Haerbin Express

Our failure to source return tickets to Beijing from MDJ turned to be a blessing in disguise. The detour via Haerbin brought more adventure and wonderful experience. This email focuses on the bus travel from MDJ to HRB. We managed to squeezed in a visit to Haerbin Ice Festival, with special gratitude to TR. Even the subsequent train travel from HRB to BJ was something new.

On the morning of departure by HaMu Express (Haerbin Mudanjiang Express), ticket touts at the bus terminal were pushing bus ticekts to us at Y150 (versus normal fare of Y87). We bought our tickets a few days before but some hopeful passengers galantly showed up at the terminal without a ticket.

The 320km journey started from cloudy MDJ and ended in snowy Haerbin in just under 4 hours. The expressway was at least half covered with snow, which got heavier as we approached HRB. It was obviously slippery with once head collision along the way.

Some photos captured along the trip:
1. Departing MDJ Train Station/Bus Terminal
哈尔滨牡丹江快客从牡丹江火车站出发

2. A Haerbin Express in opposite direction on partially snow covered 4-lane expressway
回牡丹江的哈牡快客。高速公路一半是雪

3. Head-on collision on fully snow-covered Haerbin-bound lanes
亚布里和哈尔滨之间车祸事故。这两辆车都往哈尔滨方向开的，怎么头碰头？

4. A village by side of Expressway.
高速边的小村。

5. A happy passenger unkowingly rubbing really black dust off her seat.
粉红的衣服下车时已变黑了。