In just three months, Semiofest will be coming to Shanghai!
Here we will provide you with some latest information about visa application and hospitality in Shanghai to help you book your travel to Shanghai.
VISA
Applying for a Chinese visa is not very difficult. Here are a few simple steps to get your visa!
How kind of visa should I apply for?
There are different kinds of visa in China for aliens. For all Semiofest attendees, please apply for F Visa (Non-commercial Visa). Please click here for more information on Visa policy of China.
F means “访问” [fǎng wèn] (visit) in Chinese. The F Visa does not allow ‘work’ in China and no income is allowed to be gained on the F Visa.
For attending conferences in China, F visa is the one you should be applying for.
How can I apply?
You can submit your application to the consular office of Chinese embassies or consulates by yourself, or ask someone else (such as your friends, relatives) or entrust an agency to do so on your behalf. The power of attorney is not required.
Documents required:
- Valid Passport (Valid at least 6 months after the return date and 2 consecutive blank pages)
- Visa Application Form properly completed and signed, with an ID photo
- Invitation letter issued by a domestic Chinese party. After your registration, our team in Shanghai will help issue an invitation letter.
How long does it take to get a visa?
It regularly takes 4 working days for processing the application. However, the express service and rush service are also available if you want to pick up your visa earlier. Extra US$ 30 for the same-day collection; and additional US$20 for the second or third day collection.
It is recommended that the application start in late March or early April to ensure there is enough time for application processing in case of unexpected events.
There may be difference in application material and price for different countries. For more visa information and online application, please visit the official website Chinese Visa Application Service Center.
If you have any question, send us an email at 2014@semiofest.com.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Where can I stay?
As a world tourist destination, Shanghai offers you a variety of choices in hospitality from world group to boutiques. Transportation within the city is also very convenient with taxi rate starting at only 1.7 EURO (first 3km). We’ve list some of the hotels near M50 or along metro lines. Feel free to choose your stay!
Holiday Inn Express Shanghai Zhabei (3 star)
From $43/day
View this hotel on Booking.com
Holiday Inn Express Zhabei features affordable rooms featuring free internet access and a flat-screen TV. Popular attractions such as Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street and People’s Square are a 10-minute drive away. Shanghai Railroad metro station (line 3 and line 4) is an 8-minute walk away.
The hotel is about 15 minutes’ drive from our venue in M50.
Rhea Boutique Hotel-Railway Station (4 star)
From $38/day
View this hotel on Booking.com
Shanghai RHEA is located in Zhabei, a 1-minute walk from Hanzhong Line 2 subway station. The boutique hotel offers 2 dining options, free internet and rooms in Mediterranean décor. It is also a 20-minute drive from Hongqiao International Airport and half a mile from Shanghai Train Station.
The hotel is about 12 minutes’ drive from our venue in M50.
Hotel Equatorial Shanghai (4 star)
From $106/day
View this hotel on Booking.com
Hotel Equatorial Shanghai is conveniently situated a 10-minute walk from Shanghai Exhibition Centre and Nanjing Road shopping street. It features 3 dining options and a fitness centre. Jing’an Temple subway station (line 2 and 7) is a 5-minute walk away. Equatorial Shanghai Hotel is a 10-minute drive from the trendy bar area of Xintiandi and the historic Bund. It is a 20-minute drive from Hongqiao Airport and a 50-minute drive from Pudong International Airport.
The hotel is about 18 minutes’ drive from our venue in M50.
InterContinental Shanghai Puxi (5 star)
From $200/day
View this hotel on Booking.com
InterContinental Shanghai Puxi offers easy access to Shanghai Train Station. The hotel offers a full-service spa and 4 gourmet restaurants. Rooms are equipped with iPod docks and flat-screen TVs. InterContinental Shanghai Puxi is less than 3 miles from The Shanghai Grand Theater, Jing An Temple and The Bund.
The hotel is about 7 minutes’ drive/20 minutes’ walk from our venue in M50.
The Puli Hotel And Spa (5 star)
From $375/day
View this hotel on Booking.com
In central Shanghai, The Puli Hotel offers modern rooms with free internet and a BOSE wave music system. Guest rooms at The Puli Hotel And Spa come with modern décor and floor-to-ceiling windows that offer views of the cityscape. Hotel Puli is a 3 minute walk from the Airport Express Shuttle Service and 7 miles from Hongqiao Airport. Free parking is available.
The hotel is about 17 minutes’ drive from our venue in M50.
You can find more fine hotels and book your room on Booking.com.