TAKING THE BEIJING EXPRESS - TWO HECTIC MONTHS IN CHINA

摘要

Leaving Ulaan Baator behind me, the 12 hour sleeper train to the Chinese border was surprisingly comfortable. I shared a 4-berth sleeper cabin with two local Mongolian people, a smiling elderly woman and her son. After a relatively good night's sleep swaying gently from side to side in the top bunk the train finally came to a halt at the Chinese border city of Erlian. A variety of forms were presented to be filled in, all in Chinese with no English translation. Working through them with my Mongolian room mate they were finally completed to some extent and accepted, after some strange and amused glances, from the the friendly carriage attendant who I am sure had an equal understanding of my English writing as I had of the Chinese instructions.