Text by Malou E. Rosal
Photos by Rosemarie B. Razon
At first glance, it seemed like we were traveling on any other ordinary road. But a closer look revealed that this was no NLEX rushing towards provinces up north. The countryside scenes were different. The poplar trees stood straight at attention, with bare branches reaching up to the sky. In a week or so, spring would come to awaken the green in plants and trees. But right now, it was still winter. And we were in Beijing, China.
Outside, the air was chilly at four degrees. Yet nothing could dampen our spirits. This jolly group of Filipinos were warm and cozy inside the bus, thank you, excited at the prospect of conquering the famous Great Wall.
Contrary to popular myth, the Great Wall was not built as a single continuous wall. In fact, it is a series of wall segments constructed over the centuries by various dynasties in an effort to protect China's northern boundary. The wall measures 6400 km or 4000 miles long, five to eight meters (16 to 26 feet) high depending on the terrain, with a thickness of 4.6 to 9.1 m (15 to 30 feet) at the base and 2.7 to 3.7 m (9 to 12 feet) at the top. The Herculean task of building the longest man-made structure in the world was said to have "cost the lives of one million people". Several legends are associated with the Great Wall, foremost of which are about the helpful dragon that traced the plans for the wall which the workforce followed,and the story of Meng Jiang Nu, the woman who cried so hard that her tears melted part of the wall.
Modern day tourists visiting the Great Wall are spared the long hard climb by cable cars that ferry passengers up and down the Mu Tian Yu and Ba Da Ling gates. Once on top, visitors have the option to walk as far and as high as they can, or enjoy the spectacular scenery from the view deck. After the bracing experience, they can buy souvenirs at shops and stalls near the cable car ticket booth.
Indeed, I came, I saw, but the Great Wall was just too much for me. While my more intrepid companions ventured further on to climb the walls, I sheepishly stationed myself beside a colleague on a bench at the observation deck. I suppose it would require a great amount of stamina and high fitness level to really walk the entire stretch of generally uneven and undulating surface of this world wonder. Alas, I had very little of those qualities. Upon stepping onto the first gate, vertigo took its treacherous hold and I couldn't move. But although trembling and shaking, I still had my picture taken. Mission accomplished.
Beyond the wall
Now, there is more to Beijing than the Great Wall. Lovers of Chinese films will surely recognize the familiar landmarks.
If you've watched "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon" countless times, you may remember the scene where Yu Shu Lien (played by Michelle Yeoh) passes through the gates and into the Forbidden City. Play it back in your mind now; see the horse-drawn carts trudging their way up and hear the creaking of wooden wheels rolling on the stone floor. Yes, according to our guide Eric, those were the same stone streets and mighty gate used centuries ago. We were walking on the original stones!
Eric also said that the movie "The Last Emperor" was shot right there on the actual palace and throne room. But he added that this was the last film to be given permission to shoot as the filming process could cause some serious concerns regarding the safety and preservation of the original site.
The Forbidden City was actually the Chinese imperial palace from the Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty. It was built in 1406 to 1420, with 980 buldings and 8,707 rooms on an area of 720,000 sqm (7,8000,000 square feet). Located in the middle of Beijing, it used to be the home of the emperors, their families and households, including their concubines. Today, this UNESCO heritage site houses the Palace Museum which is visited by millions of tourists annually.
In front of the Forbidden City is the Tiananmen Square. Standing in the middle of this famous site, I could not help but feel a profound sense of history. Yet is seems ironic that the same place where Chinese heroes are honored also witnessed some of its most intense conflicts. Etched in people's minds is the scene of young Chinese students facing tanks as they fought for democracy.
Moving on, our little band of Beijing brothers and sisters visited other places of interest. There was the Temple of Heaven, which is also considered a UNESCO heritage site. This complex of Taoist buildings was built from 1406 to 1420 by the Yongle Emperor, mainly for the purpose of annual prayer ceremonies for good harvest.
Yet another UNESCO heritage site is the Summer Palace, of which the main attractions are Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake. The soil excavated from making the lake was used to build the hill. Aside from these two features, tourists can also find other small palaces and gardens in the Summer Palace.
In 2008, Beijing was the site of the Summer Olympics and Paralympics. Olympic events were held at the Beijing National Stadium, which was dubbed "Bird's Nest" because of the structure's resemblance to the avian abode. Adjacent to the Bird's Nest is the Beijing National Aquatics Center. Earning the nickname "Water Cube", it was built to complement the Beijing National Stadium for the swimming competitions of the 2008 Summer Olympics.
Chow down in Beijing
Of course no visit to Beijing would be complete without feasting on some Peking Duck. Thin slices of roasted duck skin laced with hoisin sauce, accompanied by a sprig or two of spring onions, are tucked into delicate crepes. Fold into small bite-size pieces and enjoy.
A short side trip to a jade factory took us for lunch at Run De Ju restaurant. Here, we sampled Chinese delicacies that left us so satiated and reaching for the teapot.
We also experienced a contrast in food choices. We were filled to the brim with lamb, beef, pork, fish, shrimps and a wide selection of vegetables at the Nan Men hotpot dinner at the Hou Hai area, a district frequented by locals. On the other hand, we were given a taste of what expats in Beijing love to eat. A hearty dinner of foie gras, Wagyu beef, and king prawns washed down with chilled Reisling at Mosto Restaurant at Sanlitun hit the spot.
Don't drop the shopping
Apparently, there's no separating shopping from Filipino tourists. Just ask our patient guide Eric, who realized that the mere mention of the word "shopping" drew the utmost attention and cooperation from his noisy Pinoy brood. Riding on this mood, he took us to shopping centers in Sanlitun and Silk Road. Bargaining took on a life of its own as shopgirls in both areas cajoled, threatened and even harrassed us just to make a sale. In the end, we were able to purchase what we wanted but that shopping experience was not something so thrilling as to be repeated.
Bonding in Beijing
It's remarkable how enduring bonds can be formed on a trip to a foreign country. This visit to Beijing, upon the invitation of Cebu Pacific, saw nine journalists climbing the Great Wall, taking photos at the sites at every given opportunity, feeling the effects of Peking Duck overdose, freezing in extremely low temperatures in the middle of Tiananmen Square, or contending with obnoxious shopgirls at Silk Road. Yet despite the fun and camaraderie, days away from home can make us long to hear voices from home. For this, Sun Cellular offers a solution with their international roaming features. Initially available for five countries (China, Macau, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia), Sun's prepaid roaming service is a convenient way to keep in touch with the office for some pending workload or the house for a cheery 'hello' to our loved ones. (For details, contact Sun Cellular Hotline at (02) 395-8000, or toll free from Sun Cellular mobile phones: 200; or visit: http://www.suncellular.com.ph/.)
In keeping with their slogan saying "It's time everyone flies", Cebu Pacific has direct flights to Beijing thrice weekly on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, with return flights to Manila on Wednesdays, Fridays and Mondays. For more information on rates and flights schedules, contact Cebu Pacific at telephones (Manila office) +63-2-70-20-888 or (Cebu office) +63-32-230-8888 or visit their website: http://www.cebupacificair.com/
Sidebar:
Knowing where to go in Beijing
For so long, visitors to Beijing have grappled with the very important issue of toilets. Commentaries on internet blogs, and even traditional guidebooks, have offered tips and issued warnings that can intimidate the challenged bladder. But these days, Beijing has more comfort rooms to provide a respite from all the walking, sightseeing and shopping. The good news is, most major tourist spots have toilets. The bad news is, squatting is the norm in most of these toilets. But there is hope! The visitor is offered a choice between the squat type and the Western style. A sign on the toilet door indicates a seated form or a squatting one. But ultimately, if you have to go, then you have to go. And if the only available toilet is a squatting one, then just hold your breath, balance carefully, and just do it.
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