:: zone3 ::

The train along to Jiayuguan made for a nice ride. Soft sleeper cabin are so much better than the hard sleepers. Get a bit more room to the cabin with only four instead of six.

Jiayuguan is a pretty sleepily little place. It has a number of attractions related to the Western end of the great wall and about 120,00 people. Although it is hard to believe it has that number of people going by what is around the town. The streets match a bigger city, but the number of people on them match a much smaller one...

Ahhh... the Great Wall...

Have been to it before, but it is still impressive to see again.

Last time around when I was in China visited Mutianyu, this time Simatai. Simatai has a lot less tourists, makes it a lot nicer to visit. It has also been restored less so can get a better feel for what it is really like. Part of it is only a narrow run down path, it's not all like the majestic photos of the restored sections.

Mongolia was pretty cool to visit. Staying in a Ger camp made for nice
relaxing night. Went off horse ride for a couple of hours and then another
the next day after the night in the Ger. Ger's make for a nice warm place
to stay the night.

After headiing back to the Mongolian capital for a night, was on to more
trains. Then time a 30 hours on to Beijing. Sleeper trains do make for a
fun way to travel. Although a bit tight on space.

Beijing is like many monden Metropolis'. Getting around is pretty easy,
taxis everywhere. The traffic is interesting for crossing. Much like
Vietnam, walk across and hope the cars dodge you. Was surprised how clean the city is. Prob cleaner than central Wellington.