The City
Beijing, as the capital of China, is the nation's political
and cultural center and is unique in its history, tradition
and character. Some 3000 years ago, a small village was born
at the southwest of the modern Beijing. From the 12th
Century to 1911, it was the capital city for the Jin, Yuan,
Ming and Qing Dynasties. Beijing is ever reshaping
throughout centuries a thoroughly modern metropolis,
covering an area of 16,800 square kilometers and
encompassing a population of 22 million. You will find the
city an unforgettable destination, with its ancient Great
Wall, the Forbidden City and numerous palaces and temples as
a reminder of dynasties lost in the mists of time. Moreover,
the city has refreshed its character by a growing number of
parks, recreational centers, folk shows during holiday
celebrations, splendid theaters, and a grand city outlook.
Passport and Visa
Foreigners traveling to the People’s Republic of China are
required to possess passports that are valid for at least
six months beyond the period of their intended stay in
China. Based on the regulations on foreign affairs,
foreigners MUST obtain a visa before entry into China, and
exemption of visa is given to citizens of Brunei, Japan or
Singapore holding an ordinary passport if they enter China
through ports open to foreigners and stay in China for no
longer than 15 days. Attendees are advised to consult the
nearest Chinese diplomatic mission for more details
regarding visa application. Usually, a single entry visa is
valid for three months from the date of issue, and can be
extended for an additional month at the Foreigners Section
of the Local Public Security Bureau if necessary. Visa
application should be made preferably at least one month
before the intended departure for China.
Attendees may apply for either a business visa (category
“F”) or a tourist visa (category “L”) at the local Chinese
embassy/consulate.
“F” visa: an invitation letter produced by the local
congress organizer (The China International Conference
Center for Science and Technology) will be provided to
facilitate your visa application. In order to receive the
Invitation Letter, you need to complete your online
registration (with registration fee paid). In addition, you
are required to provide us with all the
information/documents required for processing the visa
invitation letter through the online registration system.
Upon receiving these, a letter will be produced, and an
electronic copy of this letter will be sent to the e-mail
address that you used for registration.
“L” visa: An invitation letter is NOT required to get an “L”
visa. For more details regarding the tourist visa, please
consult your local Chinese embassy/consulate.
Weather
July in Beijing is sunny and hot. The average daily
temperature is about 23°C / 73.4°F, with highs of around
36°C / 97°F and lows of around 11°C / 52°F. The monthly
precipitation is 70 mm.
Time Difference (Standard Time)
Los Angeles -16 hours; London -8 hours; Berlin -7 hours;
Paris -7 hours; Zurich -7 hours; Toronto -13 hours; Moscow
-5 hours; Amsterdam -7 hours; Tokyo +1 hour; Sydney +2
hours; Melbourne +2 hours; Jakarta -1 hour.
Insurance
The conference organizers do not accept any liability for
personal accidents or loss or damage to the private property
of any participants during the conference or indirectly
arising from attending the conference. It is advisable that
participants should purchase adequate travel and health
insurances before leaving their own countries.
Electricity
The electricity supply in China is 220V, 50Hz. Two types of
sockets are used: three-pin socket (a grounding pin and two
flat prongs forming a V-shape) and two-pin socket (two flat
parallel prongs without grounding).
Currency Exchange
The renminbi (literally "people's currency") is the legal
tender in the mainland of the People's Republic of China.
The official abbreviation is CNY, although also commonly
abbreviated as "RMB". Money exchange centers can be found at
the airport, most hotels and large shopping centers. The
exchange rate at present (2013) is roughly US $1 = 6.10
Chinese RMB. When exchanging money, please keep your
exchange memo so that you can convert any remaining Chinese
currency back to foreign currency upon leaving China. Visa,
MasterCard, American Express, Diners Club and JCB are
accepted in many department stores and hotels. It may be
difficult to withdraw cash with credit cards.
Banks and most hotels can cash travelers' checks issued by
many foreign banks or financial institutions. Participants
will need to show their passport and pay a 0.75 percent
commission fee. Travelers' checks signed over to a third
party cannot be cashed in China, but can be presented for
collection through the Bank of China.
Arrival
All flights arrive at Beijing Capital International Airport,
which is 30 kilometers from town, and is served by major
international airline companies. Airport bus shuttles
connect the airport to different parts of downtown Beijing,
including Friendship Hotel of Beijing. But the most
convenient way is to take a taxi at the taxi stand; the cost
is around 120 Chinese yuan.