You know that feeling when the plane lands and the seat belt light beeps off and everyone stands up to race off the plane? In recent years, I've found myself trying to sit until it is my turn to go, stay calm and breathe. This recently acquired disposition prepared me well for getting off a plane in China in COVID times! Hurry up and wait!
First, you are excused from the plane by rows, I wasn't too worried because I was scrambling to re-do the WeChat mini program for customs that I had done incorrectly before (entered the wrong address in the wrong place. . .long story, anyway). Once I got off the plan I found a bathroom (PRO TIP) before getting in the series of ten different lines.
1) Customs/ arrival/ health QR code scanned (that the mini app produces ) people were literally running to this line from the plane. It was fast and easy (if you had the code) You also had to sign a release form for the testing that would come later.
2) COVID test
I was unnecessarily apprehensive about this after an early pandemic eye procedure required a test that I am SURE scraped my brain through my nose. These tests were not bad. They did use two gigantic swabs to get a sample from the back of my throat and I gagged a little, but didn't barf, so all was good!
3) Immigration
This is where they interview you about your business in China and stamp your passport. In the past this has been quick, not this time. Each foreigner (the line I was in) was interviewed extensively about where they were going, what their business was and who it was with. I had figured that after the challenges of getting a visa, if you had that, one could assume that things were legit. Nope. The agents I worked with asked for LOTS of details about my work and even asked to see a copy of my contract (which I only had in email which wasn't loading. . .I was in their company for quite some time!)
4) Baggage
After immigration you could go to baggage claim to get your luggage, no line here because the first three steps take so long.
5) Next there were three lines to choose from based on your destination after leaving the airport and quarantine. Here there was another form and QR code to generate then we were further sorted by final destination and waited in another line to leave the little corral for our destination area.
6) Then the agents took our passports and we walked in a line to another corral area to prepare to get on the bus.
7) Then we got in line to go load our luggage on the bus and board.
8) Then we drove to the QT hotel (not sure how long it was, I fell asleep). The team at school had done their best to pre-arrange a hotel for me and I ended up at a place about a mile away. In the WeChat groups people perseverate over how to get a prearranged hotel, I just don't think it is possible and why bother worrying about what you can't control!?
9) Hotel Check In
Then we arrived to the hotel, unloaded our luggage and walked into the basement receiving room-- it was not delightful, but we got our passports back, got a small bag with some tablets for the toilet, tooth paste, a thermometer and some rubber gloves (and honestly, another bottle of something that I have yet to identify). There is no housekeeping service for the duration of the QT, but trash is collected every day. We also got our room number printed on the little folder that hotel keys are normally in, but there was no key.
10) Last line of the night! We got on the service elevator in small groups and went up to our rooms which were open until we closed the door.
Good night! I am sure that other experiences will be different, but this was mine (and maybe I missed some steps.). All in all, it took about 4 -5 hours from the time the plane landed to when I got to my hotel room.
First, you are excused from the plane by rows, I wasn't too worried because I was scrambling to re-do the WeChat mini program for customs that I had done incorrectly before (entered the wrong address in the wrong place. . .long story, anyway). Once I got off the plan I found a bathroom (PRO TIP) before getting in the series of ten different lines.
1) Customs/ arrival/ health QR code scanned (that the mini app produces ) people were literally running to this line from the plane. It was fast and easy (if you had the code) You also had to sign a release form for the testing that would come later.
2) COVID test
I was unnecessarily apprehensive about this after an early pandemic eye procedure required a test that I am SURE scraped my brain through my nose. These tests were not bad. They did use two gigantic swabs to get a sample from the back of my throat and I gagged a little, but didn't barf, so all was good!
3) Immigration
This is where they interview you about your business in China and stamp your passport. In the past this has been quick, not this time. Each foreigner (the line I was in) was interviewed extensively about where they were going, what their business was and who it was with. I had figured that after the challenges of getting a visa, if you had that, one could assume that things were legit. Nope. The agents I worked with asked for LOTS of details about my work and even asked to see a copy of my contract (which I only had in email which wasn't loading. . .I was in their company for quite some time!)
4) Baggage
After immigration you could go to baggage claim to get your luggage, no line here because the first three steps take so long.
5) Next there were three lines to choose from based on your destination after leaving the airport and quarantine. Here there was another form and QR code to generate then we were further sorted by final destination and waited in another line to leave the little corral for our destination area.
6) Then the agents took our passports and we walked in a line to another corral area to prepare to get on the bus.
7) Then we got in line to go load our luggage on the bus and board.
8) Then we drove to the QT hotel (not sure how long it was, I fell asleep). The team at school had done their best to pre-arrange a hotel for me and I ended up at a place about a mile away. In the WeChat groups people perseverate over how to get a prearranged hotel, I just don't think it is possible and why bother worrying about what you can't control!?
9) Hotel Check In
Then we arrived to the hotel, unloaded our luggage and walked into the basement receiving room-- it was not delightful, but we got our passports back, got a small bag with some tablets for the toilet, tooth paste, a thermometer and some rubber gloves (and honestly, another bottle of something that I have yet to identify). There is no housekeeping service for the duration of the QT, but trash is collected every day. We also got our room number printed on the little folder that hotel keys are normally in, but there was no key.
10) Last line of the night! We got on the service elevator in small groups and went up to our rooms which were open until we closed the door.
Good night! I am sure that other experiences will be different, but this was mine (and maybe I missed some steps.). All in all, it took about 4 -5 hours from the time the plane landed to when I got to my hotel room.
