St.Petersburg > Moscow > On A Train > Irkutsk > Ulan-Bator > Beijing > Xian > Chengdu > On A Boat > Hong Kong

Beijing 16.09.02 - 22.09.02

Day 22: Dzamyn-Ude - Jining

Woke up in a border station when officials rushed in to our cabin and gave us decloration forms. Saw interesting football field: One goal was in Mongolian side and another was in China`s side! Train stopped for 3 hours in a in small chinese station and I managed to exchange my remaining Togrot`s to Renmibis in a Blackmarket. Probably got worst rate ever. Changed train in Jining and moved on towards Beijing

Day 23: Jining - Beijing

Arrived in Beijing around 8am and took a cab to hostel. My first impression of the city: This place is huge, and I mean HUGE. Bought a map and just walked around. Had supper in local nightmarket, which sold quite exotic foods: Maggots, scorpions, grasshoppers etc. Didn`t have balls to taste them... just yet.

Day 24: Beijing

I wanted to see Mao`s corpse, but when I got to Tianamen square, line to mausoleum was at least kilometer long. Went to Forbidden city instead. Huge place and beautifully restored. Spend five hours checking out those palaces. Had couple of beers in San Li Tun in a evening.

Day 25: Beijing

I guess walking around big city like Beijing had an effect on me, cause I slept 12 hours last night. Went shopping for flight back to Finland... Easier said than done. Finally ended up buying ticket from Aeroflot. Hong Kong - Helsinki for 481 $, I think I got good price?

Day 26: Beijing

Never seen a panda before so I decided to go to Beijing zoo today. What a mistake, that place was really depressing and way that visitors treated animals there just made me sick. Those pandas didn`t look too happy either. Went to Yonghen monastery in a afternoon, but that place was so packed with people that I didn`t found that same inner peace I did in Ulan - Bator.

Day 27: Beijing

Took a day trip to Wall of China and Ming tombs. First stop was in Juyongan section of the wall. Climbed to top and back. Breathtaking place, literally. Next stop was in Badaling, which is most famous part of the wall. I passed that and had lunch instead. First of the tombs was Changling, nothing special according to my guidebook so I just had a beer. Last stop was in Dinglin tomb which has an underground palace. I checked that out, and it turned out to be quite interesting place.

Day 28: Beijing - Xian

Went to antique market in a morning. Huge place with everything for sale. After couple hours there, I headed for Tianamen square where I spend rest of the day just peoplewatching. Had supper in nightmarket and finally tasted those fine Chinese specialtys: Scorpions and maggots. Took a nighttrain to Xian.

Gate of forbidden city

Forbidden city

Dragonwall

Streetlife in Beijing

Yonghen monastery

Wall of China

Local Treats