My Blogapalooza x Skyscanner Dream Destination

For the past years, I booked so many flights around Southeast Asia. I spent 23 days volunteering in Thailand, revisited Cambodia for the third time, did a soul-searching trip in Vietnam, met my long lost best friend in Singapore then crossed the border to Malaysia. Together with other Southeast Asian bloggers, I also joined a luxurious press & media trip to Indonesia for 15 days. Of course, I never forgot discovering our own roots as well. My visit to Isabela to cover Bambanti Festival marked the 42nd out of 82 provinces we have in the Philippines. Now I can say, I have been to half of the Philippine provinces! 

This year, I have Taiwan and India trips lined up already. However, my dream destination that is making my feet itch indefinitely is China. The world's most populous country and the second-largest country by land area, China is said to be the next one dominating the whole world. China is a mega first-world country that's ahead in so many things like infrastructure, education, technology and a lot more. However, what I like about China is that despite the fact that it is a country "living in the future" already it was able to retain its old charm and the cuisine taste so good that you'll crave for more when you go back home. This is a country where you'll see a snow, explore a desert, get lost in a tropical forest, walk in the rain and dance under the scorching heat of the sun.   

The truth is I am supposed to be in China now, particularly in Guangzhou. I won the flight from an event I covered for an airline but I need to fix my priorities in life this month of March. I almost lost the guy I am dating because of me not having time with him. I want to keep him. I am in love with him so much. I know I can always plan my travel to China with him by my side anytime.

I made a short vlog sharing to you some of the Chinese tourist spots I am looking forward to see soon. This was shot in Rizal Park inside the Chinese Garden wearing my favorite Chinese dress I bought from an ukay ukay store. Note: PLEASE WATCH ON HD MODE.

Here's a list of tourist attractions that made me decide why China is my dream destination:

The Great Wall of China 
One of the most impressive architectural wonders in the world, The Great Wall of China is one of the oldest and longest of its kind in the history of mankind. It will take you 18 months to walk the entire Great Wall of China which is more than 5, 000 miles long. The average height of a wall is 6-7 meters and the highest is 14 meters. It's made of stone, wood and other local materials only found in China.

Credit: Pixabay.com

Goal: Get off the beaten path by skipping Badaling - the most touristy part of The Great Wall.  Instead, visit the Wild Wall which is not known to many tourists. The majority of The Great Wall is restored but to see the ones that aren't and still at its original form, check out Huanghuacheng, Gubeikou, or Jinshanling.  Address: Huairou, China
Website: http://www.greatwall-of-china.com/


Forbidden City or Palace Museum
Forbidden City is a palace located in Beijing. It is home  to the Palace Museum showcasing the memorabilia of emperors and the legacies of their dynasties. For more than 500 years, Forbidden City was the home of emperors and their families as well as the political center of Chinese government.

Source: Medium.com

Goal: See the iconic Tiananmen Square showing the Mao Portrait on top of the entrance to the Forbidden City. Then drop by to Jingshan Park, where you can see the Forbidden City from above!   Address: 4 Jingshan Front St, Dongcheng, Beijing, China
Website: http://en.dpm.org.cn/

The Terracotta Army
One of the greatest archaeological sites in the world and a UNESCO heritage site, The Terracotta Army was buried underground for more than 2, 000 years. It's composed of over 8, 000 life-size statues depicting the Qin Empire's miliary, arts and culture. 

Goal:  To photograph for as many face as I can. It is said that thee's no exact face figure in the thousands of statues found here. See the three pits: Pit One (the largest and most impressive, where about 2,000 terracotta warriors are displayed), Pit Two where you'll have a hint of the  mystery behind the construction of these mighty terracottas and Pit Three (represents the command post.)   
Tripadvisor reviews:  https://www.tripadvisor.com.ph/Attraction_Review-g298557-d321017-Reviews-The_Museum_of_Qin_Terra_cotta_Warriors_and_Horses-Xi_an_Shaanxi.html 


Giant Pandas
Pandas are the cutest animals for me. Chengdu is known for its many panda centers. The most popular is Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Center for those who have limited time and only interested to seeing/holding pandas.  For those who want to volunteer, China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda Dujiangyan Panda Base and Wolong Panda Center.

Source: NationalGeographic.com

Address:  Lintong, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China

Goal:  Spend at least a day hanging out with pandas - see them climb trees and if possible feed them. 

Address:  Lintong, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
Tripadvisor reviews:  https://www.tripadvisor.com.ph/Attraction_Review-g298557-d321017-Reviews-The_Museum_of_Qin_Terra_cotta_Warriors_and_Horses-Xi_an_Shaanxi.html 

Hopscotching in a country where 1 billion people live speaking 300 languages (and dialects) can overwhelm any traveler. I am not. My list is endless but one thing I won't leave China without doing is to do my ultimate goal there: to awaken the Avatar movie fanatic in me. I would like to see  the otherworldly beauty of the towering pillars of sandstone & quartz in Shan Mountain Peak, Zhangjiajie,Hunan province !

Source: Thrillist.com

The travel time from Manila to Beijing flight takes only around  5 hours. I value every second of my life so much so the geographical nearness of China to my country is a big win as well. I also would like to go back to Macau and Hong Kong, on the way back to Manila.That's hitting three birds at the same time, right? How about you, what's your dream destination?