From Shanghai to Beijing by Shinkansen.
I decided to take the Shinkansen from Shanghai to Beijing.
It departs at 9:00 AM and arrives around 1:40 PM, so it takes 4 hours and 40 minutes.
It seems that it used to take 24 hours, so it has become much faster.
The train I chose only stops at Nanjing, so it arrives slightly earlier than other trains that make more stops.
The station in Shanghai is incredibly huge.
The ceiling is also very high.
And above all, it is orderly.
About 15 minutes before departure, we are not allowed to enter the platform, so we form a line and wait. There is no cutting in line like in India. We can line up properly.
It seems that the "cutting in line" that I had heard about in China hardly exists when it comes to the Shinkansen.
And then I got in.
Inside, it is a normal Shinkansen, except that it has Chinese passengers.
It is running at approximately 300 km/h.
I occasionally glanced at it, but it never exceeded 310 km/h.
However, compared to the Japanese Shinkansen, the motor and track noise are loud.
Also, there is no sense of torque when starting.
It seems that the Japanese Shinkansen has motors in all vehicles, but this one may be different.
And then I arrived in Beijing.
The noodles I ate at the station were delicious.
They are made by stretching and boiling them on the spot, so they are the best.
The accommodation will be at "Beijing Xihua Zhiduo Hotel (Beijing Jade Hotel)" for 6 nights.
The dormitory costs 60 yuan (approximately 1170 yen) per night.
It has an atmosphere like a regular hotel, and the beds in the regular rooms are bunk beds.
So, it might be a little smaller compared to other hostels.
Also, you can only use the shower room and toilet in your own room, which might be a little inconvenient.
In a regular hostel, the shower room and toilet are usually separate from the rooms and there are several of them.
However, it was surprisingly empty, and for 5 out of the 6 nights, I was the only one in the room, so it was surprisingly comfortable.
If there were 4 people in one room, it would probably be quite cramped.
It departs at 9:00 AM and arrives around 1:40 PM, so it takes 4 hours and 40 minutes.
It seems that it used to take 24 hours, so it has become much faster.
The train I chose only stops at Nanjing, so it arrives slightly earlier than other trains that make more stops.
The station in Shanghai is incredibly huge.
The ceiling is also very high.
And above all, it is orderly.
About 15 minutes before departure, we are not allowed to enter the platform, so we form a line and wait. There is no cutting in line like in India. We can line up properly.
It seems that the "cutting in line" that I had heard about in China hardly exists when it comes to the Shinkansen.
And then I got in.
Inside, it is a normal Shinkansen, except that it has Chinese passengers.
It is running at approximately 300 km/h.I occasionally glanced at it, but it never exceeded 310 km/h.
However, compared to the Japanese Shinkansen, the motor and track noise are loud.
Also, there is no sense of torque when starting.
It seems that the Japanese Shinkansen has motors in all vehicles, but this one may be different.
And then I arrived in Beijing.The noodles I ate at the station were delicious.
They are made by stretching and boiling them on the spot, so they are the best.
The accommodation will be at "Beijing Xihua Zhiduo Hotel (Beijing Jade Hotel)" for 6 nights.The dormitory costs 60 yuan (approximately 1170 yen) per night.
It has an atmosphere like a regular hotel, and the beds in the regular rooms are bunk beds.So, it might be a little smaller compared to other hostels.
Also, you can only use the shower room and toilet in your own room, which might be a little inconvenient.
In a regular hostel, the shower room and toilet are usually separate from the rooms and there are several of them.
However, it was surprisingly empty, and for 5 out of the 6 nights, I was the only one in the room, so it was surprisingly comfortable.
If there were 4 people in one room, it would probably be quite cramped.
The Great Wall (Badaling section).
Today, the weather is nice, so I decided to go to the Great Wall.
There are several sections of the Great Wall, but I decided to go to Badaling, which is the most easily accessible.
You can go by bus, but it seems you can also go by train from Beijing North Station, so I decided to go by train.
First, I had a snack near my house.
I ate dumplings and fried bread. It cost 10 yuan (about 200 yen).
Take the subway to Beijing North Station, and transfer there.
At Beijing North Station, it seems that the S2 line is treated specially for going to Badaling Station. There is even a separate line for the S2 line.
It seems that you can ride with a Beijing transportation card even without buying a ticket.
It seems that it will depart in 30 minutes, so I line up and wait.
15 minutes before departure, the entrance opens, and at the same time, many people start running (laugh).
Probably, the people with free seats are running. There are also many people who are walking without any concern.
I also ran and successfully secured a seat.
And then to Badaling Station.
From here, it's about 1 km to the entrance, so I decided to have a snack a little early before climbing.
I tried to buy water before climbing, but a 500ml bottle of water cost 10 yuan (about 200 yen). Was I being overcharged because I'm a foreigner? It's not mineral water, but something you can buy at a convenience store for about 2 yuan. So I decided not to buy it there and bought a different bottle of water at another store for 2 yuan (about 40 yen). That's normal.
You can also go up by monorail, but it doesn't seem like a long distance, so I decided to walk up.
It's divided into north and south, so I decided to go to the north side first, which seems less crowded.
I headed north, and surprisingly, I was able to reach the highest point relatively easily. Then, I turned back and returned to the starting point, and decided to go south as well.
After going to the southernmost point, I went around and came down.
And I started heading home, but I didn't check the time of the return train properly, so I decided to go back to the train station. Currently, it's 2:00 AM, and the previous train at 1:40 AM has already left, and the next train is around 3:50 AM (!), so I decided to go in the opposite direction first, and then return from the starting point of the next train.
Waiting here would mean standing in line for an hour and a half, so I decided that it would be better to go to the next station and return. When I checked the timetable online, it seems there's about 40 minutes of leeway for the return trip. It will cost an extra 6 yuan (about 120 yen) for a one-way trip, but it's better than standing and waiting for a long time.
And as planned, I went to the next station, went outside, re-entered, and got on the train.
I was hungry while waiting, so I ate a cup of instant noodles. The lady at the convenience store poured the hot water for me.
When the train arrived at Badaling Station, a large group of people lined up and got on, and it became completely full.
It seems that coming back was the right decision after all.
Then, I returned to Beijing North Station, had a meal, took the subway, and returned to the guesthouse, and that was the end of the day.
There are several sections of the Great Wall, but I decided to go to Badaling, which is the most easily accessible.
You can go by bus, but it seems you can also go by train from Beijing North Station, so I decided to go by train.
First, I had a snack near my house.
I ate dumplings and fried bread. It cost 10 yuan (about 200 yen).
Take the subway to Beijing North Station, and transfer there.
At Beijing North Station, it seems that the S2 line is treated specially for going to Badaling Station. There is even a separate line for the S2 line.
It seems that you can ride with a Beijing transportation card even without buying a ticket.
It seems that it will depart in 30 minutes, so I line up and wait.
15 minutes before departure, the entrance opens, and at the same time, many people start running (laugh).
Probably, the people with free seats are running. There are also many people who are walking without any concern.
I also ran and successfully secured a seat.
And then to Badaling Station.
From here, it's about 1 km to the entrance, so I decided to have a snack a little early before climbing.
I tried to buy water before climbing, but a 500ml bottle of water cost 10 yuan (about 200 yen). Was I being overcharged because I'm a foreigner? It's not mineral water, but something you can buy at a convenience store for about 2 yuan. So I decided not to buy it there and bought a different bottle of water at another store for 2 yuan (about 40 yen). That's normal.
You can also go up by monorail, but it doesn't seem like a long distance, so I decided to walk up.
It's divided into north and south, so I decided to go to the north side first, which seems less crowded.
I headed north, and surprisingly, I was able to reach the highest point relatively easily. Then, I turned back and returned to the starting point, and decided to go south as well.
After going to the southernmost point, I went around and came down.
And I started heading home, but I didn't check the time of the return train properly, so I decided to go back to the train station. Currently, it's 2:00 AM, and the previous train at 1:40 AM has already left, and the next train is around 3:50 AM (!), so I decided to go in the opposite direction first, and then return from the starting point of the next train.
Waiting here would mean standing in line for an hour and a half, so I decided that it would be better to go to the next station and return. When I checked the timetable online, it seems there's about 40 minutes of leeway for the return trip. It will cost an extra 6 yuan (about 120 yen) for a one-way trip, but it's better than standing and waiting for a long time.
And as planned, I went to the next station, went outside, re-entered, and got on the train.
I was hungry while waiting, so I ate a cup of instant noodles. The lady at the convenience store poured the hot water for me.
When the train arrived at Badaling Station, a large group of people lined up and got on, and it became completely full.
It seems that coming back was the right decision after all.
Then, I returned to Beijing North Station, had a meal, took the subway, and returned to the guesthouse, and that was the end of the day.
National Museum of China.
This morning, I felt tired from the previous travels, so I spent the morning sleeping.
Around 11 o'clock, I started to feel hungry, so I got up and decided to go to the National Museum of China, which is nearby.
First, I had something to eat nearby, but the portions are large, and surprisingly expensive.
It's a local-style restaurant, but the prices are about 70% of what you'd find in a Japanese restaurant.
At a slightly nicer restaurant, a single dish costs around 1,500 yen.
Even though the portions are decent, it's not that cheap.
Then, I walked to the National Museum of China.
My hotel is on the east side of the Forbidden City, so it's within walking distance to the National Museum of China, which is on the south side of the Forbidden City.
However, the area around the Forbidden City is incredibly huge, much larger than I expected.
The National Museum of China is also surprisingly large, which was surprising.
It's so big that it doesn't fit in the photos.
This morning, I felt tired from the previous travels, so I spent the morning sleeping.
Around 11 o'clock, I started to feel hungry, so I got up and decided to go to the National Museum of China, which is nearby.
First, I had something to eat nearby, but the portions are large, and surprisingly expensive.
It's a local-style restaurant, but the prices are about 70% of what you'd find in a Japanese restaurant.
At a slightly nicer restaurant, a single dish costs around 1,500 yen.
Even though the portions are decent, it's not that cheap.
Then, I walked to the National Museum of China.
My hotel is on the east side of the Forbidden City, so it's within walking distance to the National Museum of China, which is on the south side of the Forbidden City.
However, the area around the Forbidden City is incredibly huge, much larger than I expected.
The National Museum of China is also surprisingly large, which was surprising.
It's so big that it doesn't fit in the photos.
Around 11 o'clock, I started to feel hungry, so I got up and decided to go to the National Museum of China, which is nearby.
First, I had something to eat nearby, but the portions are large, and surprisingly expensive.
It's a local-style restaurant, but the prices are about 70% of what you'd find in a Japanese restaurant.
At a slightly nicer restaurant, a single dish costs around 1,500 yen.
Even though the portions are decent, it's not that cheap.
Then, I walked to the National Museum of China.
My hotel is on the east side of the Forbidden City, so it's within walking distance to the National Museum of China, which is on the south side of the Forbidden City.
However, the area around the Forbidden City is incredibly huge, much larger than I expected.
The National Museum of China is also surprisingly large, which was surprising.
It's so big that it doesn't fit in the photos.
This morning, I felt tired from the previous travels, so I spent the morning sleeping.
Around 11 o'clock, I started to feel hungry, so I got up and decided to go to the National Museum of China, which is nearby.
First, I had something to eat nearby, but the portions are large, and surprisingly expensive.
It's a local-style restaurant, but the prices are about 70% of what you'd find in a Japanese restaurant.
At a slightly nicer restaurant, a single dish costs around 1,500 yen.
Even though the portions are decent, it's not that cheap.
Then, I walked to the National Museum of China.
My hotel is on the east side of the Forbidden City, so it's within walking distance to the National Museum of China, which is on the south side of the Forbidden City.
However, the area around the Forbidden City is incredibly huge, much larger than I expected.
The National Museum of China is also surprisingly large, which was surprising.
It's so big that it doesn't fit in the photos.
Wangfujing (equivalent to Ginza in Beijing).
After visiting the National Museum of China, I decided to go to Wangfujing, which is equivalent to Ginza in Beijing.
It is located on the east side of the Forbidden City, so it is also close to my hotel.
After visiting the National Museum of China, I decided to go to Wangfujing, which is equivalent to Ginza in Beijing.
It is located on the east side of the Forbidden City, so it is also close to my hotel.
It is located on the east side of the Forbidden City, so it is also close to my hotel.
After visiting the National Museum of China, I decided to go to Wangfujing, which is equivalent to Ginza in Beijing.
It is located on the east side of the Forbidden City, so it is also close to my hotel.
Beijing Zoo.
This morning, I went to Beijing Zoo.
I left the guesthouse around 8:30 AM because there was a panda feeding session at 8:00 AM, and I headed to the zoo after a light meal.
Upon entering the zoo, there was a panda enclosure, but it seems to be under renovation until the end of this month. There were only three pandas visible behind the glass in the back room. They were far away, and it was a bit disappointing. It looks like they are doing some amazing construction work for this new building. Well, there's nothing we can do about it.
Then, we walked around the entire zoo.
Even so, Chinese facilities are large.
Just walking around can make you exhausted.
This might be difficult to visit when you get older.
And then, we leave the zoo.
I left the guesthouse around 8:30 AM because there was a panda feeding session at 8:00 AM, and I headed to the zoo after a light meal.
Upon entering the zoo, there was a panda enclosure, but it seems to be under renovation until the end of this month. There were only three pandas visible behind the glass in the back room. They were far away, and it was a bit disappointing. It looks like they are doing some amazing construction work for this new building. Well, there's nothing we can do about it.Then, we walked around the entire zoo.
Even so, Chinese facilities are large.Just walking around can make you exhausted.
This might be difficult to visit when you get older.
And then, we leave the zoo.
Temple of Heaven.
In the afternoon, I went to the Temple of Heaven, which is also a World Heritage site.
Once again, the grounds are enormous, and you can feel the scale of China.
This place seems to be a place of worship, but rather than the prominent building in the center, I felt a certain aura from some of the buildings on the side.
This kind of thing often happens.
Truly important things are not placed in conspicuous places, but rather quietly.
It seems that it is common for gods to be in inconspicuous places normally, and that gods only descend to conspicuous places for special ceremonies.
And then I return to the guesthouse.
Once again, the grounds are enormous, and you can feel the scale of China.
This place seems to be a place of worship, but rather than the prominent building in the center, I felt a certain aura from some of the buildings on the side.
This kind of thing often happens.
Truly important things are not placed in conspicuous places, but rather quietly.
It seems that it is common for gods to be in inconspicuous places normally, and that gods only descend to conspicuous places for special ceremonies.
And then I return to the guesthouse.
Nakayama Park.
First, I had something to eat near my lodging. 15 yuan (approximately 290 yen).
In China, it's common to eat ramen even early in the morning, so I decided to have that.
I actually wanted to eat rice porridge, but ramen was the only option available.
Today, I was planning to go to the Palace Museum (Forbidden City), but it seems that Mondays are a holiday, so I will go to Zhongshan Park, which is nearby.
In China, it's common to eat ramen even early in the morning, so I decided to have that.
I actually wanted to eat rice porridge, but ramen was the only option available.
Today, I was planning to go to the Palace Museum (Forbidden City), but it seems that Mondays are a holiday, so I will go to Zhongshan Park, which is nearby.
Summer Palace.
Today, the weather is good, so I'm heading to the Summer Palace.
It is said that Empress Dowager Cixi spent about 70% of her time here each year.
The original Summer Palace is said to be about twice the size of this area, but I went to the area that tourists usually visit.
Instead of the entrance near the subway station, I entered from the main gate.
Today, the weather is good, so I'm heading to the Summer Palace.
It is said that Empress Dowager Cixi spent about 70% of her time here each year.
The original Summer Palace is said to be about twice the size of this area, but I went to the area that tourists usually visit.
Instead of the entrance near the subway station, I entered from the main gate.
Today, the weather is good, so I'm heading to the Summer Palace.
It is said that Empress Dowager Cixi spent about 70% of her time here each year.
The original Summer Palace is said to be about twice the size of this area, but I went to the area that tourists usually visit.
Instead of the entrance near the subway station, I entered from the main gate.
Today, the weather is good, so I'm heading to the Summer Palace.
It is said that Empress Dowager Cixi spent about 70% of her time here each year.
The original Summer Palace is said to be about twice the size of this area, but I went to the area that tourists usually visit.
Instead of the entrance near the subway station, I entered from the main gate.
Today, the weather is good, so I'm heading to the Summer Palace.
It is said that Empress Dowager Cixi spent about 70% of her time here each year.
The original Summer Palace is said to be about twice the size of this area, but I went to the area that tourists usually visit.
Instead of the entrance near the subway station, I entered from the main gate.
Today, the weather is good, so I'm heading to the Summer Palace.
It is said that Empress Dowager Cixi spent about 70% of her time here each year.
The original Summer Palace is said to be about twice the size of this area, but I went to the area that tourists usually visit.
Instead of the entrance near the subway station, I entered from the main gate.
Today, the weather is good, so I'm heading to the Summer Palace.
It is said that Empress Dowager Cixi spent about 70% of her time here each year.
The original Summer Palace is said to be about twice the size of this area, but I went to the area that tourists usually visit.
Instead of the entrance near the subway station, I entered from the main gate.
Today, the weather is good, so I'm heading to the Summer Palace.
It is said that Empress Dowager Cixi spent about 70% of her time here each year.
The original Summer Palace is said to be about twice the size of this area, but I went to the area that tourists usually visit.
Instead of the entrance near the subway station, I entered from the main gate.
Today, the weather is good, so I'm heading to the Summer Palace.
It is said that Empress Dowager Cixi spent about 70% of her time here each year.
The original Summer Palace is said to be about twice the size of this area, but I went to the area that tourists usually visit.
Instead of the entrance near the subway station, I entered from the main gate.
Today, the weather is good, so I'm heading to the Summer Palace.
It is said that Empress Dowager Cixi spent about 70% of her time here each year.
The original Summer Palace is said to be about twice the size of this area, but I went to the area that tourists usually visit.
Instead of the entrance near the subway station, I entered from the main gate.
It is said that Empress Dowager Cixi spent about 70% of her time here each year.
The original Summer Palace is said to be about twice the size of this area, but I went to the area that tourists usually visit.
Instead of the entrance near the subway station, I entered from the main gate.
Today, the weather is good, so I'm heading to the Summer Palace.
It is said that Empress Dowager Cixi spent about 70% of her time here each year.
The original Summer Palace is said to be about twice the size of this area, but I went to the area that tourists usually visit.
Instead of the entrance near the subway station, I entered from the main gate.
Today, the weather is good, so I'm heading to the Summer Palace.
It is said that Empress Dowager Cixi spent about 70% of her time here each year.
The original Summer Palace is said to be about twice the size of this area, but I went to the area that tourists usually visit.
Instead of the entrance near the subway station, I entered from the main gate.
Today, the weather is good, so I'm heading to the Summer Palace.
It is said that Empress Dowager Cixi spent about 70% of her time here each year.
The original Summer Palace is said to be about twice the size of this area, but I went to the area that tourists usually visit.
Instead of the entrance near the subway station, I entered from the main gate.
Today, the weather is good, so I'm heading to the Summer Palace.
It is said that Empress Dowager Cixi spent about 70% of her time here each year.
The original Summer Palace is said to be about twice the size of this area, but I went to the area that tourists usually visit.
Instead of the entrance near the subway station, I entered from the main gate.
Today, the weather is good, so I'm heading to the Summer Palace.
It is said that Empress Dowager Cixi spent about 70% of her time here each year.
The original Summer Palace is said to be about twice the size of this area, but I went to the area that tourists usually visit.
Instead of the entrance near the subway station, I entered from the main gate.
Today, the weather is good, so I'm heading to the Summer Palace.
It is said that Empress Dowager Cixi spent about 70% of her time here each year.
The original Summer Palace is said to be about twice the size of this area, but I went to the area that tourists usually visit.
Instead of the entrance near the subway station, I entered from the main gate.
Today, the weather is good, so I'm heading to the Summer Palace.
It is said that Empress Dowager Cixi spent about 70% of her time here each year.
The original Summer Palace is said to be about twice the size of this area, but I went to the area that tourists usually visit.
Instead of the entrance near the subway station, I entered from the main gate.
Today, the weather is good, so I'm heading to the Summer Palace.
It is said that Empress Dowager Cixi spent about 70% of her time here each year.
The original Summer Palace is said to be about twice the size of this area, but I went to the area that tourists usually visit.
Instead of the entrance near the subway station, I entered from the main gate.
Today, the weather is good, so I'm heading to the Summer Palace.
It is said that Empress Dowager Cixi spent about 70% of her time here each year.
The original Summer Palace is said to be about twice the size of this area, but I went to the area that tourists usually visit.
Instead of the entrance near the subway station, I entered from the main gate.
The Palace Museum (Forbidden City) and Jingshan Park.
Today is the last day in Beijing.
I am heading to the Forbidden City (Palace Museum).
The weather is nice.
The security checks to enter this area are very strict, and they were even checking for the smell of drinks.
They checked the guidebook (Lonely Planet Beijing) thoroughly, even the page with the map. Could this be the rumored check for place names like the Senkaku Islands? There's a rumor that place names written in Japanese will be confiscated. Since it's the Beijing edition, it doesn't include a map of China, so I was spared from confiscation.
First, I tried to enter through the gate and buy a ticket, but the line at the ticket counter was already incredibly long.
The photo from the outside is from a less crowded day (a day when it was closed).
Once you enter, the inside is full of Chinese people.
In places where you peek through openings, Chinese people push and shove to get through first, so you end up being swayed from side to side.
Because everyone is trying to take pictures in those places, the pictures end up blurry, and people have a hard time moving (laugh).
It's a vicious cycle.
Does touching it bring good fortune?
The roof and walls have also been meticulously restored.
It was truly enormous, and it took about 5 hours to see it, including breaks.
There were many excellent pieces, so I enjoyed it.
The painting and decorations are vibrant, so it might be a little different from what Japanese people usually like, but it's good in its own way.
After that, I went to Jingshan Park, which is just north of the Forbidden City, but the weather was getting worse.
Is this the sandstorm that I've heard about in Beijing?
From here, you can see the Forbidden City.
If it were clear, it would have been a much better view, but it's quite something with the sandstorm.
This might be a specialty of Beijing.
And tomorrow, I will leave Beijing and go to Datong.
I am heading to the Forbidden City (Palace Museum).
The weather is nice.
The security checks to enter this area are very strict, and they were even checking for the smell of drinks.
They checked the guidebook (Lonely Planet Beijing) thoroughly, even the page with the map. Could this be the rumored check for place names like the Senkaku Islands? There's a rumor that place names written in Japanese will be confiscated. Since it's the Beijing edition, it doesn't include a map of China, so I was spared from confiscation.
First, I tried to enter through the gate and buy a ticket, but the line at the ticket counter was already incredibly long.
The photo from the outside is from a less crowded day (a day when it was closed).
Once you enter, the inside is full of Chinese people.
In places where you peek through openings, Chinese people push and shove to get through first, so you end up being swayed from side to side.
Because everyone is trying to take pictures in those places, the pictures end up blurry, and people have a hard time moving (laugh).
It's a vicious cycle.
Does touching it bring good fortune?
The roof and walls have also been meticulously restored.
It was truly enormous, and it took about 5 hours to see it, including breaks.
There were many excellent pieces, so I enjoyed it.
The painting and decorations are vibrant, so it might be a little different from what Japanese people usually like, but it's good in its own way.
After that, I went to Jingshan Park, which is just north of the Forbidden City, but the weather was getting worse.
Is this the sandstorm that I've heard about in Beijing?
From here, you can see the Forbidden City.
If it were clear, it would have been a much better view, but it's quite something with the sandstorm.
This might be a specialty of Beijing.
And tomorrow, I will leave Beijing and go to Datong.