It's about 200km away from Beijin, in north-west side.
In 宣化. I lost my way and was turning back. A young man who happenned to pass by called me. He said something with looking at my bicycle and gave me one of two bottles of mineral water in his hands, to cheer me up I suppose. He didn't speak English at all so we tried to comunicate somehow in writing. Meanwhile other people around got together, joined the strange conversation. I explained them with my map that I came from Japan via Korea, Tianjin, Beijin, and was going to go to Europe if possible. I couldn't understand what they were saying mostly, that was really pity. Instead, I tried to entertain them with letting one of them ride my heavy bicycle or taking pictures of each other.
When we said good-bye, the young guy gave me the other bottle of water in his hand. He himself must have been thirsty in a hot summer day. I tried to refuse it, but he just put it in the bottle gage of my bicycle. I'm not sure if I could express my appreciation enough.
The way in the city was still a little complicated. A moter-tricycle driver showed me way, twice as he found me later again.
張家口 was a big city. I found a hotel which looked cheap but it was not a hotel where foreigners were allowed to stay. Other guests gathered while the front women were at a loss how to explain me that. One of them told me that he would take me to a hotel where I could stay. But he came with his car and me with my bicycle. Then another young man who came with his bicycle took me to the hotel.
The hotel was huge 4 star hotel. The charge was 370 yuan (5735yen), which was unfortunately too expensive for me. One of them spoke English. He let me wait in the tea room despite I was all dirty and stank for riding on dusty road for 2 days, and looked for cheaper hotels nearby. He recommended me a 3 star hotel. He also gave me his phone number in case I got into trouble again while I was in China.
The 3-star hotel charged 218 yuan for the cheapest single room. Though it was still a little more expensive than I expected, I didn't want to change again after having received so many times of favor. The people in the hotel was again very friendly, especially the ones who worked outside around the parking lot. They took special care of my dirty bike, kept it in a storage room while there is a parking lot for bicycle outside.
3 July 2008, 張家口, 2199km
