China. More importantly first visit to the First Lounge

[bPeteb]

Here I sit up against the windows of the QF First Lounge. First timer. I could sit here all day but we have to go to Beijing. Spa treatments tick. Working our way through the champagne list tick. Eggs bene tick.

Two weeks in China starting in Beijing and then via planes, trains and automobiles we'll head north west to the Gobi, then southish through Lanzhou, Xi'an, Chengdu and up to the mountains on the Tibetan border.

QF J, CA and HU Y. Two private tours. China Railways first, business, hard seat and deluxe soft sleeper and a whole lot of car.

Away we go...

 

[bPeteb]

Away we go

 

[Jacques Vert]

On board and looking forward to the trip!

 

[VPS]

Exciting - always enjoy your TR

 

[love_the_life]

Sounds like it's going to be a great trip and another of your terrific TRs. Boarding pass scanned.

 

[moa999]

Have a great trip.
QF107 today is VH-EBS, one of the three reconfigured 332Ls with two J toilets.

 

[woodyren]

Following as well. Looking forward to seeing a few parts of China I have not yet visited and getting ideas for my next trips there.

 

[TomVexille]

Settling into 1K

 

[Dr Bob]

Yes I'm certainly along for the trip. Have only had a few visits to China.

 

[bPeteb]

Quick update.

Flights both on time. Great crew on 107. Menu was identical to our return trip from Tokyo home to Brisbane in May. Two people at immigration very slowly managing a very long queue. Lucky we were at the front of the queue. Bags out amongst first.

Gave cab driver address of hotel - The Emperor Qianmen Beijing - from saved image. He put it into his GPS. Staying in a hotel on a walking street and that caused much confusion. He switched off the meter and we went around the block a couple of times. After midnight when we got out of cab and walking area in total darkness. Found another hotel where we were pointed further around corner.

Easy and very warm checkin. After one false start with a key card that wouldn't give us access onto secure floor we got into floor where we were met by a housekeeper who took us to our room. Still getting used to the 'clouds' moving above us.

Time for breakfast and then out we go into a completely unknown city

 

[Dr Bob]

A novel use of cotton wool. I don't think OH&S would allow that here. I hope they have working fire alarms

 

[tgh]

bit late arriving but now strapped in and looking forward to the adventure

 

[Maca44]

When you get to Xi'an, consider doing the terracotta warriors by public bus. Ask your concierge where the bus station is located, take a taxi to it and then take (I think bus 306). Taxis are very cheap, and the bus is very cheap also (abt 7-8RMB), but don't get off until the last stop. There is a museum about three stops from the end, and some people get confused with this. The final stop is where most of the people will get off in any event, follow the crowd when inside the main entrance they have authorized English speaking tour guides for about (?)150RMB but you get a private tour guide that take you through all the halls, and explain all aspects. Be careful about tipping, as in some parts it is considered an insult. Go back the same way, travel with the people, the buses are very clean and well worth the experience. Also, walk through the Muslim Quarter and dine on all the street food, it is really a fantastic experience, and will take several hours..huge area.

 

[woodyren]

I'll second spending time in the Muslim quarter. Wander the streets off the main tourist streets as well when there. You can also hire a bycycle and ride around the top of the old city wall.

 

[Straubs]

Strapped in, looking forward to this ...

 

[bPeteb]

Hi Macca. Might be being met at the station and taken straight there. We're usually great independent travellers but this last couple of holidays we've said whatevs. We've also got a time issue because we've booked a Lost Plate food tour and need to be back at our hotel and then to the departure station by a specific time. Day two more leisurely so thinking biking around the city walls as suggested by woodyren.

Teaser for when I get access to photos on the laptop. Magical morning/early afternoon on the Great Wall at Jinshanling.

Shrouded in mist when we got there


then eventually cleared.

 

[woodyren]

Which wall section? The bottom photo suggests one of the less visited parts.

 

[Steady]

I’ll be there in ~3 weeks, this was one of my views when I was there last. I loved China

 

[Straubs]

I’ll be there in ~3 weeks, this was one of my views when I was there last. I loved China
View attachment 135311

Oh my God Steady, that photo is hopefully on your wall ... that's absolutely amazing

 

[Steady]

Oh my God Steady, that photo is hopefully on your wall ... that's absolutely amazing

I was blessed that day