Beijing

This is going to be a very short post because I have to go and catch a train soon, but just a quick update on what I have been doing since I arrived in Beijing.

Firstly, communication has been more difficult here which is why I have gone a bit more quiet over the last few days. China blocks all Google applications including Gmail, as well as Instagram, Facebook and a load of other sites. Also, I haven’t bought a SIM card while I’ve been here because I didn’t see the point in paying 30quid for the privilege just for a few days when lots of the sites that I wanted to use were blocked anyway.

Another aspect which seems a little over-the-top is the amount of security. Its EVERYWHERE. For instance every time you enter a tube station, hostel/hotel, most tourist attractions, etc., your bags have to be scanned and you have to be patted down and scanned with a metal detector, and often have to show your passport or ID. But then, it is China.

Those aspects aside, I have generally enjoyed Beijing. One thing that has been extremely useful is that their transport system uses an IC card, similar to an oyster card, which makes travel around the city extremely easy and also very cheap – I have fully taken advantage of this!

Definitely my favourite thing that I did was getting the bus out to The Great Wall of China, seeing some Beijing suburbs along the way, then sleeping out on top of the Great Wall! I got to see both the sunset and sunrise, and the hiking was amazing! (Pics to follow once I’m back in the land of not-blocking-instagram.)

Now, to the train!