A passenger jeepney passing by the old Aduana (customs) building in Intramuros, Manila. Manila, which was once dubbed the "Pearl of the Orient", is now better known for its sprawling slums and widespread poverty than its architectural and cultural riches. Much of the architecture that made it one of Asia's most intriguing cities was destroyed during World War II, when US bombs rained down to oust the occupying Japanese forces. Tourists generally skip old Manila in their rush to Boracay and some of the the Philippines' other tropical islands, but the new government of President Benigno Aquino III is hoping to entice tourists to linger a little longer. AFP/Michelle Butalon
NEW YORK – Fort Santiago and Intramuros in the Philippines have been listed among the top 10 most endangered historic sites in Asia by The Global Heritage Fund.
The Fund, which promotes the preservation of historic architectural sites around the world, issued a finalized list on the endangered sites Friday.
Here’s the complete list of the endangered sites:
1. Ayutthaya in Thailand, a former Siamese capital known as the “Venice of the East.”
2. Fort Santiago and Intramuros in the Philippines.
3. Kashgar, one of the last preserved Silk Road cities in China.
4. Mahasthangarh, one of South Asia’s earliest archeological sites in Bangladesh.
5. Mes Aynak, an Afghan Buddhist monastery complex on the Silk Road.
6. Myauk-U, capital of the first Arakenese kingdom in Myanmar.
7. Plain of Jars, a mysterious megalithic site in Laos.
8. Preah Vihear, a Khmer architectural masterpiece in Cambodia.
9. Rakhigari, one of the biggest, ancient Indus sites in India.
10. Taxila, an ancient economic crossroads in Pakistan.