DAY 2: Great Wall at Mutianyu section & Sacred Way

Beijing Tour July 18-22,2013
Day 2 (July 19, 2013) - Great Wall at Mutianyu section and The Sacred Way

We were advised by Vincent of the Information Desk to just be at the Reception Area by 7am to join the tour without a reservation.

There are 3 tours offered:

A line: the Great Wall at Badaling section-entrance at Bears Garden (2 hours to 2 hours and 30 minutes), Ming Tomb-Chang Ling (1 hour)

B line: Forbidden City (2 hours), Temple of Heaven (1 hour 20 minutes), Summer Palace (1 hour 40 minutes)

C line: the Great Wall at Mutianyu section (2 hours to 2 hours 30 minutes), Sacred Way (40 minutes)

We chose Tour C, as also recommended by Vincent and Mutianyu section of the Great Wall being the less crowded spot based from Trip Advisor :)

1st stop is "The Main Sacred Way of the Mings Tomb". 

We entered the North Gate.

Ticket prices -

Sacred way leads to the 13 tombs of the Ming Dynasty. It is also called the Changling Sacred Way.

The red gate -

The government officials -

The animals- 

There's a Tourist Shop -

The Stele Pavilion of Divine Merits and the Sacred Virtue of Changling -

Inside: The tortoise holding the tablet -

Front view of the Stele Pavilion -

Then ahead is the South Gate already where our coach bus was waiting. 

Compulsary tour to the Beijing Jade Carving Factory is next.

Entrance where the mini tour started -

My friend Melvi is crazy about the Pechay jade we had to had to line up in the National Museum of Korea just to take a look at it. Now a smaller version is on sale here at Beijing :)

Brunch followed, still on the same place-

Traditional Chinese lunch was served. I only had the breaded chicken fillet though there's a lot of viands served - beef with brocholli I guess, sweet and sour fish, vegetable soup etc.

Then it's time to see now the Great Wall. The tour guide said we can take a nap (which we really need) because it will be an hour drive. 

We alighted at the parking lot and have to walk a bit up for the chair lift entrance. 

There's Subway and a pizza floor where I wished I could eat because already starving by now.

Tourist map-

The ticket office -

Cost us additional RMB 80 for thr chair lift going up and toboggan run going down- 

Route map of the Mutianyu Great Wall -

No chance to look for a souvenir at the many souvenir shops going up the entrance to the Great Wall. 

Scary Chair lift :)

I have no decent photo of the wall using my phonecam :( Gotta check back with Alol's SLR :)

The toboggan run going down is a blast :) :) :)

Visit at the Bejing Silk Museum for the final stop.

DAY 1: Capital Hotel at Beijing, China

Beijing Tour July 18-22,2013
Day 1 (July 18, 2013) - Capital Hotel at Beijing, China

Flight delayed AS USUAL because of "additional maintenance checks". Well, for a piso-fare (PHP 1,200 2-way :) I am not complaining.

Some details:

No time difference

Flight duration: 4 hours

Currency: RMB1 = PHP 6.53 (We bought our yuan at PHP7.14)

Weather in Beijing:

Arrived in BCIA (Beijing Capital International Airport) at 12:20 am. No queue at the Immigration. But the baggage took a while to unload. 

After claiming our baggage, right after customs is the exit. There's Starbucks and KFC but our driver was waiting for us already so we didn't bother to take away some food for us. We availed of a pick-up service from Capital Hotel for RMB 400 one way one car. 

Outside the airport is the taxi queue.

Across is the No.2 parking lot where our rented SUV was parked. We left at 1:03am.

Approximately after 38 minutes, we arrived at our hotel. The receptionist advised that since we checked in (very) late, our room was upgraded to Deluxe.

Our bed -

Huge bathroom -

Toiletries - nothing fancy but everything that we need.

I always love when there's complimentary bottled water and instant coffee.

Something I really need - iron and board :) because all our packed clothes were fresh from the laundry.

Gotta rest now. Gotta be early at the lobby tomorrow so we can join the tour without a reservation.

DAY 2 - Patio Rizal Hotel, Lucban, Quezon

Day 2 - May 24, 2013 (Friday)

Pico de Loro, Hamilo Coast - Lucban, Quezon - Pagsanjan, Laguna Series

Patio Rizal Hotel, Lucban, Quezon


The original plan was to stay at Hamilo Coast for 2 nights. But long hours of driving gave us the idea that we can indeed explore Calabarzon if we'll just keep on moving. So just before reaching Pico de Loro at Hamilo Coast (because the road just seemed so never ending), I made some googling of the contact number of Patio Rizal Hotel and made a reservation for 2pax for tomorrow. Luckily, there's still a standard room available and my reservation was taken despite the reservation fee required I read over the net. Prior to this birthday road trip,  I have already made some research and learnt that I have few hotels/lodgings to choose over in Lucban, Quezon. I have already decided if ever we'll need to stop at Lucban because the original plan was just to stop over and head directly to Pagsanjan from Hamilo Coast, we will stay at Patio Rizal Hotel.


The Hotel is at the Center of the Town Proper and across the Municipality. 

Kinda old but clean

The lobby

Rooms are just at the 2nd floor

The hallway

Classic TV :)

Tiny bathroom but just okay

The Hotel has 20 Rooms for its different types:
Standard Room (for 2 Persons only)
Superior Room (for 2 - 4 Persons)
Deluxe Room (for 2 - 4 Persons)

Premier Room (for 2 - 4 Person)

Room rates as follows:

ROOM TYPE	ROOM RATES (Lean Season)	ROOM RATES (Holy Week, Pahiyas, December)
Standard Room	1,600.00	2,100.00
Superior Room	2,100.00	2,600.00
Deluxe Room	2,600.00	3,100.00
Premier Suite Room	3,100.00	3,600.00
VIP Suite	5,800.00	6,500.00

*Additional Php 500.00 - 700.00 on Regular Rates during the month of HOLY WEEK, PAHIYAS FESTIVAL and DECEMBER.


Extra Bed 500.00 (P400.00 if lean season)
• All Rates are inclusive of 5% Service Charge.
• With Complimentary Breakfast for two at Alejo Bar & Restaurant.
• Check-in time – 2:00 pm / Check-out time – 12:00 noon.
• Maximum of four (4) adults in a room, except Standard Rooms.
• No additional charge for children 7 years old and below when sharing a room with parents or guardians.
• Reservation Fee PHP 500.00 (Non-Refundable)
• All rates are subjects to change without prior notice.

All Rates are quoted in Philippine currency Rates are inclusive of 12% VAT and Government tax.
For Inquiries and Reservation:
Contact us at (042) 540-2107 – (042) 540-2112
09165906286 / 09237344173 / patiorizal@yahoo.com
77 Quezon Avenue, Lucban, Quezon

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