Trans Siberian - Beijing

Capital of a land that has fired the global imagination, Beijing is the striking metropolitan core of a country with one of the world’s oldest civilisations. It is also the start or finish of a  trip along the Trans-Mongolian or the Trans-Manchurian lines, the Yin to Moscow’s Yang. Like its Russian counterpart, Beijing is a city of awesome – even frightening – scale. It’s  fascinating to compare Tiananmen Sq with Red Square, each complete with Mao’s and Lenin’s mausoleums, and match up the Forbidden City with the Kremlin.

Trans Siberian Maps

But pretty soon the similarities end and you’re left with a dynamic modern city that stumps first-time visitors who arrive expecting to witness the last gasp of communist China.

Still, in this headlong rush into the future, history – an increasingly precious commodity –  has not been totally condemned. Even with just a few days to spare before or after your train journey you’ll discover that Beijing’s environs harbour some of China’s most stunning  sights: the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven Park, the Lama Temple and the Great Wall, to name just a few.

Yes, the crowds can be oppressive (as can the  climate), but there are also lovely parks and appealing lakeside areas in which to relax.

It’s also a fantastic place to sample China’s glorious food and an ideal launching pad for  exploring the most populous nation on earth;