Visa Information
Nestled in eastern China’s Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou—capital of the Southern Song Dynasty and a UNESCO World Heritage city—is famed as the "Paradise on Earth" for its blend of natural beauty and cultural heritage, centered around the iconic West Lake.
- West Lake: The city’s soul, a serene freshwater lake ringed by pagodas (Leifeng Pagoda), gardens (Suzhou-style gardens) and causeways, immortalized in Chinese poetry and art.
- Lingyin Temple: A 1,600-year-old Buddhist temple complex surrounded by lush mountains, home to ancient stone carvings and tranquil halls.
- Qiandao Lake (Thousand Island Lake): A scenic reservoir with crystal-clear waters and over 1,000 islands, ideal for eco-tourism and outdoor activities.
- Hefang Street: A historic pedestrian street showcasing traditional Hangzhou cuisine (e.g., Dragon Well tea, beggar’s chicken) and local handicrafts.
- Xixi National Wetland Park: A peaceful wetland ecosystem, known for its water towns, lotus ponds and traditional water villages.
Visa Information
For residents of most countries, a visa is required for visits to the People’s Republic of China, although 144-hour visa-free transit in Shànghǎi (and Běijīng, plus five other cities with international airports) is available.
Visas are easily obtainable from Chinese embassies, consulates or Chinese Visa Application Service Centres abroad. Getting a visa in Hong Kong is also an option. Most tourists are issued with a single-entry visa for a 30-day stay, valid for three months from the date of issue. Your passport must be valid for at least six months after the expiry date of your visa (nine months for a double-entry visa) and you’ll need at least two entire blank pages in your passport for the visa. For children under the age of 18, a parent must sign the application form on their behalf.
In many countries, the visa service has been outsourced from the Chinese embassy to a Chinese Visa Application Service Centre (www.visaforchina.org), which levies an extra administration fee.
A 30-day visa is activated on the date you enter China, and must be used within three months of the date of issue. Longer-stay visas are also activated upon entry into China. Officials in China are sometimes confused over the validity of the visa and look at the ‘valid until’ date. On most 30-day visas, however, this is actually the date by which you must have entered the country, not left. Although a 30-day length of stay is standard for tourist visas, 60-day, 90-day, six-month and 12-month multiple-entry visas are also available. If you have trouble getting more than 30 days or a multiple-entry visa, try a local visa-arranging service or a travel agency in Hong Kong. Note that if you go to China, on to Hong Kong or Macau and then to Shànghǎi, you will need a double-entry visa to get ‘back’ into China from Hong Kong or Macau, or you will need to reapply for a fresh visa in Hong Kong.
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.