Beijing's Architectural Wonders

The city of Beijing is not just all about the historical sights to wander but also about modern and spectacular architectural wonders that has been part of its modernity as a city. The Egg, Water Cube and the famed Bird’s Nest became the popular names of these city's structures because of its spectacular architecture where it is likened. Visiting and getting a close encounter of these structures made me truly marvel to these works of architecture in Beijing.

Bird's Nest - Beijing's Architectural Wonders

The Egg

The building is National Center for Performing Arts that takes a very familiar form - an egg. The building is half oval in shape that seems its half is submerge in water since it is surrounded by an artificial lake. It is also important to inform or shall I shall an innovative way to know that the entrance to the building is through the underground artificial lake! From afar the building also looks like an alien spaceship that crash landed from a Hollywood movie scene because of its sharp contrast of its surrounding which were greenery of trees and houses.

The Egg or The Spaceship?

I can see the other half of the egg!

Designed by French architect Paul Andrew, the main building contains 3 performing venues - Opera House, Concert Hall and Theater. It covers an area of about 118,900 sq meters and the total area of the building is about 217,500 sq km. Symphonies, ballet, dance shows, dramas, operas and other kinds of performances are frequently staged here. It's sharp contrast to its surroundings with its oval exterior makes it very eye-catching and fondly called it, "The Egg."

Beautiful glow by sundown.

National Center for Performing Arts at night.

The surrounding facade of the park is free from any entrance fees. The park is very popular to local and foreign visitors because it is used mainly for jogging and strolling activities. It is also best spend an afternoon bonding or rest around the parks facades complete grass parks, flowering plants and trees. But entering the premises of the building will cost you CNY30 to CNY40 per person. Opera festival and musical performances has different fees. I'm just quite disappointed on my visit because The Egg is not fully lit up with lights just like what I saw in travel magazines I've read about it. But seeing it in front of me was quite an experience to remember.

Bird's Nest 

There were 43 new world records and 132 new Olympic records set at the 2008 Summer Olympics. And some of them happened in Bird's Nest or the National Stadium - the central venue of 2008 Beijing Olympics. It is situated in Olympic Green Village in Chaoyang District of Beijing. All of the atletics events of the 2008 Olympics were held here like track and field, football and discus throw. 

Bird's Nest on a cold afternoon visit.

Where world records were made and broken to surpass... The Bird's Nest.

The design of the building is so popular because it looks like a nest of a bird especially if viewed from above! The stadium took 5 years to be completed by Swiss architects Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron and Chinese architect L Xinggang. The designers did not do any redundant disposals to the look of the stadium but just exposed the steel st'ructures entirely to make it look like in its most natural appearance. The cost of the stadium is said to be 33 million dollars.

The National Stadium is the main host of opening and closing ceremonies of 2008 Beijing Olympics.

I admire it in photos and in television, now my foot has set in Bird's Nest.

It was like a dream come true for me to see the Bird's Nest in my naked eye since I've been following the Beijing Olympics 4 years ago before my visit. Actually the stadium is also one of the reasons why I travel to China. I want to see the grandiose structure of Bird's Nest, face to face! And it was truly a marvelous work of architecture from Beijing. It was a massive building! How it was built like that was truly a work of wonder. And when it glows in fiery red at night, it made stunned to its architectural beauty. Bird's Nest is a must visit when in Beijing! 

2008 Beijing Olympics was memorable because of this architectural wonder.

Beijing 2008 Olympic marker.

After the games, the stadium became a popular tourist attraction of the city. Today it has the largest ski resort in urban Beijing now. There is no entrance around the stadium but entering the premises cost CNY50 per person. You can also visit the 2008 Beijing Olympics landmark beside it.

Water Cube

It also known as the National Aquatics Center but dubbed as "Water Cube" because of its exterior design that looks like water bubbles compressed together. It is located in the Olympic Park to the west of the National Stadium (Bird's Nest). The Water Cube is said to be constructed in 2003 and finished in early 2008 to be the host facility of swimming, diving and synchronized swimmings competition of 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Designed by Chinese and Australian, it is the first building in the world built upon "the soap bubble" theory, and sports a polyhedral steel-framed structure. The ETFE (the ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer) membrane insulates it. This advanced membrane structure is formed by 3,065 bubble-like pneumatic cushions of all sizes. It becomes the first large-scale public project coated with the membrane, and it also has set up a new world record for its massive deployment.

National Aquatics Center.

After the Olympic games, it was turned into various leisure and business-related function like The Watercube Waterpark, spa, bars and restaurants and other business sections. In 2022, it will be the venue of curling competitions during the Winter Olympic Games.

A closer look at the "soap bubbles" of Water Cube.

Beijing's architectural wonders at Olympic Park.

With all these architectural wonders of Beijing, it only shows that this city is unstoppable towards inventive ways of blending tradition with modernity. It proves its worthy in the center stage of one of the progressive cities in the world. And it truly it is! I couldn't agree more to its stature as one of the most wonderful cities in the world. These modern and marvelous architectures of Beijing calls the world to center its attention - to itself in the east, once more.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

*How to reach National Center for Performing Arts (The Egg)

Via subway, take Subway Line 1, get off at Tiananmen West Station and get out of the station from Exit C (southwest exit). There is an underground passageway to the building directly.

*How to reach Olympic Park

Bird's Nest and Water Cube is inside the Olympic Park. Via subway, take Subway Line 10 then to Beitucheng then switch to Subway Line 8 (Olympic special line). Get off at Olympic Sports Center Station then get out of the station on Exit B1 (northwest exit) or Exit B2 (northeast exit) and walk to the park.  

Beijing's Architectural Wonders is part of my Beguiling Beijing.Captivating China series where I share my birthday trip adventures, travel stories and first-time experiences in Beijing, China last March 20-24, 2012. You might also like the other parts of the series:  

+Beijing - A Beguiling City

+Winter Sonata in China

+Roaming through Beijing

+One Spring Day in Beijing

+Forbidden City: Forbidden No More

+A Dragon Hike to the Great Wall of China

+Beijing's Architectural Wonders

+Peking Duck: An Authentic Chinese Cuisine

+Wangfujing's Lively Street Life

+The Imperial Gardens of Beijing 

Airport Review: Davao International Airport

Davao International Airport (IATA: DVO), is the main airport serving Davao City and the busiest airport in the region of Mindanao. Formerly known as Francisco Bangoy International Airport, it is named after the patriarch of an influential family residing in the city who donated the land where the airport operates. The airport has a single 3,000-meter precision runway.

Welcome to Davao!!!

The current terminal replaces the previous airport terminal, which lie just across it, in handling both domestic and international flights operating to and from Davao. The P2.7 billion passenger terminal is a Malay architecture-inspired building which is four times larger than the old terminal. It is highly computerized, more secure and has more commercial spaces for concessionaires at approximately 9,000 sq. meter. It has four units of jet bridges for passengers. The terminal has 14 domestic and 14 international check-in counters that can handle a steady flow of passenger traffic. The Check-in counters are equipped with electronic weighing scales and conveyors and its baggage handling system is also computerized. It also has 2 arrival areas, for domestic and international with 2 baggage conveyors each. The Cargo Terminal Building covers almost 5,580 sq. meters and can handle up to 84,600 metric tons of cargo a year. The modernization and upgrading of the airport facilities aims to cement Davao as a hub for tourism and foreign investment in the region.

Welcome!!!

Initial construction began in 2000 while plans for construction were announced in 1992. After almost a decade, the new terminal was inaugurated on December 2, 2003. On November 12, 2007, Cebu Pacific announced this airport as its third hub.

The following airlines and their destinations currently serve Davao International Airport:

1.      Air Asia Philippines – Clark

2.      Airphil Express – Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Clark, Iloilo, Manila, Zamboanga

3.   Cebu Pacifir Air – Butuan, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Dipolog, Iloilo, Kalibo, Manila, Puerto Princesa, Zamboanga

4.      Philippine Airlines – Manila

5.      Wings Air – Manado

6.      SEA (South East Asian) Air - Manila

7.      Silk Air – Singapore

8.      Zest Airways - Manila

(Information source: Wikipedia: Davao Airport)

I experienced being in Davao International Airport when I visited the city in Summer 2009.

Left outside facade of the airport.

Overview of the main terminal. Photo courtesy of Jetphotos.net

Building and Facilities

The terminal building is strikingly white-painted outside but what makes it more striking are the layered triangular shape Malay-inspired roof.  The pointed roof design also echoes Davao’s famed fruit king – Durian particularly its pointed thorn-like skin texture. The building’s predominantly white color with accents of gray and green creates an airy and spacious atmosphere. The choice of white as the predominant color also evokes a light feeling and mood along with the concept of maximizing the spaces of the building for handling larger capacity of passengers.  

The multi-floor terminal is designed to meet the international standards of an airport terminal. It serves both domestic and international flights and its capacity is designed to handle both type of flights. It has four jetways that has the capacity of handling a bigger plane like Boeing 747-400 of Philippine Airlines which is regularly deployed on the airport.  It can also handle mid-range and long-range aircraft types like Airbus 330-300 and Airbus 340-300 with its 3,000 meter runway. I think it can even handle a long-range Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.  

The Smart ad that designs the outside façade of the terminal facing the plane side added colors and Davao character to the dominantly white painted building of the terminal.

Mount Apo in the air!!!

Davao, here I come! On approach to the airport.

Arrival

My arrival to Davao was exciting and very much welcoming because in the air I was treated with a glimpse of Mount Apo! It’s the Philippines’ highest peak. I don’t know if it depends on aircraft approach but as our plane banks on an approach to Davao Airport, I saw a group of tall mountain peaks surrounded by clouds that one resembles the peak of Mount Apo. I knew that I saw the country’s tallest peak when I compare the pictures I took with the pictures of Mount Apo’s peak. I marvel in viewing Mount Apo in the air. It was a great welcome on my first time visit to Davao!

The arrival area is spacious with 4 baggage conveyors to ease claiming of check-in luggage. It has a friendly service desk for tourists who want to inquire about the tours around the city and getting transportation out of the airport. The outside façade has a line-up of numerous taxis available for transportation. But what I like about in Davao, is that these taxis are registered at the security desks before going out of the airport facilities for security reasons of the tourists and taxi scam fares. Most of the taxi drivers are naturally friendly and not forced. The Durian Monument designed by Kublai Milan, Davao’s famous artist found at the front facade was a great welcome for tourists and visitors who want to discover the city.

The striking Durian monument at the outside facade of the airport.

Departure

The glass doors and waiting area roofs are tinted in dark green color.  The Malay-inspired roof is also designed up to the roofs of waiting areas of the terminal building. These layers of pointed triangles also echoes the skin of Durian – Davao’s fame king fruit as I’ve observed before. The Malay-inspired roof is also reflected inside the terminal that looks like a big ceiling of a “Bahay Kubo” with modern and steel design. The ceiling has glass linings where natural sunlight can pass through and gives additional lighting inside the departure terminal. The glass designed walls were wide and tall to get more natural lighting get through inside the airport. I also noticed that the Malay-inspired pointed designs is also echoed in on top of these walls and resembles roofs of traditional Nipa hut house or “Bahay Kubo”.

Malay-inspired designed of Davao International Airport. Photo courtesy of Come Visit Davao.

View of the departure area from the terminal's second floor.

 International and domestic check-in counters are separated by a divider with an escalator that leads to the 2nd floor where the final checks, gates and lounges are located. The terminal is complete with immigration and final security checks for international flights. There are also souvenir shops, restaurants and cafes for passengers to enjoy while waiting for their flight. The 2nd second floor also has lounges for VIP passengers. One of the lounges is Mabuhay Lounge for Philippine Airlines’ business class and high miler passengers.

While the departure area has a grand designs of Malay inspirations, the gate area was ordinarily bland in design and majority where just painted in white and green carpeted. Wide glass walls facing the planeside give a view of airline operations and actions on-going in the airport. Davao International Airport has a terminal fee of 200PHP for domestic passengers.

Check-in counters at the departure area. Photo courtesy of Jetphotos.net

Gate holding area. Photo courtesy of Come Visit Davao.

Mabuhay Lounge of Philippines Airlines. Photo courtesy of Come Visit Davao.

Gate waiting area before passengers embark to the aircraft. Photo courtesy of Come Visit Davao.

My Conclusion

The location and space of the current terminal of Davao has a big potential for expansion in case it needs to expand for additional capacity, more flights and rising passenger flow. My impression when I first stepped inside the terminal was it looks like a mini version of NAIA Centennial Terminal 2. This is mainly because of its predominantly white color of the terminal inside and outside of the building including the glass inspired designs. But Davao International Airport still has a distinction because of its Malay and Durian-inspired designs.

The current space of the terminal is enough to serve the current capacity that the airport is handling currently. I just wish they redesign the gate holding areas for a more appealing architecture and did not resorted to a boring white atmosphere area. I think it would also be better if the cafes, shops and restaurants are near the gate holding area as most airport are designed that way. Unlike in Davao International Airport, they are located before entering the gate areas thus they are on a separate facility area of the terminal.

Samal Island and Davao in the air!

Since the terminal is an international airport, I hope the government and concerning agencies will promote the city to have more international flights. I feel that the international side of the terminal is underuse with only Silk Air and Wings Air serving the airport for international flights. Local airlines should be tapped for the potential of the airport to have international flights. Cebu Pacific’s move of making Davao as its third domestic hub was a great move.

Lastly, a departure flight from Davao, gives an air glimpse of beautiful Samal Island – one of the Davao’s tourism draws. The marvelous sights of this beach resort and adventure activity dotted island reminds me and all of us that Davao has a great role in shaping up Philippine tourism potentials.  

--------------------------------------------------------------
Airport Review is a section in Going Places where I gave a comprehensive review and insights to the airports that I have been in my travels. Review ranges from the airport's arrival and departure area, functionality, terminal structure, facility, airport location up to the unique amenities that the airport offers. These airport reviews will give travelers a first-hand experience of what it is to expect inside these airport terminals

The Goddess of Dawn in Concepcion

I woke up 5 in the morning expecting to catch my first Concepcion sunrise from the terrace balcony of our accommodation room.  I still felt dizzy from a morning wake along with recovery of tiredness from our trip yesterday from Iloilo City. But the view I saw from the terrace was something gorgeous to make up my first great morning and sunrise hunt in Concepcion. From the terrace, I marvel on the view of Concepcion’s coastal port with cloud patched sky from upper view, a middle view of mountain islands and down to a view of vast calm sea - all bade in blue hue of morning dawn. I thought while in marvel that everything seems to be touched by the Goddess of the Dawn.

I wish every morning I always get this kind of dawn view. It evokes feelings of calmness, serenity and clear thoughts.

This view is something new for me as I used to view sunsets in coastal beaches. I love sunset views for its magnificent and stunning moment. But dawn is a beholding sight as well! I did not expect my sunrise hunt will turn to witnessing a beautiful dawn in Concepcion. It was my first dawn catch and it was a grateful morning I ever had.

Blue dawn color painted the whole beautiful scenery of Concepcion’s coastal port.  Aside from the vast sea and islands that as far as my eyes can see, even coconut trees standing along the port and bancas (outrigger boats) docked in the shore were all painted in blue. It was a like a royal moment for the Goddess of the Dawn – Aurora. The coastal port of Concepcion at this time in the morning is quiet. This quietness contributes to a laidback atmosphere that is carried out throughout the municipality.  This kind of morning is perfect for meditation, morning exercise or just having a relaxing viewing. I wish every morning I always get this kind of dawn view. It evokes feelings of calmness, serenity and clear thoughts. I don’t get this kind of stunning view everyday or even every morning at least. So I quickly decided to get my camera to capture this beautiful morning moment in Concepcion that “goddess Aurora” is offering! 

Breaking dawn at Concepcion...

Beautiful blue morning.

Before sunrise.

Charming coastal scene of Concepcion.

All bade in blue hue of morning dawn.

Riding over the calm ripples of the water.

A real gem of Concepcion.

3 hours from Iloilo City, the municipality of Concepcion is a coastal town located at the north eastern part of Iloilo Province.  A large expanse of Concepcion occupies the territorial water towards the Visayan Sea, one of the richest marine resources of the Philippines. Glimmering off the coast of Concepcion, are 16 paradise islands poised to become Panay’s next emerging tourist destination. At first glance, the islands appear as half-drowned mountains jutting out from the sea and bordered by intermittent stretches of fine golden yellow to white sand and spectacular rock formations. They are connected by azure blue waters and a rich marine ecosystem creating one of the most scenic seascapes in entire Province of Iloilo. From a distance, the islands of Concepcion appear as gigantic natural protective outreach of the mainland with the tallest Mt. Manaphag (Pan de Azucar Island) commanding the view rising 573 feet above sea level making it the landmark of the municipality. (Info sources: Explore Iloilo). 

 *Aurora is the Roman goddess of Dawn in Roman Mythology


-------------------------------------------------------------

The Goddess of Dawn in Concepcion is part of my Concepcion: Iloilo's hidden gem series that tells about my travel stories on my visit to Iloilo's northern municipality of Concepcion last July 10-11, 2012. To learn more about Concepcion, read Explore Iloilo's website. You might also like the other parts of the series:

1. The Goddess of Dawn in Concepcion
2. Concepcion: Iloilo's hidden gem
3. Agho Island: An undiscovered island gem
4. Bolobodiangan Island's sandbar beauty

A Dragon Hike to the Great Wall of China

Still sleepy and feeling a little bit of dizzy from waking up very early while seating on a bus bound to Huai Rou, the bus speeds off from Dongzhimen Station on a cold winter morning. Enjoying the sights of the city of Beijing that laid on my eyes, I try to stay awake and open my eyes. Though, I’m going on a slumber mode on and off, but inside my heart,  my excitement cannot be contain as I know today I will see one of the wonders of the world – The Great Wall of China!

The Great Wall of China - one of the wonders of the world!

Ticket to the wall. 45 RMB per person during my 2012 visit. 

Cable car going up to the wall platform. The other option going up is doing a stair hike.

Excited to see the Great Wall of China from the Cable car ride.

Today, I am doing a commute way of visiting the Great Wall to its Mutianyu section with my travel mates.  We decided not to join tours here because aside from pricey rates, do-it-yourself tour to the Great Wall is easily doable. You just need accurate instructions and knowing the right public vehicle to Mutianyu. The other famed section of Great Wall is Badaling section but we choose Mutianyu section because it is less crowded with visitors and more stunning and scenic sight of Great Wall yet only a little bit far from Beijing compare to Badaling section. Travel time via bus to Huai Rou is one and a half hours. We alighted to Huai Rou Qui Che Zhan, the last stop and terminal of the bus in Huai Rou.

At the terminal, there are many cab drivers waiting and willing to drive you privately to the Great Wall. There were many drivers to choose from but we choose the one we feel trusted. But honestly, most of them can be trusted since most of the driver’s rely on the Great Wall visitors for income. Travel time is thirty minutes. When we reached the grounds of the Great Wall, the driver volunteer to wait for us for the return trip which delighted us because it seemed hard to find a cab for a return trip to the Huai Rou Terminal at the Great Wall.

National toursist attraction of Mutianyu Great Wall from the platform.

First glimpse of the Great Wall of China!

At the ground of the Great Wall, you won’t see the wall yet. The ground is at the base of the mountain and the wall is resting on the top of its ranges. It is either you go up via trek or via Cable Car. We choose to go up via Cable Car and then go down via trek since it is harder to go up than going down via trek. After we paid the necessary fees, we ride the Cable Car going up to the wall where we are treated with mountain winter sceneries of China as the car goes up. At the base of the top platform, there is a space area like a park with seats where I can already see the Great Wall snaking on the top of the mountain ranges. I exclaimed, “That’s it!” My heart jump and beat faster, the moment I got a glimpse of The Wall from the space area.

Let the "Dragon Hike" start!

One of the 8 watchtowers I explored in the hike.

Hundred more steps. Maybe a thousand more steps...

 There’s a small stairs going up that you have to pass through before you fully step on the wall itself. Once you pass through, you’ll be greeted with the beautiful sight of the Great Wall of China of Mutianyu section. The strong and historic wall of Mutianyu is 1.4 miles through the mountains and high ridges, which many of its section is made of granite. The Great Wall of China as per history is made to strengthen its defense from northern enemies and various nomadic groups and guard the e capital. There are 22 watch towers distributed at close intervals along the wall. I explore 7 of those watchtowers during my hike to the wall.  The Great Wall is estimated to have been built as early as 7th century BC. Today, it is one of the most recognizable landmark of China because of its historic importance, breathtaking scenery and amazing architectural wonder.

To enjoy the various scenic views of Great Wall, you to have hike the long brick wall from a starting point and explore its watchtowers. Since the wall is a long stretch of fortress, it requires a “Dragon Hike”, an energetic and aggressive kind of hike that also motivates you to be strong and withstand tiredness. Nah, I just coined that name of hike which I find it suitable when hiking the wall. But just like the dragon, you really need to be energetic and aggressive like having a power to withstand the tiring hike to the steep stairs, curving steps and rocky platforms of the wall fortress. You’ll also have to be cautious on steps and stairs as some are so high and some are sudden downward curve that it can lead for danger and accident. I say for experience hikers, this will be easy but for couch potato, they will have difficulty.

A perfect way to stretch those leg and feet muscles - Dragon Hike!

History information at the some section of the wall.

Admiring one of the world wonders of mankind...

With my “dragon hike” style, I hike the Great Wall of China to explore it. The cold winter weather coupled with a very cold wind blow made my hike more difficult. I’m starting to have colds after minutes of hiking. But it didn’t stop me from exploring this architectural wonder of China. I continue my hike and savor the beautiful sight of the wall everytime it laid upon my eyes by looking at it in all angles possible. The scenic Great Wall of China looks like a dragon resting on the mountain ranges and ridges. The winter season which made the area had bare trees with only stems left and some dried leaves left made the wall standout in the mountain ranges. Actually, I find it the wall scenic amidst wintertime. But they say, whatever the season is, the Mutyaniu section of the wall is all stunningly beautiful all the time.   

There are small patches of melting snow in some sections of the wall as I walk through. I explore the watchtowers, where visitors can read historical information about the function of the wall and the watchtower. In the watchtower too, one can see a greater view of the wall snaking through the mountain ridges as it is located on higher elevation than the wall platforms. From one of the windows of the watchtower, I saw how long, stretching and wonderful the Great Wall of China that seems endlessly snaking through the mountain ridges. The view that I saw from the window made me appreciated this man-made world wonder that is really an opportunity of a lifetime to set my foot on.

Winter scene at Mutianyu section of Great Wall.

More to hike but breathtaking view from one of the watchtowers.

 I did not regret to visit the Mutyaniu section of the wall. It is less crowded that sometimes the wall is just by ourselves and I find it scenic than the other wall sections of the Great Wall. I still stunned on how ancient Chinese people made it manually and how strong it is surviving until now. This is truly an architectural wonder!  In every angle I look at it, I’m marveling to its beauty and greatness. I can’t help but admire its every scenic angle in the mountain ranges. For me, it symbolizes China’s advancement in intelligence and glorious history of the country. The Great Wall of China is a pride of China and Chinese people – a wonder in history, architecture and culture. I’m glad I’ve set my foot on one of the wonders of the world.   

Souvenir shops at the foot of the wall. 

Dried fruits sold at the souvenir stands at the foot of the wall. Dried cherry is recommended for an afternoon snack.

 After an hour and a half exploration and hiking of the wall, we reached the stairs going down. It was quite a difficult hike to the numerous stairs going down from the wall but we survive it. At the foot of the wall are numerous souvenir shops and China memorabilia for pasalubong. There are also shops of dried fruits and nuts which we tried. We found our driver after and he brought us back to the terminal station to a bus going back to Beijing. It was a very tiring day at the Great Wall of China but I feel content to the experience I had. I’ve just seen and walked through one of the world wonders of mankind and it is a momentous experience of lifetime that I will never forget!   

----------------------------------------------------------------
Commute Guide to Great Wall - Mutianyu section: Visiting the Great Wall via do-it-yourself trip is easy! Before I thought it will be hard especially for first timers and language barrier like me but with accurate and good guide, you can do it like we did as this is a cheaper option to experience the Great Wall of China. So here's the guide. Go to Dongzhimen Bus Station via subway or taxi. Take Bus No.916 to Huai Rou. Get off at the last stop of the bus - Huai Rou Qui Che Zhan - the terminal of Huai Rou. Look at the bus route map posted on its walls for guide. At the station, there are many taxi drivers and vans waiting and willing to fetch going to the Great Wall. Choose the one willing to wait for you for a return trip as well. Taxi going back is hard to find at Mutianyu Great Wall. On return trip is the same. Taxi to the bus station then hop the bus going to Beijing and drop at Dongzhimen Station again.

A Dragon Hike to the Great Wall of China is part of my Beguiling Beijing.Captivating China series where I share my adventures, travel stories and first-time experiences in Beijing, China last March 20-24, 2012. You might also like the other parts of the series:   

+ Beijing - A Beguiling City
+ Winter Sonata in China
+ Roaming through Beijing
+ One Spring Day in Beijing
+ Forbidden City: Forbidden No More
+ A Dragon Hike to the Great Wall of China
+ Beijing's Architectural Wonders
+ Peking Duck: An Authentic Chinese Cuisine
+ Wangfujing's Lively Street Life
+ The Imperial Gardens of Beijing
+ Airport Review: Beijing Capital International Airport