This is the latest update from Italian pensioner, Giorgio Vanni, who is travelling from his home town of Varese to Perth on a plane-free trip.

“I expected a metropolis which had changed drastically since my last visit, but the city far exceeded my expectations.

“Beijing belongs to another age... One that isn’t compatible with the past.

“My last destination, Mongolia, was immense in terms of its nature and vast spaces; Beijing is immense in terms of manmade objects.”

Vanni noticed changes particularly when it comes to the impact of technological advancements on everyday life: scooters are electric; the metro has 22 lines with English signs and electronic cards; and there are no longer different prices for foreigners.

Security is as good as ever and there was a guard on every train carriage.

However, crossing the street is still risky, as car drivers don’t always give the right of way to pedestrians.

“I could already see the signs of modernity and efficiency from the Mongolian border, where there was a device that scanned passports and then identified and gave instructions in the relevant language,” Vanni said.

The Italian traveller happened to be in Beijing for the 70th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China.

“The influx of visitors to celebrate the event was astounding,” he exclaimed.

“At times, I wasn’t walking but ‘floating’ amid the mass of people.

“Everyone was kind and happy to help.

“All I had to do was stop and look at my map for a second and someone would come and ask if I needed any assistance.”

Vanni also noticed that all the young people he met spoke enough English to be able to communicate with him.

One example is when he was looking for a SIM card.

“The [hotel] reception told me of a place to go to, but I had trouble finding it from the metro,” Vanni explained.

“I ended up stopping two university students and showing them the address.

“They stopped what they were doing to take me there... They even helped me negotiate a price and set up the SIM.”

Vanni thanked the pair of locals by offering them lunch.

In the following days, Vanni explored the city and its attractions, including the Drum Tower and its counterpart, the Bell Tower, which were for centuries the tallest buildings in Beijing.

In the square between the two towers, he was caught up in festivities with lights, music and colours.

Traditional music floated across the air and locals danced in harmony.

“I enjoyed the walk, eating a green tea ice-cream and accepting food from a street vendor,” Vanni said.

“I didn’t know what the food was to begin with, but then I discovered it was fried crabs.”

Vanni also visited the iconic Tiananmen Square. 

On one side of the square, an enormous Soviet-style building houses the National Museum of China.

“Wandering around, I came across the district created for the 2008 Olympics,” Vanni said.

“Nearby was the China Ethnic Museum, a park established to promote unity of all Chinese ethnic groups.”

While writing this update at a train station, Vanni had time to reflect: “If Beijing and all its changes surprised me this much, what will my next destination be like?”

We can’t wait to see what Shanghai – the biggest and most dynamic city in China – has in store for him!

During his trip, the Italian explorer is raising funds for the non-profit organisation SOS Children’s Villages.

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