A Journey Through Mongolia: Train and Steppes Beyond the Present

Life is not just about the mundane present; there's also the distant Mongolian trains and steppes. In the vast grasslands of Karakorum, once the center of the world, we set up a simple table and sat on the ground, with a local Mongolian guide, a 19-year-old girl, preparing our lunch in the trunk of the car. Looking around, there was no end in sight. It was July, and the grass in Mongolia was particularly beautiful, swaying with the gentle breeze. This might have been one of the most memorable meals of my travels. On this land, where countless horses have trodden, the base camp of Genghis Khan stands now in ruins, with only the wind and the echoes of the past. Without having read this history, it's hard to imagine the stories that unfolded here. My friend and I traveled from Beijing by train, but due to a flood that washed out the railway, we had to disembark and take a bus arranged by the railway department to bypass the damaged section, then board the K3 train to Ulaanbaatar. We were four hours late, but our guide was already waiting at the station. Our four-day, three-night itinerary was arranged by a local guide. Beyond Ulaanbaatar, there are no roads or people, and even driving is not recommended here due to the risk of getting lost in the steppes. In some places, we even went horseback riding. We were two, a car similar to a van, a Mongolian driver, and an English-speaking guide. The guide was in charge of cooking, which was done in the trunk. We would eat at arranged locations, usually local families' yurts. Some memorable moments include staying in a local family's yurt one night, which involved a horseback ride of about an hour. The driver would take care of our luggage. Riding horses was exhilarating, running freely across the vast steppes was incredibly liberating. But for those who can't ride, it was a slow and bumpy ride being led by the guide's horse. Sunsets and starry skies. The sunsets here might have colors you've never seen, and seeing shooting stars every night has become commonplace. The nomadic people have always migrated with the environment, so there are few historical relics left. The palace has some stone foundations, walking on them, the mental images that come to mind are clearer. It's said that people in sparsely populated areas are more introverted, but in an area where there's only one family in a yurt, the children were incredibly friendly, and everyone was very hospitable. Although the living conditions are harsh, every experience is incredibly worthwhile. Train tickets and visas were handled by agents in China. The guide was found through a Google search for Golden Gobi, and we contacted them by email to arrange the trip. They operate a hostel in Ulaanbaatar, and my itinerary is placed in the last picture. They can also provide more information on longer trips.