May 13th Shanghai --> Beijing

The train station in Shanghai is located relatively far outside, near the old airport, so the journey takes a long time, about an hour. After a detailed check-in, you arrive at the platform 30 minutes before departure and board the train. Departure is punctual to the minute, always at speed 347 to Beijing, with only 2 stops in between. 1500 km in 4.5 hours. It’s 37 degrees; we first drive to the Summer Palace by a small lake, then get stuck in evening traffic to Tiananmen Square. Strict controls, especially since tomorrow Donald Trump is joining us and also wants to go there.

Although Mao is responsible for many more deaths than our leader, the former is still heroically revered (even by our young left-wing Greens). In China, perhaps not always voluntarily? No memorials to honor the murdered there.

In most parts of the city, the comparison arises: Shanghai is like Manhattan, Beijing like East Berlin 40 years ago. In the center, it becomes more modern. Architecturally, however, it is overall incredibly boring. Hard to believe that both cities are in the same country.

The hotel this time is superb, the Peking duck tastes just as good as at Ya in Munich.