Beijing, China Part 1

The Gate of Heavenly Peace, the Emblem for the People's Republic of China
After over 1,200 kilometers of bullet train from Shanghai, we arrived at the 3,000 year old city - Beijing. This massive capital city of China serves as a treasure of history that spans from the ancient times (Temple of Heaven, Forbidden City) to the more recent events (Tiananmen Square, the Olympic Village) that shape this country. With a population of nearly 22 million people (not counting the domestic and international tourists that come in and out), the city's sheer size and impressive structural city planning has paved the way for its expansion, while preserving its well-known past and keeping up with the present times.

Beijing may not be as fabulous as Shanghai in terms of futuristic architecture and high rise buildings, the lights and beautiful entertainment - as what our tour guide first said when we arrived - but the city has relatively changed a lot especially after earning the right to host the magnificent 2008 Summer Games. Beijing has established itself as the seat of national government and political power.

In terms of history, China (48) is second to Italy (51) for the country with the most number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Beijing alone has seven of them. If you are a history fan, or if you have studied Ancient China back in your school days, prepare to see your history books come to life!

With the issue of fog and pollution becoming rampant in Beijing over the years, we may not have experienced that when we were there. Perhaps we were just lucky enough to have clear skies all throughout our stay.

Like Shanghai, accommodation, food and public transport are cheap here, and oftentimes even cheaper in Beijing. English is still a bit of a struggle especially when talking to the elder Chinese people, so you may still want to lean on some young adults or college students where most of them study and able to communicate with English.

And of course, for a country with over a billion people, don't be surprised to see thousands of people walk the streets at any given time of day. That is completely normal.



Best Time to Visit

Unless you are used to the cold winters you experience in other countries (with temperatures dropping up to -5 degrees Celsius), visiting Beijing during this season may not be suitable for you. At times the city would warm so fast in the summer that you could use an extra shirt every time you go out. We still consider October (except the week long National Day holiday) the best time to visit while getting a very colorful tour with the autumn maple leaves and pine trees. You still need some warmth on your clothes, though, so prepare for that.

For some other times of the year, always remember to make sure your stay does not coincide with a city or national holiday. Good luck when you do.

Beijing's Fall Foliage

How to Get There

For Philippine travelers, YES you need to process for a Visa before going to Beijing.

By Plane. Arrive at Beijing Capital International Airport via Cebu Pacific Air, one of the newer airports in Beijing that has seen tremendous expansion since hosting the 2008 Olympics.

By Train. China's High-Speed Rail gets you from point A to Beijing with speeds of up to 300 km/h. Always present your passport when booking tickets for the train.


Our cold arrival at Beijingnan Train Station

Where to Stay


From where we stayed - Wansholou area - there is an abundance of hotels all around. And judging from the fancy look of our hotel, with the restaurant inside that turns into a fine dining course at night, we got a great deal from our accommodation. The area is not that far from the metro train station, and most attractions are just minutes away by car. Beijing hotels, homes and condos at Airbnb are relatively affordable, so make sure you keep an eye on them. 

What to Do in Beijing

This section is divided into two parts. This is Part 1.

Seeing the Great Wall personally is better than seeing it on history books
The most impressive man-made structure during the ancient world that has survived the test of time, spanning over 21,000 kilometers is definitely a must-see attraction! The Great Wall spreads through most of Northern China from East to West, but it is most convenient to visit the Wall via Beijing. Over a thousand years of construction using stone, bricks, wood and other old materials has left this structure standing primarily to protect the ancient Chinese empire against raids and invaders commonly coming from Mongolia and Europe. While some parts of the wall have been damaged  and destroyed over time due to the wars and natural causes, the Chinese people still consider the Great Wall as the country's symbol of pride and power in both ancient and modern China.

As the most popular attraction in all of China, there are at least ten famous sections which are renovated and frequently visited by travelers all year round, climb and hike their way through the Great Wall. There are also a number of "off the beaten path" sections of the Wall, but of course, you can get there at your own risk.

A brief orientation on Juyong Pass Great Wall
For our day tour, we visited the Juyong Pass of the Great Wall. Located over 50 kilometers from central Beijing, this part of the Wall is one of the great mountain passes that serve as a garrison for defense of the capital city.

The hike begins




Juyong pass is somewhat a long hike to the top of the mountain range. Even on a weekend - which we went to the Great Wall - there were not so much tourists coming to the section as it can be a treacherous summit to the top, especially for those with serious physical conditions - you have been warned even from the start of the climb! This makes this part of the Wall less visited compared to those in Badaling and Mutianyu sections where those sections feature a lot of shops, entertainment and even cable cars that can accommodate thousands of visitors daily. Not a good place to have a picture perfect visit, unless you walk far enough from the crowd.












Admission to this part of the Great Wall is only 30 Yuan. We strongly suggest going to any part of the Wall early in the morning so you can avoid the crowds when they start coming in later in the day.

There was still not much people when we started hiking.

Want to get "certified" as a Hero for having climbed the Great Wall? Get your certificate made in wood with your name engraved for just 100 Yuan. If you only have one souvenir from Beijing, we'd definitely suggest this!

My own Hero's certificate for the great accomplishment!

As Mao Zedong once said, "He who has never been to the Great Wall is not a true man".

The park and statue around the Ming Tombs
Just close by the Great Wall - about 30 minutes by car - comes a collection of memorial houses built by the emperors of the Ming Dynasty. The Thirteen Tombs of the Ming Dynasty, or Ming Tombs as they are commonly called, are mostly located near Beijing, and this memorial park boasts a beautiful layout to remember the emperors of a dynasty that has become part of China's ancient history. The positions and locations of these tombs were carefully selected according to the principles of Feng Shui.


The memorial site inside one of the tombs
The locations of the Ming Tombs

The Ming Tombs features not just the tomb, but also the statues and wide roads that lead you to them, and you are surrounded by this well preserved natural park. The colors of autumn and the cold breeze of the season were clearly evident. Just outside the park, we tasted the all-original Fuji apples, and the farmlands where the local Chinese residents grow and harvest them!





Entrance to the Ming Tombs is 30 Yuan.

A breathtaking display of balance.
Nine girls, one bicycle!


One of the great traditional entertainment scenes in China is their marvelous Chinese circus and acrobat show. Featuring various stunts that test the human body with flexibility, balance and strength, this circus is one thing you should get a chance to watch. We got to see a man joggle 9 balls at one time while going up and down a staircase, and a group of girls hopping on to one bicycle and roaming around the stage! We never got a chance to see a Chinese circus when the performers come to our town, but there is no place to see the all original masterpiece in a one hour spectacle.



Another suggested show to watch - which we did not get to see - is the Kung Fu show. For about an hour and a half, audiences are treated into the history of martial arts in China, and how it has become not just a practice of self defense and mastery but a philosophy and way of life for the Chinese people.





Does this place look familiar?
If you have noticed this spherical temple somewhere, in a photo or a signage, this is the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests. This religious hall is actually part of the 15th century complex famously known around China as the Temple of Heaven. Also enshrined as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this complex was built on 267 hectares of raw land and visited by the Emperors of long ago for ceremonies and annual rituals to pray for good harvest. As the name suggests, the temple literally serves as a direct connection to Heaven.

A portion of the 267 hectares in this attraction
Our tour inside Temple of Heaven was rather a very cold experience. Getting up early in the morning to take a stroll here, we already noticed a lot of people inside, mostly the elders and senior citizens hanging out, doing exercise, Tai Chi, and playing cards. The area was so vast, yet so clean, that it felt like a very long walk through the temple that was never going to end!

We listened through our guide as we walked, and we were fascinated with the various symbolism being applied in the construction of the Temple of Heaven. While there were so many of them that I could not quite remember all of them, it was intriguing that the Chinese have really given attention to the small details in the layout, in observance to a religious temple.

A clean, well-maintained area for a once place of worship

Admission to the Temple of Heaven is 30 Yuan. Aside from the Great Wall, the Temple has become a symbol of China's past.

Just a portion of the vastness of the Square
One of the common distinctions of Beijing, China is this monument. Tian'anmen (see photo on top of this post) is known as The Gate of Heavenly Peace, built in the 15th century and often serves as the front entrance to the Forbidden City. This monument is famous for having the portrait of Mao Zedong, the founding father of the People's Republic of China. In case you are wondering what the characters mean beside his photo, on the left it says "Long Live the People's Republic of China" and on the right is "Long Live the Great Unity of the World's Peoples". Mao Zedong's portrait is often replaced during China's National Day every 1st day of October.

Located south of the monument (and Forbidden City) is the Tian'anmen Square. Known as one of the largest city squares in the world, this place hosts the monuments to the heroes of the revolution, China's National Museum and the Memorial Hall of Mao Zedong. This square has been synonymous to a number of special events in the history of the nation, thus creating a cultural significance to the Chinese people.

The Monument of People's Heroes, with The Great Hall of the People on the background

Numerous people converge in this Square, getting a glimpse of the past events that have happened in the area over the years - admission is free, though. During peak days one may not be able to get into the Square easily unless you are part of a tour. Expect to see a lot of Chinese flags around the Square, and the flag of another country if a foreign dignitary arrives in Beijing.

This is just Part 1 of a 2-Part blog post on Beijing. Behind every attraction lies countless stories that shape this city and the country as a whole. It was definitely a historical adventure through the capital. Stay tuned for the next.

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