When I was young and visited my grandma and grandad I used to marvel at the transportation system that served their area; something we knew as the ‘trolley bus’.

The Teesside trolleybus system – opened on 8 November 1918 – was unusual for being a completely new system that was not replacing any previously operating tramway system. It was significantly extended in the post-war years to serve the needs of a social housing drive.

The entire Teesside trolleybus system was shut down on 4 April, 1971, by the Teesside Municipal Transport company, which viewed the electric trolley system as old-fashioned.

Well, it appears that, as is the case with other world-leading engineering feats, manufactured and completed by the good people of Teesside…

… Teesside led the way in trolleybus systems. Forward 100+ years and we have, in downtown Beijing… the trolley bus…

I rest my case!

Another mode of transport favoured by Beijingers is the good old honest bicycle. You will recognise the idea from other cities across the world. It is certainly a system that is well used here. Just don’t get in their way! A useful tactic we quickly learned was not to eyeball them, for if they know you have seen them they will ride full tilt at you, whereas if they suspect you have not seen them they will slow down enough for you to save your own skin.

Clearly, the fact that Beijingers hop on a bike and head for central locations results in a considerable build-up of yellow and blue machines in hot spots. However, the authorities have that covered and bicycle redistribution is a constant piece of work – one that is carried out with vigour…

Forgive the obsession but check out this short video clip (taken from our hotel room) of the whole dynamic. The poor guy cannot replenish the stock of bicycles quick enough as those wanting to use them approach, armed with app, and smartly away…

And so, to something a little more modern, as we leave Beijing and head for Xi’an, some 710 miles to the West.

Easy transition to Beijing West Railway Station…

One final look at Tiananmen Square and Tiananmen Gate…

Communicating with our jovial taxi driver along the way, he insisted that we didn’t really want to enter the station by the North Square, rather, he knew better, the South Square is so much quieter, and easier. He should know.

Looking for train G353…

And on, all in good time…

We set off bang on time, of course!

And were quickly up to speed…

Arriving bang on time, we determined that we would head straight for the taxi area and once there order a taxi through the DiDi app. We were hassled by a number of men chasing a taxi fare but they gave up relatively easy – unlike certain other places we have been to. The beauty of the DiDi app is that you book a ride, giving a destination (in English, in our case), it knows your location, calculates the fare (according to your choice of car) and you accept or not. The payment is taken from the card you have attached to the app. No verbal communication needed (other than pleasantries) so the language barrier is not a problem, and there is no haggling over fare. It takes all the stress out of it.

Again, we must stress that all this is made possible by having the technology to hand (a smartphone), a strong signal (thank you China!), and coming fully geared up, with a VPN and eSIM installed and ready to go. This whole adventure would, we have no doubt, have been so very much more challenging if we had tried it 10-20 years ago.

We had a wander this evening, got a bit lost, and accepted that tomorrow is the day for sussing the local area out.

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End note:

Proof positive that it’s the little things that matter… checking out of our hotel, the young lady noticed a little nick on my finger and handed me a little pack of plasters, with a lovely smile 😊

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