China - never a dull moment!

[Cruiser Elite]

You always get a kick out of getting Biz Class mini cabin all to your lonesome on HSR

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Seriously!

 

[Happy Dude]

Not to condone vandalism, but most of Badaling is reconstructed in recent times, ie hardly "historical", so they shouldn't pretend to be so outraged.

 

[markis10]

You always get a kick out of getting Biz Class mini cabin all to your lonesome on HSR

Once you get through security and ticket checks!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Once you get through security and ticket checks!

I don’t recall security being a major issue? Cursory maybe?

Ticket check was just our passport. And of course after that for business class you get escorted from the lounge through boarding and to the right door to enter the train Very civilised!

Speaking of bargains… Didi deluxe cars! 20 minute ride in a nice Mercedes, doors opened for you, luggage whisked away and stored… AUD10-15! And they arrive super fast as well, which is helpful if it’s raining and regular cars can be up to 15 or more mins away.

 

[moa999]

I don’t recall security being a major issue? Cursory maybe?

Mostly. Other than for aerosols and large power banks.
Saw a tourist getting written up for oversized deodorant (think 120 is the internal limit for aerosols).

It's still not airport standard but definitely higher than the typical Chinese metro theatre

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Once you get through security and ticket checks!

Curb side entry straight into Biz Lounge at Beijingnan with zero wait and 1 passport scan - escort to platform entrance and through side gate with no more scan and onto train - exit at Tianjinxi with zero passport scan again as dude on checkpoint buried in his phone and just waiving everyone through - hardly onerous

 

[markis10]

Curb side entry straight into Biz Lounge at Beijingnan with zero wait and 1 passport scan - escort to platform entrance and through side gate with no more scan and onto train - exit at Tianjinxi with zero passport scan again as dude on checkpoint buried in his phone and just waiving everyone through - hardly onerous

Wish that was the case at both Guanzhou East and South Stations, and don’t get me started on Shenzhen Bei

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Hongqiao / Hangzhoubei same as I mentioned above - those are the only ones I am currently using and all are a doda.

Actually last weeks arrival into Tianjinxi was first time I have ever arrived there - it is the new Tianjin station built for Olympics - my god it’s huge - I departed Tianjin through the old station and it was just like old times

 

[anat0l]

On the note about the Wall above (of which I don't think we should in any way try to trivialise the damage caused by those errant tourists), if I wanted to visit the Great Wall, well... where? And how?

The Great Wall is very long; where would most people go in order to visit it? It seems most of the experience is to see it and to walk along it for some distance (what distance?), maybe then they have integrated little fact stations or mini-attractions along the way.

 

[mel-world]

Mutianyu Website

I'd recommend Mutianyu as a relatively unspoilt section of the wall, a long day trip from Beijing.

 

[markis10]

Mostly. Other than for aerosols and large power banks.
Saw a tourist getting written up for oversized deodorant (think 120 is the internal limit for aerosols).

Depends what your packing, this trip I discovered open bottles of alcohol were a no no losing half bottle of Johnnie Walker. I am normally travelling with 60kg of interesting baggage security wise, antennas seem to get their attention on most occasions. Spare lithium batteries don’t help (not powerbanks).

 

[SYD]

Mutianyu Website

I'd recommend Mutianyu as a relatively unspoilt section of the wall, a long day trip from Beijing.

View attachment 502671

We were there last year. Booked a private car transfer via Viator for about $250 (for two). Probably also on Trip.com for less.

Got the early start (7:30am hotel pickup) and we had the wall to ourselves. The cable car takes you to a mid point of that section of the wall. Turn right and you can go quite a way before it gets very steep. Backtrack past the cable car towards an even steeper section that closed off. We spent about 3 hrs on the wall itself. Had some lunch at the visitor centre and back to hotel by early afternoon.