Below is some practical information which you may find useful for your trip to Guangzhou
next June. For more information and further inquiries, please contact Red Ng

Guangzhou (known as Canton), located in the north of Pearl River Delta, is the capital of Guangdong Province and the gateway to the south China. Known as the “City of Flowers”, Guangzhou has covered 1,339 hectares of its area with trees, flowers and grasses, and wafted with flower fragrance all the year around.

1) Climate
Mid June in Guangzhou is fairy hot, and rainy. The average temperature is about 28 degrees Celsius (84F), and it could be as high as 38 degrees Celsius(100F). Usually shirts or at most a jacket will do very well. A raincoat or umbrella is advised. Most places for the conference activities as well as the hotel are air-conditioned.

2) Currency
Chinese currency is the yuan (RMB). The current exchange rate is about 7.4245 yuan to one US dollar. There are many kinds of currencies which can be exchanged in the airport, banks and some main hotels. The Bank of China is located in the hotel lobby of Conference Hotel.

The world wide-accepted credit cards, e.g. Visa, Master Card, American Express and JCB can be used in the main hotels and Convention Center, while the traveler’s checks issued by American, Japanese, European and Hong Kong banks are accepted. The check from the Bank of China is the most convenience when you are in China.

3) Exchanging Money
You can easily change foreign currency at hotels and banks in Guangzhou; the Hong Kong dollar is a very acceptable second currency here. For the most favorable rates, change money through banks. Although ATM transaction fees may be higher abroad than at home, ATM rates are excellent because they are based on wholesale rates offered only by major banks. You won’t do as well at exchange booths in airports or rail and bus stations, in hotels, in restaurants, or in stores.

You cannot obtain Chinese currency outside China, and you cannot exchange it back into foreign currency outside China. This situation will change when the RMB becomes fully convertible.

4) Electrical Supply
220V, 50Hz.

5) Visa
Pease be reminded that you need a visa to enter China. We have consulted with the Chinese consulate officials.  A tourist visa is all you need. Also, you need to go to the Consulate in person to apply unless you are using a travel agent which is authorized to apply a visa on your behalf. Check with the China Embassy in your country or your local travel agent. For more information about visa and passport, please click here.

If you need a referral or contact person when applying your VISA, you may write our IACMR Local Arrangement Committee’s contacts:

Name : Renhong Zhu
Office Tel.: 0086-20-84114986
Fax: 0086-20-84036924
Email: mnszrh@mail.sysu.edu.cn

Address:
School of Business, Sun Yat-sen University
135 Xin’gang West Rd.
Guangzhou, P.R.China 510275

6) Language
The national language of China is Mandarin, known in China as Putonghua (putonghuà). Nearly everyone speaks Mandarin, but many also speak a local dialect that uses the same characters as Mandarin but whose pronunciation can vary greatly. In Guangzhou the main spoken language is Cantonese.

It is difficult for foreigners to speak Chinese and even harder to be understood. However, the Chinese will appreciate your making the effort to speak a few phrases understood almost everywhere. Try “Hello” — “Ní hao” (nee how); “Thank you” — “Xiè xiè” (shee-yeh, shee-yeh); and “Good-bye” — “Zai jian” (dzigh djyan).

7) Nearby Cities
Shenzhen — a prosperous city that is the first experimental ground for market economy in China since 1979. A mere one-hour-fifteen-minute train ride away south of Guangzhou. Trains depart every 15 to 25 minutes. Shenzhen is connected to Hong Kong and a popular day-trip destination for residents of as well as tourists visiting Hong Kong. Shenzhen has a large migrant worker population from the inland provinces such as Si Chuan and Hu Nan, making it both a vibrant city and a land for adventures. Like many other populous cities, visitors ought to be aware of travel safety and watch their personal belongings closely.

Hong Kong – it is directly south of Shenzhen. You can access Hong Kong by transit in Shenzhen, or take the direct train that departs from Guangzhou every few hours. Please be aware if you need a VISA for entering Hong Kong. RMB and USD are generally well accepted and you can easily locate a currency exchange store in almost every corner of the streets in the tourism areas.

8) Tourist Attractions
Guangzhou is one of the twenty-four famous historical and cultural cities in China. It does not, however, have the amount of cultural attractions found in some cities such as Beijing and Xian.

Here is a brief introduction to the tourist sights in Guangzhou.

The Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family is famous for its exquisite craftsmanship including wood, stone, and brick carving, and metalwork using copper and iron. There are also wonderful murals. As for the carving techniques, both realistic and imaginative styles were employed to give the temple a magnificent yet solemn atmosphere.

White Cloud Mountain (Baiyun Shan) is easy to reach. Take the public bus, No. 199, 233, 24, 36, 285, or 540. Tourists can take a cable car to reach the top of the mountain. The entrance fee is CNY 5.

Bright Filial Piety Temple (Guangxiao Si) located at Guangxiao Lu, is the oldest and largest Buddhist temple in the Lingnan Area. The Bright Filial Piety Temple plays an important role in Chinese Buddhism history because many famous Buddhist monks came here to preach religious doctrines, bringing glory to this temple.

The Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall is the most important relic in Guangdong Province. It was built for Dr. Sun Yat-sen after his death in 1925. It was completed in October of 1931.

Yuexiu Park the largest park in Guangzhou, gets its name from Yuexiu Mountain, which is located in the park. Yuexiu Park is famous for its beautiful scenery and its large number of historical relics such as the Five-Ram Sculpture, Zhenhai Tower, the site of the Ming Dynasty City Wall, and the Square Cannon Site. You can get to the park by taking bus No. 2, 5, 6, 10, 58, or 101.

Changlong Night Zoo can be accessed through train to Punyu. It’s a unique zoo that opens at night time.

There are more sites to visit than those just listed. They are Huaisheng Mosque (Remember the Sage Mosque) , Temple of the Six Banyan Trees and Western Han Nanyue King’s Tomb Museum and more.

8) Tipping
Tipping used to be unheard-of, but now the custom is taking hold. In restaurants tip about 3% of the bill. Tip bellboys and room-service waiters Y10-Y20, or US$1-US$2 (U.S. dollars are always appreciated as tips). It is not necessary to tip taxi drivers, although you might let them keep small change.