General Visa Information
United States citizens will need a visa to enter China, which can be obtained from the Chinese Consulate designated to serve your region. The People’s Republic of China maintains one embassy in Washington, D.C., and four consulates in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. To find the consulate office that serves your region, please visit: http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/hzqz/t84229.htm.
Additional information can also be found at the United States Department of State: https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country/china.html
Non-U.S. citizens need to apply for a travel visa from the Chinese Consulates or Embassies stationed in their respective countries.
Visa Information for U.S. Citizens Traveling from Chicago
Visitors from the University of Chicago will need to obtain a visa to travel to China. For information about visa requirements, please visit: www.chinaconsulatechicago.org/eng.
All visa applications must be submitted in person by the applicant or by someone entrusted to the applicant. The Consulate will not accept visa applications sent by mail. The Chinese Consulate in Chicago is located at:
Visa & Passport Office
Chinese Consulate General in Chicago
1 East Erie Street, Suite 500
Chicago, Illinois 60611
Travel Emergencies
The United States Embassy in Beijing provides some emergency assistance, including a list of medical facilities known to treat foreigners and contact information for legal issues.
Beijing Hotels
Beijing Friendship Hotel
1 Zhongguancun South Street
Haidian District, Beijing 100873
Tel: 86-10-6849-8888
Fax: 86-10-6849-9168
Email: Ms. Xiangrong Dong, Marketing Department: smd@bjfriendshiphotel.com
Website: www.bjfriendshiphotel.com
北京友谊宾馆
中关村南大街1号
The Beijing Friendship Hotel is the closest hotel to the University of Chicago Center in Beijing.
The center has negotiated a discounted rate with the Friendship Hotel. To access the discounted rate, please contact Ms. Xiangrong Dong at smd@bjfriendshiphotel.com and indicate that you are affiliated with UChicago.
Shangri-La Hotel
29 Zizhuyuan Road
Beijing 100089
Tel: 86-10-6841-2211
Fax: 86-10-6843-2257
Website: www.shangri-la.com (select “Beijing, Shangri-La” from list of hotels)
北京香格里拉饭店
北京紫竹院路29号
The Shangri-La is located southwest of the Center in Beijing and it is approximately a 15 minute taxi ride to the center.
Crowne Plaza Hotel
Beijing Zhongguancun
No. 106 Zhichun Road
Haidian District, Beijing 100086
Tel: 86-10-5993-8888
Fax: 86-10-5993-8999
Email: info@cp-zhongguancun.com
Website: www.crowneplaza.com
北京中关村皇冠假日酒店
北京海淀区知春路106号
The Crowne Plaza Hotel is a 15 minute walk east of the center.
Four Points by Sheraton
Beijing, Haidian
No. 25 Yuanda Road, Building A
Haidian District, Beijing 100097
Tel: 86-10-8889-8888
Fax: 86-10-8889-8899
Website: www.fourpoints.com
永泰福朋喜来登酒店
海淀区远大路25号A座
The Four Points by Sheraton hotel is located near Tiananmen Square, east of the Center in Beijing. It is a 15 minute taxi ride to the center.
The Lakeview Hotel
127 Zhongguancun North Road
Haidian District, Beijing 100080
Tel: 86-10-8268-9999
Fax: 86-10-8268-9998
Website: www.thelakeviewhotel.com.cn
北大博雅国际酒店
北京海淀区中关村北大街127号
The Lakeview Hotel is approximately a 15 minute taxi ride north of the Center in Beijing.
Somerset Service Residence, Zhongguancun
No. 15 Haidian Zhong Street
Haidian District, Beijing 100080
Tel: 86-10-5873-0088
Fax:86-10-5873-0103
Website: www.the-ascott.com
北京中关村盛捷服务公寓
北京海淀区海淀中街15号
The Somerset Zhongguancun is a 15 minute walk north of the center.
Grand Hyatt Beijing
1 East Chang An Avenue
Beijing 100738
Tel: 86-10-8518-1234
Fax: 86-10-6510-9111
Website: www.beijing.grand.hyatt.com
北京东方君悦大酒店
东长安街1号
The Grand Hyatt Beijing is located in the heart of Beijing and is at least a 30 to 40 minute taxi ride to the center.
Ground Transportation
Taxis
Taxis are the most convenient way to get around Beijing. They are easy to flag down, are generally air conditioned, and are relatively inexpensive. A trip downtown from the center is approximately 60 yuan. As very few cab drivers speak English, it is recommended that non-Chinese speakers have the destination and return trip information written out in Chinese characters.
Subway
The Renmin University stop on Line 4 and the Haidian Huangzhuang stop on Lines 4 and 10 are both in close proximity to the Center in Beijing. Beijing subway ticket prices start at 3 Yuan and increase depending on the distance of travel. Tickets are available at kiosks at all stations. For the complete Beijing subway map, please click here.
Buses and Mini-Buses
Buses and mini-buses are the most common form of transportation in Beijing. There are bus stops near the two gates of Renmin University.