Travel Infos&Visa / 旅行和签证信息

Travel Infos

Chengdu is located on the edge of the fertile plains of the Red Basin in China's Sichuan Province. Due to its agricultural wealth, Chengdu is sometimes called the "Land of Milk and Honey". The Funanriver bisects the city, although boat traffic, common until the 1960's, has all but vanished. More information can be found via: https://www.travelchinaguide.com/cityguides/chengdu.htm

Sanxingdui 三星堆

It is an archaeological site and a major Bronze Age culture in modern Guanghan, Sichuan, China. Largely discovered in 1986, following a preliminary finding in 1927, archaeologists excavated artifacts that radiocarbon dating placed in the twelfth–eleventh centuries BC. The archaeological site is the type site for the Sanxingdui culture that produced these artifacts, archeologists have identified the locale with the ancient kingdom of Shu. The artifacts are displayed in the Sanxingdui Museum located near the city of Guanghan.
Sanxingdui is on the UNESCO list of tentative World Heritage Sites, along with the Jinsha site and the tombs of boat-shaped coffins.

Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding 熊猫基地

This is the biggest facility of this kind in the world. Due to habitat destruction and other reasons, the giant panda is maybe the most famous endangered animal. It is home to some 60 giant pandas, but also has some red pandas and a colony of black-necked cranes. The pandas are basically on display for tourists but views are much closer than is possible at most Western zoos. A small museum and a cinema screening related documentaries is also available.

Jinli Ancient Street 锦里

This neighborhood is part of the old city of Chengdu; it features hotels and small stores in old-fashioned style. Antiques are sold in a variety of different stores. It is very popular among both tourists and locals, especially at night, with many bars, restaurants, and nightclubs.

Wuhou Temple (Memorial Temple of Marquis Wu) 武侯祠

This temple is built for commemorating Zhuge Liang(诸葛亮), he is minister of Shu(蜀) in Three Kingdoms Period. He is famous through the Chinese novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. There are dozens of dust covered statues of obscure historical figures behind glass and not much else. The gardens are attractive, but not extensive. It is next to Jinli Ancient Street.

Thatched Cottage of Du Fu 杜甫草堂

Located by the Blossom-Bathing Brook, Du Fu Thatched Cottage is well-known as the former residence of Du Fu, the great poet of the Tang Dynasty, during his stay in Chengdu. In the winter of the year 759, Du Fu fled into Sichuan to be away from the An-Shi Rebellion. He set up a straw-roofed house named Chengdu Thatched Cottage, where he lived for about four years and composed more than 240 poems that are still popular today.

Visa Information

Conference participants may need a Chinese visa to enter China. Specifically, those who are not Chinese citizens, except passport holders from Singapore, Brunei, and Japan, need a Chinese visa. Participants can apply for a visa at the Chinese embassy or consulate in the region in which they live. To avoid uncertainty, participants will be advised to apply for a visa as early as possible. It is recommended that they apply for a Chinese visa at least 1 month in advance.

For most attendees, it is easier to apply for a Tourist ("L") visa; an invitation letter is NOT required for obtaining a Tourist visa.

Necessary materials to apply for Chinese Visa

• A passport which is valid for at least six months following the date of submission, with an entire blank page available for the visa
• One Visa Application Form of the People's Republic of China, which is filled clearly with true, authentic and complete information and signed by the applicant
• One recent, 2 inch full-faced and bareheaded passport photo (the daily life photo, photo copy or digital photo printed on the ordinary paper shall not be accepted)
• Other materials related to the visa application, deemed as necessary by the visa officer

For more information, please contact the local Chinese Embassy in your country. Alternatively, participants may ask their travel agents to arrange their travel to China and obtain a tourist visa irrespective of whether or not they have registered with the Conference Secretariat. If participants have any difficulties in obtaining their visa, they should contact the Conference Secretariat.