Day 1 – Friday the 13th, but only good fortune

On Friday the 13th of September, we boarded the plane to Beijing in Frankfurt. After a smooth flight we landed at 11:17am local time on the 14th. Immigration and transfer to the hotel using the airport train and the metro worked like a charm. And due to prior installation of a Chinese eSim and Alipay we were able to get into the local habit of paying via App and QR-Codes right away. After checking in and a quick shower we were ready to explore the area, before meeting our fellow group travelers in the evening.

We had a quick afternoon snack in the form of beef noodle soup and meat burger, which were really delicious and helped us bridge the gap until the meet and greet and group dinner in the evening. In the evening we had a typical Chinese meal, sharing the different dishes on a rotating tray. On the way back we explored the area a bit more and were surprised by the cleanliness and also calmness of the area despite being densely populated and central.

We were welcomed by Beijings blue sky

Romy Schulz13 October 2024