It's sunny as we land at Shanghai's Pudong airport, one of two that serve this city of 20 million people. It's impressive; sure, there's a queue for immigration but that will be the same at Osaka and Sao Paulo, so we'd better get used to it. But there's loads of space and it feels fine. And they soon put on extra people to man the immigration desks: Sao Paulo, take note.

Bag comes, get out into the concourse: "need taxi? city?" the usual crap which you ignore. Head for the currency change; see a few friends who are there too. It all looks good. Only problem is that the information counters, helpfully set up by the organisers, are inside the immigration zone when we weren't thinking of things like that, not outside when we are now.

So we are assailed by the "need taxi? City?" brigade which we know to ignore and there's no one to advise us. The locals know that "official taxi" is the right phrase, so I foolishly go along with this. I'm not staying in town, I'm out near the circuit, so I wistfully forgo the Mag-Trav or whatever it's called. This puts Formula One in the shade, and yet only one of the many PR puffs that we receive has mentioned it - and I've lost it. It's like a train, except it doesn't run on rails, it floats - at 430 kph/267 mph. It take nine minutes to do the 30 kms into town. It has to be experienced.

But not wanting to go into town because I'm not staying there, I eventually succumb to the "need taxi?" lot. I'm taken into a multi-storey car park and thence to a taxi which has taxi written on it, so it can't be too unofficial.

Every now and then, someone asks if I'm "Schumacher?" and eventually, I realise that they haven't mistaken me for a seven time World Champion; they mean Formula One! My taxi driver has asked this and over the next hour - during a journey he has estimated will take an hour and a half - he attempts to prove that he should be in the Grand Prix. He also wants to be paid as much as the World Champion and at the end of the trip, he rips me off three-fold. It still wasn't that expensive for the trip.

I've heard that Shanghai taxi drivers are something else, but this guy seems to be the king of them all. He eventually shaved a full half hour off the journey, mainly by using all five lanes of the motorway, usually spending only a few seconds in each. Other impressions are that the majority of trucks are coloured blue, there are some smart cars (but not a lot) and that everyone hoots a lot.

Today I am at the circuit. It rises like a massive structure from the surrounding countryside. The highest and therefore most noticeable parts are two zeppelin-shaped pods at either end of the grid, running across the track. They are level with the main grandstand roof. One houses the media centre, the other the circuit offices - although why they need the best view in the house remains to be seen.

Certainly, here in the press room, we have a fantastic view - we can see virtually all the circuit and the commentary boxes for TV and radio have only a slightly worse view. Below us, in what was a swamp, are the offices and hospitality boxes for each of the teams. They are square structures surrounded by water - cynics say that the quickest way from Ferrari to Bridgestone is for Jean Todt to walk on water! There are acres of open grandstand and the massive main stand. It is all very impressive.

But will I actually see anyone from any of the teams? There are two lifts down to the ground floor, which is around nine floors below us. The press conference room is on the same level. Once again, as in Bahrain, architect Hermann Tilke has forgotten it in his plans. At least he has remembered to give us journalists a view this time, and quite a view it is.

But the pits seem almost to be another planet. Sure, they look very impressive, but they seem miles away. There must be people down there, but you can't see much. Apparently the teams are unhappy with several aspects of the design of their facilities, such as the catering areas.

But overall, everyone is extremely helpful and trying their best. It is a big facility - massive - and unlike any other. It dwarfs even Bahrain. It would be great to see it full on Sunday. Whether it provides exciting racing remains to be seen, but it's certainly impressive and several major European companies are bringing guests all the way from Europe to be part of this historic occasion. It's going to be fascinating.

Bob Constanduros