Stephen Chow shares his 5 favourite Holiday Destinations

Stephen Chow, who was born in Hong Kong, began his career on television, where he hosted a children's show called "430 Space Shuttle." He gained popularity and received the Taiwanese Golden Horse Award for best supporting actor. His concept of combining sports with action kung-fu and comedy was realised in 2002 with the release of 'Shaolin Soccer,' in which C.G. effects were used to create astounding action sequences with the assistance of legendary action choreographer 'Tony' Ching Siu-Tung, who gave the fights a stylised twist. The film became the highest-grossing film in the history of Hong Kong cinema upon its initial release. In 2003, Miramax Films acquired the worldwide distribution rights to "Shaolin Soccer" and distributed the film internationally. Stephen Chow's inventive blend of action and comedy continues to attract new viewers, not just in China but across the globe.

Stephen has frequented South Korea on both official and leisure trips and finds it a fascinating country. It has a green, hilly countryside dotted with cherry trees and ancient Buddhist temples. The sub-tropical islands of South Korea with its gorgeous beaches draw a large number of tourists from across Asia. Also a fantastic skiing destination, Korea offers outstanding skiing at the Olympic resorts in the Korean Alps (Taebaek Mountains). The closest ski resorts to the capital city of Seoul are Konjiam Ski Resort and the Elysian Gangchon Ski Resort, just an hour's drive away. Seoul is also home to many amusement parks, the most popular ones being Everland Amusement Park and the Lotte World Amusement Park, perfect excursions for family travelers and kids. For nature lovers, Jiju-si Islands that include a Geopark, a Biosphere Reserve and Heritage Sites, is a must visit. The natural beauty of this volcanic island with many waterfalls and rainforests is breathtaking.

Stephen Chow has an emotional attachment with the land of the rising sun, a country he truly admires for its glorious culture, diligent people and remarkable achievements in the fields of science & technology. Kyoto is his favourite place in Japan, one of its most traditional cities with thousands of temples, gorgeous gardens and ceremonial teahouses. Another incredible Japanese experience you'll love is the volcanic hot water bath at Onsen. Onsen are found all over Japan and are one of the most traditional experiences, either within humble public bathhouses or bathing outdoors in Zen gardens. The natural settings of the Onsen bring out the contrast of the hot waters against the pine-fresh open air. The nightlife of Tokyo is truly exceptional and a visit to Japan is incomplete without having a local drink at an Izakaya or Japanese bar. Explore a wide selection of bars, clubs and restaurants in Tokyo. There is no dearth of street food either, which is a lot cheaper but equally delicious.

Stephen had a wonderful vacation in the Fiji Islands and rates it as a fantastic island destination. An archipelago of over 300 Islands in the Pacific, Fiji Islands is well known for palm lined beaches and coral reefs with crystal clear lagoons. Fiji offers an incredible array of stay options, from budget hotels to ocean-facing villas and premium hotels. If you have never done it before, try out white water rafting on the Navua river that takes you on a leisurely pace along the 26 kms route down the river. Its a fantastic way to explore the natural scenery and rainforests of these exotic islands. If you are looking at a more thrilling activity, Jet Boating the Sigatoka river is a more ideal option. The speed boat whizzes at top speed across the river with turns and twists that are sure to give you goosebumps. Island hopping on a cruise boat is a popular activity with tourists, there are innumerable islands to explore, each with their unique beaches, flora and fauna.

Sweden, a Nordic country with innumerable coastal islands, lakes, boreal forests and mountains, is another favourite destination for Stephen Chow. He has been a big fan of Scandinavia in general but had an incredible vacation in Sweden in particular. Sweden's tourist attractions range from extravagant palaces & medieval towns to vast Arctic landscapes and the popular Northern Lights phenomena. For outdoor lovers, its a dream destination to visit, its pristine forests and majestic lakes are a hiker's delight. A visit to the Vasa Museum in Stockholm is high recommended. It houses 10 separate exhibitions and a further four museum ships, highlight being the 64-gun warship Vasa, which was pride of the Swedish Imperial fleet but sank on its first voyage ! A must visit monument in Stockholm is the truly majestic Drottningholm Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site and official home of the Swedish Royal family,

Romania in Eastern Europe has been on Stephen's holiday memoirs list as well. Known for its fortified churches, castles, medieval towns and an incredible countryside, Romania attracts millions of tourists each year from the World over. A good starting point for tourists is by visiting the various medieval castles, the most notable being the 13th Century 'Bran Castle' in Transylvania, popularly known by the name of Dracula Castle. The Peles Castle located at the base of the Carpathian Mountains and the Palatul Culturii with its 4 inhouse museums are also exceptionally beautiful castles to visit. The capital city of Bucharest has a fantastic nightlife and its extensive range of pubs and bars are a must visit for any visitor to Romania. If you are a wine person, explore Romanian wine-tasting in an authentic Old Bucharest wine bar !