After 4 hours sleep I awake to the sun coming in the small crack between the curtains. Its overcast outside, standard beijing, polution filled muggy day, realise this is the day its going to happen. Shower, repack my bag one more time, and set off for 7:30 start. Traffic in Beijing is intense. Wheel around too many cars and happen to take the wrong right hand turn, but luckily am still going in the right direction, make a quick detour to remedy the situation.
 
Later almost get sandwiched between a truck, tuktuk and donkey. Lucky to escape that one. Rest of the day was uneventful, but then arrived in the mountains... and some steep hills for my untrained legs. eventually past a hotel, checked in and passed out from the most amount of exercise ive done in 2.5 years. Day 1 completed.