Taicang is a vibrant city located in the Suzhou metropolitan area, just northwest of Shanghai. It is a well developed area, making it easy for both domestic and international guests to access the conference venue.

Flights

The two main airports serving the Taicang area are:

• • Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) – ~90 km, approx. 90 minutes by car
  • Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA) – ~60 km, approx. 60 minutes by car

Both airports offer extensive international and domestic flights. Taxis, ride-hailing services (such as DiDi, which can be downloaded here), and airport shuttles are available for transfers to Taicang.

Tip: If you're arriving internationally, Pudong (PVG) is the most convenient option. If you're coming from another Chinese city, Hongqiao (SHA) is closer and often faster.

Train

Taicang is accessible by high-speed rail via several stations nearby:

• • Taicang Railway Station/Taicang South Railway Station – Both serve selected high-speed trains from Shanghai, Nanjing, and Suzhou.
  • Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station – Conveniently connected to Hongqiao Airport, this station offers frequent high-speed trains to Taicang.
  • Suzhou North Railway Station – A major hub, about 40 minutes from Taicang by taxi or car.

We recommend checking schedules on 12306.cn or using apps like Trip for booking train tickets.

Taxi or Car

Taicang is approximately:

• • 1 hour from downtown Shanghai
  • 45 minutes from Suzhou
  • 2 hours from Nanjing

Tips: We highly recommend downloading ride-hailing apps such as DiDi.

Travel Tips

• • Currency: The local currency is Renminbi (RMB/¥). International credit cards are accepted at major hotels, but for local shops and restaurants, cash or mobile payment methods - such as WeChat Pay (if you have a WeChat account) or Alipay - are recommended.
  • Language: Basic English is spoken in most hotels. For taxis, restaurants, and local shops, translation apps can be very useful.
  • SIM Cards & Wi-Fi: SIM cards can be purchased at major airports. Most hotels and conference venues offer free Wi-Fi.
  • Apps: Useful apps include DiDi (China’s equivalent of Uber for ride-hailing), Baidu Maps, Gaode Maps, or Tencent Maps (for navigation), and WeChat (widely used for communication and mobile payments).