Venue and Travel

ICCTH 2027 takes place on April 27 to 30, 2027 in Hengqin, Zhuhai, China (中国珠海横琴), an island right next to Macau and home to the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin (横琴粤澳深度合作区). This page covers what you need to plan your trip. Information was checked in November 2026. Please confirm visa and transport details closer to your travel date.

Conference venue: to be announced. The exact venue and recommended hotels will be posted here. Hengqin is small, and most hotels are a short taxi ride from each other, so you can start planning your flights now.

At a glance

Getting to Hengqin

By air

By train from elsewhere in China

Hengqin station (横琴站) is the terminus of the Guangzhou-Zhuhai intercity railway. Direct trains run from Guangzhou South Station in a little over 1.5 hours, stopping at Zhongshan and Zhuhai. From other cities, take a high-speed train to Guangzhou South and change there. Book tickets on the official China Railway site 12306.cn (English version available) or the Railway 12306 app. Foreign travellers book and board with their passport.

Through Macau

Many international participants fly into Macau or Hong Kong. Hengqin Port (横琴口岸) is open 24 hours and uses joint "one inspection, one release" clearance: you clear Macau exit and mainland entry in a single hall. Leave 20 to 45 minutes for the crossing, longer on public holidays.

Visas and entry

Hengqin is part of mainland China, so mainland entry rules apply. Macau and Hong Kong have separate, more relaxed entry rules for most passports.

• 30-day visa-free entry. Citizens of 48 countries, including most of Europe, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea, can currently enter China visa-free for up to 30 days for business, tourism, visits or exchanges. This policy currently runs until December 31, 2026. Please check whether it has been extended before booking.
• 240-hour visa-free transit. Citizens of 55 countries travelling onward to a third country or region can stay up to 10 days without a visa. Hengqin Port and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge port are both approved entry points. Macau and Hong Kong count as a "third region", so a trip such as Macau → Hengqin → Hong Kong can qualify. You need a confirmed onward ticket.
• Conference visa. If you need a visa, request an invitation letter once your paper is accepted or your registration is confirmed, then apply at a Chinese embassy or visa centre. Allow at least one month.
• Staying in Macau? Each crossing into Hengqin counts as a new mainland entry. Make sure your visa or visa-free status allows multiple entries.
• Participants from mainland China travelling via Macau or Hong Kong need an Exit-Entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macau (往来港澳通行证) with a valid endorsement.

Official information: National Immigration Administration of China. When in doubt, ask the nearest Chinese embassy or consulate.

Weather in late April

Late April is warm, humid spring weather on the South China coast.

What to pack: light, breathable clothing, a compact umbrella, comfortable walking shoes, sunscreen, and a light jacket or shawl for air-conditioned meeting rooms. Business casual is fine for the conference.

Getting around

• Taxis and ride-hailing are the easiest way to move around Hengqin. DiDi (滴滴出行) works in English and can also be used inside Alipay and WeChat. Show drivers your destination written in Chinese.
• Buses connect Hengqin Port, Hengqin station, the Chimelong resort area and central Zhuhai.
• To Macau: walk across at Hengqin Port, then take the Macau LRT Hengqin Line (2 minutes to Lótus station) or a taxi to Cotai, Taipa or the Macau peninsula.
• Maps: use Amap (高德地图, has an English interface) or Baidu Maps. Google Maps is not reliable in mainland China.

Money, phones and internet

• Mobile payment is the norm. Before you travel, install Alipay or WeChat and link your Visa, Mastercard or other international card. Both are available in English. International hotels accept cards, and it is still worth carrying a little cash in RMB.
• Mobile data: buy an eSIM or roaming plan before you leave, or a local SIM card at the airport with your passport.
• Apps and websites: some international services, including Google, WhatsApp and many social media platforms, are not accessible on mainland networks. We recommend installing WeChat, which the organizers will use for on-site updates, and downloading your documents, slides and offline maps before you arrive. Bring your presentation on a USB drive as well as in your email.
• Translation: the translation tools built into WeChat and Alipay, or a downloaded offline translation pack, are useful for menus and taxis.

Things to see and do

In Hengqin

• Chimelong Ocean Kingdom (长隆海洋王国): one of the world's largest ocean theme parks, with whale sharks, beluga whales and polar bears, plus an evening fireworks show.
• Chimelong Spaceship (长隆宇宙飞船): recognised by Guinness World Records as the world's largest indoor theme park, with marine habitats and, since 2026, hundreds of service robots, a fitting visit for a conference on AI and robotics in tourism.
• Coastal greenways and mangroves: Hengqin's waterfront paths, wetlands and hills are good for an early morning walk or bike ride.
• Night skyline: the Shizimen (十字门) waterfront lights up after dark, with views across the channel to Macau.

Nearby

• Historic Centre of Macao (澳门历史城区): a UNESCO World Heritage Site where Portuguese and Chinese heritage meet, including Senado Square and the Ruins of St. Paul's. About 30 minutes from Hengqin.
• Taipa Village and Cotai, Macau: Macanese food, colonial streets and integrated resorts, 10 to 20 minutes from Hengqin Port.
• Zhuhai Lovers' Road (情侣路) and the Fisher Girl statue (珠海渔女): Zhuhai's seaside promenade and city symbol.
• Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (港珠澳大桥): one of the world's longest sea-crossing bridges. Seeing it is part of the journey if you arrive from Hong Kong.

For Macau visitor information, see Macao Government Tourism Office.

Where to stay

Recommended hotels, and any conference rates, will be announced together with the venue. In the meantime, the main options are:

• Hengqin: the Chimelong resort hotels and international business hotels on the island. This is the most convenient choice and needs no border crossing each day.
• Macau (Cotai or Taipa): a wide range of hotels close to Hengqin Port. Only choose this if your visa allows multiple entries into mainland China.

Hotels in mainland China register all foreign guests with the police, so have your passport ready at check-in.

Show this to your taxi driver

Questions

For travel or visa questions, including invitation letters, please use the contact page.