The Baguio Zig-zag coiling upon itself. All the trees are pine trees
The Benguet road is the most traveled route. It leaves the lowlands at Dagupan and now ascends, now crosses and recrosses the gorge of the Bued River, coiling back on itself in the famous Zig-zag, where the inspirations of Baguio’s natural wonders begin. Cooler and cooler grows the air, behind drops all the lowland vegetation, to make room for sturdy trees of the temperate zone. Wave on wave the trees roll up the mountains that stand on each other’s shoulders below, around and above the small tableland on which Baguio edges away from the sheer precipice at the head of the gorge.
For some years a summer capital to which the Government transferred its work and personnel during the hot months, it is a chartered city, but the all-year residents are few, though many of the well-to-do of Manila have summer homes there. It has two hotels and several cottages for visitors.
No one may know the Philippines adequately without visiting this, the temperate beauty spot of the Archipelago. Pure forest-scented air, cooled by lofty peaks and a city that is well laid out representing what is best in the Islands’ civic progress are the outstanding “strands in the fabric of Baguio’s attractions.” Here is a fairyland of green—gardens, beautiful walks, and easily accessible peaks commanding exquisite vistas of valleys and neighboring mountain tops.
The Amphitheater, Baguio, Benguet
Camp John Hay Camp John Hay, the military hospital post, is the main show place, among its beauties being the open air amphitheater that General Bell built with mountaineer labor, terraced as their wonderful rice terraces are, and gay with flowers.
The States? No! It’s Baguio, Philippine Islands. The group of buildings is the Government Center, housing the government offices during the summer months
Other places to see are the Mansion House, the official summer residence of the Governor-General; Bishop Brent’s School for American children and the School for mountain girls; the Constabulary School; the rest houses of the different religious Orders; Mirador, the Observatory, and Mt. Santo Tomas, whence a glorious view may be had over the whole majestic panorama of mountains and valleys to the lowlands and to the China Sea. On horseback or afoot, in Baguio and its immediate environs, just enjoying the air, the roses, the pungent pines, the tree ferns, the fields of Benguet lilies, every day is a delight. But beyond lie more regions that beckon.