Beijing Day 3: Summer Palace

We proceeded to the Summer Palace from Beijing Zoo.  The Summer Palace is the largest and most well-preserved royal park in China.  The construction of the Palace started in 1750.  It was constructed to serve as a summer getaway of the Chinese royal family.  It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998.

Beijing Day 2: Great Wall

Since I was a kid, I have been fascinated about history and geography. Majority of my books were atlases, maps, and travel guides. I dreamed of going to every picture of tourist destinations that I saw.  Among these is the Great Wall of China.

The Great Wall of China is one of the most famous landmarks on earth.  Surely, majority of us know that the Great Wall is a series of fortifications made of stone and bricks along the northern part of China.  Legend has it that it is the only man-made structure that can be seen on the moon.  The Great Wall is so iconic that it should not be missed by anyone planning to go to Beijing. 

Beijing Day 1: Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square

As we exited the MRT Station, we saw the National Center for Performing Arts (NCPA) in Beijing.  The NCPA was designed by the famous French architect Paul Andreu.  The NCPA serves as an opera house.

Beijing Day 1: Temple of Heaven

Temple of Heaven

After alighting from Tiantan Station, we walked towards The Temple of Heaven.  Entrance fee for a combination ticket is CNY 30 (approximately Php 180) per person.

The Temple of Heaven is China's largest existing complex of ancient sacrificial buildings.  It was built during the Ming dynasty and this was were emperors prayed for excellent weather and ample harvest.  It was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1998. 

Vietnam: Ha Long Bay Cruise

A trip to Vietnam will not be complete without a visit to Ha Long Bay.  Ha Long Bay is located in Quang Ninh Province in northern Vietnam.  The bay features thousands of limestone karsts and islands of various shapes and sizes.  In 1994, it was listed as among UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites.  Recently, it was named as one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature.