We got all our packing done at a reasonable hour. Marnee came over to keep us company while we threw stuff in bags. We got to the airport way earlier than we needed to and then found out that our flight had been delayed. It wasn't too bad, though. We hadn't yet sat on a plane for 17 hours, so we were pretty chipper despite the slight delay.
The flight was... well, we've already established that I am a neurotic flyer. I spend most of my time trying to keep the figure 9.8 meters per second squared out of my mind. There's some pretty morbid math that can be done with those figures and current cruising altitude. I must admit that China Eastern did a very good job of keeping us comfortable. We landed safely in Shanghai and traferred to Beijing.
We were met by the man who was to be our tour guide while in Bejing. His American name was Charlie, and our driver was Mr. Jiong. He told us interesting facts about China and the rapid growth of Beijing. I had heard about it, but nothing really prepared me for the scale of the buildings there. Imagine Las Vegas without the glitz and for an expanse that makes the strip look puny. The buildings in Beijing are ENORMOUS. I can't state that enough. Being there in winter meant that all the trees were bare and our views of the gargantuan buildings were unobstructed.
While in Beijing we stayed at the Shangri La resort. If you visit Beijing, I cannot recommend this hotel enough. The room was clean, the service was the most helpful I've ever encountered, and the bathtub was deep.
