Michael Tyler

Figure from the Monastery on the route of the great wall near Quinhaungdao.

Took train journey to Quinhuangdao roughly 200km north of Beijing, this cost about ?1.30.

Less than 1p a mile.

Quinhuangdao (chin-hun-dao) is the location of the start of the Wall of China and close to the popular beach resort of Xingcheng (shing-chen).

Farang
I was the along Farang on the train and also the only farang at Beijing station which, if you’re a fearfull traveller, will put you off.
The language is different the enunciation is more pronounced and the symbols mean nothing to the western traveller.

Off putting.

Luckily I have found a Holiday Inn with Broadband connection.

Bejong
I have learnt the following Chinese phrases:

How much is it?
Where is it?
Hotel
Train
Restaurant

I will add to my repertoire as things progress.

One more I forgot.

Bejong – Beer.

Had a discussion with Taxi driver. Aparently it was Dung Xiao Ping who ordered the tanks into the square which earned him the name Shingsoo accompanied with a downwards pointing thumb which he made a spitting gesticulation on.

Mao was a thumbs up and the current elected leader, erm Ming se Tao he was quite excited about.

He asked about Tony Blair who I didn’t vote for in the last election or the one before. So I made a couple of gesticulations. I get the impression we have room to be a little more derogatory about our leaders out west.

The square
Friendly taxi driver drops me off at the square which is the largest public square in China.

Crossing the road is difficult as it is a 6 laner.

Take a couple of pictures then bugger off back to the hotel.

More later.