Hello Beijing!

It was wonderful to arrive in China again - we rolled into Beijing’s main train station at 8:30 AM after a 24-hour train ride from Pyongyang. We had a great group in North Korea, but it felt nice to be on our own again. Outside the train station, there were plenty of eager vendors showcasing pictures of various hotels, making it easy to arrive in the city without any prior bookings. We opted for a Youth Hostel just across the street from the train station. Previously, we had stayed in the old hutongs, but this time we wanted to experience the modern part of the city with its tall, sleek buildings and shops right at our doorstep. After a night on the train, we were pretty tired, so after breakfast, we needed a quick nap. It was fantastic to be back in civilization. We enjoyed wandering around the city among the modern shops overflowing with goods. It didn’t take long before we found ourselves shopping. Using the city bus is super cheap—only 1 yuan per person, no matter how far you go. If you’re staying in the city for a while, it’s worth getting a payment card that can be used for buses, trains, the metro, and taxis. This means you can even ride the bus for just 0.40 yuan. That’s practically free! :) We headed over to the Sanlitun Yashou Clothing Market, which has a similar selection to Silk Street and Pearl Market, but with even fewer tourists. Plus, they offer massage, pedicures, manicures, facials, waxing, and more at very reasonable prices. We checked out massage prices at several places, and this one was the cheapest—30 yuan for a 30-minute massage. A manicure costs 20 yuan, and a pedicure is 30 yuan. Of course, we had to get massages there! :) When we left, we had picked up: A solar-powered battery charger for 40 yuan. 3 Music Angels, which are speakers we’ve really come to love, for 55 yuan each. After seven tough days in North Korea, we were in need of a little pampering, so after our massages, we headed over to a restaurant right across from the Sanlitun Yashou Clothing Market. It’s a cozy spot to eat and drink, and “The” is short for "Denmark." They don’t serve Danish food, but it’s a gathering place for Scandinavians working or studying in the city who want to play some football. Other foreigners are also very welcome. The team is sponsored by the restaurant. The best part about the place is that they have happy hour from 5 PM to 10 PM on beer, wine, cocktails, and pizza. You can enjoy a lovely evening in Beijing on the terrace and move inside when it gets cooler.