Information for participants—the Kunshan Workshop

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.