This Just In: APC Blog

After a relatively uneventful plane ride on United Airlines from Atlanta to Beijing via Chicago, I checked into my hotel tired but in good spirits.

It’s been 22 years since my last visit to Beijing and I was a teenager traveling with my family then. The immediate impression upon arrival at the Beijing airport was how the airport resembled any other international airport complete with modern amenities travelers have come to expect. My plane flew into Terminal 2 which, according to the official Beijing Capital International Airport web site, is able to handle 26,500,000 passengers yearly and 9,210 passengers at peak hours.

Two things struck me as I made my way through immigration and customs: 1.) The pervasive presence of western-style advertising and 2.) The location of a mega Starbucks shop right in the arrival hall. Click here to view photos from Day One. 

I am in Beijing, China for the International Women of Influence Awards presented by GlobalExecWomen in recognition of female executives at the forefront of international business and trade and for the next six nights, I’ll be posting entries from Beijing.

Though I am not good at estimating numbers, it seemed a few hundred revelers enjoyed themselves last night at the annual Holiday Author Party at the New World of Coke museum. We sincerely thank the HAP committee, APC staff, authors and sponsors for helping create a festive atmosphere! Of course, the guests did our part as well. It was a great event, one that never disappoints! Happy holidays, everyone!