Journal of Corporate Finance China Conference
School of Finance, Renmin University of China · Journal of Corporate Finance

Traveling to China

This page provides practical travel information for participants traveling to Beijing from outside mainland China.

1. About Beijing

Beijing is China’s capital and one of the world’s major centers of government, higher education, and culture. For conference participants, it combines the infrastructure of a large international metropolis with direct access to historic sites, museums, universities, and major transport hubs. This broad city-introduction function is also part of the older conference-style travel pages you asked to retain.

2. Entry to China

2.1 30-Day Visa-Free Entry

China currently grants 30-day visa-free entry to ordinary passport holders from a substantial group of countries for purposes including business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, exchange visits, and transit, provided the stay does not exceed 30 days. The National Immigration Administration’s official English page states that the duration of stay is calculated from 00:00 on the day following entry. Because eligibility can change and depends on nationality and passport type, all participants should verify their status through official channels before travel.

2.2 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit

For travelers who are not using the 30-day visa-free policy, China also operates a 240-hour visa-free transit scheme for eligible nationals transiting onward to a third country or region. Beijing’s official foreign visitor service platform confirms the existence of this policy and directs users to the official policy details and required documents. Participants should note that transit eligibility depends not only on nationality but also on itinerary structure, so tickets should be planned carefully.

2.3 If You Need a Visa

If you are not eligible for either 30-day visa-free entry or 240-hour visa-free transit, you should apply for a visa through the Chinese embassy, consulate, or visa application center serving your place of residence. Participants who need a visa are encouraged to begin the process early and, if necessary, request a conference invitation letter from the organizers after registration. This preserves the function of the older conference template while aligning it with current entry arrangements.

2.4 Residence Registration

Beijing’s official foreign visitor portal states that foreigners entering mainland China are required to complete residence registration. If you stay in a hotel, this is normally handled by the hotel; if you stay in a private residence, you should confirm the registration procedure promptly after arrival.

3. Conference Venue

The conference will be held at Renmin University of China, Zhongguancun Campus, located at:

Renmin University of China
No. 59 Zhongguancun Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100872, China

This address is consistent across multiple official English-language pages of Renmin University of China.

For taxi or ride-hailing use, it is advisable to save the Chinese address as well:

中国人民大学中关村校区
北京市海淀区中关村大街59号

If the specific conference building is announced later, participants should also save the building name in Chinese, since that will make the final leg of the journey much easier. This is a practical inference based on normal Beijing taxi and campus-navigation conditions.

4. Arriving in Beijing

Beijing is served by two major international airports:

  • Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK)

  • Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX)

Beijing’s official foreign visitor service platform provides one-stop airport services for international travelers, including transport guidance, payment assistance, SIM card support, city maps, and travel cards. This is one of the major practical improvements since many older conference travel pages were written.

4.1 Arriving via Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK)

The Beijing Municipal Government’s English transport page states that the Capital Airport Express connects Dongzhimen - Sanyuanqiao - Terminal 3 - Terminal 2, with a one-way fare of CNY 25 per person. Airport shuttle buses and taxis are also available. For participants heading to the conference venue, PEK is often a convenient airport because of its connection to the northeastern and central parts of the city.

4.2 Arriving via Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX)

Beijing’s official airport-to-city guidance states that Daxing Airport offers airport express, airport bus, and online car-hailing services. Participants arriving at PKX should allow more time for the trip into northwestern Beijing than they would from PEK, especially during busy traffic periods.

4.3 Arriving by Train

If you are already in mainland China, high-speed rail may be the easiest way to reach Beijing. China Railway’s official English FAQ states that foreign passengers may buy tickets using a valid passport and that tickets can be purchased through 12306, at railway stations, or via automatic ticketing machines. The same official source also notes that 12306 is the official railway ticketing platform.

5. Getting to Renmin University of China

5.1 By Subway

The most convenient public-transport destination for the conference venue is Renmin University Station. Official Renmin University English pages indicate that Renmin University Station is close to the East Gate of the campus, while Suzhoujie Station is close to the West Gate. In addition, Beijing’s official English subway news indicates that Renmin Univ. is a station on Line 12, and Renmin University’s own English materials identify it as a stop on Line 4 as well.

For most conference participants, the simplest instruction is therefore: take the subway to Renmin University Station, then proceed to the relevant campus gate or conference building based on the organizers’ final directions. This is more durable and useful than giving only a city-level arrival description.

5.2 By Taxi or Ride-Hailing

Participants may travel directly to campus by taxi or ride-hailing service. When doing so, it is strongly recommended that you show the driver the Chinese address of the university rather than relying only on the English name. This recommendation follows longstanding practice for foreign visitors in Beijing and remains consistent with the older travel-page model you asked to preserve.

5.3 From Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) to RUC

From PEK, participants may either take a taxi/ride-hailing service directly to Renmin University of China or first use the Capital Airport Express to enter the urban rail network. Since the official airport line connects through Sanyuanqiao and Dongzhimen, those interchanges can be used to transfer onward into the subway system. Direct road travel may be easier for first-time visitors carrying luggage, while rail transfer may be more predictable in peak traffic.

5.4 From Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX) to RUC

From PKX, participants may also use taxi, ride-hailing, or public transport. Because Daxing Airport is farther south, participants should allow more travel time, especially if arriving at busy hours. Beijing’s official airport guide confirms the availability of airport express and car-hailing connections from PKX.

5.5 Final Leg on Campus

Detailed instructions to the specific conference building, including the nearest gate and walking route from the subway, should be added to the conference website once the room or building is finalized. At present, the correct durable guidance is to route participants to Renmin University of China, Zhongguancun Campus, and then provide the building-level details later. This is a recommendation based on campus-navigation practice rather than a sourced institutional statement.

6. Transportation Within Beijing

Beijing has an extensive public transport system including subway, taxis, buses, and ride-hailing services. For most international conference participants, the most practical options are the subway for predictable travel times and taxi/ride-hailing for airport transfers and late-night arrivals. This retains the functional core of the old travel page while aligning it with today’s urban transport conditions.

A notable recent update is that Beijing’s rail transit system now supports tap-and-go access with five major international card networks: Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express, and UnionPay. This significantly reduces friction for short-term foreign visitors using the subway.

Beijing also provides BEIJING PASS and related airport-side travel support for international travelers, including transport information and city maps. For visitors who prefer a dedicated transport card, this is now more relevant than many older references to legacy systems.

7. Money, Payments, and Mobile Wallets

China is highly digital in everyday payments, but conference participants should still prepare multiple payment methods. A sensible combination is one internationally enabled bank card, one mobile payment app, and a modest amount of RMB cash. Beijing’s official visitor service platform specifically provides support for payment methods, payment apps, ATM withdrawals, and currency exchange, including at airport service points.

For mobile payments, Alipay is one of the most practical options for overseas visitors. Alipay’s official international guidance states that users can download the app, choose the International Version, and bind an eligible international bank card for use in mainland China. The same official guidance explains that overseas travelers can use it for in-store and many travel-related transactions in the Chinese mainland.

Even with mobile payment available, it is still prudent not to rely on a single method. App verification, issuer-side restrictions, roaming issues, or merchant differences can occasionally create friction. That is why carrying a backup card and some cash remains advisable. This is an operational recommendation grounded in the available official payment-support ecosystem.

8. Internet Access, Apps, and SIM Cards

Foreign visitors should prepare for a digital environment in mainland China that may differ from what they are used to elsewhere. Beijing’s official foreign visitor platform offers support for SIM Card Application/Collection, Guide to Essential Apps, Wi-Fi, and related airport services, which makes arrival setup much easier than in earlier years.

Before departure, participants are advised to install the apps they consider essential for travel, payment, messaging, and translation, and to confirm that their phone can use international roaming, eSIM, or a local SIM if needed. This is especially important if your banking or authentication workflow depends on SMS verification. The underlying airport and city support for those services is explicitly listed by Beijing’s official platform.

9. Language Assistance

English signage is widely available in airports, major subway stations, and many hotels, but everyday communication in shops, taxis, and smaller venues may still be easier if you have written Chinese addresses or a translation app. This remains one of the most useful practical recommendations carried over from older conference travel pages.

For that reason, participants should save the conference venue, hotel name, and key destinations in both English and Chinese on their phones before departure. In Beijing, that small step often removes the most common friction points in local travel. This is a practical inference consistent with the official transport and service environment.

10. Electricity

China uses 220V / 50Hz electricity. Participants should bring an appropriate plug adapter and, if necessary, a compatible charger or voltage converter. This remains standard travel advice and is one of the useful basic items that older conference travel pages typically included.

11. Shopping and Opening Hours

Most shops, restaurants, and commercial services in Beijing operate daily, but actual opening hours vary by location and institution. Museums and cultural sites may have fixed closing days, often Mondays, while retail and dining venues tend to operate longer hours. Participants who plan sightseeing before or after the conference should check the official websites of the relevant attractions rather than relying on generic assumptions. This updates the old conference-page function with a more accurate caveat.

12. Weather in Beijing in December

The conference will take place in mid-December, when Beijing is typically cold and dry. Participants should bring warm winter clothing, especially for mornings, evenings, and airport transfers. The older conference-style advice to pack for winter conditions remains fully applicable here.

A practical clothing setup would include a warm coat or down jacket, a sweater or thermal layer, and shoes suitable for cold weather. Because indoor heating is common in Beijing, layered clothing is usually more comfortable than relying on a single very heavy layer. This is a practical recommendation based on normal Beijing winter conditions.

13. Suggested Pre-Departure Checklist

Before traveling to Beijing, participants should:

  • confirm whether they are eligible for 30-day visa-free entry, 240-hour visa-free transit, or need a visa;

  • ensure their passport has sufficient validity;

  • save the English and Chinese address of Renmin University of China, Zhongguancun Campus;

  • install a mobile payment app and a translation app;

  • confirm card, roaming, or SIM arrangements; and

  • prepare for cold December weather.

14. Official Resources

For the most current travel information, participants should consult official sources, including:

  • the Chinese embassy, consulate, or visa application center serving their place of residence;

  • the National Immigration Administration for visa-free policies;

  • the Beijing Municipal Government English portal and the Beijing Service platform for foreign visitors;

  • China Railway 12306 for rail ticketing; and

  • official conference announcements for venue-specific details.

15. Contact

Further information on the conference building, nearby hotels, and detailed campus directions will be posted on the conference website closer to the event date. If you require a conference invitation letter or other travel-related support connected to conference attendance, please contact the conference organizers after registration.

We look forward to welcoming you to Beijing in December 2026.