China (Hohhot & Manzhouli, Inner Mongolia) Aug/Sept 2011

Map of Manzhouli, Inner Mongolia, China

Total cost incurred (3 days) : Y370 (Rm178)

Hostel: Anda Guest House - Y60 (dorm x 1 night)
Manzhouli hostel - Y20 (1/2 day)
Bus: Haerbin > Qiqihar - Y76
Train: Qiqihar> Manzhouli - Y83 (hard seat)
Food: Y107
Sundries: Y24

" In May 2009, I took a Trans Mongolian train ride from Moscow to Irkutsk and then to Ulan Baatar of Mongolia & Erenhot of Inner Mongolia. Manzhouli is the border town between Russia & China , where the Trans Siberian train crosses the border - the longest train ride I had ever taken in the world of travelling (5 days Moscow>Irkutsk; 3 days Irkutsk>Ulan Baatar; 2 days Ulan Baatar > Erenhot - a total of 11 days !

Grassland, steppes, nomads, the glorious empire of Genghis Khan (1211), Kublai Khan (1st emperor of Yuan dynasty in 1279), lamaseries, mammoth dinosaur skeletons, coal mines, Russian architectural buildings. double decker trains - not a dull moment in travelling to Mongolia !

Manzhouli, Inner Mongolia

1) Qiqihar train station, Heilongjiang - 2nd largest ciity in Heilongjiang, merely a stopover to catch a connecting train to Manzouli, Inner Mongolia. 

2) Manzhouli train station, Inner Mongolia - a comfortable double decker train ride from Qiqihar to Manzouli.

3) Manzhouli City Centre & Beihu Park, Inner Mongolia - Russian architecture & a favorite shopping haven for Russian tourists

Hohhot, Inner Mongolia

1) Inner Mongolian Museum, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia - free admission, dinosaur exhibits & artefacts.

2) The Great Mosque, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia  - built during the Qing dynasty

3) Wuta Pagoda, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia - an Indian Pagoda built in 1732 !

4) Hohhot Train Station, Inner Mongolia 

5) Da Zhao & Xilito Zhao, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia - largest Lamaseries in Inner Mongolia

6) Mandouhai Park, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia

7) Hohhot City Centre, Inner Mongolia - Mongolian style buildings, unique & a class of it's own !

Countryside scenery as viewed from train's window (Qi Qi Ha Er > Manzhouli, China)

The secret of Life: In wine, there is wisdom. In beer, there is freedom. In water, there is bacteria ! "

The above Chinese character is my surname "Cheng" !