The nine places in East Asia that you can reach with a direct flight from Manchester Airport – and what to see when you’re there

The announcement of new flights to Mumbai with IndiGo, beginning next month, marks the latest addition to a growing network of East Asian destinations with direct flights from Manchester Airport. More than half a million passengers flew between Manchester and East Asia in 2024, with the North of the UK’s hub airport now enjoying links to nine different destinations across five East Asian countries.

Here we look at each of them in turn, including top tips for travellers on what to see, where to go and how to get the most out of your trip.   

India

The world’s biggest country by population offers an eclectic mix of cultural, culinary and exotic experiences – from the wonders of the Taj Mahal and the holy city of Varanasi, to the tea plantations of Darjeeling and its numerous wildlife reserve protecting endangered populations of Bengal tigers, Asian elephants and Indian bison.

Mumbai gains its direct route to Manchester in July and offers the perfect introduction to the country, with a huge amount to see and do. The Gateway of India, a 26m-high triumphal arch on Mumbai’s waterfront, is one of India’s most iconic sights and celebrated its centenary last year. The nearby Churchgate neighbourhood is famous for its colonial architecture and fine dining, while religious sites like the grand Shree Siddhivinayak Hindu Temple and Global Vipassana Pagoda, a golden-domed Buddhist shrine, are also open to visitors. The Ajanta and Ellora caves, featuring millennia-old murals and artwork, are a popular day trip from Mumbai.

TUI also runs a select number of flights from Manchester to the Indian Ocean resort of Goa each winter, for those going on one of its Winter Sun package holidays there. Its beaches are among the best in the country and Goan cuisine, which is heavily based on seafood, has become increasingly popular in the UK in recent years.

Bangladesh

Links between Britain and Bangladesh go back centuries and today there is a sizeable community of Bangladeshi extraction living in the north of England. Last year almost 50,000 people flew there from Manchester with Biman Bangladesh Airlines, many of whom will have been visiting relatives and friends or travelling for business. But even if you don’t have connections to this vibrant and colourful nation, there’s plenty to explore for the intrepid holidaymaker.

Dhaka is the country’s capital and one of the biggest cities in the world by population, with nearly 24 million residents in its metropolitan area. The grand, purple-hued Ahsan Manzil palace is one of the top sights to see here, and the Old City, centred on Lalbagh Fort, transports you to a bygone era.

Sylhet is the biggest city in Bangladesh’s north-east, and a large proportion of Northern England’s Bangladeshi population can trace its roots back to the Sylhet region, which is home to some of the oldest tea estates in the country. Biman Bangladesh’s Manchester – Dhaka service stops in Sylhet on route, and you can buy a return ticket from Manchester to either city.

Singapore

Singapore Airlines flies directly from Manchester to the city-state’s only international hub, Singapore Changi. The airport is a destination in itself, world famous for its stunning waterfall feature known as The Jewel. The futuristic feel continues as you travel into the heart of the city, with striking architecture like the Marina Bay Sands hotel and Gardens By The Bay, where the Supertree Grove hosts a light show every evening. Clarke Quay has high-end shopping and fine dining, while the small island of Sentosa, accessible from the city centre via a scenic boardwalk, is Singapore’s playground with a theme park, water park, casinos and beaches.

China

China is another nation with enduring links our region – Liverpool is home to the oldest Chinese community in Europe and Manchester’s Chinatown hosts a huge annual parade for the Lunar New Year. Manchester Airport boasts three direct links to China, connecting thousands of international students and academics as well as those travelling for business – but also taking sightseers to some of the country’s most iconic spots.

Beijing is China’s capital and has had direct flights to Manchester since 2016. A bustling metropolis with a rich history, sites to explore in the city itself include the Imperial Ancestral Temple and the imposing Zhengyangmen gatehouse. The reason most tourists come here, though, is the city’s proximity to one of the best-preserved segments of the Great Wall of China, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. The surrounding villages, with their traditional architecture and tea houses, offer an insight into a way of life that has endured here but has been lost to modernisation elsewhere.

Shanghai is the modern face of the world’s second-largest economy. The Bund, a famous waterfront area that overlooks the Huangpu River, contrasts the old and the new – one side of the river is lined with some of Shanghai’s most historic buildings and the other is home to the financial district, a modern cityscape with some of China’s biggest skyscrapers. The observation deck at the Oriental Pearl Tower offers stunning aerial views, but if you want some respite from the frantic pace of China’s most populous city, check out Fuxing Park with its rose gardens and cafes.

Hong Kong returned to China in 1997 after more than 150 years of British rule, during which it developed from a small trading outpost off the Chinese mainland, to one of the world’s most densely populated megacities. The Victoria Harbour is lit up with stunning displays each evening and exploring the waterfront in the Duk Ling, a traditional Chinese tall ship, has become a favoured pastime of tourists. Victoria Peak offers views from above and is served by a charming colonial-era tram. The enormous 280ft Tian Tan Buddha is also worth a visit; a bronze statue of the Buddha seated in the lotus position, set on a hilltop on Lantau Island, overlooking the bay.

Thailand

Phuket is one of TUI’s most popular Winter Sun destinations, and direct flights there from Manchester are available between November and April. The main attraction here is some of the very best beaches on the planet – not just on the island of Phuket itself, but on the nearby islands of Koh Phi Phi and Koh Yao Yai, both of which can be reached by scheduled speed boat from Phuket for a day trip. Thai food is famed the world over, and here you’ll find a huge variety of flavours and a plethora of traditional family-run restaurants serving them up.