General Information
Visa Requirements
Update 15 July 2008: Information on Visa for CHINA
Note: The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has recently changed the procedures for obtaining a visa.
Visa Application Form download
Due to these new regulations it is highly recommended that ALL ISOCARP Congress Participants apply for a TOURIST VISA.
When applying you have to submit:
• application form and passport photo
• confirmation of flight booking
• confirmation of hotel booking issued by the hotel itself.
Please check in your respective country whether this is indeed all you need, as some countries might have special demands.
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/links/Chinese_embassies.html
Upon request an official invitation for internal use only (employer, university etc.) by the Chinese Local Organisaing Committee can be drafted. However, this invitation cannot be used for visa purposes. Participants using such an invitation for visa purposes may encounter problems because they might be regarded upon as business visitors. Neither ISOCARP nor the Chinese Local Organising Committee can provide a business visa notification.
About Dalian
Dalian is located on the east coast of Eurasia and the southern tip of Liaodong peninsular in northeast China. It is situated between the Yellow Sea (to the East), the Bohai Sea (to the West), the Shandong Peninsular (to the South) and the vast Northeast Plain (to the North). Dalian is located in the centre of the Northeast Asia Economic Circle and it is the marine gateway of northeast China, North China, East China and the whole world. It also is an important port, and a trade, industry and tourism city.
Dalian is surrounded on three sides by the sea and filled with open spaces and green parkland. It is picturesque and has suitable weather that can be considered as clean and vibrant. It arguably is one of the most beautiful cities in China. In the summer, Dalian is one of the most popular cities in China for tourists from China and overseas. It has the honour of being the “north pearl” and belonging to the “top 500 fine circumstance cities in the world”. Dalian is a young city but has grown rapidly over the last century, with the help of German Planners. It has been very successful in attracting investment from China and overseas. Today Dalian is one of the most important port cities in China and its port industry plays a very important role for the economic development in Northern China.
In February 2007, together with two other cities, Dalian was elected to be the “China’s Best Tourist City” by the National Tourism Administration and the United Nations World Tourism Organisation. In September 2007, Dalian hosted “World Economic Forum on Growth, the Annual Meeting of Global Growth Companies (Summer Davos). Dalian has become a renowned city of international influence in the world.
Getting to Dalian
Dalian Port, with its prime geographical location and deep water, never freezes or silts up. Currently ships from more than 160 countries and regions in the world have passed through this harbour. It is the maritime transportation centre of northern China, and one of the most important trade harbours across East Asia.
Dalian Central Train Station is located next to Shengli (Victory) Square in the town centre. Direct trains serve most cities in Dongbei as well as Beijing and Tianjin. A special daily express train also runs to Shenyang. Tickets can be booked up to 7 days in advance from the station. Local travel agents and major hotels should also be able to book tickets in advance, often further than is possible from the station, for an extra charge.
Dalian International Airport (Dalian Zhoushuizi Airport), to the northwest of the town centre, offers daily direct flights to and from most major Mainland Chinese cities as well as daily flights to Tokyo, Seoul and Hong Kong and regular direct flights to Osaka, Hiroshima, Sendai, Fukuoka, Nagoya and Toyama. Most other major international destinations can be reached through flights via Beijing or Shanghai. Air China, Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airlines provide international flights and most major Chinese domestic carriers also serve the airport. Tickets for outward flights can be booked in advance from the airport ticket office on Zhongshan Lu, just opposite Xiwang (Hope) Square in the centre of town.
Links
Train Timetable www.shike.org.cn
Dalian Port: www.portdalian.com/webcms/index.asp
Dalian International Airport: www.dlairport.com/English/home.aspx
Travel Information: www.tour.dl.cn and travel.runsky.com/travel/yw/index.htm
Climate
Dalian lies in the warm temperate zone of the North Hemisphere, with maritime feature of warm temperate continental monsoon climate. Thus, its four seasons are distinct with neither extremely cold weather in winter nor extremely hot weather in summer. The average temperature of September is 21°C; you will need a lined jacket or woollen sweater over light clothes in the evening. More climate information at this web.