Lakwatserong Tsinelas: BEIJING

FINALLY AT THE UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE TEMPLE OF HEAVEN

Four years ago, my travel buddy Fatima and I arrived at the Temple of Heaven around six in the evening. It was our last day in Beijing. The temple complex was closed and so we have to be contented viewing the silhouette of the circular-shaped temple from a distance.

On this recent visit, smog was unbearable on the first attempt and so we aborted the plan. And finally, on what was supposed to be the last day in Beijing, Kirk and I decided to go for a morning visit at the vast complex of Tiantan (The Temple of Heaven).

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Winter time. The nights are longer than days.

Should I sleep more? No. It is a wasted opportunity.

But how can you stroll and wander when temperature makes you shiver and leaves frost bites as souvenir. To drink alcohol in the likes of vodka, tequila and beer is a given in warming up the body but there is more than being bed-ridden the following day and nursing a hangover.

Here are some of the best spots to loiter on one winter night (alcohol-free).

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500 years ago, traditional Chinese art, with a rich concentration on architecture and artifacts dominated the Ming and Qing imperial courts and this will be the subject of our discovery for the day.

From where we are staying in Beijing, a walking distance in meters to be specific, is the world-renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site, The Forbidden City. We were getting used to the cold morning breeze as we walk. As soon as we reached the walled compound and entered through a Chinese arch, the vibe of an old imperial community emanated as if I am a part of a Chinese-inspired epic film.

The flock of visitors was apparent with stalls of souvenirs on the corner before another walled compound that requires entrance fees came into view. That wall compound is the Palace Museum.

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Living in a tropical country, there are a number of existence that we only see on books or the television. From these, a bucket list is formed or the so-called what-to-see-before-you-die enumerations. The snow is a given, but we need to include the polar bears and of course the giant panda.

Before the skies turn dark and the zoo closes, we made it to the scenic Chinese garden featuring varied animals for public viewing in the name of the Beijing Zoo. We only have one goal and that is – to see the giant panda up close.

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At the break of dawn, we were prepared to leave the comforts of our bed. Wrapped in layers of clothes, thick jackets, bonnets, gloves and closed shoes (no tsinelas), the below zero temperature pleased us. It is the kind of weather I have been waiting for sans the snow. The misty morning is never annoying.

Picked-up by a van at our hotel, we were bound to witness an architectural wonder – on a not so touristy section of the Great Wall of China. Our destination for the day is the longest fully-restored section of Mutianyu.

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taken at the Silk Factory

taken at the Jade Factory

Traveling in Asia on tour packages never fails to surprisingly include a visit to the various factories they are known for. My travel buddy and I opted to visit only the Great Wall of China, but surprisingly the itinerary includes a visit to the Jade and Silk Factory. For us, this might be something new for exploration and educational purposes but for others with time constraints and other planned activities, this proves to be an unnecessary part of the supposed to be a grand tour to the Great Wall of China.

Nevertheless, we are left with no option but to respect our tour guides itinerary. It is after all a package tour to be exact.

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Who could have thought that a cemetery can be one of the world's most visited tourist destinations.

Not far from the Badaling Great Wall of China and kilometers away from Beijing City lies the Ming Tombs. The Ming Tombs is the general name given for the Mausoleums of the 13 emperors of the Ming Dynasty. Each mausoleum is replete with cultural and historical value and since according to our tour guide, its architectural designs are similar although sizes may vary, we were taken to the most magnificent one, the tomb of the last emperor - the Changling Mausoleum.

Inside the mausoleum made us realize how great these emperors could have been as they were valued so much by their people and even preserved their greatness in a showcase of their lives and contributions made for the Chinese Ancient Civilization.

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Badaling Great wall - taken while on the cable car

Another UNESCO World Heritage Site in China is this fascinating walls that transcend a thousand miles and is a witness to the culture and early civilization of the country.

Asian history is one of my favorite subjects back in high school and I have always admired the rich history and culture of Chinese civilization. Having been granted the opportunity to visit Beijing made me more appreciate how dedicated they were to culture preservation despite the modernization and urbanization that inevitably unfolds.

It was winter time when we visited Beijing and for a traveler not used to mountaineering and hiking, this is the best time to visit the Great Wall of China.

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at the Great Wall of China

Incontestably, one of the most visited places in the world is Beijing in the Peoples Republic of China. There are notions that one has to have enough cash to be able to visit the place. To dispute such belief, the said trip is the cheapest of all my Asian travels to date.

Fortunate for us and thanks to Cebu Pacific Air, we were able to avail of the promo fare, that is, PhP1200.00 only for a round trip ticket from Manila to Beijing, China.

When asked what to do in Beijing, the common answer is to visit the Great Wall of China, being as they say, the only man-made structure visible even in the moon (not true though). However, this structure proves to be only one of the many ancient structures that will make you commend how great Chinese ancient civilization was.

With the short period of stay ahead, we did an extensive research on what to do and where to go, to at least say and be proud that we've been to major Beijing landmarks and to make our ancient history books come alive before our senses.

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