Beijing stood before us and we arrived at the Huguosi Hotel before 11am, too soon to go into the rooms so the luggage was piled into a store room, a quick lunch for some, and then by underground to the Forbidden Palace. (The underground and buses are 20p for any distance travelled though I did go on an out of town bus and they only charged 10p). I think everyone else had a bit of a shock with the number of people around compared to the few we had seen in other towns and cities during the trip. Frightened is perhaps a more suitable word. We were left to wander round by ourselves for a few hours and then returned to the hotel by bus, also daunting with the number of people squeezed on the bus. In the evening we all went to dinner together as some would be leaving the following day as the original information from Odyssey was unclear as to what day the trip actually finished.
What was the Silk Road? In the 3rd century the bactian and arabian camels were domesticated, both being necessary for desert caravan. It was then that the 'Silk Road' for the trade of silk and other goods. The road consisted of several branches following the pth of oasis towns around the edges of deserts and mountain ranges to connect at Kashgar. Most trade was done over short distances by middlemen who received a share of the profits where, between Beijing and Rome the goods would be bartered many times, not just for money but for other goods as well. Regional governments taxed the traders on their section of the Silk Road so all benefited form trading.
The Chinese sold silk, beautiful paper, spices, furs, jade, rhubarb, tea, bronze sculpture, gunpowder, lacquered goods, ceramics and the skills to make iron and steel. They bought gold, ivory, precious metals and stones, wool rugs, tapestries, nuts, peaches, frankincense and myrrh oils, glass, cucumbers, onions sandalwood, pepper, cotton, camels, lions, peacocks, elephants and Fergana horses.
About 845 AD the importance of the Silk Road is declining and in the early 12th century it declines further with the increase of sea going trade. In the 15th century the Ming rulers ended the trade long the Silk Road because of problems with the Uyger people and the dominance of the sea route to Europe.
Have I enjoyed the trip? definitely yes as I have seen places and things I had only read about in the past. Perhaps the most striking was the Hanging Temple where, when I expected the the whole structure to wobble with the way it was built, it was actually as solid as a rock, no mean feat at any time let alone 1500 years ago.
Pictures from the Forbidden Palace
The people hired the dresses for as long as they wanted so it seemed. They were more than happy to have their photographs taken, even posing for me. It really cheered up the feeling of being hemmed in by so many people, not that it bothered me very much.
The following day I went to have my camera cleaned and checked as there was some dust inside the camera. I had prepared every question and comment in written Chinese with our guide but I was thwarted this time as the technician could speak good English. He and the others in the office had a good laugh about the preparations I had made. He said that it would take an hour so I went for a walk to look at the Beijing West railway Station. It was an absolute madhouse with police and army on guard, people everywhere and even sleeping on the pavements and in corners, a good place to keep away from for a foreigner I would guess. I then went back to the hotel, sorted out my packing for further travel and posted a parcel home with unwanted items.
The 25th July was the official end of the trip so I aid my goodbyes to those that were around and left the hotel to stay at the Central Youth Hostel near the Central Railway Station. Cheap and cheerful but clean and good enough to stay in for a few days while waiting to catch the train to Tibet on the 30th of July. The breakfast is not up to much though! I made contact with the travel agent and I am to be picked up in the late afternoon and taken to the railway station from where the train is to leave from. There are four main stations in Beijing and I am not sure at the moment which one I have to go to for the train. Apparently all the permits and tickets are in order and the driver will give them to me when I am picked up. I hope they are!
I have booked a tour of Bhutan after going to Tibet and was unhappy with being told that a visa would be available on arrival at Paro, the port of entry to Bhutan. I sent an email to Druk Air, the airline I should be flying with, and the reply was that without a visa I would be refused access to the plane at Kathmandu. Contacting this travel agent he is now arranging to send me an e-visa, though why he did not do so before i do not know.
On Saturday I went looking for the Railway Museum. Six hours, mostly in hot buses, and I found the Academy of Railway Sciences instead, not the place i was looking for. I think I know where the museum may be now, I certainly know where it is not to be found! My notebook has pages of Chinese writing in it where I have been given directions, names of places and addresses to help find various places. As I know no Chinese and it is difficult to find an English speaking Chinese so it seems then I have to have everything written down so that people understand what I may be looking for. I did take some photos at the Academy and they are below.
What was the Silk Road? In the 3rd century the bactian and arabian camels were domesticated, both being necessary for desert caravan. It was then that the 'Silk Road' for the trade of silk and other goods. The road consisted of several branches following the pth of oasis towns around the edges of deserts and mountain ranges to connect at Kashgar. Most trade was done over short distances by middlemen who received a share of the profits where, between Beijing and Rome the goods would be bartered many times, not just for money but for other goods as well. Regional governments taxed the traders on their section of the Silk Road so all benefited form trading.
The Chinese sold silk, beautiful paper, spices, furs, jade, rhubarb, tea, bronze sculpture, gunpowder, lacquered goods, ceramics and the skills to make iron and steel. They bought gold, ivory, precious metals and stones, wool rugs, tapestries, nuts, peaches, frankincense and myrrh oils, glass, cucumbers, onions sandalwood, pepper, cotton, camels, lions, peacocks, elephants and Fergana horses.
About 845 AD the importance of the Silk Road is declining and in the early 12th century it declines further with the increase of sea going trade. In the 15th century the Ming rulers ended the trade long the Silk Road because of problems with the Uyger people and the dominance of the sea route to Europe.
Have I enjoyed the trip? definitely yes as I have seen places and things I had only read about in the past. Perhaps the most striking was the Hanging Temple where, when I expected the the whole structure to wobble with the way it was built, it was actually as solid as a rock, no mean feat at any time let alone 1500 years ago.
Pictures from the Forbidden Palace
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| The Entrance |
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| East meets West (and she was not frightened) |
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The 25th July was the official end of the trip so I aid my goodbyes to those that were around and left the hotel to stay at the Central Youth Hostel near the Central Railway Station. Cheap and cheerful but clean and good enough to stay in for a few days while waiting to catch the train to Tibet on the 30th of July. The breakfast is not up to much though! I made contact with the travel agent and I am to be picked up in the late afternoon and taken to the railway station from where the train is to leave from. There are four main stations in Beijing and I am not sure at the moment which one I have to go to for the train. Apparently all the permits and tickets are in order and the driver will give them to me when I am picked up. I hope they are!
I have booked a tour of Bhutan after going to Tibet and was unhappy with being told that a visa would be available on arrival at Paro, the port of entry to Bhutan. I sent an email to Druk Air, the airline I should be flying with, and the reply was that without a visa I would be refused access to the plane at Kathmandu. Contacting this travel agent he is now arranging to send me an e-visa, though why he did not do so before i do not know.
On Saturday I went looking for the Railway Museum. Six hours, mostly in hot buses, and I found the Academy of Railway Sciences instead, not the place i was looking for. I think I know where the museum may be now, I certainly know where it is not to be found! My notebook has pages of Chinese writing in it where I have been given directions, names of places and addresses to help find various places. As I know no Chinese and it is difficult to find an English speaking Chinese so it seems then I have to have everything written down so that people understand what I may be looking for. I did take some photos at the Academy and they are below.
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| The Rocket of China |
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| First engine over 270 k/h |
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| 001, The first to do 200 k/h |
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