Our Asia and Pacific capitals quiz takes you from the icy streets of Ulaanbaatar to the tropical harbor of Suva. Along the way you'll uncover renamed cities, brand-new capitals, a city with a 168-letter name and the world's southernmost capital. It's a fun way to explore the far side of the Pacific and pick up stories you can share at dinner.
Capital cities across Asia and the Pacific span an enormous range, from crowded megacities to quiet island towns. Many grew up where rivers met the sea or where two waterways joined, which made them natural spots for trade. Kuala Lumpur is a classic example: its Malay name means muddy confluence, after the meeting of the Klang and Gombak rivers. Malaysia has since moved much of its government work to the planned city of Putrajaya, although Parliament still meets in Kuala Lumpur.
Planned capitals show up again and again in this part of the world. Australia's Canberra was laid out by Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin, a husband-and-wife team of architects from Chicago, who won an international design competition in 1911. Much like Washington, D.C., it was created as a compromise, so that neither of the country's two big rival cities got the prize.
To keep them straight, link each capital to one vivid detail, like a river, an old name or a famous landmark. Remember that the biggest city in a country isn't always its capital. Pacific island capitals are especially fun to learn, since many are small harbor towns with big histories.