China (186)

China covers approximately 9.6 million km², the world's third or fourth largest country by area, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion. The country holds 43 UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the Great Wall, a network of fortifications stretching over 20,000 km and built across several dynasties to protect the empire from northern invasions, and the Forbidden City in Beijing, an imperial residence built under the Ming dynasty between 1406 and 1420. Beijing, the capital, and Shanghai, the country's leading financial center, rank among the world's largest urban areas. Mandarin, the official language, coexists with numerous regional languages across a territory of 22 provinces and five autonomous regions. 

India (20)

India spans approximately 3.29 million km², the world's seventh-largest country by area, with a population exceeding 1.43 billion, having become the world's most populous nation in 2023. The country holds 43 UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the Taj Mahal, a white marble mausoleum built in Agra between 1631 and 1648 by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, and ranked among the seven wonders of the modern world. New Delhi, the capital, and Mumbai, the country's economic hub, rank among the world's largest urban areas. Hindi and English, official languages at the federal level, coexist with more than twenty regional languages recognized by the Constitution. 

Pakistan (20)

Pakistan covers approximately 881,000 km² in South Asia, with a population exceeding 241 million according to the 2023 census. The country is home to the ruins of Mohenjo-daro, one of the largest cities of the Indus Valley civilization, founded around 2600 BCE and rediscovered in 1922, now a UNESCO World Heritage site recognized for its remarkably advanced urban planning and sanitation system. Lahore, a former Mughal capital, preserves Lahore Fort and the Badshahi Mosque, while Urdu, the national language, carries a centuries-old lyrical poetic tradition. Islamabad, the administrative capital, and Karachi, the country's main economic and port hub, rank among its major cities. 

Thailand (9)

Thailand covers approximately 513,000 km² in Southeast Asia, with a population of roughly 71.6 million. The country holds eight UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the historic city of Ayutthaya, a former capital of the Siamese kingdom founded around 1350 and destroyed by Burmese invaders in 1767, which once counted more than 400 temples and was regarded as one of the most powerful cities in Southeast Asia, along with Sukhothai, cradle of the first Thai kingdom. Bangkok, the capital, concentrates most of the country's economic activity. Theravada Buddhism, practiced by the vast majority of the population, deeply shapes Thai social and cultural life.