(SPOT.ph) China's top tourist destinations are mostly in Beijing: the Great Wall, the Imperial Palace, and the Beijing Zoo (with cute pandas!). It is, after all, the country's capital, frequented by flights from Manila. But if you're up for exploring a lesser-known Chinese destination, Philippine Airlines is adding a direct flight from Clark International Airport in Mabalacat, Pampanga to Quanzhou Jinjiang International Airport in Fujian starting on January 16.
This service from Clark departs every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 1:50 p.m. and arrives in Quanzhou City at 4:30 p.m. Flights from Quanzhou leave on the same days at 5:30 p.m. and touch down in Manila at 7:55 p.m. This Clark-Quanzhou route complements Philippine Airlines' direct flight from Manila to Quanzhou and vice versa. The flag carrier will be deploying a brand new Airbus 320 for this service.
Quanzhou, which is located on the southeast coast of China, was an important port along the Maritime Silk Road—a naval section of the historic travel and trade network that connected China, Southeast Asia, India, the Arabian peninsula, South Africa, Egypt, and Europe. Now, this city in Fujian Province boasts natural wonders like Qingyuan Mountain, which has a carved sculpture of Chinese philosopher Laozi at the foothill (perfect for a casual hike), and the Jiuxian Mountain Scenic Area, where you can climb a long trail of stairs and marvel at a sea of clouds. It's also got a shopping district called Tumen Street, which features a combination of modern retail centers and traditional shops; and historic sites like the Confucius Temple, which was built in 976 and features elaborate wooden ceilings.
Direct flights from Clark to Quanzhou (Jinjiang) start on January 16. One-way fare starts at U.S. $ 140 (approx. P7,100). For more information, visit Philippine Airlines’ website.
