Asia

This UNESCO World Heritage Site consists of hundreds of rows of structures built into the walls of these mountains in order to create terraces that hold flooded pond fields for the cultivation of rice. More importantly, this peaceful landscape is the filming location for the site where farmer Thanos retreats to in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. Address: Nueva Vizcaya – Ifugao – Mountain Province Rd, Banaue, Ifugao, Philippines Visitor Information: Banaue Rice Terraces

The Great Wall of China is a world-famous UNESCO World Heritage structure that once served as the barricade of the North, now acts as a tourist attraction for millions of visitors every year, many of whom (or is it just me?) are inspired to visit based on its connection to Disney. A portion of this 13,000-mile-long wall can be seen as one of the featured locations in Soarin’ Around the World (Disney California Adventure), Soarin’ Around the World (Epcot), Soaring Over the Horizon and Soaring: Fantastic Flight. I can’t help but think of a certain song every time I see this scene. The portion of the wall seen is near the city of Miyun, outside of northeast Beijing. It’s the same filming location that was used in the Wonders of China attraction shown in Epcot’s China Pavilion from 1982 to 2003 and Disneyland from 1984 to1996. Today, Epcot’s China Pavilion shows the updated(ish) Circle-Vision film, Reflections of China, which now features the Great Wall as the bookends of the attraction where we both meet and say 再见 (goodbye) to our host, Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai. Watch the below video or take a listen to this song, it’ll make you feel like you’re […]

Part of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) takes place on Scarif, where the Empire has established a security complex. The pristine beaches of Scarif, along with some CGI enhancement, were filmed on the real beaches and in the crystal clear water of the island of Gan in the Maldives. Address: Gan, Laamu Atoll, Maldives Visitor Information: Maldives Ministry of Tourism

While there are many torii gates in Japan, this one off the coast of the island of Itsukushima is probably the most famous. This UNESCO World Heritage Site was the inspiration for the design of a scale replica found in Epcot’s Japan Pavilion in Walt Disney World. Address: 1-1 Miyajimacho, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima 739-0588, Japan Visitor Information: Itsukushima Shrine Office

Lujiazui is Shanghai, China‘s modern financial district. Its vibrant skyline along the Huangpu River features futuristic looking buildings such as Shanghai World Financial Center, Shanghai Tower, and Oriental Pearl Tower. All of these buildings and more can be seen during the unique fireworks filled finale scene of Shanghai Disneyland’s Soaring Over the Horizon. The other versions of the ride (Soarin’ Around the World [Disney California Adventure], Soarin’ Around the World [Epcot], and Soaring: Fantastic Flight) have alternate locations for their end scenes. This colorful cityscape can also be seen in Epcot’s China Pavilion during the Circle-Vision film, Reflections of China (although the skyline has changed a bit since the film’s debut in 2003). Check it out in the video below! Set your gaze across the Huangpu River, and you will find a new China that reaches for the sky. Yet in this city of East meets West, one can still find treasures of Shanghai’s stately European influence. – Reflections of China’s host, poet Li Bai Address: Lujiazui, Shanghai, China Visitor Information: The Official Shanghai China Travel Website

Osaka Shiki Theatre is a theater in Osaka which is home to The Little Mermaid (a grand, Broadway-style musical version of the 1989 animated film). This location is mentioned in our blog post: Every Disney Musical Currently Playing Address: Japan, 〒530-0001 Ōsaka-fu, Ōsaka-shi, Kita-ku, Umeda, 2 Chome−2−2-22 ハービスPLAZA ENT Visitor Information: Osaka Shiki Theatre

Rainforest Cafe is a chain of rainforest themed restaurants owned by Landry’s, Inc., the same company that operates T-Rex Cafe and Yak & Yeti. Rainforest Cafe is synonymous with Disney as you can find four restaurants at Disney Resorts around the world: one just outside Disney’s Animal Kingdom, one in Disneyland Village, one in Tokyo Disney’s Ikspiari, and one in Disney Springs. Address: Dubai Mall, Financial Center Rd, Dubai, United Arab Emirates Visitor Information: Rainforest Cafe

Shanghai Museum of Glass opened in 2011 as a museum devoted to showcasing the history, technology, and art behind glass. In 2016, the museum added a Disney “fantasy castle” created by Spanish glassblower Miguel Arribas, co-founder of the Arribas Brothers chain of glass and crystal shops found in Disney Parks around the world. This is the largest glass-blown castle in the world! Made by Miguel Arribas, it took 500+ hours and over 30,000 glass loops. The Arribas fantasy castle is currently at The Shanghai Museum of Glass in China. #glasscastle #arribasbrothers #cystalarts pic.twitter.com/RkmQP6HWpS — Arribas Brothers (@arribasbrothers) December 30, 2017 Please note that in early 2020 the castle was damaged but is planned to be restored, so it may not be on display currently. Address: 685 Changjiang W Rd, Baoshan, Shanghai, China Visitor Information: Shanghai Museum of Glass

This UNESCO World Heritage mausoleum along the banks of India‘s Yamuna River features unique white marble styling and is considered the greatest architectural achievement in the Indo-Islamic world. The Taj Mahal can be seen as a featured location during Soarin’ Around the World (Disney California Adventure), Soarin’ Around the World (Epcot), Soaring Over the Horizon and Soaring: Fantastic Flight as it is a featured location visited during the ride, though a majority of this scene of the attraction was created using CGI. Fans the 1992 hit animated film Aladdin will be pleased to know that the design of Agrabah’s Sultan’s Palace was largely influenced by the white marble and bulbous minarets of the Taj Mahal. The name Agrabah even references the city of Agra, where the real-life structure exists. The Taj Mahal can also be seen during a very exciting scene in Disney’s 2013 film, Planes. If you plan to visit, grab a plane or hop a carpet and fly there soon, before it crumbles to the ground! Address: Dharmapuri, Forest Colony, Tajganj, Agra, Uttar Pradesh 282001, India Visitor Information: Department of Tourism, Government of Uttar Pradesh, India

Temple of Heaven is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the heart of China’s capital city of Beijing. This structure, symbolizing the relationship between earth and heaven, is just one of many religious buildings in this imperial complex situated in Tiantan Park. Epcot fans will recognize this multi-tier, round edifice as the centerpiece of the China Pavilion, replicated in half-scale as the entrance to Reflections of China (to be re-opened as Wondrous China in 2020). Address: 1 Tiantan E Rd, Dongcheng, China, 100061 Visitor Information: Tiantan Park Management Office (website only available in Chinese)

Tokyo Tower is a communications and observation tower in the heart of Tokyo, Japan. It was constructed in 1958 based on the design of the Eiffel Tower. This tower is a featured filming location from Tokyo DisneySea’s Soaring: Fantastic Flight. Ironically, this 1,092-foot tall tower replaces the Eiffel Tower scene (seen on other versions of the Soarin’ ride film) in favor of an extended finale, unique to Tokyo’s version of the ride. This finale includes a flyover of Tokyo leading up to Tokyo’s iconic tower. Address: 4-chōme-2-8 Shibakōen, Minato City, Tōkyō-to 105-0011, Japan Visitor Information: Tokyo Tower

Wadi Rum is a desert valley cut into the sandstone and granite rock of southern Jordan. Its unique landscape is a desirable filming location for desert scenes. In the Star Wars universe, this desert was used for scenes portraying the moon Jedha in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016). It can also be seen in Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (2019), playing the role of Pasaana, the planet where the crew finds a joyous Festival of Ancestors before taking off in speeders and discovering that Stormtroopers can fly… They fly now!? In 2019’s live-action remake of Aladdin, the Wadi Rum plays the role of the Agrabah desert, where Aladdin discovers the Cave of Wonders. Address: Wadi Rum, Aqaba 77110, Jordan Visitor Information: Jordan Tourism Board