· International Joint Conference on Learning & Reasoning

VISA

According to the China Ministry of Foreign Affairs, visas are typically processed within four to five working days at Chinese embassies and consulates overseas. However, in some special circumstances, overseas embassies and consulates have the authority to extend the visa approval time. For applicants, it is advisable to submit visa applications approximately one month before the planned entry date.

If you want to apply for a visa or are unsure of whether or not you need to apply for a short-term visa to enter China to attend IJCLR, please click here or contact the Chinese Embassy in your home country to receive guidance on the application process and necessary documents.

Not clear if you need a visa? Check who needs a visa (China Ministry of Foreign Affairs Source).

Getting a visa support letter

For delegates who have registered (available soon) as an IJCLR 2024 in-person attendee, Nanjing University can provide a visa support letter. Please fill in the Invitation Letter Application Form to apply.

Recent visa-exemption policy update

From Mar. 14, 2024 to Nov. 30, 2024, holders of ordinary passports from Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium and Luxembourg may enter China visa-free for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends and transit for no more than 15 days, according to China Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
From Dec. 1, 2023 to Nov. 30, 2024, holders of ordinary passports from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia may enter China visa-free for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends and transit for no more than 15 days, according to the statement published on the State Council of the People’s Republic of China’s website.
Singaporean citizens holding ordinary passports may stay in China visa-free for up to 30 days, according to the statement published on the State Council of the People’s Republic of China’s website.
Thailand citizens holding ordinary passports may stay in China visa-free for up to 30 days, according to the statement published on the State Council of the People’s Republic of China’s website.
Australia and New Zealand will be added to China’s list of unilateral visa-free countries, according to statements published on June 13 and June 17 by the State Council of the People’s Republic of China.

144-hour visa-free transit policy

China has reinstated the 144-hour visa-free transit policy after COVID-19 restrictions ended. If you are a citizen from the following countries you can enjoy six days of travel to select areas of the country without applying for a visa beforehand.

Europe Schengen area: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
Other countries in Europe: Russia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, Monaco, and Belarus.
Americas: the United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and Chile.
Oceania: Australia and New Zealand.
Asia: South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.

You may need to know the following details:

Documents Needed for Application

Passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry
Ticket to a third country/region
Fully completed Arrival/Departure Card

If you enter from the airport of Nanjing and Shanghai you can visit the administrative areas of Jiangsu Province, Zhejiang Province and Shanghai.
Back to Nanjing Lukou International Airport(NKG) in 144 hours, or go to Shanghai Hongqiao Airport(SHA), Shanghai Pudong Airport(PVG), Hangzhou Xianshan Airport(HGH), Ningbo Airport(NGB), Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station.
Because this is essentially a transit, please ensure that your next destination after leaving cannot be mainland China and is different from the previous stop where you arrived in China.

London - Singapore - Shanghai - Singapore - London would not be eligible for visa-free transit

London - Singapore - Shanghai - Hong Kong - London would be eligible

More information on 144-hour visa-free transit: Offical news, Visa-Free Transit Guide at Nanjing Lukou Airport, YouTube Review

Mobile Payment without a Chinese Bank Account

Making payments in China can be quite tricky for first-time visitors. Most merchants, especially smaller businesses, don’t accept international credit cards. Some retailers even stopped accepting cash entirely.

To travel in China more conveniently, it is highly recommended to use the popular local payment method, namely QR code mobile payment.

Now, tourists can link their international credit cards to these mobile payment apps. Here’s a step-by-step guide to setting up Alipay and WeChat Pay(You can choose either one of the two), no Chinese bank account or credit card issued by a Chinese bank is required.

Click to enlarge or download image.

If you want to know more, this article is a detailed expansion of the above.

For recommendations on other payment options for foreigners in China, you can check out this guide from the Chinese Consulate General in Munich.

Venue details:

The conference is taking place at Nanjing University International Conference Center(NUICC).

Address:
Nanjing University International Conference Center,
163 Xianlin Avenue,
210046,Nanjing, China.
Tel 025-89686666

Travel to Nanjing

Nanjing, nestled along the banks of the mighty Yangtze River in eastern China, stands as the capital city of Jiangsu province. With a population exceeding 9 million, Nanjing is one of China’s ancient capitals and boasts a unique blend of traditional charm and modernity. This metropolis, with roots dating back more than 2,500 years, has played a pivotal role in shaping China’s past and continues to influence its present.

Nanjing offers a variety of attractions and activities to enjoy. Here are some highlights:

Explore Historical Wonders: The city served as the capital for various Chinese dynasties, and remnants of its imperial past are visible in landmarks such as the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, the city walls, gates, and the imposing Zhonghua Gate.
Immerse in Cultural Riches: Nanjing is a treasure trove of cultural gems. The Confucius Temple provides a glimpse into China’s Confucian heritage. The Nanjing Museum, housing artifacts from different dynasties, offers a comprehensive journey through the region’s cultural evolution.
Try the Local Cuisine: Nanjing delights in culinary treasures. Some must-try dishes include “Nanjing salted duck,” “Nanjing Roast Duck,” and “tangbao” (soup-filled dumplings).

Detailed information about Nanjing:

https://www.tripadvisor.in/Attractions-g294220-Activities-Nanjing_Jiangsu.html

Getting to Nanjing University

If you're arriving by air, Nanjing Lukou International Airport is the main gateway. Located approximately 40 kilometers (25 miles) south of the city center and 60 kilometers (37 miles) from Nanjing University Xianlin Campus, it serves as the primary airport for Nanjing.

Flight Options

Direct flights to Nanjing are limited, so consider flying into Hong Kong or Beijing. Another option is to land at Shanghai Pudong International Airport and take the high-speed rail to Nanjing.

Arriving in Shanghai

If you land in Shanghai Pudong Airport(PVG), you will first need to go to Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station.

Important Tips for Traveling from Shanghai Pudong Airport (PVG) to Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station:

Customs at PVG: Clearing customs at Pudong Airport typically takes around 1-2 hours.
Taxi from PVG to Hongqiao Railway Station: The taxi ride from Pudong Airport to Hongqiao Railway Station usually takes about 1.5-2 hours, depending on traffic conditions.
Security Check at Hongqiao Railway Station: Allow approximately 30 minutes for the security check when entering the Hongqiao Railway Station.
Booking Train Tickets: Make sure to allocate enough time between your arrival at Pudong Airport and your train departure from Hongqiao Railway Station when booking your train tickets.
Missed Train Policy: If you miss your train, you can go to the manual ticket window at the railway station to reschedule your ticket.

It will then take about 2 hours to travel from Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station to either Nanjing Railway Station or Nanjing South Railway Station by high-speed train.
The final step is to take a taxi from Nanjing South Railway Station or Nanjing Railway Station to Nanjing University Xianlin Campus, which takes approximately 30-50 minutes, depending on traffic.
Where to Book Train Tickets:

Railway stations/ticket outlets: Long queue is usually expected at the station.
Book Online From 12306 App or 12306.cn. Here is a demonstration for using the 12306 App to book train tickets online for your reference.

Arriving in Nanjing

Upon landing in Nanjing, transportation options to the conference venue include:

Metro: Utilize the metro station at Lukou Airport to reach Nanjing University Xianlin Campus. Take Metro Line S1 to Nanjing South Railway Station, transfer to Metro Line 3, and then transfer again to Metro Line 2. The entire metro journey takes about 2 hours, with a cost of around 10 yuan.

Taxi: Taxis are readily available outside the arrivals terminal. A taxi ride from the airport to Nanjing University typically takes about an hour, with a fare around 200 yuan.

Taxi Guide

To facilitate your communication with Chinese taxi drivers, we have prepared a bilingual taxi guide. You can download it here.

How to attend

Registration: To register as an attendee for the event, please refer to Registration.

Audio visual

Please bring your final presentation for the event on a memory stick with a backup copy on your laptop.

Ideally we would like to upload your presentation prior to the session commencing. If you are presenting later in the morning or day, please use the later tea breaks/lunch time to upload your presentation. To try and keep the change over time to a minimum, we wish to avoid having to change connections to each laptop.

Attending