Welcome to China
China, one of the four oldest civilizations in the world, has a written history of 4,000 years and boasts rich cultural relic and historical sites. It is the inventor of compass, paper-making, gunpowder and printing. The Great Wall, Grand Canal and Karez irrigation system are three great ancient engineering projects built 2,000 years ago. Now they are the symbols of the rich culture of the Chinese nation. China's enormous production and consumer demands are making the nation the world's largest consumer of most minerals and metals. China is rapidly becoming a new center of economic power, greatly influencing the global economy.
More information about cultural China: http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/swzl/rwzg/index.htm (a series of e-books with rich information about Chinese museums, gardens, dwellings, folk arts, foods, clothing etc, have been released on the homepage)

Life in Beijing
About Beijing
Beijing in Chinese means "capital in the north". Its establishment could be traced back to more than 3000 years ago. From 1272 to 1911, Beijing was the capital of Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties. After the People's Republic of China was founded in 1949, Beijing is the capital of new China.
Beijing is a modern city with high-rise buildings, shopping malls and vast international hotels connected by an intricate freeway system crisscrossing the city, which stand tall and upright harmoniously with traditional hutongs, parks, exquisite temples and numerous architectural treasures. It is a fast-growing, dynamic metropolis that maintains a firm grip on its rich cultural heritage.
(More information in http://www.ebeijing.gov.cn/default.htm)

Time Zone
Beijing operates on Eastern Standard Time (EST), which is calculated by adding 8 hours to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). At 12 noon Monday in Beijing it is:
Buenos Aires 01:00 Monday
Johannesburg 06:00 Monday
London 04:00 Monday
Los Angeles 20:00 Sunday
New York 23:00 Sunday
Paris 05:00 Monday
Sydney 14:00 Monday
Tokyo 13:00 Monday

Geography
The center of Beijing City is located at 116° east longitude and 39° north altitude, the same altitude as Rome, Madrid and Philadelphia. Its neighbors are Hebei Province and Tianjin City. Its total land area is 16,410 square kilometers, among which the mountain areas account for 61.4% and are distributed in its western, northern and northeastern parts, and the plain accounts for 38.6% and is distributed in its southern and southeastern parts.

Climate
Beijing is located in the temperate zone affected by continental monsoon. The spring and autumn in Beijing are shorter and dry while the summer and winter are relatively longer. The weather in September is usually fine and warm with an average temperature of around 20 degrees. We recommend you bringing a light jacket in case of showers.

Shopping Hours
Most stores open at 8:30 or 9:00 and close at 21:00 or 21:30 every day of the week.

Currency and Banking
Chinese Yuan (RMB) is the only currency used in China. Money exchanges by cash or traveler’s checks can be made at the branches of the Bank of China.
Banks usually open at 9:00 a.m. and close at 5:00 p.m. every day of the week (including Saturdays and Sundays). Currency exchange services are available for following foreign currencies: US Dollar, British Pound Sterling, Euro, Japanese Yen, Australian Dollar, Canadian Dollar, Hong Kong Dollar, Swiss Franc, Danish Krone, Norwegian Krone, Swedish Krone, Singapore Dollar, Malaysian Ringgit, and Macao Pataca. Credit cards (VISA, Master card, etc) are accepted in several larger restaurants and in most up-market shops in the inner city. Cash payment is necessary in markets, at tourist attractions and in general when dining or shopping in most areas. ATM (cash) machines are available in main commercial districts.
When visitors leave China, they can change the remaining amount of CNY back into foreign cash prior to their departure from China. If they wish to do so, they have to show foreign currency conversion receipts.

Passport and Visa
A valid passport and a visa are required for entry into China. Visas can be obtained from your local Chinese Embassy or the nearest Consulate General. Upon receiving your registration form and payment, the Organization Committee will send you an official visa letter that is a required document for your visa application. Visitors from Japan, Singapore and Brunei holding a private passport and staying in China for not more than 15 days do not need a visa. A single entry visa is valid for three months, and can be extended for an additional month at the Foreigners Section of the Beijing Public Security Bureau if necessary.
Once in China, participants are advised to carry their passports with them all the time, because they may be needed to check into hotels, book airline tickets, and change money. Early registration is advised so that adequate time is allowed for obtaining visas. Please consult the nearest Chinese diplomatic Embassy or Consulate General for details if necessary.

Transportation
Beijing has an extensive public transportation network. Subway and City light Railway with high speed trains running at intervals of 3 to 5 minutes are the fastest public transportation in the city. Public buses are the cheapest means of transportation which cover the entire city. In addition to the buses, subways and city light rails, the taxies are also available in Beijing. Do not forget to keep your receipt. In case you leave any articles aboard, the receipt can help you find the taxi driver.

Liability
In all cases the Fully3D 2009 Organization Committee shall only act as an agent and shall not be liable for any losses, accidents, personal injury, or damage to property of any kind and origin whatsoever. The liability of the persons or companies instructed to provide the services shall not be affected. It is advisable that participants should take adequate travel and health insurances before leaving their own countries.
Amendments shall not be valid unless mutually agreed in writing and signed by the two contracting parties. The place of jurisdiction for fully qualified persons who do not have a general place of jurisdiction in China, and persons who have relocated their place of residence to a foreign country shall be Beijing.

Arrival
Beijing Capital International Airport is the center of China's civil aviation network. It is located in the northeast direction of Beijing and is some 25km from Tian'anmen Square. Airport shuttles and taxicabs are available. If you have much luggage, you had better take a taxi, which costs approximately 100 Yuan to the conference venue.