AIR TICKETS RECONFIRMATION
The departure air ticket (both international and domestic) should be reconfirmed 72 hours in advance. Making a phone call to the airline office in Beijing could easily make it. Foreign Airlines' Representative Offices information in China can be found in the congress website www.icid2005.org.

ARRIVAL AT BEIJING INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Beijing Capital International Airport is the only airport for civil flights in Beijing. Located in the northeast part of the city, 35 km to downtown and 25 km to the proposed site of Congress venue. You are advised to change some Chinese money at the Bank of China Airport Service in the Terminal Building. So as to be able to pay for taxi and other minor costs. Then you may easily get a taxi at the taxi stand outside the airport terminal. The cost for a taxi from the airport to the conference venue is roughly RMB120 or USD15, including the highway toll fee. Please make sure that the taximeter is turned on and remember to ask for a printed receipt from the taxi driver. Shuttle buses are available during the congress at the Arrival Halls of the Beijing International Airport.

PASSPORTS AND VISAS

A valid passport and visa must be in possession when entering China. Upon receiving your registration form and payments, the secretariat will send you an official invitation letter that is a required document for your visa application. Please provide your full name and passport number as well as name(s) and passport number(s) of your accompanying person(s) in the registration form. Please apply for entry visa(s) with the official invitation letter at your nearest Chinese Consulate (or the Visa Office of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong).

WEATHER

Beijing is located in the temperate zone and enjoys a continental monsoon climate. Early September is the best season of the year with maximum temperature of 32.3 degree Celsius, minimum temperature of 4.9 degree Celsius and average temperature of 19.1 degree Celsius. Medium and light dress is recommended.

CONFERENCE LANGUAGE
The official languages at the Congress are English and French.

CURRENCY AND BANKING
The official name for the currency of China is the Renminbi (RMB). It is denominated into the yuan. Foreign currency can be exchanged for RMB at the airport, banks and hotels. Traveler's checks and major credit cards are honored at most hotels. The RMB is not traded on the international market and can only be purchased or exchanged within China. Banks usually open at 9:00 in the morning and close at 17:00 in the afternoon all working days. Conversion services are available for the following foreign currencies: US Dollar, Euro, British Pound Sterling, Japanese Yen, Hong Kong Dollar, Australian Dollar, Canadian Dollar, Swiss Franc, Singapore Dollar, Danish Krone, Norwegian Krone, Swedish Krone, Malaysian Ringgit and Macau Pataca.

ELECTRIC CURRENT

The electric current in use is 220 Volts 60 Hertz. Please check the power supply before using your equipment.

LIABILITY
The Congress Secretariat and Organizers cannot accept liability for personal accidents, loss of or damage to private property of participants, students and accompanying persons, either during, or directly arising from the 19^th ICID Congress. Participants should make their own arrangements with respect to health and travel insurance.