Trans-Mongolian Express
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First View of the Great Wall of China
During the last stop before Beijing, we unexpectedly got our first view of The Great Wall of China from the train. Unfortunately it was foggy and / or there was a lot of smog. However, even this hazy view of the Great Wall of China caused positive unrest among passengers of the Trans Mongolian Express. The Great Wall of China as seen from the Trans Mongolian Express
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Turtle Rock in Gorkhi-Terelj National Park, Mongolia
The “Turtle Rock” is a well known land mark in the Gorkhi-Terelj National Park, Mongolia Terelj is one of the most visited national parks of Mongolia. This is mainly due to its proximity to Ulaanbaatar the capital of Mongolia. However, it is a beautiful park and a good place for hiking and horseback riding. It’s also possible to spend the night in traditional Ger of Yurt tents.
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Erdene Zuu Monastery, Kharkhorin, Mongolia
Dark clouds above the Erdene Zuu Monastery near Kharkhorin in Mongolia Erdene Zuu is the oldest Buddhist monastery (dating back to the end of the 16th century) in the country and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The complex forms a square of 400 by 400 meters. It is surrounded by a 7.5 meter high wall in which 108 stupas are incorporated. The complex is largely empty, as most of the buildings were demolished in 1939 by order of the communist leader Khorloogiin Choibalsan.
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Young shepherds with cows in Mongolia
Young shepherds who keep a herd of cows together on their horses, somewhere on the plains south of Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia Even young children are riding horses
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Happy nomad family in Gobi Desert, Mongolia
A happy nomad family somewhere in the Gobi Desert south of Ulanbaataar, the capital of Mongolia Mongalian nomads live in tents called “Ger” of “Yurt”. Even in Ulanbaataar many people still live in Yurts.
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Gandantegchinlen Monastery, Ulaanbaatar
The Temple of Boddhisattva Avalokiteshvara at Gandantegchinlen Monastery in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia Inside the temple one will find the impressive 26.5-meter-high statue of Avalokiteśvara.
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Dining car, Trans Mongolia Express
One of the two waiters of the dining car of the Trans Mongolian Express This very friendly man wore the same gray T-shirt for five straight days and together with just one colleague he worked more or less all day and all night during those days. Note: The waving of this man might look a bit strange, but that is because of the timing of the photo. It was a nice greeting gesture after our visit to the dining car. The seats in the back are being occupied by trading goods of the Mongolian traders in the train.
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Consumer electronics in Siberia
Many consumer electronics are unloaded in Ulan Ude, a city far in Siberia and the last stop before the Mongolian border.
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Mongolian traders selling from train
At every stop along the route of the Trans-Mongolian Express traders are busy selling all kind of goods. Here some Mongolian traders are selling clothes from the open doors of the train somewhere in Siberia. The goods being sold (or bought) vary from city to city. Many passengers buy food along the way. Apparently they find the “restaurant” in the train too expensive and/or they don’t like the food on the menu.
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Kirov railway station
First stop in Kirov, roughly 1000 km east of Moscow. The adventure has now really begun. Last night we left Moscow with the Transmongolian Express to Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia. One of the first stops was in the town of Kirov around 1030 the next morning.
