Spent the night on the train and woke at 8.30am to see China in the daylight and what a contrast to Mongolia – dramatic scenery and widespread cultivation. Part of our journey runs parallel to the Great Wall which we can just make out in the distance. Arrive in Beijing just after 2pm only a few minutes late. Quite an achievement for the longest train journey in the world. The station is a melee of people and the concourse outside is heaving. Fortunately our hotel is a short walk away and with the assistance of a helpful taxi tout we have little difficulty finding it. The hotel is down an alleyway on the edge of a Hutong. We are a bit dubious at first until we discover that it is next door to a large police station!
The hotel is small and quiet. We have a room overlooking an inner courtyard, so very peaceful. And, added bonus, we have free broadband in the room. We are here for six nights, so at last we can unpack, get some washing done and catch our breath. But first things first – a shower. What luxury!
Spend a few hours getting orientated. The centre of Beijing has four areas: around the Forbidden City, Northern, Southern and Eastern. We are in the latter area. First impressions are of a very modern city with many new and imposing buildings, clean (no sign of the smog, today at least) and bustling. Very wide roads (three lanes each way at least), fly-overs, gigantic, newly-built office and hotel blocks and huge shopping malls. Everything seems to be on an enormous scale.