Paris - Beijing : the trans-siberian environmental experience

Project - International Advanced Master (EnvIM) - February 2011

Paris - Beijing: Each year, the students of the International Environmental Management Advanced Masters Programme travel between these two cities in February to complete their curriculum at Tsinghua University in China.

This year, Juliana, Laure, Jamil and Samuel (class of 2010-2011) decided to cover the 9063-km distance between the French and Chinese capitals via the Trans-Siberian and Trans-Mongolian Railways. Their itinerary: 20 days of travel at the pace of the legendary train and encounters with travellers and locals along the way.

“Our decision was initially motivated by our desire to minimise our CO2 emissions.” We also want to make travellers more aware of environmental issues. This voyage will also be an opportunity for us to discover and study many ecosystems and nature reserves.”

“We want to prove, for example, that the buses and trains are a viable alternative to air travel for this long trip from Paris to Beijing, even in the middle of winter. We expect it to be an extraordinary means of personal enrichment on a cultural and human level.”