Trans Siberian Railway Ticket

A Trans-Siberian Express Train Ticket issued to Polly Ravenscroft for the journey from Peking to Berlin. Leaving Peking on the 29th April 1989 and passing through Harbin in Manchuria, Novosibirsk in Siberia and Moscow. During the late 1980’s Communism was crumbling after 70 years of having been the dominant political philosophy in China, Russia and Eastern Europe. After decades of cultural and religious suppression most particularly in the name of the Cultural Revolution and the Stalinist purges, the Chinese and Russian Governments realised they had to move to a freer, more open Capitalist philosophy. The process was a difficult one for both countries, but more so for Russia who relinquished control of their foreign holdings and dismantled their Communist infrastructure. China, in contrast has held on to its Communist infrastructure and Autonomous Regions and the Communist party is still the dominant political force in the country, although Capitalism is now allowed. Beijing, China - 29th April 1989. (Photo by Richard Manning/Getty Images)