april-2012

Weekend
specials
Make this summer extra special for the whole
family and go on a standout three-day themed
trip to remember. By Maya O. Calica
EVERY FAMILY is wired to prefer a certain type of vacation.
You have the history buffs, who are crazy about all things
ancient; the adventurous, who only have fun in the great
outdoors; and those who thrive on city thrills. So which
among these family-friendly destinations is perfect for you?
1
Magical history tour
in Beijing
The city wins hands-down as the place to bring
your family for a literal walk back in time. Take it
from Dana Cosio-Mercado, who moved to Beijing
last June 2011 with husband Paolo and her sons
Gio, 14, and Pepi, 8. Since then, she’s made it a point to
explore the attractions on weekends.
Friday
SIGHTSEE Start with The Forbidden City, the home of
emperors and their households for nearly 500 years. Hit it
as soon as it opens at around 9am, and allot two to three
hours for your exploration. To keep younger kids interested,
Cosio-Mercado recommends playing “I Spy” or sharing
interesting trivia about the places you visit. “Did you know
that the Chinese consider nine to be a good number because
it symbolizes perfection? The main door to The Forbidden
City has 81 golden knobs (nine across, nine downward) and
the entire palace has 9,999 rooms,” she shares. Note that
the premises aren’t stroller-friendly because of all the steps,
so be prepared to carry your baby in your arms or on a sling.
Exit at the North Gate.
SHOP Go souvenir shopping at Qianmen or Nanluguoxiang,
modernized areas that have an intriguing history. Qianmen
used to be an ancient commercial street for over 500 years,
with Chinese architectural elements from the Qing Dynasty.
Nanluguoxiang, on the other hand, is a converted hutong (one
of many alleyways that originated in the 13th century) during
the Yuan Dynasty. It now has little shops and cafés.
Saturday
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RIDE
End the day with
a rickshaw tour around
the hutong areas. “Drivers
will take two people per
rickshaw, and will give a
very basic explanation of
the surroundings,” says
resident Dana Cosio-
Mercado.
CLIMB While any section of the Great Wall is impressive,
avoid Badaling — most tourists are herded here in big
buses. “Go to Mutianyu instead, fi rst built in the mid-sixth
century. It’s a little farther out but much more pleasant,” says
Cosio-Mercado. Take the cable car up and head to the right;
from there you will commence a 2.5km walk through 14 or
so towers. To make your descent, you can opt for the quick
(RICKSHAW)
cable car ride down.
IMAGES
EAT Reward yourself with a meal at the Schoolhouse at
GETTY
Mutianyu (www.theschoolhouseatmutianyu.com), once an
abandoned village primary school that’s now a luxury resort
with transformed village houses and local staff. PHOTOS