Vibrant and Cosmopolitan City of Manila

The City of Manila is the thriving capital of the Philippines. The city is also part of Metro Manila together with the other 17 cities and municipalities. The city is the second most populous city in the world, next to Quezon City which is its neighbor. The whole metropolitan area is the second most populous in Southeast Asia. Metro Manila is home to around 14 million people, and the city of Manila is home to 1.6 million people. Manila is nearest Hong Kong which is around 950 kilometers and the city is around 2,400 kilometers northeast of Singapore. The city is located in the west coast of Luzon and the city is surrounded by the fertile plains. There are around 897 barangays in the city and the city is also subdivided into six Congressional Districts.

Manila is a famous player too based on some records. It was said that the city was famous during the Manila-Acapulco trade and this trade lasted for three centuries. In this trade, goods from as far as Mexico were brought to the Southeast including Manila. As a city, Manila is often described as fascinating and a cosmopolitan city and rightfully so. The city of Manila is a lively place that commands an excellent view of the world-famous Manila Bay and its sunset. First time visitors of the city should not miss the well-known Manila bay sunset; a beautiful scene as if straight from the postcards. Another label that can be said of the city is historic- and rightfully so since the city traces a long history in the hands of many colonizers. The city blends the cultures and flavors of its colonizers to bring up a unique Manila experience for the first time travelers and the visitors.

Intramuros: Walled City and Heart of Manila

Intramuros was considered as one of the world's best preserved medieval cities. The interested travelers and tourists will see here some dungeons and old churches and these buildings share space with art galleries and parks in the area. Just south of the walled city is the Rizal Park. This is considered as the country's most significant park. This is also known as Luneta, which stands in Stands in Spanish as 'crescent-shaped'. This is a 53-hectare park and this was the site where the national hero of the Philippines was executed by the Spaniards. Monument in memory of Jose Rizal stands in the park and there is also a towering flagpole to the west of the monument. The park is also the location of Kilometer Zero for road distances on Luzon and the rest of the country.

Rizal Park is also home to many points and places of interest that the traveler will surely like:
? Chinese and Japanese Gardens
? Department of Tourism Building
? National Museum of the Philippines
? The National Library of the Philippines
? Planetarium
? Orchidarium
? Butterfly Pavilion
? Relief Map of the Philippines
? Fountain area
? Children's lagoon
? Chess Plaza
? Quirino Grandstand
The city is highly urban and a fast-developing city, but still the city of Manila has a number of open public places. The list of open public places and parks include:
? Rajah Sulayman Park
? Mehan Garden
? Paco Park
? Remedios Circle
? Manila Zoological and Botanical Garden
? Malakanyang Garden
And just recently, Manila Ocean Park opened in the city. The city of Manila is also home to the seat of power- the Malaca?ang Palace. This is the official residence of the chief executive of the country. Travelers and tourists will not be lost and feel tired in the city since Manila also offers a wide range of hotel accommodations, from deluxe hotels to the high-end five star hotels. A number of these accommodations are situated in Roxas Boulevard, near world-renowned Manila Bay. Other well-known hotels in the city are located in the districts of Malate and Manila. One popular hotel in the city of Manila is the Manila Hotel.

Source: http://www.owntravel.com/city-guides/4295-vibrant-and-cosmopolitan-city-of-manila.html