We caught a high-speed bullet train from Xian to Beijing. The approximately 4 ½ hour ride was very smooth and comfortable and the train reached speeds of 307 km/hr. Between cities much of the land was cultivated but all in very small plots. Sadly, the pollution got worse as we drew closer to Beijing. At a Beijing Cloisonne factory we saw just how much work it is to shape copper wire into leaves, petals, feathers, etc., and glue them onto copper vases, pots, pens, Christmas ornaments, etc. Then the spaces in the wires have to be filled with enamel colour until the wires no longer protrude, fired numerous times during this process, polished, and glazed. The vast factory store had many beautiful pieces but with four more weeks of travel ahead we managed to resist buying.
... read more
