Getting into and around China

We just had what will probably the last normal feeling weekend of our lives in DC/tkpk. We leave for China on Weds and once we return we'll be rushing to move out of the apartment and getting ready for Korea. Mom and Dad took some boxes home with them after a dinner visit on Thursday night, but our apartment doesn't look like we're moving out just yet. Once we get back from China that will change fast. So Kate and I have just a couple more days of feeling settled into the nest--if we even manage that while we pack for China. It's a bit melancholy--I'm going to miss this place.

But, on to China. Our flight takes off from Philadelphia on Weds so we're going there on Tuesday night to take Audrey our for her birthday and sleep on her floor. Our friend Ian will let us leave our car at his place in a suburb right outside of the city and he'll drive us to the airport on Weds (thanks Ian!). For those of you who have been asking about our itinerary to/around China, here it is:

Weds, Jan 13: Depart Phili at 12:40pm EST
Thurs, Jan 14: Arrive Shanghai at 7:20pm China Standard Time (flying through Detroit)

We'll spend a few days in Shanghai and then fly north to Harbin with Kate's Mother. We'll be there from Jan 18 to the 20th. This is going to be a relatively guided trip, with such activities as, "After breakfast, drive to the Sun Island Park to enjoy the enormous ice scultpures. Then proceed to the Siberian Tiger Park, where you will be caged in a specially protected bust to visit the tigers. After lunch, take part in some ice activities (i.e. take the horse/dog drawn sled, etc...) and then visit the Saint Sofia Church and Central Street." On day three we will visit "the highest steel tower in Asia--Dragon Tower" OK!

On the 20th we'll fly (Kate thinks) to Beijing, and stay there with Kate's ma until the 23rd. We'll all take a night train back to Shanghai that night and Kate and we'll stick around the city until departing on:

Thurs, Jan 28th: Depart Shanghai at 9:20am CST
Thurs, Jan 28th: Arrive in Philadelphia at 4:52pm EST

Next time from Shanghai.