Passport and Visa
You will need both a current passport (valid for 6 months or more, before you begin your visit) and a visa to visit mainland China (unless you are a Chinese citizen).

We recommend that you apply for a tourist visa, a month or more before your journey. If needed, there are services available to expedite the process and shorten the wait time. (You do NOT need an invitation letter for a tourist visa.)

One may apply for a visa at the Chinese Embassy or at the nearest consulate general. Alternatively, many travel agencies will assist you with the application and some can submit it on your behalf. For detailed information, please contact your local Embassy, Consulate, or travel agency.

Certain nationalities arriving from Hong Kong can obtain a single-entry five-day Special Economic Zone Tourism Visa on arrival. Getting a tourist visa in Hong Kong takes from 1 to 3 days and costs HK$150-1,100. Please check if this option is available to you, before arriving in Hong Kong.

If you wish to apply for business visa, instead of a tourist visa, the conference organizer can issue an official invitation letter to you. To pursue this option:

(1)   Complete the online registration form and pay the registration fee.

(2)   Complete the application form for the visa invitation letter (including your name, passport number, etc.).

(3)   Scan the passport information page.

(4)   Email the required documents above to: contact@cicfconf.org.

Since it takes two weeks to issue an official invitation letter for a business visa application, we advise that you complete all forms before June 1, 2015.

Weather
Though Shenzhen is situated about a degree south of the Tropic of Cancer, due to the Siberian anticyclone, it has a warm, monsoon-influenced, humid subtropical climate. The monsoon reaches its peak intensity in the summer months, when the city also experiences very humid, and hot, but moderated, conditions.

July will always be hot and humid. The highest temperature this month can reach 32 °C (90 °F) and the lowest temperature is 26 °C (79 °F). On sunny days, you may feel scorched outdoors so wear summer clothing, a hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses. Lastly, since thunderstorms are frequent this month, please monitor the weather in the morning before venturing outdoors. You may wish to bring an umbrella or borrow one from your hotel, as necessary.

Insurance 
To protect yourself and your personal belongings while you are traveling in China, please be sure that your insurance coverage is adequate for your journey. You may wish to contact your current insurer and purchase additional medical and travel insurance. As a side benefit, many credit cards also provide some built-in insurance coverage (please check terms and conditions before booking your trip).

Electricity 
Electricity is supplied at 220V, 50Hz in China. Dual-voltage electronics can be used without a problem. However, if you have 120V electronics, please be sure to bring a voltage converter or use the 120V outlet in your hotel room (if available). In addition, the electrical outlet configuration will be different from many other countries - please be sure to bring an international plug adapter. (Your hotel may have some available at the front desk, if you forget.)

Currency Exchange 
Before your trip, we recommend that you inform your bank and credit card companies that you will be traveling overseas (listing each country and duration) and verify that you have a working PIN for each card. In China, RMB is the only accepted currency. To receive the most favorable exchange rate, we recommend that you obtain any needed cash from an airport ATM upon arrival, and at any ATM located in a major bank in Shenzhen.

Alternatively, exchange centers can be found at airports, most hotels, and in large shopping centers. The exchange rate is about US$ 1 = RMB 6.20 (but a significant fee will also be incurred). When exchanging money, please keep your receipt by which you can change any remaining RMB back to foreign currency when leaving China. Visa and Master Card are accepted in many department stores and hotels. 

The Bank of China and most hotels will cash traveler’s checks issued by any major foreign bank or financial institution (for which you must show a passport and pay a 0.75 percent commission). Traveler’s checks signed over to a third party cannot be cashed in China, but can be presented for collection through the Bank of China. All on-site conference payments can be paid by the above mentioned credit cards, however, traveler's checks are not acceptable.