CHINA: What Can You Possibly Do There for 8 Days?

China has been on top of my bucket list. And having done a little bit of research, I was all too aware of the stricter rules of the Communist state that is Xi Jinping’s Chinese government.

Tiananmen Square

How To Get A Tourist Visa for China
I secured a copy of my condo title, certification from the bank showing at least P50K and an NBI clearance. All done in a week.

I was traveling with two friends.

We made an appointment with the Chinese Embassy. Located at 2nd Floor, the World Center, 330 Sen. Gil J. Puyat Avenue, Makati City, Metro Manila.

Appointment Day
Although I was running a little late that day, I wasn't too worried. My friends were already at the embassy, even before it opens at 9AM.

NBI HIT
I had a ‘hit’ on my NBI clearance. Meaning I had to go back to the their office in Monumento to get my clearance fixed. That same freakin’ day with my appointment with the Chinese embassy.

NBI Hit

I was one of the first 100+ people in line at the NBI. I thought I'll be at least one of the first 20 in line for waking up so early. I guess you can never be too early to this sort of government-related errands. When is this government bureaucracy gets any better?

I arrived at the NBI office way before 7 AM. Naturally, I was switched to a panic mode very quickly after seeing the long line.

But much to my surprise, I found myself running out of the NBI office with my clearance paper in hand only after an hour. Apparently, if you’re in for a ‘hit’ verification, it is much faster.

Darn NBI clerk mistyped my last name with a single ‘l’ instead of the double 'l' that have caused all these time-wasting aggravations.

Anyway, it was only 8AM. I have good enough time. It brought me back to my calm self again. I did a quick breakfast then rode the LRT to Libertad and bus to Makati.

Chinese Embassy
I ran upstairs to the second floor. My friends were already queued and I cut in line.

Just before lunch, we were all done. Considering I was asked to get another set of photos; go back at the counter again with the correct photos.

The photos I had with me did not meet the criteria. I had the wrong background color! I ran outside. Looked for a photo shop around the vicinity.

I got the photos, went back up and re-submitted.

The nice Chinese lady at the counter said, the processing time depends on the service I am willing to pay. Regular Service, Express Service, or Rush Service. I said, ‘I would go with the P1,400 Regular Service.’

Four days later, we went back to the consular office for the visa pick-up. I was given a one-month visa while my friends got 2 weeks.

‘We only needed 7 days anyway’, I said to my friends to appease their slight disappointment. Besides, we have no plans on staying in China a day more than our intended 8-days stay. There's a hefty fine of 500 Yuan per day for overstaying. Or worst, get detained by the Chinese army!

30 Day Tourist Visa
You may want to seek assistance in obtaining visa from various travel agencies to the tune of P1.5k to P3k on top of the actual visa fee. Good option if you don't want to go through all the troubles.

30-Day Chinese Visa

Once you get your visa, use it or it will die a natural death in 90 days.

Required Documents for Tourist Visa
1. Philippine Passport
2. Visa Application Form completely filled. You can download a copy here.
3. 48mm x 33mm color photo, glue to the application form. (Very important, white background)
4. Copy of previous visa if any.
5. An invitation letter issued by Hotel Reservation or Authorized Travel Agency or a copy of return ticket.
6. BIR-Stamped income tax return form, recent 6 mos bank statement, and original bank receipt are required.

Please Google for current updates.

Please continue reading on to PART 2.

A really awesome China!

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CHINA: What Can You Possibly Do There for 8 Days? Part 2

Touchdown BCIA (Beijing Capital International Airport). 11:45 PM (same time zone as Manila).

Beijing Capital International Airport

It was 8:30 PM when we left NAIA3 (Ninoy Aquino International Airport). That was 3 hours and 15 minutes to cross the West Philippine Sea over to Beijing, China (via Cebu Pacific Air).

Beijing Capital International Airport
I didn’t see the beauty of this huge airport or the lack of it, when we arrived. Not even from the plane's window as we approached the runway. Too foggy to see anything. No night scene. Zero visibility from my window.

This airport is the 2nd largest airport on earth. It must be a sight to see, I imagined. 

We were quickly ushered to the jet bridge that led to a wide corridor to the Immigration counter. No glittery decors or architectural wonders in sight. I didn't see much travelers either. I’m guessing we were in an older part of the airport. It's the perk of traveling with a budget airline; they have their own little 'corner' in the airport.

In any case, I definitely felt the excitement. No apprehension whatsoever; not even with those military-looking personnel dotted the area, nor the straight-faced officers at the Immigration counters.

There was a sign that read, no taking pictures allowed, but I already got a couple of blurry shots, right after the jet bridge.

Meeting Up with the Driver
We were to be picked up by the hostel’s driver, so we looked out for that proverbial placard sign that reads, ‘Burn’ (my friend's name) among the many greeters.

Some quick glances around and there it was, raised up in the air by this middle aged Chinese man, a placard with my friend's name on it.

We approached and greeted him with firm handshakes and exchanges of hellos, nods, and vows. He couldn’t speak a single word of English. I thought, ‘ok, this is going be fun.’

He led us outside the parking lot. Our bodies started to shiver up like an epilepsy attack. It must have been well below zero degrees, coupled with that wind chill factor thing I always hear from the weather reports.

The car seemed to be so far all of a sudden. We couldn’t wait one more second to get in the car.

And soon we were zooming down Beijing highway somewhere under the city’s bright yellow lights. I couldn’t contain my self with excitement. I was beside myself.

From the car window, I saw trees lined up the highways, appearing like ghostly twigs on a foggy night. Shrubs on the center dividers were covered with black plastic bags, probably to protect them from freezing.

The winter weather was not really new to  me. I have lived to places with winter weather before but there's something new and different here.

Crisp nippy night. This must be a winter Beijing smell, I thought. Then and there, I officially welcomed my self to China.

Please continue on to PART 3.

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CHINA: What Can You Possibly Do There for 8 Days? Part 3

I lost the sense of time. I don’t know how long it took. It didn’t seem that long before we exited the highway headed towards a more crowded district.

XINJIEKOU

The street is called Xinjiekou. Xinjiekou South Street in Xicheng District. It is one of the most popular shopping streets in Beijing. Famous for large number of Chinese musical instruments and pirated DVDs.

Xinjiekou

It's where the Red Lantern House is located - our hostel in Beijing.

Our driver took us to an alley and stopped in front of a tavern-looking façade with two stringed red lanterns hanging up front.

Red Lantern House

The driver said something in Chinese. Of course, no clue what was just said, so we presumed he meant for us to get our ass out of the car. But then he was obviously saying something else, he looked totally disagreeing of us opening the car, from the tone of his voice. With all the confusions, we proceeded anyway to get out of the car. And while we were outside by the curb, standing, freezing our ass to death watching him not coming out of the car, the red back light of the car aglow; he backed up. He parked the car to the other side of the alley. Then he got out and smiled. I then figured, he probably meant to say earlier, "Ok, we’re here. Let me just back up the car and park it to the other side nicely. And then you morons will be on your way".

The challenges of language barrier. Anyways, the poor man seemed genuinely nice as he led us inside the Red Lantern House.

THE RED LANTERN HOUSE
This hostel is located in West Yard No. 5 Zhengjue Hutong, Xinjiekou Dadjie, Beijing China.

The driver led us inside this old traditional home that has two big red-lacquered wooden door with two stringed red lanterns hanging in front.

From inside of these doors were some heavy vertical plastic flaps hanging from the ceiling down to the floor.

We went through these plastic flaps to enter on to another door. This is a typical set-up of the residences here to combat the freezing temperature of Beijing winter weather.

Inside the house is a court area. Narrow with high-ceiling. Filled with mismatched décor. Lots of knick-knacks. Some old books in the cabinets, aquarium, an odd-looking fish pond at the back plus other insignificant curios.

Hostel's interior

There were hanging lanterns of different shapes and sizes coming down from the beams of the translucent ceiling.

A wood furniture and a pair of long wooden dining table with chairs.  And an old couch.

There's a beverage vending machine next to the reception area. A bar with four wooden stools with an array of hard liquors in the shelves.

On the second floor, a balcony that surrounds the upper part of the court, where more rooms are located.

Upper level

An aroma of warm incense filled the whole area.

A couple of Caucasian travelers were sitting by the couch minding their tablets. A rugged-looking guy with sideburns and bushy blond hair sitting on one of the long table, reading a book under a green lamp shade.

It was around 1AM. Guests were either in a deep slumber or were winding down. I thought to myself, ‘this place is so bohemian and am liking it’.

The receptionist, very friendly guy, who speaks English, greeted and warmly welcomed us.

Shared Room
We got our room near the reception area, shared with three other guys. Backpackers that were already retired in the room.

Shared room

Besides from cutting a significant cost on one's budget, sharing a room is a great way to meet other interesting backpackers who are likely share the same interests you have. It turned out that one guy came all the way from Russia on a bike! Imagine that, you can actually bike your way to China (his bike was leaning by his bunk bed). The other two guys were just passing through, resting for the night, and then head out for the Great Wall the next day.

The house has communal toilets at the back of the court. Freezing cold bathrooms, but has hot shower.

Staffs were friendly but a bit aloof. The receptionist was always courteous. He speaks good English and was able to help us plan for our tours in the area. He wrote helpful phrases that were handy during our exploration of the city. Notes written in Chinese so that we can just show it to the locals or to the police when needed, opposite an English translations, of course.

Free internet was also available, though there’s no Facebook in China, unless you’re techy enough to know how to go around it using a proxy server or something.

They serve cooked food; breakfast, dinner, and anything in between. It costs 28 yuan for an American breakfast (eggs, bacon, toast, and sausage with coffee, juice, or tea). Big servings, I might add.

Dining area

Other Services Offered
The hostel also offers airport pick-up for 150RMB. We opted for the airport pick-up since we arrived at midnight. Tour guide or arranged tour packages.

Touring the city was accomplished with our own sense of adventure. We did not opt for any tour guides. We just explored the city with a map in hand.

Laundry service was also available.

I Am One Cool Guest
I’m not a picky traveler when it comes to accommodations. I’m easy to please. So long as no bed bugs that bite while I’m sleep, then I’m cool. You’ll hear good words from me, just about anything, regarding a place.

This hostel is a great place to stay for backpackers. Right in the middle of old Beijing -- smacked right in the best part of the largest preserved Hutongs, which used to be the homes of many noble families.

Walking a 1-kilometer radius from the house was an experience I surely will never forget anytime soon – read more about Hutongs.

Please continue reading on to PART 4.

A really awesome China!

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CHINA: What Can You Possibly Do There for 8 Days? Part 4

I met a German guy on our trip to Kuala Lumpur a year before, named Lukas. A traveler himself who have lived and studied in China.

I remember what he had said to me then; “Do not miss the Hutongs when you're in Beijing.”

Hutong Street Sign

THE HUTONGS
Hutongs basically means alleys. They are type of narrow streets in a traditional Chinese neighborhood, most notably in Beijing. They formed by lines of ancient courtyard residences.

In Xicheng, to where we stayed for 8 days, there were literally hundreds of Hutongs in that district alone.

Many of Beijing’s ancient Hutongs still exist. A number of them have been designated protected areas, offering tourists a glimpse of life of the old Beijing.

Many Hutongs were touristy and abuzz with activities. Taking a guided tour is not necessary, in my opinion. I wouldn't even consider it.

I would also avoid the expensive rickshaw rides, as they just take you to Hutongs that were generally staged and theatrical in terms of the lives of traditional Chinese. It never reflects the real and current daily lives of the locals.

Rickshaw rides

A do-it-yourself is the way to go to discover these hutongs.

Be One of the Crowd

It's relatively safe. It felt safe when we were there. Locals were friendly and they generally don’t mind you being among them. Just walk and take it all in. You will see how the local people of Beijing live.

Hutong shops

Grey Matter

Get lost in the narrow alleyways and discover something special around every corner. I especially enjoyed the monochromatic grey surroundings of the district – the grey walls, the grey roofs, the grey pavements, grey leafless trees, grey sidewalks, the old grey bikes, heck, even the sky was grey then.

Watch the morning rush-hour of the locals in their thick jackets and face masks. Greet the folks biking through the narrow streets.

Early morning shopper

Shop in a knick-knack store or grab a cheap bite from the many street vendors. We've gone to the old market and bought us some tea "pasalubongs" from a vendor that offers a variety of tea leaves. These teas were put in one of those special adorable canisters. 

Tea vendor

Go to some local restaurants and immerse yourself in a chaotic dining experience. Never mind if they don't speak or understand English. Pointing the dish on the menu was part of the fun.

Public Toilets
Hutong residences mostly do not have showers and toilets. They use a community-based toilet built in several places in the vicinity. I saw a few of those public toilets around the area. Some were a bit run down and some I would not dare use it. This little slice of Beijing life were amusing to experience, to say the least.

Please continue reading on to PART 5.

A really awesome China!

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CHINA: What Can You Possibly Do There for 8 Days? Part 5

We were out of our hostel quite early. We wanted to get a good head start to cover more grounds.

It was another freezing morning. Our hands and feet were getting numb from the cold despite the thick socks and jackets. 

We were not quite dressed up for the winter weather. So we looked for some gloves and boots.

The street of Xinjiekou had plenty of stalls selling gloves but no boots! Not a single pair. My friend badly needed a pair of boots. He mentioned we should go to the Beijing Zoo Market.

Vendor @ the Zoo Market

THE ZOO MARKET
Not a zoo of course. It's a huge mall. Notable by its glass façade.

In front of the Zoo Market

This market is located across the Beijing Zoo, hence the name. In this part of the world, they call it a market. It’s comparable to Divisoria or Tutuban in the Philippines. More of a shopping center rather than a market. This huge market is one of the cheapest place to buy clothes in Beijing.

Above the subway

Inside the Market

The place was full of people. Bumping and criss-crossing onto one another. The latest techno music blares from multiple sources overlapping each other. Shoppers were definitely on steroids but personally, I don't mind the chaos. I expected all that.

High piles of shirts, pants, hoodies, and the likes were amassed on the floor in front of each individual booths.

One of the stalls

I was talking to one salesguy about the nice shirts he was selling. I have learned that in Beijing, this place is a fashion hub for Beijingers. It's the place to get the latest style on street fashion. It’s the ‘it’ place according to the salesguy.

Salesguy

Interestingly enough, they consider big shopping malls unfashionable. I find his statement conflicting because I noticed so many "fake" items. Obviously imitated from what expensive shopping malls are selling.

Class A
A quick glance at the place tells me that ‘branded items’ were everywhere. Fake is the word. There’s even a level of fakeness. They call it 'Class A'. A quality which drives the value up. I assumed there was not a single item in here that is original.

Salesperson

Good-looking guys. Cute girls with flamboyant hairs and makeup. They churn between the stalls as they punch their calculators and show the prices to your face.

Salesladies

Full Monty
What was pleasantly shocking to me was the culture. Inside the mens toilet, the individual stall has no door. A toilet bowl is absent (typical in Beijing’s public toilet). The shit hole was on the floor. Guys were doing their business in the open, squatted on a pit, doing their thing like it's nobody’s business. Just minding their phone, surfing or whatever, in full monty, dangling and all.

Please continue reading on to PART 6.

A really awesome China!

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CHINA: What Can You Possibly Do There for 8 Days? Part 6

I paused and marveled at the sight for a minute. Like everything else in Beijing, this place is huge.

OLYMPIC GREEN PARK

This park in Chaoyang District, called the Olympic Green Park, is the home to the Bird's Nest (Olympic Stadium) and the Water Cube (Aquatic Stadium) and other venues used for the 2004 Olympic Games.

Bird's Nest

We got there at nightfall via the Subway train. The entire area was as bright as day. So many lights beaming down from the towering posts.

We walked across this overpass, where a big busy highway intersects below.

Massive overpass

A sight that only a modern city can offer. Neon lights on buildings. The surroundings were flooded with lights and it goes as far as the eye can see. Beautifully arranged christmas trees dotted the long and wide tiled overpass, leading towards the two stadiums.

Above the overpass

THE BIRD'S NEST
First, we walked towards the Olympic Stadium or the famously known The Bird's Nest. Glowing in red-orange, lights visible through the massive intertwined steel constructions that resembles a giant bird’s nest. A jaw-dropping sight. An architectural wonder. We went around this glorious structure; strolled along its backside, next to a frozen body of water that runs through the park.

Olympic Stadium

THE WATER CUBE
We came from the back of the Bird's Nest back to the center of the park, now facing the Aquatic Stadium. Rectangular in shape. Very bright blue structure with a bubble design. It was nicknamed, the Water Cube.

Aquatic Stadium

Nowadays, in post-Olympics, this sporting venue is now utilized as a tourist destination and a leisure hang-out for locals. An indoor water park was opened inside the Aquatic Stadium, featuring over 12 slides, including the Bullet Bowl, Speed Slide and Tornado. It is the largest in Asia of this kind.

Please continue reading on to PART 7.

Really awesome China!

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CHINA: What Can You Possibly Do There for 8 Days? Part 7

I have read about this place called Wangfujing from a blog. It is the most famous shopping street in Beijing. And apparently a hyped-up long avenue of street food on-a-stick; from testicles, intestines, scorpions, and all sorts of creepy crawly bugs.

WANGFUJING

Located in the Dongcheng District. 

Wangfujing

We got off at Wangfujing subway station, coming from the Olympic Green Park. We exited the subway station up onto a shopping mall called The Oriental Plaza. Huge and glittery.

We ate at a food court called the Food Republic. For tourists like us, it's a bit confusing its centralized cashier. 

From the several food stalls, you choose a meal or food item. Then note the price. Go and pay at the cashier first. Then redeem your receipt back to the food stall. Too many going-back-and-forths.

Food stall

Pretty Women
While we were inside the mall strolling, this really beautiful sexy young Chinese girl on a cute short skirt with her long legs, long silky hair, about my height, 5’8” on heels, came to approach us. She casually asked us if we were touring the city. We must have been the typical look of a new soul in the area.

She continued to strike a conversation with no sales pitch attached. Such young, pretty and sexy Beijinger come up to you just like that and start cozying up, I thought was kinda unusual.

It wasn't long before I began to sense what she was up to. She offered to accompany us at our hotel; have a drink or two.

Not part of our itinerary so I turned her down ever so nicely and then we left.

I felt bad that I was distracted by the whole thing. I would have love a photo taken with her; she was really pretty, too.

We encountered two more of these girls through out the night in Wangfujing. But rejected both pretty quickly.

We exited the mall to the street of Wangfujing. A long and brightly lit street with big department stores, souvenir stores plus the largest outdoor TV screen in Beijing.

Wangfujing

Like a Movie Set

We continued on walking. Just having a grand time. Smokes escaping from manholes, much like scenes of New York or London streets in the movies.

Wangfujing

Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire
I found this street vendor selling the biggest roasted chestnuts I have ever seen. And since it was Christmas and all, I had to buy some, adding more yuletide spirit to what have become our most wonderful evening in Beijing.

Chestnut vendor

Still, we have not found the bugs-on-a-stick street vendors, but we were far more enjoying the street sceneries.

Hallmark Greeting Card
The street was decked with jolly holiday lights. Beautiful colorful neon ad signs. The place was looking more like a Hallmark Christmas greeting card. I could just walk the street all night. Everyone seemed to be soaking up to the holiday spirit. If not because of worrying of the last trip schedule of the subway train, we could have stayed much much longer.

Wangfujing

Please continue reading on to PART 8.

A really awesome China!

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