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well trained passengers happily at heel

Today is our last day on the train and our first day in the Middle Kingdom.

mountains on the way to Beijing

Here things are done on a different scale. Our first (and only) stop on the way to Beijing is Datong, which has over 3 million inhabitants. 

Then the train runs crosses a mountain. The river running through it is regulated and on the banks people are planting trees. Loads of them. We pass through many tunnels - expensive and time consuming things to build - and yet there is a second track on the other side of the river with just as many tunnels of its own.

mud brick houses with maize and spring festival deco

We pass farmhouses with the red spring festival decorations still up and get our first glimpse of the Great Wall running along the mountain.

And soon thereafter arrive in Beijing and (back) in full-blooming spring.

arrived in Beijing

blossoms in Beijing

We are in for another surprise. Things are suddenly affordable: When the lady at the subway ticket office holds up 2 fingers to indicate the price, I hand over 20 Yuan, but the subway actually only costs 2 Yuan, that's 2 ZAR or 0.20 Euro. We get our first exercise in a week wheeling our suitcases from the subway to NanLuoguXiang ('South Drum Lane', for pics see here) and the Beijing DowntownBackpackers . I have stayed here 7 years ago and the place has turned from a traditional hutong with some bars to a major renovated hutong cafe street with over 30 funky shops (think Long Street, Cape Town, only much narrower). Lucky us! Apart from the great location, the backpackers has the friendliest staff & the best bicycle rentals.

We stroll around Houhai lake, take a yummy hot shower (solar heater!) and turn in for a night in a non-moving bed.