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We arrive in Beijing at 2: 30 PM local on 9
May. We started 2 hrs behind the sun and caught up with it over Alaska to
arrive 2 hours behind it again in China. The view from the aircraft during the
approach is a light brown smog blanket that obscures the ground. There are huge
crowds in the airport - simply masses of people, both Chinese and foreigners,
but with such a beautiful and huge airport the passport and customs process
goes much faster and easier than in an airport in Russia. It appears that they
have many aircraft landing around 2 - 3 PM -surely they cannot have such crowds
all day. TheVantage company program director (Kelly Weiman) and her crew are
waiting and eager to get us going. We must wait a while, however, as tour group
members are arriving on different airlines over a several hour period. No
problem, plenty of time to explore this magnificent airport. Vantage
immediately take all the luggage and deliver it to the hotel rooms. Kelly
Weiman provides city maps and guides. A modern bus takes us via super highways
downtown. It is rush hour and the highways are packed with cars and busses.
Entering the city we see many high-rise apartment houses aand then office
buildings. Beijing is very impressive. They must be tearing down whole
neighborhoods for the elevated super highways and all the modern buildings. The
city boasts 5 ring roads all connected by extensive multi-level clover leaf
intersections and exchange ramps to elevated cross town highways. On the way
the highway passes along a canal. Once on the city streets the auto traffic is
mixed with hundreds of bycicles.
We arrive at the beautiful, five star
Presidental Palace Hotel located near the
Forbidden City. The stated room rate on
the wall is only $100 a night, quite reasonable for such a gorgeous room
complete with every possible convenience. The hotel lobby is lovely also, with
many services including Internet Cafe. The Vantage program director briefs the
newly assembled group as we get to meet each other in a private meeting room.
The room keys and all check in formalities are already completed - remarkable
for one used to the hassle of checking in to a Russian hotel. Tea is served as
the director explains the layout of the area and time for events. A printed
schedule for the following day activities is provided. Then Ms Weiman walks
with us to show the way to a local store about two blocks down a side street,
where we buy bottled water and some ice cream - less expensive by far than at
hotel prices. It is getting dark around 18:30 so we do not attempt to explore
far from the hotel.
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