The 2024 WIC Wuzhen Summit Participants Guidebook

I. Overview

1. What is the date and detailed schedule of the Wuzhen Summit?

The World Internet Conference (WIC) Wuzhen Summit is scheduled to take place from Nov 19 to 22. Please kindly find more information on the up-to-date schedule via WIC Wechat official account or website.

Guest registration will be open on Nov 19. The Opening Ceremony of the Light of Internet Expo will be held in the morning. The Release and Presentation of Outstanding Cases of Jointly Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace and the Award Ceremony of World Internet Conference Awards for Pioneering Science and Technology will be held in the afternoon.

On Nov 20, the Opening Ceremony of WIC Wuzhen Summit will be held in the morning, and the Main Forum will be held in the afternoon.

On Nov 21, sub-forums will be held throughout the day, as well as featured events including Permanent Venue Activities.

On Nov 22, some sub-forums and the Award Ceremony of “Straight to Wuzhen” Global Internet Competition will be held in the morning, and the Press Conference on the Closing of WIC Wuzhen Summit will be held in the afternoon.

2. What is the official language of WIC Summit?

Chinese and English.

3. Are interpretation services provided during the Summit?

The Opening Ceremony of the Wuzhen Summit will be interpreted simultaneously in five languages: Chinese, English, French, Spanish and Russian. Other activities will be simultaneously interpreted into Chinese and English.

4. Is there an electronic conference handbook available?

The Summit will have an electronic conference handbook, which is currently in production. It will be posted on WIC official website as the Summit approaches. Please stay tuned.

II. How to Participate?

5. How can a participant attend the Summit?

Guests can participate in all the activities and events of the Wuzhen Summit, including the Opening Ceremony, Main Forum, sub-forums (open invitation), the Award Ceremony of the World Internet Conference Awards for Pioneering Science and Technology, the Release & Presentation of Outstanding Cases of Jointly Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace, the Light of Internet Expo, the Award Ceremony of “Straight to Wuzhen” Global Internet Competition, the Presentation of the Development of a Digitally Empowered Demonstration Zone of Common Prosperity, the Seminar on Co-building Digital Civilization in the Yangtze River Delta Region - Yangtze River Delta Digital Development Conference, the Conference on Industrial Cooperation in the Digital Economy, as well as various side events and featured activities.

Invited audience can participate in all activities except for the opening ceremony and other major events, zero-day events, and events for targeted invitees.

Online audience can watch live broadcasts of some sub-forums and side events through WIC online system.

6. What is the registration process for guests and what is the deadline for it？

Step 1 - Invited guests will receive an invitation code;

Step 2 - After receiving the invitation code, guests can fill in detailed personal attendance information in the registration system on their own.

Please complete the registration no later than 11:59 a.m. on October 31.

7. What is the registration process for invited audience and what is the deadline for it？

Invited audience need to provide the required registration information (including name, position, ID number, ID card photo, etc.) to the organizer of the Summit for application for badges.

Please submit the registration information no later than 11:59 a.m. on Nov 5.

8. What is the registration process for online audience and what is the deadline for it？

Online audience need to provide the required registration information (including name, position, email address, etc.) to the organizer of the Summit for application.

Please complete the registration no later than 11:59 a.m. on Nov 18.

9. How will the Chinese and English biographies in the registration system be used?

The guests's biographies will facilitate the organizer in arranging reception services. Please fill in as much detail as possible.

Ⅲ. Conference Badges

10. How many types of conference badges are there for the Summit? 

There are two types of badges for attendees, including guest badge and invited audience badge.

11. Is the conference badge required when entering the venue?

Throughout the Summit, all participants are required to wear their conference badges whenever entering and exiting the venues and scenic area. Kindly ensure that your badge is kept safely.

12. How to obtain the conference badge?

The conference badge can be collected in Wuzhen before the start of the Summit.

Guests can collect their badges at the registration desk with their ID cards provided in online registration.

Invited audience may contact the liaison in charge of your registration channel to get your badge or collect your badge at the front desk of the designated hotel. Please refer to the notice for details.

13. When will the venue be open？When can we collect the conference badges?

Guests may collect their conference badges at the registration counter after 9:00 a.m. on Nov 19.

For invited audience, please confirm the arrangement for your badges with your respective registration channels.

Ⅳ. Transportation Arrangement

14. Where will the Summit be held?

The Summit will be held in Wuzhen, Tongxiang, Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province, China, the permanent venue for the Wuzhen Summit.

15. Are there shuttle services available?

The organizer will provide shuttle services for participants between railway stations/airports and the venue.

16. What is the most convenient way to reach the Summit venue?

For flights, we suggest that you choose Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport (HGH) as your primary choice, with Shanghai Hongqiao Airport (SHA) and Shanghai Pudong Airport (PVG) as alternatives. 

For high-speed trains, we suggest that you choose Hangzhou East Railway Station or Tongxiang Railway Station.

It usually takes 2 hours for a shuttle bus from Shanghai to Wuzhen, about 1 hour from Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport or Hangzhou East Railway Station to Wuzhen, and about 40 minutes from Tongxiang Railway Station to Wuzhen. 

17. What are the business hours of shuttle services？ 

Pick up from airports/railway stations: 12:00 on Nov 18 to 16:00 on Nov 21.

Pick up from the venue: 13:00 on Nov 20 to 18:00 on Nov 22.

18. How to access the information of shuttle services?

Please follow the information released in the annoumcement at WIC's official website.

19. Is self-driving allowed? 

For those who really need to drive, they must park at the designated transfer point - the West Ziye Road Parking Lot in Wuzhen, and then take the shuttle bus to the venue and accommodation hotel.

20. Can I apply for a vehicle permit to drive into the scenic area?

The geographical environment of Wuzhen Water Town does not have the road conditions for external vehicles to enter and exit.

Ⅴ. Logistics Information

21. Is it necessary for guests to arrange their own accommodation?

The organizer will provide accommodation for guests, so there is no need to book hotels themselves.

22. Which days will the accommodation expenses be covered by the organizer?

The coverage of accommodation expenses by the organizer will be determined based on the restriction on opening hours of Xizha Scenic Area. Based on the practice in previous years, the organizer will cover such expenses for 4 days (3 nights) from Nov 19 to 22.

The specific check-in time is as follows:

Check in after 09:00 on Nov 19;

Check out before 13:00 on Nov 22.

23. May guests choose their preferred hotels？

Due to limited reception resources in Wuzhen Scenic Area, the accommodation hotels will be arranged by the organizer.

24. Do invited audience need to book hotels themselves?

The organizer has reserved cooperative hotels in Wuzhen Town (Wuzhen Ziye Hotel, Wuzhen Fanpu Hotel) for invited audience, and the expenses shall be borne by invited audience themselves. If invited audience need accommodation, they can contact the accommodation reservation hotlines: Wuzhen Ziye Hotel, +86 15157318826; Wuzhen Fanpu Hotel, +86 13819405261. The service hotline will be open from Nov 10 to 22.

25. What are the dining arrangements for the Summit?

Guests can have the meals at the dining location indicated on the dining voucher received during registration.

Invited audience need to bear their own dining expenses.

Ⅵ. Visa Related

26. Is a Chinese visa required for attending the Summit?

You need to apply for a Chinese F visa (for personnel engaged in exchange, visit, study tour and non-commercial activities) to attend the Wuzhen Summit, except for those holding diplomatic passports or from visa free countries. Specific information can be found at: cs.mfa.gov.cn. 

27. Can the organizer assist in providing the required invitation letter and other documents for visa application if necessary?

The organizer can provide an invitation letter of the Summit. Please refer to the relevant guidelines of the Chinese embassy or consulate in the local area for other required materials, and we will do our best to provide assistance.

28. Can the organizer assist in providing a TE invitation letter if required by local Chinese embassy?

We will coordinate and provide the verification form for you as soon as possible. It usually takes about 5 working days.

29. How long does it usually take to apply for a Chinese visa?

Generally, visas can be obtained within 2 weeks. Please consult the local Chinese embassy or consulate for specific details.

Ⅶ. Other Issues

30. How to seek medical assistance during the Summit?

The Summit has set medical facilities and there are also medical institutions around the venue for emergency support. If you need medical treatment during the Summit, please contact the staff and we will assist you in a timely manner.

31. Will there be comprehensive coverage by authoritative media for this Summit? 

The Summit will be comprehensively covered by several authoritative media at home and abroad, such as CCTV, People.cn, Xinhuanet, GMW.cn, China Arab TV, and other major network platforms, such as TikTok, Kuaishou, Sina, Sohu, will also track and report the event. Meanwhile, WIC will post on our own official account, Facebook, Twitter and other accounts. You are welcome to follow the updates and engage with us.

32. Are there opportunities for further follow-up communication and cooperation after the Summit?

WIC is eager to engage in in-depth exchanges and cooperation with all parties of the global Internet community. In addition to the Summit, WIC will host thematic and regional forums in various cities. We have also organized key brand activities and projects, such as the Award Ceremony of World Internet Conference Awards for Pioneering Science and Technology, the Release & Presentation of Outstanding Cases of Jointly Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace, the Light of Internet Expo, the Award Ceremony of “Straight to Wuzhen” Global Internet Competition, the Global Youth Leadership Program (GYLP), think tank cooperation program, digital academy, and digital economy cooperation conference, as well as specialized committees and working groups in specific fields. We welcome your participation and engagement. 

WIC members can actively participate in various activities of WIC, especially regular member events like Member Day and Member Salon (including symposiums, seminars and networking meetings) to enhance industry exchanges, enjoy priority access to resources, and establish connections with global Internet industry leaders. Please contact Ms. Meng (+86-10-87931720) if interested.

In addition, the World Internet Conference Zhejiang Office, the representative office of WIC as an international organization, will regularly host international exchange and cooperation activities in Wuzhen, such as the Light of Internet Expo press room and the study tour program for overseas teachers and students. Wuzhen World Internet Science and Technology Museum sincerely invites industry associations, professional organizations, enterprises, scientific research institutions, and other relevant entities in the field of the global Internet to plan and hold special salons, temporary exhibitions, and other activities within the museum. Tongxiang, the permanent venue of the Summit, was successfully selected as a national pilot of Vehicle-Road-Cloud Integration and a national digital village pilot this year. The Light of Wuzhen was included in the national supercomputing Internet system. Wuzhen Laboratory has become a branch of a national key laboratory. With the planning and implementation of Wuzhen International Internet Town, we look forward to more and deeper cooperation and exchanges with the guests of the Wuzhen Summit and members of WIC international organization.