Beijing to St. Petersburg via rail

By Trevor Mogg On May 3, 2010 · 13 Comments

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Trevor Mogg’s train journey involved two continents, 8,000km, and more cup noodles than he cares to remember.

This trans-Siberian/Mongolian rail stretch was part of a longer trip between Japan and London, a trek that took in over 13,000 overland kilometers. Below are some memorable photos from the famous train ride.

Cup noodles

Four in a carriage. Unhealthy food. Messy table.

First class booth

For those who don't mind spending a little more, this berth for two awaits.

Scorpions on a stick

If you're in need of a crunchy lunch, these should satiate your appetite.

Night train

At the China-Mongolia border.

Train tracks

On the single track to Ulaanbaatar, trundling through the Gobi Desert.

Trans-Mongolian train

A rare chance to see the rest of the train as we skirt around Bogdkhan National Park, just prior to arriving in Mongolia's capital.

Mongolian boy

The future of Mongolia.

Ger camp

Early morning on the plains of Mongolia.

Skull

A reminder of the harsh, unforgiving environment.

Siberian winter

A lone fisherman on frozen Lake Baikal, Russia.

At the station

Provodnitsas during a station stop.

Church domes

Taken at the Romanov Monastery, near Ekaterinburg.

Russian host

Accommodation in Moscow. The lovely Vera, Russian through and through, spoke no English but was very good at French. Sadly, I'm not.

Palace Square in St. Petersburg

The view from the grand Hermitage Museum looking out on to Palace Square.

About The Author

Trevor Mogg

Trevor currently lives in Japan and likes to get on the road/tracks/water whenever he can.

http://www.ieatmypigeon.wordpress.com Eva

Wow! Absolutely gorgeous photos. I feel you on the Cup Noodles; quick snack of champions!
http://thesegoldenhours.blogspot.com/ maya

brilliant photos! i especially loved the ones of the train table, scorpions (and seahorses – wow!), and the train attendants!
http://www.kaleidoscopicwandering.com JoAnna

Holy Cup o’ Noodles!

How long did the train ride take?
http://epicthrills.com/blog/ Allen

I love the cup of noodles shot. I spent a month traveling only by train through China. Dried, prepackaged noodles and hot water = breakfast of champions!
http://alainarose.wordpress.com Alaina

Your amazing photos just sparked up my wanderlust. Wow. I especially love the church dome and night train photos.
Trev

Thanks for your kind comments. The trip from Beijing to St Petersburg took just over two weeks with stops in Ulaanbaatar, Lake Baikal, Ekaterinburg and Moscow. On average I was two days on the train then two days off, which worked well for me. The whole trip from Japan to the UK took a month.
Carolyn

Your photos inspire me to begin planning a trip to Russia. I have a particular reason for wanting to spend time at Lake Baikal.

I do have one comment about the “snacks”. Sea horses are endangered. They are being harvested by the millions while their habitat is in danger – from over fishing, climate change, trawl net fishermen and pollution around the world.
So when I saw the sea horses on the stick I cringed. If you would like to read Poseidon’s Steed by the marine biologist
Helen Scales about sea horses and research Dr. Syliva Earle of the National Geographic Society you will find some interesting reading by two experts. Dr. Earle has been a deep sea explorer for 50 years.

I’m sure your trip was amazing. Most people know little or nothing about sea horses. Many people do not understand how we are connected to oceans even when we live thousands of miles away from them.

The Chinese primarily , and other Asian countries probably will not give up sea horses for snacks or medicine. They grind up pregnant males and make some kind of drink with them. Some countries – the Philippines for one – are working to grow and harvest these creatures in a more sustainable way. One has to ask however – are they truly necessary for food or medicine?

lisa

what is it with the chinese? they have no morals or ethics. thanks for this Carolyn I did not know…the chinese are notorious for eating everything and if it is endangered it seems all the better for them. i am so disgusted with their ignorant culture and government which is so hugely responsible for species extinction and brutal animal murders and torture… and their human rights abuses. Is there a gene inside them that shows they are less than human and are cold as ice

http://www.feverdreaming.net/blog Naomi

This is fantastic! Any chance you have another blog or a Flickr account where we can see more?
http://annemerritt.blogspot.com Anne

Gorgeous! I took the Beijing-Moscow train a few years back, but didn’t go through Mongolia. Your landscape photos make me think I chose the wrong route! Either way, I hear you on the cup noodles – China has some amazing brands!
Trev

Sorry, at the moment I don’t have any photos from the trip on Flickr. I’ll let you know if I sort something out…
http://www.vivianisvirtual.ca/ Vivian, VIA’s virtual tour guide

Great photos from a great trip. The Trans-Siberian made my top 5 cut of the world’s best train journeys (on a soon-to-be published blog entry) and your shots definitely capture its exotic flavour, cup noodles and all! I’m completely jealous you could spend a month making your way from Japan to the UK…

Vivian is Virtual
VIA Rail’s tour guide
bryce

hey im considering this trip and want to eventually head to helsinki!!
how much was the train ticket??

Beijing to St. Petersburg via rail

Cup noodles

First class booth

Scorpions on a stick

Night train

Train tracks

Trans-Mongolian train

Mongolian boy

Ger camp

Skull

Siberian winter

At the station

Church domes

Russian host

Palace Square in St. Petersburg

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