General Information

Passport and Visa

You will need both a current passport (valid for 6 months or more after entry) and a visa to visit mainland China (unless you are a Chinese citizen).

We recommend that you apply for a tourist visa, at least a month or more before your journey. If needed, there are services available to expedite the process and shorten the wait time. (You do NOT need an invitation letter for a tourist visa.)

One may apply for a visa at the Chinese Embassy in your capital city or at the nearest Chinese Consulate at your nearest domestic metropolis. Alternatively, many travel agencies will assist you with the visa application and some can submit it on your behalf. For detailed information, please contact your local Embassy, Consulate, or travel agency.

If you wish to apply for a business visa, instead of a tourist visa, the conference organizer can issue an official invitation letter to you. To pursue this option:
(1) Complete the online registration form and pay the registration fee.
(2) Complete the application form for the visa invitation letter (including your name, passport number, etc.).
(3) Scan the passport information page.
(4) Email the required documents above to: contact@cicfconf.org.

Since it takes two weeks to issue an official invitation letter for a business visa application, we advise that you complete and send all documents before June 1, 2017.

Visa Exceptions (Visa-Free Transits)

Citizens of 51 nations can now arrive in Shanghai, Nanjing, or Hangzhou and stay 6 days (144 hours) without a visa. Visitors on such six-day stays can freely move between Shanghai, and Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces – regardless of transit city of entry. In addition to airports, visitors may enter by seaports and train stations.

For further details, please see the following additional information.

Weather

Hangzhou’s climate is subtropical with very hot (32 °C average) and humid summers. Summer also brings occasional torrential rain and typhoons. Seasonal clothing such as shorts, shirts, and skirts is advised. Ultraviolet radiation is quite strong in July. If you venture outside, remember to apply sunscreen and wear a hat and sunglasses.

Insurance

To protect yourself and your personal belongings while you are traveling in China, please be sure that your insurance coverage is adequate for your journey. You may wish to contact your current insurer and purchase additional medical and travel insurance. As a side benefit, many credit cards also provide some built-in insurance coverage (please check terms and conditions before booking your trip).

Electricity

Electricity is supplied at 220V, 50Hz in China. Modern dual-voltage electronics can be used without a problem. However, if you have old 120V only electronics, please be sure to bring a voltage step-down converter or use the 120V outlet in your hotel room (if available). In addition, the electrical outlet configuration will be different from many other countries – please be sure to bring an international plug adapter. (Your hotel may have some available to borrow at the front desk, if you forget.)

Currency Exchange

Before your trip, we recommend that you inform (via telephone or online) your bank and credit card companies that you will be traveling overseas — listing each country and duration. Also, make sure to verify that you indeed have a working PIN for each card. In China, RMB is the only accepted currency. To receive the most favorable exchange rate, we recommend that you obtain any needed cash from an ATM upon arrival at the destination airport or at any ATM located in a major bank in Hangzhou.

Alternatively, exchange centers can be found at airports, most hotels, and in large shopping centers. The exchange rate is about US $1 = RMB 6.90 (but a significant fee will also be incurred). When exchanging money, please keep your receipt by which you can change any remaining RMB back to foreign currency when leaving China. Visa and Master Card are accepted in many department stores and hotels.

The Bank of China and most hotels will cash traveler’s cheques issued by any major foreign bank or financial institution (for which you must show a passport and pay a 0.75 percent commission). Traveler’s cheques signed over to a third party cannot be cashed in China, but can be presented for collection through the Bank of China. All on-site conference payments can be paid by the above mentioned credit cards, however, traveler’s cheques are not acceptable.