General Information

Registration

Online registration, with payment by credit card is available from 1 March 2005 until the start of the conference. For offline registration, registration forms must be received by 1 September 2005. All payments must be settled by the start of the conference or access may be denied. Registration: a) conference secretariat; 14.00 - 18.00 on Sunday 4 September, Monday 5 September, and Tuesday 6 September, and at 08.00 - 18.00 on Wednesday, 7 September 2005. b) entrance to
Banquet Hall, Beijing Hotel: 08.00 - 12.00 Monday 5 September and Thursday 8 September (for CNAEC Seminar).

Climate
September is Beijing's "golden season" with mild, clear sunny days and a mean temperature of 23 degrees Celsius.

Currency and banking
The Chinese currency is called the Renminbi (RMB). The popular unit of RMB is yuan. The official exchange rate is about 8.3 Renminbi yuan to 1 US$. Prices are in US$. Foreign currency can be changed in most hotels, where cash dispensers using credit cards are often available.

Travel
Beijing can be reached by air via Beijing International Airport from most major cities. Participants arriving at the airport are advised to take a metered taxi to their hotel. the fare to the three conference hotels is about RMB 120 including RMB 10 for the motorway toll. At night time, there may be special rates with taxis seeking up to RMB 150. The average journey time is 30 - 40 minutes. An economic airport shuttle-bus service is available that deposits passengers in the centre of Beijing. CNAEC will welcome all FIDIC conference participants at the airport and arrange transfer to three conferenece hotels at lower prices, but please send arrival details (date, time, fligh no., No. of persons) to cnaec@public.bta.net.cn

Note to taxi drivers to take you to one of the Conference Hotels: PDF>> JPG>>

Venue
The conference venue, the Beijing Hotel, has several blocks. The conference facilities are split into two main areas separated by a short walk through the hotel lobbies: Banquet Hall, Block C, for plenary sessions; multifunctional rooms, floors 1 and 2, Block E, for workshops. Rooms close to the multifunctional rooms are used for the conference secretariat and the exhibition. Lunches are taken in three of the hotel's restaurants (tickets indicate the appropriate restaurant).

Visa
Participants and accompanying persons will generally need a visa to enter China. To facilitate applications, please send a completed visa invitation form (opposite), one for each participant and accompanying person/s, to the host organization, CNAEC, which will send an invitation letter.

Hotel accommodation
Hotel accommodation at very attractive rates is available for registered participants at the venue, the Beijing Hotel, and at two nearby hotels. The organizers guarantee the special rates up to 1 July 2005, after which rates may be subject to availability. Bookings and the payment of a one-night's guarantee are generally made directly to hotels. The exception is for participants needing to pay by bank transfer for special reasons, in which case hotel booking forms should be faxed to FIDIC, with payment of the full amount required.

Insurance
The organizers are not responsible for mishaps. Participants should make their own insurance arrangements. Participants on tours involving domestic air travel are advised to arrange air travel insurance.

Conference secretariat
Beijing Hotel, Block E, 1st floor, 33 East Chang An Av., Beijing 100004, China
Tel +86 10 65 13 77 66; fax +86 10 65 13 77 03
Visit the conference website, www.fidic2005.org after 1 August 2005 for further details.