Beginning of china

Having a blast in china so far!! First pic is right off the boat in shanghai- pouring rain, walked to get money- about 2 miles- soaking wet. Then got to "mint" the club- it was really cool and super nice. Stayed out for a while and it was soo much fun!! then back to bed for a 5am wake up to train to Beijing! The ticket service we used was awesome because we found it is essential to have what you need to say written out in Chinese because they do not understand you or normal writing, but the service emailed us papers with all the phrases we would need for the day. We used it for the cabs and at the station to get an earlier ticket because we got there so far in advance. The train ended up being 2 extra hours because of delays on the tracks So didn't get to Beijing till 2:30pm. Got fast food in the train station because we were starving but the food was nasty. Got a cab to our amazing hotel- it's perfect, great location and amazing staff. Walked to dinner at da dong duck-voted best Peking in Beijing. Holy crap- coolest and yummiest experience. The Ambiance in so cool in the restaurant with huge fish pond surrounding where they cook the duck! Tons of cooks and kindest wait staff. Had awesome drinks and a four hour amazingly yummy dinner talked forever then walked the streets for almost and hour- snowing and gorgeous outside! Had so much fun! Heading to bed now and the Great Wall tomorrow!!
First impressions: people are so loud compared to japan, people spit and cough and talk soo loud on their phones- there is not a no phone on the train policy and they are loud!! When we were in our cab the driver coughed up and opened the door and spit out into the street- we were horrified!! Everyone else stares at us. In japan they looked down and away but here they point and stare. Also more people in the train station spoke English and wanted to talk to us but taxi drivers and most other people don't speak a word of English. It's fascinating to compare japan to china- already so many differences you wouldn't think of until you see both back to back- no more heated toilet seats:( no drinking the tap water, loud with spitting and coughing, yet lots of kind people who want to take pictures of us and our hotel is soo nice and helpful and the snow in Beijing is gorgeous- cannot wait to be on the wall tomorrow with snow!! We want to toboggan down it! Hopefully we don't freeze!