Hello there, thanks for checking my blog. This entry is a sequel to my Backpacking escapade in Beijing!
Beijing, being China's capital is very rich in history and culture. This very big city has been a witness of the Ancient, Imperial, and Modern China. Different Dynasties had ruled China in Beijing hundreds of years back. This is why Beijing has become one of the centers of culture and tourism of China.
After i climbed the Juyong Guan Pass Great Wall on my second day in Beijing, i took a bus (#68) to go back to the City. Despite the fact that no one speaks English in the area, I was very confident taking a bus ride back to the city. This is because i was able to read a blog online which detailed bus #68's route from Juyong Guan to Longze Subway Station. The bus took time to leave as it was lunch time, most of the drivers had their break. When the driver opened the bus, i immediately boarded the vehicle. Take note that you should always be active and alert or else you'd lose a seat in the bus and would end up standing the whole trip for more than an hour.
After an hour of traveling, most of the people had already gotten off the bus. Until such time that the last group of people got off the bus, i was wandering at the road signs. I politely asked the driver if he would go to Longze station (as this was what i read online) but to my dismay, he couldn't understand nor speak English.
If i was reading his gestures right, he was asking me to get off the bus as his trip ends there.....so i did.
Right in the middle of nowhere, i was walking down the road but I never felt any worries though (that's my spirit!). I crossed at the other street trying to figure out how to get into the nearest subway station but i couldn't read any Chinese sign. Even the bus station, all routes were written in Chinese characters. Huhu.
I was about to lose hope that i decided to just take a cab. However, just like everything else in life, when you need them the most, they tend to be unavailable. So as the taxis at that time. I didn't find any taxi in the area but part of me was holding me off from asking people as i was afraid to approach strangers in the middle of a busy market.
Poor Pinoy Excursionist, pretending to explore around. Little did the locals know that i was already lost. So i came back to the bus stop where i got off earlier, and viola!!!! I found bus #58 which i recalled, had route to Longze station. I hop on the bus and in a little than 10 minutes, i already arrived in Longze subway. Geez! I whispered to my inner self, success!
If i was reading his gestures right, he was asking me to get off the bus as his trip ends there.....so i did.
Right in the middle of nowhere, i was walking down the road but I never felt any worries though (that's my spirit!). I crossed at the other street trying to figure out how to get into the nearest subway station but i couldn't read any Chinese sign. Even the bus station, all routes were written in Chinese characters. Huhu.
I was about to lose hope that i decided to just take a cab. However, just like everything else in life, when you need them the most, they tend to be unavailable. So as the taxis at that time. I didn't find any taxi in the area but part of me was holding me off from asking people as i was afraid to approach strangers in the middle of a busy market.
Poor Pinoy Excursionist, pretending to explore around. Little did the locals know that i was already lost. So i came back to the bus stop where i got off earlier, and viola!!!! I found bus #58 which i recalled, had route to Longze station. I hop on the bus and in a little than 10 minutes, i already arrived in Longze subway. Geez! I whispered to my inner self, success!
Moving on, i wasted no time and hop on a train going back to the CBD area. I had to look for a Hostel for my stay in Beijing. Well, i only booked a hotel on my first day and was too confident to just find one in the CBD when i get to Beijing for the following days.
Indeed, just as what i researched, i checked in at Spring Time Hostel, just outside Dongsi station of subway 5. All their crews know how to speak English so it was easy to ask directions. I opted to get a dormitory type of room. Meaning, for the first time in my life, i would have to share a room with 3 other people who are strangers. Well, i found it exciting to meet new people.
I was given room where i shared it with 3 other Korean guys. They were all nice, speak English fluently, so communication was never an issue.
Indeed, just as what i researched, i checked in at Spring Time Hostel, just outside Dongsi station of subway 5. All their crews know how to speak English so it was easy to ask directions. I opted to get a dormitory type of room. Meaning, for the first time in my life, i would have to share a room with 3 other people who are strangers. Well, i found it exciting to meet new people.
I was given room where i shared it with 3 other Korean guys. They were all nice, speak English fluently, so communication was never an issue.
Right after i fixed my stuff up, i then went to the CBD area which is just 2 subway transfers away from the Hostel. I was really dying to see the most recent icon of Beijing -- The CCTV Tower.
Enjoy the photos below.
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| Right outside the Guomao Subway station. |
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| Still at CBD |
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| The world renown architecture - CCTV Tower. |
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| It wouldn't be complete without me taking a selfie...
At around 03:30 PM, i decided to leave the CBD area and hop on to the subway station to go to my next itinerary, The Olympics Park. I took line 10 at Goumao station and transferred to Line 8 at Beitucheng Station. I got off from Line 8 train at the Olympic Sports Center (First station from Beitucheng). It was quite a long trip with multiple stops & transfers. I arrived at 04:15 PM.
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| IBM Building which looks so futuristic. Taken in front of National Stadium. |
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| Selfie me again! |
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| One more take, thanks to the rubbish bin.... i used it as my camera pod. |
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| This was the official torch used during the Beijing Olympics. |
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| Beijing National Stadium a.k.a Bird's nest |
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| I met one Chinese there from Guangzhou who took my my solo pic.
WATER CUBE.
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| Beijing's National Aquatic center a.k.a Water Cube |
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| Opps, he did it right... I mean that guy i asked to take a photo of me. HAHA |
SUMMER PALACE, BEIJING
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| At the entrance gate North of Summer Palace |
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| I just had a Photo-bomber . |
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| Inside Summer Palace |
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| Was standing inside the Summer Palace. At my background is the Temple of Incense. |
ZONGSHAN PARK.
Details of each site in my next blog.
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