Passport: Visitors to mainland China require a passport that is valid for at least six months prior to entry.

Visa: A visa is required to enter the People's Republic of China. It is recommended that you apply for a tourist visa when traveling there for this conference.

How to get a visa: Visas can be obtained in person at the Chinese Embassy or Consulate-General in your area. If visiting the Chinese Embassy or Consulate is not convenient or possible for you, travel and visa agencies also handle the visa process for a fee.

Validity & Cost: Business visas, are usually valid for 3 months prior to travel and are then valid for a 30 day stay. The visa costs $130 for an American citizen, but may be more expensive if you use an agent to obtain it.

USA to Beijing: Each attendee will be responsible for arranging their flight to and from Beijing. We recommend that you arrive in Beijing early enough to join the optional tour in order to allow your self time to adjust to the time difference, while exploring Beijing!

All major US airlines have frequent flights to China, some in partnership with Air China. You can catch a nonstop flight to Beijing from New York (13 3/4 hours), Chicago (13 1/2 hours), and Los Angeles (13 hours).

ReSource Pro has been working with Rich Travel (www.richtravel.com) for our company's travel arrangements and we would highly recommend them should you need assistance with your trip or visas. Our contact person, Mina Koban (914) 632.8660 (mkoban@richtravel.com) will gladly provide you with information or answer any air travel/visa related questions, even if you do not purchase your tickets through them.

Rich Travel quotes are competitive, but they are charging a service fee. ReSource Pro does not have any financial gains from recommending this travel agent.

Beijing to Qingdao: There is a scheduled flight for Qingdao from Beijing on Wednesday afternoon, October 29th 2008. Your registration fee to the users conference includes your round trip to Qingdao.

Qingdao to USA: The return flight to Beijing Will be on Saturday 11/1.

Beijing Airport: The easiest way to get from the airport to Beijing is by taxi. The airport is located approximately 17 miles northeast of the city.

When you arrive, head for the clearly labeled taxi line just outside the terminal, beyond a small covered parking area. Long lines move quickly. Ignore offers from touts trying to coax you away from the line.

The trip to the center of Beijing costs around Y100, including the Y10 toll for the airport expressway. If you're caught in rush-hour traffic, expect standing surcharges. In light traffic it takes about 40 minutes to reach the city center, during rush-hour expect a one-hour cab ride. After 11 PM, taxis impose a 20% late-night surcharge.

When departing from Beijing by plane, pre-book airport transport through your hotel.

Beijing City: ReSource Pro has arranged a Great Wall and a City Tour that will take place on Tuesday (10/28) and Wednesday (10/29). A guide and a ReSource Pro representative will be joining you. Transportation will take place by bus. If you arrive earlier and would like to arrange other personal tours, your hotel concierge can assist you.

Qingdao: In Qingdao, our team will arrange for airport pick up and hotel drop off, as well as transportation to the ReSource Pro office from your hotel. All user conference sessions will take place in the same hotel. For those traveling with non-attending guests, the hotel concierge can arrange for taxi and other ground transportation and activities.

Currency Exchange: The best places to convert your dollars into Yuan are at your hotel's front desk or a branch of a major bank, such as Bank of China, CITIC, or HSBC. All these operate with standardized government rates -- anything cheaper is illegal, and thus risky. You need to present your passport to change money.

Credit Cards: Although credit cards are gaining ground in China, for day-to-day transactions cash is definitely king. Getting change for big notes can be a problem, so try to stock up on 10s and 20s when you change money. ATMs are widespread, but not always reliable.

Tipping: Tipping is not really expected in mainland China.

Sample Price Guide:

Food court meal Y 16
American hamburger Y 12
Sending postcard overseas Y 4
Internet cafe per hour Y 2
Pack of 20 cigarettes Y 3
Small bottle of beer from a corner shop Y 2
Draught pint of local beer from a bar Y 10
International Herald Tribune Y 23
City bus ticket Y 1
Souvenir t-shirt Y 25
Street snack - large lamb kebab Y 2

Beijing : Our group will be staying at the Marriott West hotel in Beijing. http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/bjsmc-beijing-marriott-hotel-west/

Marriot West is a 5 star rated hotel, centrally located adjacent to Jin Yu Plaza and only 3.5 miles from Forbidden City. All 155 guestrooms of the Beijing Marriott Hotel West are European in style and are fitted with classic style furniture. White bed linens are used throughout. Amenities include wireless Internet access and satellite TVs with premium channels. The marbled bathrooms are outfitted with jetted tubs and separate showers. Windows can be opened and the guestrooms are equipped with in-room safes that can accommodate a laptop.

Crowne Plaza Qingdao is located in the commercial and shopping center of Qingdao, overlooking the sail regatta venue of the 2008 Olympic Game. It is 40 minutes drive from Qingdao International Airport, 15 minutes drive from the Railway Station, and only 5 minutes walking from the beach. The hotel has 7 restaurants and bars , 388 guestrooms and suites with specially designed accommodation for travelers with disabilities.