BEIJING – CHENGDU

It’s almost impossible to get train tickets because they are sold out few days before the train. Also the city is driving us nervous: we feel uncomfortable without our bikes and also limited in our movements. However, we succeed to buy ticket for the plane to Chengdu. When we arrive at the airport, we are even happy to leave. The first thing we notice in Chengdu is no iron bars in the cab. Also, the city itself seems cosier, although as covered with block buildings. Soon we find a hotel for 200 Yuan, which is about $20 and three times cheaper than in Beijing. Since we plan to hire some used bike tomorrow to drive to the border, we have to find a “tongue”, that’s why we are heading to the central bar of the city. It’s crowded there. In an hour or so we finally meet a Belgian guy named Simon, who is travelling around China for five months already and learning Chinese. He talks us out of our intention, explaining that the very first policeman will be happy to fool “the big noses” – us and make them as much problems as possible.