A few quick impressions of Beijing

Or rather, of our hotel, the Poly Plaza, which is funky but fine.   We're about to go out and investigate the city but here are some observations so far:

David checked out the gym, which is a room the size of a closet and consists of two pieces of equipment (a treadmill and a pulley machine).  The gym was overseen by a number of employees - all of whom were smoking.

Among the delicacies available from room service:  fried pig nut (yes, you read that correctly), black fungus in vinegar, and tingle-and-hot-sausage.  We don't know what tingle is.  And, we don't want to know.