Going to Beijing by train was an experience I really wanted to do.  I knew about how wonderful China’s train service is, so I wanted to experience it for myself.  I could have flown, but getting the fun of moving around the country on the high speed train at 300kmph, which is just short of 200 miles per hour.  The other key factor, their trains are always on time.

That said, it did put me out of my comfort zone as I didn’t’t quite know what to expect.  It is different, because there are no tickets, you get access to the train via your passport.  I couldn’t quite fathom the method for this, but it seemed the way of things.  My train was early at 6.45am, so that I could be in Beijing before Noon.  I got myself an early taxi as the instructions were to arrive at the train station 1 hour ahead of scheduled departure.

It was ridiculously easy, I had my assigned seat and there it was waiting for me.  It did take over 4 hours, but it was as smooth as anything.  Into Beijing and off in the direction of the Jianguomen metro station.  I knew my hotel was not far from there and the key element was being able to check in and drop my bags.

This is where bad news arrived.  No internet service on my phone.  My mobile data had been steady and constant across the entire trip, but entering into Beijing and everything was dead, no signal, Worse than that, no way to pay for anything and no GPS to find anywhere else for that matter.  I had written down the directions to my hotel, so I was able to navigate that, but beyond that I was in a bit of bother. It was the one thing I worried about out with China being a mostly no cash society.

I got checked at the hotel in and headed straight to the Forbidden City. I had tickets that I pre-booked on Trip.com, and so was confident with that part, it was just a matter of finding it. I managed to ask front desk what subway station I should head for, and it was pretty straight forward from there.

Problem Number 2

To move through the streets in and around the Forbidden City area you have to get screened and passport checked frequently. All fine with that, until I got to the Forbidden City entrance. Tripods are not allowed. I always carry a portable one for photos, and the Forbidden City forbids them! This mean’t I had to head all the way back outside to essentially check it in. In the Forbidden City you don’t come back out though, you walk through and out the other side. So, I was given a slip of paper all in Chinese that essentially said, you can collect your tripod on the way out at the far exit, but it will take 2 hours for your tripod to catch up with you!

There were lots of people as I wound my way around the Forbidden City. The world’s largest wooden Imperial Palace complex. Chinese history. Booking is mandatory and once again your passport is your ticket. There is an Eastern & Western axis, as well as the main central axis. It was the residence of 24 Ming & Qing dynasty emperors and the center of Chinese political power between 1420 and 1924. Really interesting to see and also watch how the Chinese locals interact with one of their main attractions in the capital city. It is called the ‘Forbidden City’ because historically access was barred to the outside.

No Data Continues

I headed back to the hotel after visiting the Forbidden City as I was limited with my knowledge of the city directions and wanted to see if I could solve my no digital data problem. This is the problem with relying on digital data, it drops you right in difficulty when you don’t have it. I did manage to connect with Holafly, but did not solve the issue, all my settings were right, but something was blocking access. I tried turning my phone on and off and on occasion service came in for a very short time. I was able to use these short moments to download ticketing information for tomorrow and my visit to ‘The Great Wall of China’. I breathed a sigh of relief because now at least I have the information for rail tickets and Great Wall entry. It didn’t solve my issue with having option to buy anything though. I did have some cash, but it is accepted by so few places.

The Great Wall of China

Off on another early start to Beijing North train station which you can connect with via the subway.  As I arrived at Beijing North train station my internet service weirdly restarted again. It was a huge relief.  China is so mobile phone driven, and to not have access was a real problem.

Anyway, back in action now and I could head my way all the way up to the Great Wall.  I was able to use a credit card to pay for the Badling Great Wall cable car that takes you up to the North #8 Watch Tower. It was raining a little, as comedian Peter Kay liked to put it “it was that fine rain, you know, the type that gets you wet’.  It was generally not too bad, but was a bit of a cold change after being 95 degrees in Manila, Philippines just a few short days ago.

I encountered ‘Hero’s Slope’ and had a bizarre experience that was hard to comprehend.  The slope is very, very steep, but it’s not a stair case, but sloped incline.  My brain was saying forwards, my feet were saying forwards, but everything about my body wanted to go backwards.  It was such a strange feeling.  I’m sure it’s a known phenomenon for mountain climbers, but it seemed like an out of body experience. It’s was a misty, wet murky day, but I liked that about the experience. It’s an amazing thought that this little stretch that I saw goes on for over 13,000 miles and took over 2,000 years to build, and over 1 million people died during its construction.

Forwards steps require holding on, making progress at a slow pace.  It’s a weird kind of fun though.  As things got more weird, several older Chinese people kept wanting a selfie with the strange Johnny Foreigner white man.  I obliged graciously… you will find me in several family albums across China!

World Wonders

I continued my progress across stretches of the Great Wall, it’s a truly majestic sight, even though it was somewhat rainy, misty and cloudy.  It gave it an extra spooky aurora.  Amongst the weather I made sure I got a few good photos to remind me of my day at another of the Wonders of the World.  There are technically eight Seven Wonders of the Modern World.  Yeah, I know you would think if you were calling it SEVEN you would limit it to, well, seven.

The Wonders of the Modern World are:

1. Pyramids of Giza

2. Great Wall of China

3. Taj Mahal 

4. Christ the Redeemer

5. Coliseum

6. Petra

7. Chichen Itza

8. Machu Picchu

I have now been and seen the first six on that list, and despite having been to both Mexico and Peru, have not yet been to Machu Picchu and Chichen Itza.  Maybe someday.

Return to Beijing

I boarded the train after a few enjoyable hours exploring the Great Wall.  Connected with the subway to get me to the central area, and then as luck would have it….lost my phone date signal again.  Beijing obviously didn’t like Holafly
E-sim, and my phone data signal.

In Beijing, to enter Tiananmen Square you have to have a reservation, and it must be booked the day before.  This was all stuff I was learning as I tried to go there.  It’s free to enter, but you can’t just turn up.  Them’s the rules.  With my phone data issues I had not been able to make a reservation, so seeing the famous square was not going to be on my list.

I could gain access to Qiamen Street.  It’s a fun street with lots happening.  Just like everywhere else in this area you do have to show your passport, almost at every entry street.  It was clearly just the way of things, and everyone just had to comply.  Locals were using the national ID cards, foreigners used passports.  It was all fairly straight forward, but different.

I found a Chinese cafe for a nice local food meal, and then on to the super ’77 Beer Girl’ bar that was very cool.  I got myself a raspberry beer.  Yes, I know that seems rather peculiar, but it was really good!  A bit too good.

A few photos and then time to head back to the hotel.  Tomorrow morning ’m off to Mongolia on a 10.40am flight with Air China.  Just a couple of hours up to a new country that I am so looking forward to seeing.