Autumn in Beijing Day 3 - SUMMER PALACE + SILK MARKET

It's our last day in Beijing. Morning 'til lunch was spent walking around Xidan trying to find authentic dumplings, however, we didn't find any. We ended up having early lunch in McDonalds. Then we took the subway to Xiyuan station, the station near the Summer Palace.

Xidan mall - look at what each floor is called

longest escalator in Asia (and probably in the world)

McDonald's - Chinese style

Before going to the Summer palace, we had lunch in Pizza Hut, located right outside the Xiyuan station. We loved their Peach Fruit Tea!:)

 finding a food place

super love! Peach Fruit Tea!

After lunch, we walked going to the Summer Palace. It was really a huge castle! There's a lake inside the huge compound, and there were lots of rooms. It really felt like we're being toured through history. There were also a lot of tourists there, and we were so happy that we saw a group of Filipino tourists...for the first time in our 3-day vacation there! haha!

 outside the palace

 that's really huge inside

 so many Lotus plants

woods effect lol

sorry...lots of photos of me haha! 

 set the camera timer and this was what we've got!

 boats that move around the lake

For some reason, we didn't know who's dressed appropriately haha!

It was a tiring yet interesting tour. We headed to the Silk Market for our last-minute shopping. But when we got there, we decided to have dinner first. We finally found a dumpling restaurant! After dinner, we only had an hour to shop since it's about to close. We bought some souvenirs like fridge magnets and shot glasses. And for "pasalubong" to our friends in the Philippines, we went to the grocery to buy Pejoy (green tea sticks) and Jasmine tea. But just a tip in shopping, don't believe in the first price that a vendor gives you. You can keep haggling 'til you get satisfied with the price. After that quick shopping, we rushed back to the hotel to pack our stuff and catch our flight back to Manila.

 Silk Market (like 168 Mall in Divisoria)

 we finally found a dumpling resto

 pretending that we got scotch (when it's actually soda lol)

lovin' Authentic Chinese Cuisine!:)

We took a cab from the hotel to the airport. Unfortunately, we got down at the wrong terminal so w had to take the free shuttle going Terminal 2. We made it just in time! However, after 30 minutes of waiting, we were informed that our aircraft had problems so we had too wait for 4 hours for another plane to arrive. yes, our flight got 4 hrs delayed! Well, that's the downside of riding budget airlines like Cebu Pacific. We only got noodles/sandwiches and softdrinks/water from the company while waiting. It was such a nightmare! Thank God for the free wifi and charging ports in the airport that saved me from boredom.

planking in the Executive Room of Grand Mercure

Autumn in Beijing Day 2 - OLYMPIC GREEN

After the 2-hr bus ride from the Great Wall to the City, we took the subway to the Olympic Green station. These were the stuff we saw when we got out of the station:

i don't know what this is haha

huge musical instruments

And since we were so tired and hungry, we headed to one of the Chinese restaurants in the area.

the utensils were actually sealed

We had so much for dinner! It was so authentic yet very cheap! So worth it!:)

old Beijing restaurant

Beijing is the home of the 2008 Olympics. It's amazing how Beijing has transformed a huge piece of idle land into a perfect venue for the Olympics.

 Olympic Pagoda

 lights are changing colors

 the huge Olympic torch

 At The Bird's Nest (Beijing National Stadium)

 good architecture

I love this place!

the Water Cube (Beijing national Aquatics Center)

It was a tiring yet productive day. We headed back to the hotel in the middle of the cold weather. Had so much fun walking while seeing all the city lights.

Autumn in Beijing Day 2 - GREAT WALL OF CHINA

Sept. 17 - It's our 2nd day in Beijing! We got up early 'cause we got a long day ahead. Out on a cold weather, we braved the streets to find our way to the Beijing North Railway Station. Good thing a friend's co-worker was able to write down in English and Chinese characters, on a sheet of paper, some sentences asking for directions to the Great Wall, which we brought along with us. It really helped us a lot!

So we took the subway and went off at Xizhimen station. There we tried to ask a vendor in a mini grocery where the Beijing North Railway Station was. He understood what's written on our paper but he didn't know how to communicate his response to us. It took us "charades" to figure out! LOL! Then we found the station but all signages were in Chinese characters. But because we got a paper guide, we were able to buy ticket easily. Then we waited for the train. When the train was there, it took 15 minutes to unload 'coz it got so many passengers. When gates were opened, everybody ran to the train. We didn't know what's going on so we also ran! HAHAHA! So funny!

In the train, there were people selling Great Wall entrance tickets but we couldn't understand them. My seatmate got an iPhone and she's translating our conversation via Google Translate. Then two college girls overheard our English conversation. Luckily, they're Chinese girls who can understand and speak English! We became friends with them and we decided to make them a part of our group. They've been such a relief for us!


So we went off at Badaling Station. We bought snacks before going up the Great Wall. After a couple of hours there, we went down by riding a sliding car that's like a mini rollercoaster. Then we saw bears at the exit. We walked going out trying to find the railway station, but we found out that we went out at the wrong exit and the only way for us to go back to where we came from was by riding a bus. Gosh it took us two hours plus traffic and hot weather to get back to the city.

 while in line for tickets

ticket prices

 i love the Great Wall!

 Indeed a World Wonder!

 With our 2 new Chinese friends

 sliding car (when you;re lazy to walk down lol)

bears

Our Great Wall experience was so rewarding! I really enjoyed it. It's not everyday that one gets to see one of the World's Wonders, and I'm so lucky to have seen one at the age of 24!:) I wish to see more of the 7 Wonders soon!!!