Reflecting on 2019, another chapter in a personal journey through China
Travel, however, is not only about going nationwide for I still find a sense of discovery just walking across Beijing. Although I do admit metro expansion has greatly assisted getting around.
In my early days, up until 2000, there were two lines. 'Loop Line' (No 2) followed roughly the former Ming city walls around Beijing's historic core.
Line 1 went from Xidan west out to Pinguoyuan close to the Fragrant Hills. Today virtually every corner of the city is linked into the metro, with the network's growth set to continue. It was by metro Line 6 that I recently headed west to Jin'anqiao.
There I experienced the futuristic S1 maglev line heading through suburban, hilly Mentougou. Returning to Jin'anqiao I had a look at the work transforming former Shougang steelworks into a participating location for the upcoming 2020 Winter Olympics.
Beijing for me can also be about watching the growing CBD at Guomao, walking around the Forbidden City's walls or looking at examples of heritage preservation.
One area that impressed this December was the beautiful restoration work of an older hutong area east of Qianmen which included reopening long abandoned waterways.
However, Beijing while of course being both nationally and internationally important is just one component of a much larger country that is China. Living as I do close to the vibrant Sanlitun area, it could be easy to never leave such a "comfort zone".
There I can find much that would be expected within a large Western city. However, I have to keep reminding myself that there is more waiting to be discovered well beyond.
Today with advancements in rail travel and online booking travel is so much easier than throughout my earlier days exploring China.
