After nearly three weeks on the road, countless days on the train and constantly changing location, I was beyond happy that my final train journey came to an end. Don’t get me wrong, experiencing the Transiberian railway was unforgettable but it’s not the easiest of trips. I’ll admit that I was tired of moving every 2-3 days, so when our train arrived in Beijing and I stepped on the platform for the last time, it felt good.
I didn’t know what China would hold or what to expect. I heard that the air is polluted, that the crowds are overwhelming, that the food is strange, and here I was, completely clueless and ready to start the last adventure of the trip. After a hot shower that is, because boy did I need it.
Arriving at Beijing
Let’s get to the juicy stuff first. Food, glorious food. From day one, my culinary experience in Beijing started well. As I couldn’t read most of the menus, images of food were what my judgement was based on and the first meal was in a small restaurant filled only with Chinese people. That’s always a good sign and it paid off because the food was delicious.
Everything I tasted during my stay in China was delicious. Of course there were ingredients I didn’t know and dishes I left behind but there were also the standard Chinese dishes that Westerners know, such as egg fried rice and a version of sweet and sour chicken. The difference? You could tell the sauce was homemade and not from a jar. I’m not saying every place follows this principle but my taste buds were happy.
I also saw some unusual snacks, possibly the most peculiar combinations I could have imagined. A sweet cheese-like cake made from durian fruit, ham slices that looked like seaweed and plenty of others I don’t even know how to describe so I’ll let the pictures do the talking.
If there’s one dish I’d recommend to try when in Beijing, it’s pecking duck. It was suggested to me by different people, dozens of times and comes a sort of must-do. I love duck so I jumped right on the opportunity and although we had booked what seems to be one of the most renowned duck restaurants in the city, I couldn’t wait and also tried it from the street window you see above.
The must-visit duck restaurant: Da Dong. It’s the most popular pecking duck eatery in Beijing.
Another must-do when in Beijing, and this needs no explanation or introduction; the Great Wall of China. Indeed it was great. Though very misty on the day we visited, taking the cable car up and the toboggan down was possibly my favourite part of the day. Of course, walking along the Great Wall and trying to take in where I was, was incredible but the transport up and down the mountain made it all that more fun. If you don’t know what I’m talking about or want more concrete tips on visiting the Great Wall, check out the Transiberian 3 highlight on my Instagram stories.
This cute little hand fan was a lifesaver, it helped me cool down (or try to) when surrounded with humidity and gasping for fresh air. Seriously, Beijing in July is not fun, I wouldn’t recommend going in the summer. The weather was unbearably hot and the summer is peak time for local tourists so the crowds were massive. I’ve been told that September/October is a better time to visit. The weather’s cooler and there are slightly less people. It’s not like you’ll escape the crowds but it might be a tad better.
Along my stroll, I passed by a Catholic church which I was surprised to find and stumbled upon this couple taking their wedding photos. It seems like that’s the trend of my Transiberian trip as I found another couple in St Petersburg during their photoshoot haha!
Last on my Chinese to-do list was to see a panda, and I did, at my first time a zoo. Or one that I can remember at least. The zoo was massive and had any animal you think of; hippos, elephants, penguins, cheetahs and so on.
I’m not a fan of zoos to be honest, it saddened me to see how the elephants were kept but it was my opportunity to see a panda up close. Along the way, I admired these cuties who were also en route to see the pandas. Yup, I like Asian babies too.
And just like that, amidst the hot rain, beauty and chaos of Beijing, my Transiberian trip came to an end. 18 days on the road, three different countries, lots of hotels, yurts and train cabins.
It’s difficult to summarize what this trip was like, even three months later, but if you get a chance to do it, don’t hesitate. Just be ready, open and adaptable.
Until the next adventure!
