Top Asia photos from 2016

Every year, Associated Press editors choose a selection of photos that best documents the year’s top news, feature and sports stories as chronicled by photojournalists around the world. 

Below is a gallery featuring the top photos of 2016 from AP photographers across Asia.

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Top Asia news and feature photos of 2016

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In this Friday, Jan. 29, 2016 photo, a "child angel" doll is offered food by its owner Supavadee Tapmalai at a Japanese restaurant in Bangkok, Thailand. The dolls, which are said to bring good luck to their owners, became a media sensation after a leaked memo from a Thai budget airline gave pointers on how they could be treated like passengers if they have a paid-for seat. Thai people are superstitious, and the doll phenomenon has been analyzed as a modern version of a traditional totem containing real body parts, but as a fad it seems have more in common with Furby dolls. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Police officers gather outside a Pizza Hut restaurant next door to a Starbucks cafe which was attacked in Jakarta, Indonesia Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016. Attackers set off explosions at a Starbucks cafe in a bustling shopping area in Indonesia's capital and waged gun battles with police Thursday, leaving bodies in the streets as office workers watched in terror from high-rise windows. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)

Journalists crowd onto a media truck to follow Tsai Ing-wen, presidential candidate of Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party, as she campaigns in Taipei, Taiwan on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2016. Taiwan held its presidential election on Jan. 16, 2016. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Taiwan's opposition Democratic Progressive Party, DPP, presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen greets supporters from the back of a truck as she parades through the streets of New Taipei City, Taiwan, Friday, Jan. 15, 2016. Taiwan held its presidential election on Jan. 16, 2016. (AP Photo/Wally Santana)

A Taiwanese woman marks her ballots while holding her son in the presidential election at a local polling station in Taipei, Taiwan, Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016. (AP Photo/Wally Santana)

In this Jan. 5, 2016, photo, conservationists of Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation examine a tranquilized orangutan during a rescue and release operation for orangutans trapped in a swath of jungle in Sungai Mangkutub, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. A team of conservationists were deployed to rescue orangutans which lost their habitat to the forest fires last year and relocate them to a new location. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Asia in Review

A prospective buyer inspects the quality of frozen tuna before the first auction of the year at Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo, Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

In this Jan. 27, 2016 photo, Hanako the elephant stands in her pen at Inokashira Park Zoo on the outskirts of Tokyo. An online petition drive wants the 69-year-old Hanako, or "flower child," to be moved to a Thai sanctuary, to live in a natural, grassy habitat where elephants romp in herds, not alone in her concrete pen, with a wading pool she hardly uses and a nearby side building to spend the night. It's attracted tens of thousands of signatures already, with the aim of submitting them to the suburban Tokyo zoo and the Japanese government. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

North Korean defectors wearing masks of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attend a rally against North Korea's rocket launch and nuclear test in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Feb. 12, 2016. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

A Naga Sadhu, or Hindu holy naked man, takes holy dips at Sangam, confluence of Hindu holy rivers of Ganges, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati, for a ritual dip, on the auspicious occasion of "Basant Panchami" at the annual traditional fair of Magh Mela in Allahabad, India, Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016. Basant Panchami, the fifth day of spring is celebrated by worshipping Hindu Goddess of knowledge and wisdom, Saraswati. Hundreds of thousands of devout Hindus bathe at the confluence during the astronomically auspicious period of over 45 days celebrated as "Magh Mela". (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

Kashmiri villagers wash the body of civilian Abdul Ghani Mir during his funeral at Pinglan some 38 kilometers (23.75 miles) south of Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Sunday, Feb. 21, 2016. Rebels holed up in a building in the Indian portion of Kashmir exchanged fire with government forces for the second straight day Sunday, leaving a number of people dead and wounded. (AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan)

Thai Buddhist monks hold candles as they gather at Wat Dhammakaya temple to participate in Makha Bucha Day ceremonies, in Pathum Thani province, Thailand, Monday, Feb. 22, 2016. Makha Bucha, a religious holiday that marks the anniversary of Lord Buddha's mass sermon to the first 1,250 newly ordained monks 2,559 years ago. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

A man is taken away by police on a street in Mongkok district of Hong Kong, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Riot police officers react as protestors set fires and throw bricks at them in Mong Kok district of Hong Kong, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016. Hong Kong's Lunar New Year celebration descended into chaotic scenes as protesters and police clashed over a street market selling fish balls and other local holiday delicacies. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)

Emergency rescuers continue to search for missing in a collapsed building from an earthquake in Tainan, Taiwan, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016. (AP Photo/Wally Santana)

Rescue workers cut through parts of a partially collapsed overpass in Kolkata, India,Thursday, March 31, 2016. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

A Hindu holy man smokes marijuana at the courtyard of the Pashupatinath temple during "Shivaratri" festival in Kathmandu, Nepal, Monday, March 7, 2016. "Shivaratri," or the night of Shiva, is dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva, the Hindu god of death and destruction. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

An Indian woman covers her face during Holi celebrations, the Hindu festival of colors, in Ahmadabad, India, Wednesday, March 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)

In this Thursday, March 24, 2016, photo, an Indian reveler, face smeared with colored powder, dances during celebrations marking Holi, the Hindu festival of colors, in Gauhati, India. The festival celebrates the arrival of spring. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

A balloon thrown by a North Korean defector containing a colored liquid bursts on a portrait of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during a rally protesting North Korea Wednesday, March 30, 2016, in Seoul, South Korea. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

In this Saturday, March 5, 2016, file photo, a Chinese military band conductor leads the band at the opening session of the annual National People's Congress in Beijing's Great Hall of the People. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

A Chinese usher holds open a curtain during a plenary session of the National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, Wednesday, March 9, 2016. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

In this March 6, 2016, photo, the lone pine tree that miraculously survived the deadly 2011 tsunami among 70,000 trees along the coastline, stands in Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan. The tree, which was badly damaged from seawater after surviving the tsunami, was cut down in 2012 and treated for decay after which it was preserved using artificial materials. It was later placed back where it was found to stand as a symbol of hope and survival. Japan on Friday, March 11 marked the fifth anniversary of the powerful earthquake and subsequent tsunami that hit Japan, swallowing coastal villages, leaving more than 18,000 people dead or missing and devastating large swaths of the country's northeastern coastal area. Some places are still unlivable and require massive reconstruction to restore infrastructure, houses and people's lives. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

In this April 14, 2016, photo, Philippine troops man their positions on top of a hill during joint U.S.-Philippines military exercises at Crow Valley, Philippines. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)

In this Sept. 8, 2015 photo, best of friends Khendo Tamang, left, and Nirmala Pariyar, both 8, wait to be measured for a new prosthetic legs in Kathmandu, Nepal. The girls became close friends while in recovery after each one lost a leg in Nepal's massive April 25, 2015 earthquake that killed nearly 9,000 people dead and more than 22,000 injured. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Rescuers check the damage area caused by earthquakes in Minamiaso, Kumamoto prefecture, Japan, Sunday, April 17, 2016. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)

Britain's Prince William, along with his wife, Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, pose in front of the Taj Mahal in Agra, India, Saturday, April 16, 2016. (AP Photo/Saurabh Das)

Kashmiri Muslims try to get the glimpse of the body of Waseem Malla, a suspected militant of Hizbul Mujahideen, during his funeral procession in Pehlipora, some 60 kilometers (35 miles) south of Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Thursday, April 7, 2016. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)

In this Thursday, April 28, 2016, photo, a nationalist Buddhist monk wears a sticker with the words " No Rohingya" during a protest outside the US embassy in Yangon, Myanmar against the US embassy's April 20, 2016 statement. Myanmar nationalists believe the long-persecuted and stateless Muslim minority in western Rakhine state who self identify themselves as "Rohingya" are illegal immigrants from neighboring Bangladesh and refer to them as "Bengalis." About 400 protesters, including Buddhist monks marched in front of the embassy and held a protest rally. (AP Photo/ Gemunu Amarasinghe)

People jog past the Pudong Financial District shrouded with fog and pollution at the Shanghai Bund in Shanghai, China, Thursday, April 14, 2016. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

A masked Kashmiri participates in a torch light protest in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Thursday, July 21, 2016. (AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan)

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte listens during the "Assumption of Command" of new Police Chief, Director General Ronald Dela Rosa at Camp Crame, Philippine National Police headquarters, in suburban Quezon city, Manila, Philippines on Friday, July 1, 2016. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

People help an unidentified injured person after a group of gunmen attacked a restaurant popular with foreigners in a diplomatic zone of the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka, Bangladesh, Friday, July 1, 2016. (AP Photo)

A woman cries while while demonstrating with relatives of passengers aboard Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 outside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing, China, Friday, July 29, 2016. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Mourners pay their respect to Cambodian government critic Kem Ley during his funeral in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Monday, July 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, centre, salutes upon seeing former President Fidel Ramos in the gallery following his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the 17th Congress Monday, July 25, 2016, in suburban Quezon city northeast of Manila, Philippines. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)

In this Aug. 29, 2016 photo, an election campaign banner for radical activist candidate Yau Wai-ching is seen defaced days before a Sep. 4 vote, in Hong Kong. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Japan's new Defense Minister Tomomi Inada delivers her inauguration speech to her staff on her first day at Defense Ministry in Tokyo, Thursday, Aug. 4, 2016. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)

Myanmar's State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi reviews an honor guard during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

A mobile screen is reflected on a fan's sunglasses as she plays "Pokemon Go" in Hong Kong, Monday, July 25, 2016. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

In this Aug. 6, 2016 photo, workers melt aluminum waste in an aluminum recycling factory in the outskirts of Dhaka, Bangladesh. A large swath of land not far from the Buriganga River is dotted with makeshift tents that are home to men and women who travel far from home to work 12 hours a day recycling cans, industrial ash and medicine blister packets into raw aluminum. The work is difficult and dangerous. The workers have no safety equipment or masks to protect themselves from the fumes and aluminum dust. (AP Photo/ A.M. Ahad)

In this Friday, Sept. 9, 2016, photo, South Korean and U.S. Marines stand in smoke during the 66th Incheon Landing Operations Commemoration ceremony in Incheon, South Korea. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Paper flowers hang over a picture of late Mother Teresa inside Gandhiji Prem Nivas, a Leprosy centre conducted by Missionaries of Charity in Titagarh, north of Kolkata, India, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

In this Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016 photo, North Koreans watch an aerial display in Wonsan, North Korea. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

In this Friday Sept. 6, 2016 photo, an alleged drug suspect lies on the ground beside a gun after he and his companion were killed by police as they tried to evade a checkpoint as part of the continuing "War on Drugs" campaign of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in Quezon city, north of Manila, Philippines. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Azalea, a 19-year-old female chimpanzee whose Korean name is "Dallae," smokes a cigarette at the Central Zoo in Pyongyang, North Korea Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2016. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

An Indonesian police officer shows the skin of a Sumatran tiger recently confiscated from poachers during a press conference at the local police headquarters in Deli Serdang, North Sumatra, Indonesia, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016. There are estimated to be fewer than 350 Sumatran tigers left in the wild, compared to about 1,000 in the 1970s, raising fears that it may become extinct in the next decade due to poaching and habitat loss. (AP Photo/Binsar Bakkara)

A bloodied protester lies next to a passenger vehicle after he was injured in a violent dispersal outside the U.S. Embassy in Manila, Philippines Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2016. A Philippine police van rammed into protesters, leaving several bloodied, as an anti-U.S. rally turned violent Wednesday at the embassy. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)

Police officers hit fleeing protesters during a violent dispersal outside the U.S. Embassy in Manila, Philippines Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2016. A Philippine police van rammed into protesters, leaving several bloodied, as an anti-U.S. rally turned violent at the American embassy in Manila. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)

In this Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016 photo, relatives and neighbors of Junaid Ahmed, a 12-year-old boy huddle around his body as tear gas shells fired by Indian police men explode near them during his funeral procession in Srinagar, Indian-controlled Kashmir. Indian forces fired shotgun pellets and tear gas as thousands carried the body of a young boy killed overnight during an anti-India protest in the main city of Indian-controlled Kashmir. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)

Newly elected pro-democracy lawmaker Leung Kwok-hung, known as "Long Hair," top center, tries to break through the security guards during the election of president of the Legislative Council in Hong Kong, Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2016. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

In this Oct. 28, 2016 photo, some 1,000 students practice flipping boards with photos to reveal a full-mosaic portrait of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej at Assumption College in Bangkok, Thailand. King Bhumibol died Oct. 13 after reigning for 70 years, plunging the country into grief and extended mourning. The official mourning period is one year. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Thai people light candles outside Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand, Oct. 15, 2016. Tens of thousands of Thai mourners thronged to the palace complex where King Bhumibol Adulyadej's body is being kept, as the government said a regent would be the caretaker of the monarchy until the crown prince takes over following his father's death. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

A worker moulds rubber masks depicting President-elect Donald Trump on a production line at the Ogawa Studio in Saitama, north of Tokyo, Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2016. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Muslim protesters chant slogans near burning police trucks during a clash with the police outside the presidential palace in Jakarta, Indonesia, Friday, Nov. 4, 2016. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

In this Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016 photo, a protester wearing a mask of South Korean President Park Geun-hye performs during a rally calling for Park to step down in Seoul, South Korea. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

In this Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016 photo, South Korean protesters stage a rally calling for South Korean President Park Geun-hye to step down in downtown Seoul, South Korea. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

An Indian police officer warns people against breaking the queues as they wait to exchange or deposit discontinued currency notes, outside a bank on the outskirts of New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2016. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

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Top Asia sports photos of 2016

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Mark Cavendish of Great Britain, second right, competes at the Men's omnium final during the UCI Track Cycling World Cup in Hong Kong, Sunday, Jan. 17, 2016. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

The sun sets over Rod Laver Arena during the men's singles final between Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Andy Murray of Britain at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 31, 2016.(AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

Andy Murray of Britain makes a backhand return to Bernard Tomic of Australia during their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 25, 2016. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Angelique Kerber of Germany plays a forehand return to Johanna Konta of Britain during their semifinal match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

A bird lands on the net on an outside court as light rain delayed play for the second round matches at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)

Novak Djokovic of Serbia serves to Gilles Simon of France during their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

Egyptian Para Table Tennis champion Ibrahim Hamato returns a shot during his exhibition match ahead of the finals of the World Team Table Tennis Championship in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sunday, March 6, 2016. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

South Korea's goalkeeper Kim Dong-jun saves a shot by Algeria in the first half during their U-23 International friendly soccer match at Icheon Sports Complex in Icheon, South Korea, Friday, March 25, 2016. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia returns a shot to Viktor Axelsen of Denmark during their men's singles quarter final match at the Malaysia Open Badminton Superseries in Shah Alam , Malaysia, Friday, April 8, 2016. (AP Photo/Joshua Paul)

Japanese champion Kohei Kono, left, sends a right to Thai challenger Inthanon Sithchamuang in the ninth round of their WBA world super flyweight boxing title match in Tokyo, Wednesday, April 27, 2016. Kono defended his title on a unanimous decision. (AP Photo/Toru Takahashi)

Jan O Jorgensen of Denmark serves against China's Tian Houwei during their men's singles semifinal match at the Indonesia Open badminton tournament at Istora Stadium in Jakarta, Indonesia, Saturday, June 4, 2016. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Australia's Sean McMahon, second left, and Stephen Moore, left, tackle England's George Kruis during their rugby test match in Sydney, Australia, Saturday, June 25, 2016. (AP Photo/Rob Griffith)

Participants celebrate after winning a dragon boat race in Hong Kong Thursday, June 9, 2016, as part of celebrations marking the Chinese Dragon Boat Festival, held throughout Hong Kong. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)

Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli dives to catch the ball on the last day of team's six day training camp at National Cricket Academy in Bangalore, India, Monday, July 4, 2016. Indian team is scheduled to travel to West Indies' to play four match test series starting July 21. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

Sri Lankan cricket fans watch Tillakaratne Dilshan, foreground, from elevated positions during the third one day international cricket match between Australia and Sri Lanka in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016. The match is the final one-day international for Sri Lankan opener Dilshan. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

New Zealand's Israel Dagg center back, tackles Australia's Will Genia during their Bledisloe Cup Rugby test match in Sydney, Australia, Saturday, Aug. 20, 2016.(AP Photo/Rob Griffith)

Panama's Luis Concepcion celebrates in the air after beating Japan's Kohei Kono at their WBA world super flyweight title bout in Tokyo, Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016. Concepcion won the title by a unanimous decision. (AP Photo/Toru Takahashi)

Magda Linette of Poland returns a shot to Viktorija Golubic of Switzerland during their second round match of the Japan Women's Open tennis tournament in Tokyo, Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)

Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg of Germany steers his car out of his team garage during the third practice session for the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix on the Marina Bay City Circuit Singapore, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

Debris flies off Force India driver Nico Hulkenberg of Germany's car after he crashed into the track wall at the start of the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix on the Marina Bay City Circuit Singapore, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016. (AP Photo/Yong Teck Lim)

In this Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016 photo, Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg of Germany jumps off his car as he celebrates after winning the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix on the Marina Bay City Circuit Singapore. (AP Photo/Yong Teck Lim)

Yamaha MotoGP rider Valentino Rossi of Italy rides past fans going into turn 10 during the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix at Phillip Island, Australia, Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Rob Griffith)

VafikBank Istanbul team players Lonneke Sloetjes from Netherlands, left, and Milena Rasic from Serbia, block the shot of Hisamitsu Springs Kobe team player Maja Tokarska from Poland during the FIVB Women's Club World Championship 2016 in Pasay, south of Manila, Philippines on Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2016. VafikBank Istanbul team won the match 3-1. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia celebrates after beating Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic during their singles match at the WTA tennis tournament in Singapore, Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

Spain's Jorge Lorenzo steering his Yamaha leads the pack of riders at the MotoGP Japanese Motorcycle Grand Prix at the Twin Ring Motegi circuit in Motegi, north of Tokyo, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)

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