2016 IACMR Conference
June 15-19, 2016, Hangzhou, China

About Hangzhou
VISA
Languages
Useful Numbers
Climate
Currency
Transportation
Food
Shopping
Tipping
Tourist Attractions
Information Sources

About Hangzhou
Hanghzou has enjoyed a history of over 2,200 years. It is one of the seven ancient capitals of China. Hangzhou owns the natural environment integrating rivers, lakes and hills.In the 13th century, the Italian traveler Marco Polo admired Hangzhou as ‘the Most beautiful and elegant City in the World’. The Westlake Cultural Landscape was listed as World Heritage by UNESCO. Mulberry silk art, Xiling Seal Club were listed as intangible cultural heritage of mankind by UNESCO. The world’s longest artificial canal which is known as the Great Canal winds through the city as well as the Qiantang River which is noted for the magnificent view of tidal bore.

Hangzhou has developed economy and abundant natural resources. The total amount of Hangzhou economy is in leading places among domestic provincial capital cities. It ranked No.1 in ‘China Mainland Best Commercial City Ranking’, topped ‘China’s happiest cities’ for ten consecutive years.

In 2016, the G20 Summit will be held in Hangzhou.

VISA
From October 21st, 2014, 72-Hour Visa-Free Policy is implemented to facilitate passport holders of 51 countries and regions to enjoy a visa-free stay up to 72 hours when making an international transfer via Xiaoshan Airport. Read details about 72-Hour Visa-Free Transit.

If you need a VISA, please visit Chinese Visa Application Service Center website athttp://www.visaforchina.org/ or visit the website of your local Chinese Embassies.

Languages
People native to urban Hangzhou speak the Hangzhou dialect. Mandarin (putonghua), the official language is used in Hangzhou as well.

Useful Numbers

Climate
Hangzhou has a subtropical monsoon climate with four distinct seasons. It is warm and humid with sufficient sunshine and plentiful rainfall. Spring and autumn are short, winter and summer are long. In 2014, its average annual temperature was 17.3OC, the annual rainfall was 1468 millimeters and the annual sunshine time was 1407.2 hours. The maximum temperature reached 37.9OC on July 22th; the minimum temperature was -6.7oC on January 22th.

Currency
The renminbi (literally “people’s currency”) is the legal tender in the mainland of the People’s Republic of China. It is issued by the People’s Bank of China (PBOC, central bank). The official abbreviation is CNY, although also commonly abbreviated as “RMB”.

Exchange Rate: Current Exchange Rate with U.S. Dollar: $1 = RMB 6.3524 yuan (buying rate, Nov. 8, 2015).

Cash is the common mode of acceptance. In addition, the credit card is widely accepted in most places except small local stores.

Transportation
Hangzhou has direct flights with major cities in China and also some international destinations, including Amsterdam, Tokyo, Seoul, Singapore, and Bangkok. It is within the fast transport network of east China, and enjoys convenient high-speed rail and highway connection with popular tourist cities in this area, like Shanghai, Suzhou and Nanjing.

Hangzhou has a well-developed public transportation system composed of buses, subways, taxies and bicycles. There are altogether over 1,000 public bicycle spots in the city. Visitors can rent a bicycle and tour around the city freely.

Food
The Hangzhou dining scene is composed of the local cuisine, western cuisine and cuisines from other parts of China, visitors’ dining requirements can be fulfilled with thousands of available restaurants.

There are several dishes that have come down over several hundred years, some even thousands of years. They are West Lake Fish in Vinegar Gravy, Braised Dong Po Pork, Beggar’s Chicken and Fried Shrimps with Long Jing Tea Leaves.

Fancy Hangzhou snacks are a must in tasting the authentic local flavor. Typical local snacks include noodles with seafood, bao zi, and fried bread and so on. People there usually eat these snacks as breakfast. Starting the day as a typical local citizen is the first step in getting to know this city. It is also a good choice to walk around these snack streets to experience the local culture.

Shopping
Shopping in Hangzhou is no longer limited to local specialties such as China silk, tea, and lotus root starch. Today modern offerings abound in various shops, stores, supermarkets, and plazas that crowd the commercial center.

Qinghefang Street, one of the most famous historic streets in the city, reflects features of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279). Most preserved buildings are from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Strolling on this street, you will be attracted by the antique buildings and local crafts, such as silk parasols, brocades, noted Zhang Xiaoquan scissors and Hangzhou fans.

Yanan Road is considered the Number One Street in Hangzhou. Three-thousand-meter-long Yanan Road running between the north and south sections of the city has become its commercial center.

Sijiqing Clothing Market is located on Hanghai Road. Established in October of 1989, the market is one of the most influential clothing wholesale and circulation markets in the country.

Tipping
Tipping is not practiced in China (instead along with taxes, built into the menu price).

Tourist Attractions
West Lake, Xixi National Wetland Park, Song Dynasty Town, Impression Westlake

Thousand Islets Lake, Wuzhen Water Town, Shaoxing, Huangshan 

China National Silk Museum , China National Tea Museum, Southern Song Dynasty Kiln Museum,Traditional Chinese Medicine Museum, Zhejiang Provincial Museum

Information Sources
http://www.hangzhou.gov.cn/main/zjhz/hzgl/
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/cityguides/hangzhou.htm