Category: Uncategorized

Local logistics

Except where noted on the agenda, workshop events will take place on the campus of Duke Kunshan University. The welcome and keynote will be held in the lecture hall on the second floor in the DKU library; panels will take place in first-floor rooms.

Jump to hotel information for presenters
Jump to tips for “getting around” in Kunshan and China (includes maps, money, mobile phones, electricity, and visa/arrival information)

Getting to DKU

The closest airports to the DKU campus are in Shanghai and Wuxi. Daily high-speed rail services stop at Kunshan South Railway Station.

The city also has a comprehensive public transportation network including buses, taxis and shared bicycles.

Duke Kunshan University maintains a webpage featuring maps and directions.

by air

Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) is 92 kilometers east of Kunshan
recommended route: take the Airport Link Line train to Shanghai Hongqiao Airport (approximately 50 minutes, ¥26–29 (RMB) one-way), then walk to Shanghai Hongqiao railway station through the passage from T2 (10 minutes) and take a 20-minute high-speed train to Kunshan South Railway Station. From the railway station, travelers can take a taxi or public transit to DKU.
Travel time is between 1.5 and 2 hours; estimated one-way fare is ¥50-80 (RMB).

Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA) is 42 kilometers east of Kunshan
recommended route: the fastest and most cost-effective way of getting to Kunshan is to follow the signs to Hongqiao Railway Station and take a 20-minute high-speed train to Kunshan South Railway Station. From the railway station, travelers can take a taxi or public transit to DKU.
Travel time is between 30 minutes and 1 hour; estimated one-way fare is ¥30-60 (RMB).

Sunan Shuofang International Airport (WUX) is 41 kilometers west of Kunshan
recommended route: the fastest and most cost-effective way of getting to Kunshan is to take a taxi to Wuxi New District Railway Station and take a 30-minute high-speed train to Kunshan South Railway Station. From the railway station, travelers can take a taxi or public transit to DKU.
Travel time is between 1 and 1.5 hours; estimated one-way fare is ¥100-150 (RMB).

by High-Speed Train

High-speed trains from multiple points of origin around China will stop at Kunshan South Railway Station, about 12 kilometers southeast of Duke Kunshan University.
From the railway station, travelers can take a taxi or public transit to DKU.

by Taxi or Public Transit from the Rail station

by taxi: takes between 20 and 30 minutes; estimated one-way fare is ¥30-35 (RMB)

by public transit: takes between 50 and 60 minutes via Route 22 or Route 31; estimated one-way fare is ¥5 (RMB)

Staying at DKU

Lodging is provided to non-resident conference presenters at the Holiday Inn Express Kunshan Yushan (Holiday Inn Express 昆山玉山智选假日酒店) from June 18–21, 2026.

Hotel address:

Meals

A complimentary breakfast is available at the hotel for guests.

Meals included on the agenda are provided to registered conference participants, including lunch on June 19 and 20 and a welcome dinner on June 18. All other meals are at participants’ own discretion.

Getting around

Google maps will find landmarks but may be out of date in China and can only be accessed via roaming service or a VPN.

Recommended alternatives include AMAP (settings on international devices can be adjusted to search and show results in English), maps.me, or AppleMaps (iOS users only; uses AMAP):

money and payments

Carrying some cash (CNY, yuan, ¥) in small denominations is a good idea; although nearly all vendors accept cashless payment via Weixin Pay (WeChat Pay) or Alipay, cash is still legal tender and merchants are not allowed to reject cash payments. This said, using some services (e.g.: hailing a ride via DiDi or ordering food delivery) via “mini apps” in the WeChat or Alipay system requires access to a cashless payment option.

At least two days before leaving your country, download WeChat, Alipay, or both, and add the credit card you plan to use. You should not need a Chinese mobile number, but you will likely have to upload a copy of your passport for ID verification. Since some apps do not allow users to set a default payment card, it may be best to add only one credit card to the app.

To pay via mobile app, scan the merchant’s QR code using using the “Scan” function for payment. In some instances, merchants will scan your app’s QR code via “Pay/Receive,” instead. Since the payment apps require internet, having access to an eSIM with mobile data is recommended.

Multiple online resources and guides can walk you through setting up these apps and navigating cashless payments in China; exercise caution when following advice found on the internet.

Mobile phones + data

China’s “Great Firewall” blocks apps, websites, and related services that many visitors use at home (e.g.: Google, Instagram, WhatsApp, ChatGPT). Using international roaming from your mobile home service provider may allow you to connect to a partnered Chinese Network Operator; although this connection will not be filtered by the firewall, the data speeds are typically very slow and unreliable.

If your phone supports eSIM, you may be able to purchase a data-only eSIM that enables you to continue using your preferred apps without needing a separate VPN service. Use hotspot functionality to connect other devices via your phone’s service provider (note: this can deplete your phone battery faster than usual).

At DKU, you should be able to connect to the local campus wifi for visitors and to the eduroam network. You may need to configure your device(s) for access prior to leaving your home institution. Local campus wifi may be subject to the firewall; wifi provided by businesses in China will definitely block access to non-approved apps and websites.

Charging + Electricity

Since June 2025, portable power banks (batteries) must have a “CCC” (3C) safety certification in order to be permitted on domestic flights (within China); this includes domestic connections following an international arrival. The maximum recommended capacity is 20,000 mAh. Power banks with the 3C certification can be purchased domestically; all power banks sold in China are required to have the official mark. However, many power banks produced for export, even if made in China, do not have the required mark and could be confiscated by airport officials.

China uses multiple socket types, including type “A,” type “C,” and type “I”; all three types can usually be found in hotels. Type “C” plugs are used in most of continental Europe and Korea; type “A” plugs are most commonly used in North America; type “I” plugs are common in Australia and New Zealand. Voltage in China is 220 at a frequency of 50Hz.

If the label on your device or charger indicates an input of 100-240V, 50/60 Hz, it can be used in every country in the world, though it may need a general travel adapter. Most tablet/laptop/phone chargers fit into this category and only need a socket adapter. Certain specialty electronics (hair dryers, electric razors) may require a voltage converter.

Public Transit

(information coming soon)

Notes for international visitors

Citizens of with valid ordinary passports of certain countries (including Brunei, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Australia, Poland, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Slovenia, Slovakia, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein, the Republic of Korea, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia, Latvia, Japan, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Russia, Sweden, Canada, and the UK) are exempted from visa requirements if coming to China for the purpose of business, tourism, visiting family or friends, exchange and transit. They can stay in China for up to 30 days without a visa.

The visa waiver for nationals of the above named countries applies until December 31, 2026, except for Russian nationals, whose waiver is in effect until September 14, 2026. There is no visa waiver policy expiration date for nationals of Brunei.

Citizens of 55 countries, including the USA and Indonesia, may transit through China using the 240-hour visa-free transit policy if they hold valid international travel documents and interline tickets with confirmed dates and seats to a third country or region. They may enter China through any of the 60 open ports across 24 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central government), such as Beijing and Shanghai, and stay in designated areas for up to 10 days. During this period, visa-free transit travelers may engage in tourism, business, exchange visits, or family visits. Activities such as work, study, or news reporting still require prior approval and appropriate visas.

Local logistics

Except where noted on the agenda, workshop events will take place in the College of Humanities (인문대학), adjacent to Ara Convention Hall (아라컨벤션홀) at Jeju National University’s Ara Campus.

Jump to advice for staying at JNU
Jump to tips for “getting around” (includes maps + taxis, transit, money, mobile phones, electricity, and visa/arrival information)

Getting to JNU

from Jeju International Airport to Ara Campus, Jeju National University

by public transit (bus): 365, 455, 3003 (towards JNU campus); takes about 35 mins; estimated fare: ₩2,300 (~$1.75). _{(see “public transit” below)}

by taxi: takes between 25 and 40 minutes; estimated one-way fare: ₩15,000–30,000 (~$12-25); show your driver the following destination (“Jeju University, Ara Convention Hall” in Korean letters):

제주대학교 아라컨벤션홀

Staying at Jeju National University

Lodging is provided to non-resident conference participants at Ara Convention Hall (ACH), on-campus at Jeju National University, from July 4-6, 2024. Accommodations for other nights have been prearranged individually with participants in nearby hotels.

At Ara Convention Hall:
Check-in: Thursday, July 4th between 3PM and 10PM
Check-out: Saturday, July 6th by 11am _{(some guests will check out on July 7th, by pre-arrangement)}

^{Above: KakaoMap showing location of Ara Convention Hall
link to Naver Map showing location of Ara Convention Hall}

Meals

Recommendations:
Breakfast—The recommended breakfast place is A’Bout Coffee near the rear gate of the University, which is roughly a 5-minute walk from Ara Convention Hall:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1WAq0kJvkFwIiapjij2HA7EiSY5t11Y4&ll=33.45511373111924%2C126.5597699&z=15

^{Above: Google MyMap showing location of recommended sites}

^{Above: KakaoMap showing location of A’Bout Coffee
link to Naver map showing location of A’Bout Coffee}

5M Coffee is a highly-recommended café, but it is closed on weekends. It is located near the main gate on the north side of Ara campus. Kimbab Chunkuk and Subway are also near the main gate; both open at 9AM.

Meals included on the agenda are provided to conference participants, including lunch on July 5 and 6 and dinner on July 4 and 5. All other meals are at participants’ own discretion.

Getting around

Google maps will find landmarks and can make public transit recommendations but cannot provide real-time directions for driving or walking in Korea. Recommended alternatives include KakaoMap and Naver Maps (settings can be adjusted to search and show results in English):

Lyft does not function in Korea. Uber will sometimes work, but the app may shift to “UT” (a local partner). Uber also tends to summon licensed taxis rather than private cars, though payment via the app is possible. Popular alternatives include the KakaoTaxi (or KakaoT) app, though usage requires a KakaoTalk account. The taxi industry is strictly regulated, and any licensed cabs are safe to hail on the street. Most will accept credit card payments, though Tmoney can also be used (see the public transit section). Tipping cab drivers is not customary in Korea.

Public Transit

Public transit is safe and convenient, though buses (and subways in Seoul) do not run 24 hours. To pay fares, short-term visitors may find it worth investing in a Tmoney card which can be used for all public transit as well as taxi fares. When using public transit with Tmoney, tap the card upon entry as well as exit (there is a slight discount compared to the cash fare). note: Tmoney can also be used as payment in some convenience stores (CU, 7-Eleven, GS25, Ministop, EMart24, etc.).

An Alipay version is also available for visitors from China (Chinese-language user guide). Any unused balance is refundable, subject to some limitations (described in the English-language user guide).

money and payments

Major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard) are accepted almost everywhere in Korea. Some card issuers may add international transaction fees. Digital payment options (Google Pay, Apple Pay, SamsungPay) may be available in some places, but they are not common. Some payment apps, including KakaoPay, are available, but they do not have English language support and may be of limited utility to short-term visitors since a Korean phone number is required for service.

Cash is accepted everywhere and can be obtained from global ATMs, available in the airport as well as at some banks in tourist areas. Woori Bank and Shinhan Bank are two of the largest. Citibank also has limited availability. There may be withdrawal limits and a transaction fee (typically between ₩3,000 and ₩4,000). Foreign exchange kiosks in airports are reliable, but may be more expensive than directly withdrawing cash via an ATM.

Mobile phones + data

Mobile phone service and high-speed data in Korea is reliable and ubiquitous. International visitors may find that their own roaming data plan is sufficient for basic email or messaging. Wifi is also widely available in stores, restaurants, cafes, and other public spaces.

For mobile/data service in Korea, the main providers are Korea Telecom (KT), SK Telecom, and LG U+. Physical SIM cards, eSIM cards, and personal wifi hotspots (including data-only options) can be purchased in advance or upon arrival at international airports; phones/tablets must be unlocked to use a Korean SIM. Discounts are possible for advance purchase (Klook, KT, LG U+, SK Telecom).

Jeju National University is part of the global eduroam network; visitors should check with their home institution to make sure their devices are set up to connect to eduroam (connecting to eduroam via Duke University).

Charging + Electricity

Korea uses F-type outlets; type “C” plugs (used in most of continental Europe and China) will also work. Type “A” plugs (used in North America and China) will need a socket adapter. Voltage is 220 at a frequency of 60Hz.

If the label on your device or charger indicates an input of 100-240V, 50/60 Hz, it can be used in every country in the world with a simple plug adapter. Most tablet/laptop/phone chargers fit into this category and only need a socket adapter. Certain electronics (hair dryers, electric razors) may require a voltage converter. If needed, mobile phone chargers can be found inexpensively at many stores such as EMart and Daiso.

Notes for international visitors

From April 1, 2023 to December 31, 2024, the Korean Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA) is not required for stays of 90 days (or fewer) that are for tourism or business purposes for individuals who hold passports from the following:

For Chinese citizens: Individuals with a P. R. China passport may enter Jeju Island without a Korean visa if flying directly to Jeju from overseas. A Korean visa is needed if the flight will connect via Seoul or Busan.

Citizens of the other 82 K-ETA-eligible nations must have a valid K-ETA to visit Jeju.