Beijing and Shanghai after the Olympics

Gentle Readers and Loved Ones All,

I had another Asian trip after the one where I got to visit the kids in Yokota. We flew back to Narita with no time there to do anything other than eat and sleep.

The next day we flew from Narita to Beijing, offloaded the freight and then made the short hop down to Shanghai. This occurred on Monday, the day after the Olympics ended.

I have several observations.

First, Gentle Reader, China’s air pollution problem, in my humble observation and opinion, has not been abated by efforts to clear the air for the Olympic Games. Further, Chinese poor air quality is not limited merely to the greater Beijing metropolitan area. No, esteemed reader, the air is filthy from the southern border for hundreds of miles all the way to the northern border. It is accepted wisdom that America contributes over 30% of the world’s greenhouse gases while containing less than 10% of the population. (...or numbers in that ballpark….) These travelogues are about what I see with my own eyes, Gentle Reader. I have flown the length and breadth of both countries – all of China looks like what Los Angeles used to look like but does not any longer. Can you say 'smog'? Sure, I knew you could. Methinks we are being intentionally lied to about the US's contribution to ‘Global Warming’.

Second, China is a growing economic powerhouse – which may be good or may be bad. The Shanghai and Beijing airports alone are works of engineering art. They are lovely to look at and the Chinese built them in no time at all.

Now, consider, Gentle Reader that New York City is still ‘discussing’ and planning what the replacement to the Twin Towers will be. China can complete huge construction projects while we sit around arguing with ourselves over silly issues. This does not bode well for the future of the US economically.

Flying in and out Beijing's Capital Airport is always a challenging proposition. It is every bit as busy as any big US airport – in fact bigger than many. The ‘Conga Line’ waiting for takeoff is always at least 10 airplanes long and I have never gotten out of there less than 30 minutes late.

Shanghai is also a growing economic powerhouse and will be the site of Expo 2010. They are very proud of that. There are billboards and banners proclaiming this event throughout the city. They have a mascot – Haibao – based on a Chinese Kanji writing character Ren, which is the character for 'person'. Luckily, I got Haibao to pose for a picture with yours truly.

Other than meeting Haibao, this layover in Shanghai was uneventful and boring; which leads me to…..

Esteemed Reader, I have been waiting for an opportunity to share a picture and video with you. Some months back, my FO and I decided we would go ride the Maglev Train from Shanghai to the Pudong Airport and back.

There are actually two trains running on parallel tracks. As one goes out to the airport, the other goes into town and then vicey versey. You pass the other train roughly halfway out and at about the time you are up to top speed. Gentle Reader, that is a combined passing speed of over 400 mph. I made sure to sit next to the window on the passing side of the train. Wheee! If you aren’t ready for it, the passing train will cause you to soil your linen. Two very quick, loud, “WHOOM WHOOMs” and then it’s gone.

This video is my amateurish attempt to share the ride with you. It is not sped up or modified electronically in any way. I tried to turn around and scan the speedometer near the top speed.

The train has no seat belts or other restraining devices. The acceleration rate is very limp, less than what you feel in your family car. This has to be by design as a mag device has the capability to give really huge accelerations. But the speed just keeps building and building….. It is really quite exhilarating as you are only 50’ or so above the street level and you can look out the window and see how fast you are going. I’ve been much faster in a jet but never so close to the 'stuff' as it goes by so this gave the highest sensation of speed I’ve ever had.

Eight minutes from the airport to the downtown station! The same ride in a cab in Shanghai traffic takes an hour or more. I’ve heard of guys putting their luggage in the company paid cab we always get to take us to the hotel and then walking over to the Maglev and taking it downtown. They are in the hotel for 30 minutes before the bellman brings up their bags from the cab. I may try that sometime.

Hope you enjoyed this small saga,

I remain,

Dad / Geoff