For overseas participants, there are many direct flights to Chengdu from Hong Kong, Singapore, Seoul, Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, Bankok and so on by air. It is also very convenient to get to Chengdu via Beijing, Shanghai or other cities in China by air or by train.

One can easily find a taxi or shuttle bus from the Chengdu airport to the "Chengdu California Garden Hotel". The taxi fare is approximately 10-15 USD depending on the type of taxi or traffic condition. For your Convenience, please show the following Chinese "请将我送到加州花园酒店(沙湾成都市会展中心)，谢谢！"(PDF download here) to the taxi driver, so that he/she will take you to your destination. In English, it means "Please take me to the Chengdu California Garden Hotel, thanks".

Taxis are plentiful in all major cities and can be found at airports, train stations, hotels, major department stores and restaurants. Taxis can also be flagged on the street. In smaller cities you can arrange taxi through the hotel you are staying in. Few cabbies speak English so you should have your destination written in Chinese.

China domestic air and train tickets can be arranged at most hotels.

The workshop will be held at Chengdu California Garden Hotel (http://www.ecccn.com/), which is one of the most competitive luxurious hotels in downtown Chengdu, located in Chengdu International Exhibition and Convention Center (CIECC,). The hotel is conveniently located in the eastern wing of the CIECC. Distance from the airport is 22km and distance from the railway station is 2km. Due to the peaceful garden-like surroundings, the hotel, although located in the bustling city center, allows guests to enjoy a relaxing and pleasant atmosphere. The hotel is divided into two separate sections, one is built to meet 5 star standards and the other meets 4 star requirements. Apart from the international level conference facilities, the hotel offers gracefully decorated guest rooms including standard double rooms, single rooms, suites, and presidential deluxe suites.

Students may stay in the Jing Hu (Mirror Lake) Hotel, a very nice and quiet hotel facing a lake, inside the Southwest Jiaotong University, 10 minutes walk from the conference venue (Chengdu California Garden Hotel).

California Garden Hotel	Room Rate /Room/Day (All do not include breakfast)
Standard Room A (four star)	RMB680 US$85
Standard Room B (four star)	RMB580 US$72
Standard Room (five star)	RMB1180 US$147
Single Room (five star)	RMB1180 US$147
Deluxe suite (five star)	RMB1580 US$197

Reception Tel: +86-28-87649999 or 87693154 Note: http://www.ecccn.com/docc/jzjd.jsp, special discounted rates are available for ITW’06, see registration form for details.

Mirror Lake Hotel (in Campus)	Room Rate /Room/Day (All do not include breakfast)
Standard Room	RMB240 US$30
Deluxe Business Room	RMB480 US$60
Deluxe suite	RMB680 US$85

Reception: Tel: +86 28 87603166, 87603168

Xi Zhao Hotel (in Campus)	Room Rate /Room/Day (All do not include breakfast)
Standard Room A (2 beds)	RMB100 US$13
Standard Room B (2 beds)	RMB140 US$18

Reception: Reception: Tel: +86 28 87602202(Note: this hotel accept only domestic guests)

Other hotels near the conference site are also convenient. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need more help

All Chinese people speak Putonghua (Mandarin), the national language based on the Beijing Dialect. Many students and young people studying English or other foreign languages. Visitors might be approached for impromptu lessons. Tourist hotels employ staff fluent in English and other languages, who can write down addresses or instructions in Chinese for taxi drivers or others. All major streets in cities are signposted in Pinyin Chinese system of romanization which makes it easy to get around with the help of a map.

The name of Chinese currency is Renminbi (RMB) or Yuan (dollar). Banknotes are in 100 Yuan, 50 Yuan, 20 Yuan, 10 Yuan, 5 Yuan, 2 Yuan and 1 Yuan . There are also coins for smaller dnomination such as 10 Fen (cent), 20 Fen, 50 Fen and 1 Yuan. Foreign currency in cash and travelers cheques can be exchanged in all major hotels and banks. Major credit cards in the world are also acceptable at hotels and Stores.　

The exchange rate of RMB is US$1=RMB8.09979 (October 23rd, 2005). Visa and MasterCard are accepted at hotels. But in many department stores, shops and restaurants, cash may be requested. Currency exchange services can be found at hotels.

All of China observes only one time zone, Beijing Time, or GMT + 8. When it is 12 noon in China, it is 6 PM in Hawaii and Anchorage, 8 PM in Vancouver and Los Angeles, 9 PM in Denver, 10 PM in Chicago and 11 PM in Toronto, Montreal and New York, all in the previous day.

Shops open seven days a week, from 8 or 9 AM till 8 or 9 PM. Restaurants in hotels have long opening hours. Most people in China work 5 days in a week. Saturday and Sunday are statutory holidays. The longest and most important public holiday is the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year).

October is in late Autumn in Chengdu. Temparature 14/22°C.