get over the genius of its two interlocking volumes: the glass space houses the restaurant and lobby areas, whereas the solid space is for exhibitions, creating alternate viewing experiences throughout the museum. This international award-winning structure is a celebration of local ecology and environmental interaction, plus it’s only a couple of hours away from the Hello Kitty House.

Arguably MAD Architects’ most impressive work, this Inner Mongolian museum evokes the shifting desert sands through its glass skylights and curvy, luminescent walls. Although the new planned metropolis of the Ordos City urban center has yet to attract the one million residents that officials planned for, this architectural fusion of local culture and futuristic desires provides six levels of exhibition and contemplation space; it’s both a refuge from and a symbol of the strangely empty city constantly under construction.

Get there: Get there: 90 minutes by air (from RMB800)

Enshrining the relics of three previous Buddhas, legend has it that this Burmese pagoda is over 2,500 years old. The base is covered with gold plates, and the crown is comprised of over 7,000 diamonds and jewels, topped off with an eye-popping 76-carat diamond! We suggest you visit this vast and bejeweled ancient holy wonder at sunrise or sunset, as the reflective emerald at the center of the golden stupa is said to be dazzling in changing light.

Call us suckers for old-meets-new, but we’re in awe of how Samoo Architects & Engineers fused traditional Korean forms suggesting ancient tombs and ceramics with striking modernism to create this five-story masterpiece. Complete with performance halls, a revolving stage, and a top floor observatory, we’d sit through hours of Korean drama just to visit here. We are however still wondering if there are modern Asian architects who aren’t inspired by Star Trek.

You won’t find many architectural wonders in Asia more breathtaking than the Dilwara Temples at Mount Abu in Rajasthan, India. Built between the 11th and 13th centuries, these marble temples are perched among forested hills and serve as a pilgrimage site for believers of Jainism, an Indian religion defined by non-violence and spiritual independence. The perfection of the intricate hand carvings and ornamental detail paired with the simple yet marvelous design reflects Jain values, and is unlike anything else you will ever see.