Chinese consulate proves difficult for visa
 

Apparently China doesn't crave western currency. It is proving frustrating to get my visa from the LA consulate.

It's no surprise that the visa application must be dropped off in person; that requirement is quite clear. What IS a surprise is that it must also be picked up in person - and they have refused to do same day service. Further, when my husband arrived at the consulate today, he had to wait for 2 hours for them to accept the visa application. Since we live two hours from LA, this means that two full days will be consumed in getting one visa.

ARGH!!!!!

Stick with it Carol you know it will be worth it ! I can only assume that upcoming CNY travellers also need visas, hence busy.

Just in case anyone thinks I don't have visa hassles.. I may have to go to London to get my Syria visa !

Color me confirmed!
 

upgraded both ways :)
Thu 02/17 UA 857 14:10-19:30+1 SFO-PVG
Fri 02/25 UA 850 17:35-16:30 PEK-ORD

hotels:
Shanghai - Westin & Hilton
Beijing - Hyatt

Also confirmed and UG's

2/17 JFK-NRT-PVG NW 17/25 73AB/73AB
2/21 PVG-NRT-JFK NW 26/18 73AB/73AB

excellent news... keep emailing me the pics and i'll update the site and firm up the restaurant bookings this weekend.

Enjoy!
 

Here are some pictures of Shanghai and Beijing.

When I saw you had posted to this thread, I thought you would be posting that you would be joining us, but you just posted pictures :(

Looks like Shanghai may be our only good shopping option!

Beijing Closes the Silk Market

Don't worry, still pleanty of shopping days until Christmas.

The original outdoor version is definitely closed, but there is a very big and very new indoor shopping center standing right next to it now -- not sure if it has formally opened yet though. Given how cold Beijing is this time of year, indoors is a good thing. Also, you're probably less likely to be pickpocked indoors as well :)

website updated
 

there is more info (especially on who's coming) on http://www.ftshanghaido.info and if you don't like your pic or have more info for me, then updates are welcome !

GK, you witty boy! That was fun reading.

Yes, that'll be party flight 857 (SFO-PVG nonstop on UA), arriving on Thursday, Feb. 17 in the evening. I'll be in coach rather than in the "party room" (upper deck). It's one of those award tix from a promo, economy only, non-upgradeable.

Guess there are two party flights then since Jan, Ieva and I are coming out the next day, arriving Friday night. We have 3 of the 4 row 15 seats if I recall correctly :D

Airport questions
 

For those of us going on to Beijing, is it more convenient to fly from SHA or PVG?

If we fly from PVG, is the high speed rail link open?

Where is its terminus in Shanghai?

I would say it is six of one and half a dozen of the other..

SHA is an older airport, so maybe not so pleasant if you are delayed. Yet it is a simple taxi ride/hotel transfer from city.

PVG is far.. the maglev train is worth the experience, but the station is east of Pudong (adjacent to Longyang Rd Metro Station), and not at all handy when travelling with luggage. You have to take a taxi to the start of the rail line, but of course once on the train, it is very fast and goes right to the terminal building.

My recommendations..

So for your inbound into PVG, get a hotel pick up. Arriving at end of the Maglev live in the evening with luggage could turn into a nightmare. I did post the price of Westin hotel pick ups earlier above somewhere.

For the flight to Beijing, I'd go to the airport with the highest frequency of flights, as there could well be schedule/delay problems.