On the way to Mongolia

30 June

Day 217: Beijing-Erlian

We bought some food and water and arrived to the train station at 7 am to take the train to Erlian.

We chose the cheap way to go to Mongolia (Beijing – Erlian by train, Erlian – Zamin Ud crossing border by jeep and then Zamin – Ud to Ulaanbaatar by local train – the total cost should be 300 Yuan per person – around 30 Euros).

Surprisingly the train was the same Trans- Mongolian train (Beijing – Ulaanbaatar), but the last couple of wagons (including ours), were local attached ones, which were going just to Erlian. That is why our price for the ticket was so cheap – only 140 Yuan per person for 10 hours ride.

A bit before we have arrived to Erlian (where we supposed to get out and spend the night in the town), we had a genius idea to ask the train commandant if we can go directly to UB…well, offering some illegal money. And what do you think?? Yes, it’s possible!!

For 530 Yuan for both of us we got a place in a 4 places soft compartment, in the wagon which was going directly to Ulaanbaatar – no hassle, no waiting, no sleeping in Erlian…We were going to UB!!

So final price of the jorney is 140 Yuan (Beijing – Erlian) + 265 Yuan (Erlian – UB) = 405 Yuan/each, instead of 1,000 Yuan official price in Beijing.

and the view from the window on the way to Ulaanbaatar...