TRAVERSE 131
TRAVEL- MONGOLIA
MICHAEL BURTON
UNLIKE ANYWHERE ELSE ON EARTH
The road to Ulaanbaatar cuts through northern China— a path not just of distance, but of shifting worlds. Having never set foot in the Middle Kingdom, Australia’ s largest trading partner and increasingly influential global player, I was intrigued by the idea of a“ pre-tour tour” in Beijing. And I wasn’ t alone. The same curiosity had gripped the nine other riders who would later join me in Mongolia. A volley of emails to various tour operators eventually landed us with China Tours, whose representative, Sunny, took our ambitious three-day“ Best of Beijing” brief and delivered it with warmth, precision, and efficiency.
Beijing offered a vivid, sometimes dizzying, blend of history and modernity. The highlight was a full-day hike along the Great Wall, beginning at the wild, crumbling sections of Jiankou and finishing on the meticulously restored Mutianyu segment— with a final descent down the mountain by toboggan, equal parts thrill and novelty. We practiced Tai Chi in the Temple of Heaven’ s inner courtyards, our uncoordinated group movements met with amusement and warm encouragement by locals. In the labyrinthine Hutongs of Xicheng District, we bumped through history aboard rickshaws, glimpsing the only part of the city where land ownership is permitted. A visit to the Art District capped off our urban immersion, and with pint glasses raised on our final evening, we toasted Beijing farewell. Mongolia awaited.
It’ s funny how much has changed in the world since I first began adventure riding 22 years ago— yet how little has changed in the essence of true travel. Preparing for this journey across Mongolia felt timeless, as though I were following in the hoofprints of Genghis Khan
TRAVERSE 131