Friday, June 12, 2026

Kok Tobe in Almaty, Kazakhstan


Kok Tobe is Almaty's highest point at 1,100 meters and is famous for its iconic 372 meters Almaty TV Tower and a great panoramic view of the city.  The best way to get here is via cable car located near Republic Palace and Abay Metro Station.  The one way cable ride ticket costs 3500 tenge and 6000 tenge for roundtrip.

The key atttractions here are the cable car, the observation deck with view of Almaty's skyline and the Trans-lii Alatau mountains, the amusement park with ferris wheel and the alpine coaster, a Beatle's statue plus several restaurants and cafes. 
How to get here:
The most popular way to get here is via cable car from Abay Station, then walk 700 meters to the city terminal.  You can also get through here through metro buses or taxis.

Our trip to Kok Tobe is part of a 3D/2N tour with Primo PH Travel and Tours that includes 2 nights accommodation in Saty Village, tours for 3 days, 2 breakfast, 1 lunch and 1 dinner at Saty and entrances to all parks and tourist spots.

Sunday, May 31, 2026

Beijing Ski Resort

 

We were on a group tour package from Manila and part of the 6D/5N tour is a visit at a ski resort near the city center.  Reignwood Mammoth Ski Resort is only 40 kilometers from the city center and is located at Changping District.  It spans a 120,000 square meter ski site perfect for families, also has beginners and intermediate slopes, youth snow parks and a children snowboard training area.
Entrance/ski pass is only CNY20 per person.  We were given 7 ski pass and we lost one of it.  We just paid another CNY20 for the lost card.  Ski/equipment rental is usually included in your entrance/ski pass.
A deposit of CNY300 is required for equipment of any additional on-site purchases which is fully refundable after its return.

Thank You Metro Wanderer for our 6D/5N arranged tour in Beijing.  It was truly amazing and the kids really enjoyed our trip.  It was truly amazing and entirely stress-free.

Wednesday, May 27, 2026

Universal Studios Beijing

 

Universal Studios in Beijing is the largest Universal theme park globally.  The park covers about 54 hectares, five times larger then Universal Studios Singapore.
The purchase of tickets requires registration with the real name of the document.  You have to scan your passport upon entry and not a QR code, and then everything in the park is through photo recognition.  For convenience you have to download the Universal Studios Beijing app to be aware on the waiting times at each ride.  There are also a lot of water refilling stations and toilet.
The ticket prices vary from US$60 to US$67 or CNY430 to CNY480 depending on the season and if its weekdays or weekends visit.

The Universal Parade usually starts at 5pm or 6pm and is subject to change depending on the season and weather condition.   The parade lasts from 40 to 50 minutes and it starts at the Hollywood Boulevard and winds its way through areas of Minion Land and Jurassic World.
The seven (7) themed lands are:
1. Kung Fu Panda Land of Awesomeness is an indoor-focused, lantern-lit zone but only exclusive to Beijing
2. Waterworld is an adrenaline-pumping, high action stunt show
3. Jurassic World Isla Nublar features animatronics and the Jurassic World adventure ride
4. Transformers Metrobase is a high-tech decepticon themed area featuring the nausea inviting ride of Decepticoaster - this is where my kids went from energetic to sluggish
5. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter features the classic Hogsmeade layout, Harry Potter and the forbidden journey, and the jaw-dropping Hogwarts castle and of course, the butter beer
6. Minion Land is a colorful, highly immersive zone for families featuring the Despicable Me Minion Mayhem ride and where to buy the minions ice cream
7. Hollywood Boulevard features classic movie aesthetics, classic California architecture, and the dining area 



The best way to get to Universal Studios is via the Beijing Subway to Universal Studios Station via Line 7 or the Batong Line.  From the station, use the Exit B, C or D and walk through the security checkpoint.
Universal Studios Beijing features a vibrant Pop Mart retail store located right at the Universal City Walk.  It can be accessed without the Universal Studios ticket, right in the dining and entertainment district.

Thursday, May 21, 2026

Wangfujing Street Beijing

Wangfujing Street is Beijing's most famous shopping and pedestrian street - with malls, historic buildings, tourist attractions, and is near the Forbidden City.

Wangfujing is known as Beijing's premier commercial boulevard and in here you'll find souvenir stores, luxury shops, apple store, department stores, Oriental Plaza, Beijing APM.


Very near the area is Saint Joseph's Catholic Church with European style architecture, old Beijing specialty stores, Wangfujing Xinhua Bookstore and traditional tea shops.



You can combine visit at Wangfujing with The Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Beijing Hutong neighborhoods, Dong'an Market

798 Art Street Beijing

 

798 Art Street can be found in the heart of Beijing.  It is also called 798 Art Zone or Dashanzi Art District.  It is one of the Beijing's best known contemporary art and creative neighborhood.  It was built inside a former 1950's military-electronics factory complex with distinctive Bauhaus-style industrial architecture.

The district is packed with galleries ranging from major international institutions to small experimental studios, and it includes:

  1. UCCA Center of Contemporary Art
  2. M Woods Museum
  3. Tang Contemporary Art
  4. Hive Center for Contemporary Art
  5. Galleria Continua

Just walking around and you'll find giant murls and grafiti arts, Bauhaus factory buildings, old smokestacks, railway tracks, and pipes, outer installations, steel sculptures.
798 Art Street also has cafes, restaurants, bookstores and design shops.

Depending on the season, you may also find live music, art fairs, fashion events and photography exhibitions.

Wednesday, May 20, 2026

The Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China was built to protect and defend China.   It was continuously built from 3rd century BC to 17th century AD as a great military defense project.  Under Qin Shi Huang, sections of earlier fortifications were joined together to form a united defense system against invasions from the north. It became the world's largest military structure and the longest wall with an official length of 21,196 kilometers or 13,170 miles.

The Great Wall of China is the country's premier landmark.  It is also a UNESCO World Heritage site and is one of the new seven wonders of the world.

The Great Wall of China is divided into several sections.
1. Mutianyu - great for first time visitors and families with small kids.  It features fully restored walkways.
2. Badaling - this is the most visited section and the most popular, it is highly commenrcialized that it has a Great Wall Museum, cinema and accessible paved paths.
3. Jinshanling and Simatai - This section has both paved, rugged paths famous for hiking activities.
4. Jiankou - It is closed to visitors for safety reasons due to steep ruins, also for preservation.
It took millions of workers and centuries of effort and hardwork to build the Great Wall of China.  It was constructed using a mix of tamped earth, stone (granite and marble) and a legendary mortar made of sticky rice and lime.

Historians estimated that over 1 million people died during the building of the Great Wall of China over its 2,000 year-construction history.  The structure is often referred to as the longest cemetery.  Modern surveys including ground penetrating radar, have confimed human remains embedded within parts of the wall.  Workers, largely soldiers, convicts and peasants, died from exhaustion, hunger, cold and brutal conditions.

Despite a popular myth, the Great Wall of China cannot be seen from the outer space with a naked eye.
Great Wall of China entrance fees vary by section and it ranges from 40 to 65 CNY.
1. Mutianyu 45 CNY
Shuttle Bus 15 CNY
Cable Car (roundtrip) 140 CNY
2. Badaling 40 CNY
Cable Car (roundtrip) 100 to 140 CNY
3. Simatai 40 CNY
4. Jinshanling 65 CNY

There are also tours available from Klook, Get Your Guide, Trip.com and others


How to get here?
First choose your section.  There are direct buses going to Mutianyu section.  There are also fast and reliable high speed trains from running from Beijing North Station and Qinghe Station direct to Badaling section. Most of the visitors join the group tours like us.

Saturday, April 11, 2026

Forbidden Palace, Beijing

 

Forbidden City (Palace Museum) was commissioned in 1406 by the Yongle emperor, home to 24 emperors (14 from the Ming Dynasty and 10 from the Qing Dynasty), and the construction was completed in 1420.  It was called forbidden because access to the palace was extremely barred from the public, and only the imperial family and officials are allowed to enter.

The Forbidden Palace is located in the heart of Beijing, and is located directly north of Tiananmen Square.  The complex is open from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm.  We are on a tour package so for DIY travellers, book your tickets in advance via Klook.


Forbidden City is a 178 acre, UNESCO-listed imperial palace, and is the world's largest preserved wooden structure complex, featuring over 9999 rooms and traditional Chinese architecture.  It is also among the top five buildings in the world alongside The Buckingham Palace, the Kremlin Palace in Russia, The White House in America and The Versailles Palace in France

Ninety percent (90%) of the roofs are finished wth glazed yellow tiles. Yellow was the official color of the Chinese emperors.


How to get to the Forbidden Palace?
Entry is only allowed at the Meridian Gate, the South gate of the museum.

Take the buses with numbers 1, 2, 52, 82 and 120 and get off at Tiananmen Station.

Or take a subway line 1 and get off at Tiananmen Station (East or West), walk at around 500 meters and walk north of the Meridian Gate.


Ticket prices are CNY60 from April to October and CNY 40 from November to March.       From 7 to 18 years old, the price of the ticket is CNY20.  They only allow a maximum of 40,000 visitors per day.

You are only allowed to exit at the Northern Gate of Divine Prowess and the East Prosperity Gate.

Lunch was a highlight—we found a fantastic hotpot restaurant just outside the Forbidden City.

Sunday, February 22, 2026

Summer Palace, Beijing

 

The Summer Palace (also known as Yiheyuan) in Beijing is a vast UNESCO World Heritage Site, known as the largest and best preserved imperial garden in China. It was built in the 1870s during the Qing Dynasty's (1644-1911).  It became a public park in 1924. It includes Longetivity Hill, Kunming Lake and Seventeen Hole Bridge.

The Summer Palace is a vast ensemble of lakes, gardens and palaces in Beijing.  It is one of the most popular landmarks in Beijing and one of the best example of an imperial palace in China.
The Summer Palace is more than just a royal residence.  It is also a place where Princess Dowager Cixi  and emperors of the Qing Dynasty conducted court affairs, accept royal visitors, and engage in foreign diplomats.  This place is a witness to important historical events and diplomatic relationships that shaped its legacy.  This historical site must be included in your places to visit when going to Beijing.


The places to look on in Summer Palace is the Long Corridor, Garden of Virtue and Harmony, Wenchang Gallery, The Hall of Serenity, and the Tower of Buddhist Incense. If it is your first time traveling this the city, Summer Palace is a must visit. The ticket prices are CNY 20 for off-peak and CNY 30 for peak season, through ticket CNY 60 (all inclusive peak) and CNY 50 (all inclusive off-peak).  It is CNY 15 for students and seniors and free for children under six year old.  


We visited the Summer Palace in December and the lake is all frozen.  The ideal season to visit the Summer Palace is during spring or autumn.  This UNESCO site can be reached via Didi or by the metro.  Its exact location is at 19 Xinjian Gongmen Road, Haidian District, Beijing or 20 kilometer drive away from the Tiananmen Square.

The Summer Palace has three gates: East Gate or East Palace Gate; North Gate or Beigongmen, or North Palace Gate; and The South Gate, also known as South Palace Gate.
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