QUESTIONS

Hi all, I'm new to here, and I'm wondering if some of the veterans here could lend me a little advice. In about a month I'll be traveling to Beijing for the first time, and there are about a hundred questions spiraling through my mind as I think about the moment I step off the plane and enter a country that will be completely different from anywhere I've been before. Hopefully some of you folks who've gone through this experience before can help address some of my worries:

What can I expect upon entering the airport?

What kinds of formalities am I likely to face?

Are there any banks or other facilities for exchanging currency in the airport?

Is it better if I obtain some Yuan before arriving?

Will I be able to access some/many/most services in English at the airport?

Are there generally any problems involved in hailing a taxi?

I know there's a whole other world of challenges awaiting me as soon as I step out into the city proper. But these are a few of the more immediate concerns on my mind. I'll be grateful for any advice and wisdom some of you can impart to a soon-to-be laowai like me.

Thanks!

Ken