Having visited 98 countries to all inhabited mainlands, China was my 99th country. In the face of Indian-Chinese politics, I longed to witness this world hustler up close after witnessing Chinese presence around the world — structure in Africa and enterprises in the far-flung Pacific isles.
The Beijing Experience
My adventure started at 630 AM in Beijing, where I had been hosted by an original host Eric via Couchsurfing. This setup was priceless because China is not an easy place to navigate as an outsider without linguistic skills. China has its own digital world with dedicated apps for everything from charts to ride-sharing.
China’s Digital Ecosystem
| Western Apps | Chinese Equivalents |
|---|---|
| Google Maps | Baidu Maps |
| Uber | DiDi |
| Xiaohongshu/RED | |
| PayPal | Alipay |
most Western services( Google, Meta platforms such as WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook) won’t function in China. I employed DiDi in my hack and Alipay connected to my bank card for payment.
The Journey to Beijing North Railway Station
I took a 30 km hack ride at 40 Yuan(approximately ₹ 450/$ 14.27) to Beijing North Railway Station. The broad, open roads and emotional framework incontinently seemed to me as indicators of China’s development position.
At the station, I was greeted by my friend Tammy who would be leading me for the day. Having a original guide is widely beneficial, particularly for the handling of ticket buying and interpretation of adverts.
Trip Attestation Conditions
Passport is required for all train trip in China
Chinese citizens utilize their public ID cards
Nonnatives are required to utilize devoted passport channels
SIM card enrollment can be checked at sightseer spots
The Business Class pellet Train Experience
We were subdued on the high-speed train to Badaling, where we would breach the Great Wall. Tammy had purchased business class tickets at 100 Yuan( ₹ 1200/$ 14.27) each — five times the price of alternate-class tickets( 20 Yuan/ ₹ 250/$ 2.97). The valuable upgrade was not a choice; all alternate-class seats were sold out for the Sunday morning train.
Ticket Comparison
| Class | Cost (Yuan) | Cost (₹) | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business | 100 | ₹1200 | $14.27 |
| Second Class | 20 | ₹250 | $2.97 |
The business class cabin offered
Rotating and reclining seats that convert to beds
-Complimentary snacks and drinks
-devoted service attendants
-Private cube feeling
Reading accoutrements and slippers
Although the journey was short, we went full personality service with in-flight snacks consisting of dates, biscuits, chocolate wafers, tofu, and meat. A drink and robes were also provided by the attendant.
The unbelievable Speed Experience
The most emotive part was how fast and stable the train went. We attained pets of 207 km/ h, but I could just barely sense any movement. I put details upright on my charger table to illustrate the amazing stability — they didn’t move even with the tremendous haste.
Tammy added that on longer peregrinations, these trains frequently achieve 360 km/ h — about one- third the speed of an aeroplane. What struck me most was the difference in opinions since a first- time rider like me was amazed at the 200 km/ h speed, whereas Tammy found it” slow” by Chinese standards.
China’s High- Speed Rail Data
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Top operational speed | 360 km/h |
| Journey time reduction | 10-hour trips reduced to 2.5-3 hours |
| Punctuality | Departed 1 minute early |
| Network size | Largest high-speed rail network globally |
| Typical cruising speed | 200-250 km/h |
Arriving at Badaling Station
After a 40- nanosecond journey with numerous stops, we finally reached Badaling Station. The journey was approximately 70 kilometers, and the train accelerated past pets over 200 km/h several times.
On arrival, we found that we needed to purchase two different tickets.
1. Cable auto tickets( 100 Yuan/ ₹ 1200 each)
2. Great Wall entrance tickets
Though I was initially inclined towards hiking up (which would approximate 2.5 hours), we opted for the string auto because of the ticket dealer’s affirmation and personal preference of the companion.
The Cable Auto Experience
The queue for the string auto was long, and there were hundreds of excursionists — usually Chinese — waiting their turn. However, the line moved well despite the throngs, and we boarded after 45-50 twinkles or so.
The string auto had rousing upright views of surrounding geography as we rode up to one of China’s most notable landmarks. The ride itself was part of the experience.
The Great Wall First prints
As we finally arrived at the Great Wall, I was impressed by two effects.
1. The unimaginable engineering and literal meaning.
2. The large number of callers filling up every section.
Walking along this old structure, I couldn’t help but be amazed at the creativity of its construction such as the use of sticky rice as a binder in some parts. The scenery was evocative, yes with the crowds.
Cultural compliances
One of many non-Chinese callers at the time, I was subject to kids gawking in awe. non natives hadn’t totally revived transnational tourism to China yet, rendering non natives quite a rare commodity, especially away from giant transnational hospices.
Sunday tourist congestion meant sharing the experience with numerous domestic out inggoers. Transnationals love calling the Great Wall to sites, including this one, a source of tourist delight in almost every part of China’s broad home, especially during weekends.
Last reports
1. This experience stressed several aspects of ultramodern China that impressed me
2. The effectiveness and advanced technology of their transportation systems
3. The discrepancy between China’s ancient engineering sensations and ultramodern structure
4. The ascendance of domestic tourism at major lodestones
The digital ecosystem that functions resemblant to Western platforms. In spite of political disagreements between our nations, traveling China first hand provided me with an admiration for its technological advancement and organizational skills. The train experience in itself was worth the journey, demonstrating China’s status as the world leader in high-speed rail technology.
This blend of ancient wunderkinder and slice-of-edge technology creates China as a compelling destination that resists straightforward categorization. It really is “a different world” as I said in my vlog not only another nation but almost another mainland with regard to its distinctive systems and methods.
