= UPCOMING NOISEBRIDGE CHINA TRIP -- for April-2012=

'''This is an upcoming Noisebridge China Trip for 2012!'''
 

[[Image:NB_China_Trip_bunny_suits.jpg|thumb|right|]]

''Because the first Noisebridge China Trip was so successful,'' 
''I am planning another Hacker Trip To China, including all cities that currently have a hackerspace, and which will culminate at the Beijing Maker Faire (called Maker Carnival China 2012).'' 

'''When:''' 4-April-2012 through 24-April-2012. 
Optional: 9-day Beijing extension from 24-April through 3-May. 

'''Flight, transportation, and hotel Info''': We'll each be on our own to book our own air fare to the meeting point on the meeting day: Hong Kong on 4-April (please note that to arrive on 4-April, your flight must leave on 3-April). 

I'm organizing the itinerary and the hotels and other transport. I will pay in advance for all of this. 

'''Where:''' In each of the four cities we go to we'll visit their local hackerspace, and be shown around by local geeks to see geeky things of interest. We'll also have plenty of time to do "normal" tourist things too -- and the places we'll be going have spectacular sights! 

* We'll explore '''Hong Kong''' for 4 days, visiting [http://hkhackerspace.pbworks.com/w/page/28645825/HackJam Hong Kong Hackjam] hackerspace, and be shown around by local geeks. 
*We'll then go to '''Guangzhou, Shenzhen''' for a few days to visit the [http://www.chaihuo.org/ Chaihuo Makerspace] there, visit [http://www.seeedstudio.com Seeed Studio] to meet the cool folks there and to see their facilities. We'll also go to the famous [http://www.evilmadscientist.com/article.php/shenzhen/print electronics mall] in Shenzhen. And we can go to the just-scheduled [http://www.shenzhenmakerfaire.com/ Shenzhen Maker Faire!] (April 7-8). We can also visit the [http://xinchejian.com/2012/01/10/visit-to-toyhouse-at-ningbo-polytechnic/ Ningbo Toyhouse], which is one of the first hackerspaces in a Chinese university (100 are slated to become reality soon). 
*Then '''Shanghai''' for a week to visit [http://www.etonnet.com/ my manufacturer (Etonnet)] that I use for [http://www.tvbgone.com TV-B-Gone] remote controls, where we'll all get to see how products are made, from start to finish, learning how manufacturing works. We'll also visit [http://xinchejian.com/ XinCheJian] hackerspace in Shanghai, [http://site.douban.com/133681/ Onion Capsule Makerspace] in nearby Hangzhou, and there will be time to visit the [http://www.flickr.com/photos/maltman23/4064240200/in/set-72157622640069902/ Shanghai electronics mall]. 
*Our last stop will be '''Beijing''', where we'll be for a week. We'll visit the new [http://site.douban.com/124037/ Beijing Maxpace] hackerspace, and we'll go to the the first big Maker Faire in China! (which they're calling [http://makercarnival.com/MakerCarnival.html Maker Carnival China 2012]). We'll have a booth there at the Carnival, so please bring a project (or many) to show off! 

We'll fly home from Beijing on 24-April. (But, of course, you are free to leave whenever you like.) 

*'''Maker Carnival China 2012 was originally scheduled for 21-April & 22-April. The Chinese government changed the dates to 29-April through 1-May. So that those who want to can be part of the main event, I added an optional 9-day Beijing extension.''' 

'''Those who want the 9-day Beijing extension will fly home on 3-May.''' (But, of course, you are free to leave whenever you like.) 

'''Cost:''' For the first Noisebridge China trip, I paid about $1k total, including air fare from SF and food and everything. 

This trip will probably be more expensive, since Hong Kong is more expensive than the rest of China. Also, the exchange rate for Chinese currency (Yuan, aka RMB) is now doing better on the world market. 

== Itinerary for Noisebridge China Trip 2 ==

''3-April-2012 -- Leave home in NA or EU for Hong Kong''
''4-April-2012 -- Meet in Hong Kong''
4-April to 8-April -- Hong Kong
8-April to 11-April -- Shenzhen
11-April to 16-April -- Shanghai
16-April to 17-April -- Ningbo
17-April to 18-April -- Hangzhou
18-April to 3-May -- Beijing
''3-May-2012 -- fly home (arrive NA or EU on 3-May)''

== You Need a Chinese Visa!! ==
To go to China you need to get a visa!

* And to get a visa, you need to have a passport that is valid ''at least'' 6 months after you plan to fly away from China (so, if you are leaving China on 24-April, then your passport needs to be valid through 25-October-2012). Your passport must also have at least ''one entirely blank page''.

* You also need a copy of the information pages of your passport.

* You also need one 2"x2" recent color photo (not a printout).

* For US citizens, the visa costs $140 (much cheaper for other nationalities). You can get a single-entry, or a multiple-entry visa. I recommend getting a '''multiple-entry visa''' since multiple-entry visas cost the same as single-entry, and they are equally easy to obtain. I recommend getting a '''Tourist L visa''', which is very easy.

You can pay the fee by Visa, MasterCard, Money Order, Cashier's Check or Company Check. ''Cash or Personal checks are not acceptable.''

To get a visa, you can go to your local Chinese consulate (which are all closed on 23-Jan and 24-Jan for Chinese New Year). No appointment is required. You go in one day, and it will be ready for pick up 4 business days later. My experience is that it takes about an hour the first day, and takes only a few minutes to pick up the visa a few days later. (2 to 3 business-day and 1 business day/same-day express service is avaliable for $20 or $30.)

(Citizens of US and Europe ''do not'' need a separate visa for Hong Kong.)

Here is the application form for the China Tourist L Visa: 
http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/ywzn/lsyw/vpna/rap/W020110823124017412067.pdf

On this form, most of the fields are obvious.
* For section 2.1, check "Tourism".
* The date of first entry in section 2.3 is the date we will be entering China (not Hong Kong), which is 2012-04-08.
* Addresses for section 2.5
** Holiday Inn DongHua jiaYue, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, Shandong Building, Nanhai Road, East Park, Block D -- phone: 0755-26569999
** Shanghai Hanting Season Hotel, No.1018 Kangding Road, Shanghai, China 200040 -- phone: 021-62307755
** Sitting On The City Walls Courtyard House, No.57, NianZi HuTong, JingShanHouJie, DongCheng District, Beijing, 100009 -- phone: 010-64027805
* Name of inviter in section 2.8: 
          Wang Yong 
          Room 1202, Building #42 
          588 South LianHua Road (Ming Hang) 
          Shanghai, 201100 
          Tel: 021-54296820 or 13795204960 
* Name of contact in section 2.9, use the same info as in section 2.8

== Hong Kong ==
We will be staying at the [http://www.freetra.com/hotel/view-Hong_Kong_Noble_Hotel.html Noble Hotel] in Hong Kong, which is located in Tsim Sha Tsui, a happening, popular area of Kowloon: 
Noble Hotel, 5/F, Pollock Building, 9-10, Tak Hing St., Jordan, Kowloon, Hong Kong -- phone: (852) 2369 7971 

We will be picked up from Noble Hotel in the morning of 8-April, and driven to our hotel in Shenzhen.

== Shanghai ==
We will be arriving at Shanghai (arrive 13:40) from Shenzhen (depart 11:30am) on flight MU5314 on 11-April.

We will be staying at: 
Shanghai Hanting Season Hotel, No.1018 Kangding Road, Shanghai, China 200040 -- phone: 021-62307755

'''Proposed Itinerary:'''

''Wednesday, Apr. 11th'' 
Arrival at 2pm, hotel check-in 
Sightseeing 
Hackers presentation at XCJ open house at 7pm 

''Thursday, Apr. 12th'' 
Sightseeing: (http://wiki.xinchejian.com/wiki/Things_to_do_in_Shanghai) 
12:00 - Lunch 
14:00 - Fabric Market 
18:30 - Dinner at XinJiang restaurant 
21:00 - Visit of the Bund 

''Friday, Apr. 13th'' 
12:00 - Lunch 
Sightseeing options: 
Jing'an Temple 
Antique market 
Insect market 
Tea tasting at Tea plaza 
Yuyuan garden 
Qibao ancient town 
Tianzifang 
Pearl tower 
Pudong riverside 
18:30 - Dinner at Sechuan restaurant with famous Chinese masks changing show

''Saturday, Apr. 14th'' 
Touring the electronics Malls in the morning or other sightseeing or hangout at the hackerspace 
11:30 - Lunch 
13:00~16:00 - Arduino for total newbies workshop at XinCheJian hackerspace 
18:30 - Dinner 

''Sunday, Apr. 15th'' 
Sightseeing in the morning 
Other sightseeing or hangout at the hackerspace 

''Monday, Apr. 16th'' 
Visit of Etonnet electronics manufacturing in Songjiang at 2pm (http://www.etonnet.com/) 

''Tuesday, Apr. 17th'' 
9:00 - Hotel check-out 
9:30 - Going to Hongqiao train station 
10:30 - Take train to Hangzhou 
11:30 - Hotel check-in 
12:00 - Lunch 
13:30 - Walk around West Lake 
19:00 - Visit Hangzhou hackerspace OnionCapsule + presentations 
Overnight stay in Hangzhou 

''Wednesday, Apr. 18th'' 
10:00 - Hotel check-out 
12:00 - Going to train station 
12:00 - Take high speed train to Beijing at 12pm (arriving at 6:40pm) 

= Previous Noisebridge China Trip =
''If you're curious about the previous Noisebridge China Trip, it has its own wiki page:'' 
[[ChinaTrip|Noisebridge China Trip 1]] 
That first Noisebridge China Trip was inspired by Bunny Huang's [http://www.evilmadscientist.com/article.php/shenzhen/print "geek tour"].

--[[user: maltman23 | Mitch]].

= People interested in going on the Hacker Trip to China in 2012: =


'''You do not need to be a member of Noisebridge to go on this trip.'''
 

'''Please email me if you are interested in joining us:''' 
''maltman23 *AT* hotmail *DOT* com''

The trip is limited to 8 people total (including Mitch), so the first 7 people on this list (after Mitch) who buy their plane tickets will be able to join us: 

{| style="color:green; background-color:#ffffcc;" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" border="1"
!
! Name
! Purchased flight?
! Flight info
|-
|1
|[[user: maltman23 | Mitch Altman]]
|align="center"|YES
|Arriving 04-Apr-12 18:15 on United UA869
|-
|2
|[[user: schneider|schneider]]
|align="center"|YES
|Arriving 04-Apr-12 14:30 on Emirates EK382
|-
|3
|[[user: corecode | Simon Schubert]]
|align="center"| YES
|Arriving 04-Apr-12 11:00 on Lufthansa LH738
|-
|4
|[[user: chaoflow | Florian Friesdorf]]
|align="center"| YES
|Arriving 04-Apr-12 15:23 on Lufthansa LH730
|-
|5
|[[user: jjrosent | Jacob Rosenthal (heatsynclabs.org)]]
|align="center"| YES
|Arriving 04-Apr-12 18:15 on United UA869
|-
|6
|[[user: saspe | E P S A S]]
|align="center"| YES
|Arriving 04 Apr-12 17:55 on United UA895
|-
|7
|[[user: yair99| yair reshef]]
|align="center"| YES
|Arriving 08 Apr-12 10:55 on Lufthansa LH 0738
|-
|8
|[[user: Ursula Kallio | Ursula Kallio]]
|align="center"|YES
|Arriving 04-Apr-12 18:15 on United UA869
|-
|9
|[[user: jprodgers| Jimmie Rodgers]]
|align="center"| Yes
|Arriving 04-Apr-12 09:45 on Aeroflot Russian Airlines 2313 / 212
|-
|10
|[[cibomahto|cibomahto]]
|align="center"|no
|
|-
|11
|[[user: mct|MCT]]
|align="center"|no
|
|-
|12
|[[user: mid|Adam]]
|align="center"|no
|
|-
|13
|[[user: miloh|froggytoad]]
|align="center"|no
|
|-
|14
|[[user: joeyhudy | Joey]]
|align="center"|no
|
|-
|15
|[[user: juliehudy | Julie]]
|align="center"|no
|
|-
|16
|[[user: northdallas | North Dallas]]
|align="center"|no
|
|-
|17
|[[user: Sophi Kravitz | Sophi Kravitz]]
|align="center"|no
|
|}
[[Category:Travel]]

NoisebridgeChinaTrip2

2012-04-11T17:57:59Z

Mlhsie: /* Shanghai */

= UPCOMING NOISEBRIDGE CHINA TRIP -- for April-2012=

'''This is an upcoming Noisebridge China Trip for 2012!'''
 

[[Image:NB_China_Trip_bunny_suits.jpg|thumb|right|]]

''Because the first Noisebridge China Trip was so successful,'' 
''I am planning another Hacker Trip To China, including all cities that currently have a hackerspace, and which will culminate at the Beijing Maker Faire (called Maker Carnival China 2012).'' 

'''When:''' 4-April-2012 through 24-April-2012. 
Optional: 9-day Beijing extension from 24-April through 3-May. 

'''Flight, transportation, and hotel Info''': We'll each be on our own to book our own air fare to the meeting point on the meeting day: Hong Kong on 4-April (please note that to arrive on 4-April, your flight must leave on 3-April). 

I'm organizing the itinerary and the hotels and other transport. I will pay in advance for all of this. 

'''Where:''' In each of the four cities we go to we'll visit their local hackerspace, and be shown around by local geeks to see geeky things of interest. We'll also have plenty of time to do "normal" tourist things too -- and the places we'll be going have spectacular sights! 

* We'll explore '''Hong Kong''' for 4 days, visiting [http://hkhackerspace.pbworks.com/w/page/28645825/HackJam Hong Kong Hackjam] hackerspace, and be shown around by local geeks. 
*We'll then go to '''Guangzhou, Shenzhen''' for a few days to visit the [http://www.chaihuo.org/ Chaihuo Makerspace] there, visit [http://www.seeedstudio.com Seeed Studio] to meet the cool folks there and to see their facilities. We'll also go to the famous [http://www.evilmadscientist.com/article.php/shenzhen/print electronics mall] in Shenzhen. And we can go to the just-scheduled [http://www.shenzhenmakerfaire.com/ Shenzhen Maker Faire!] (April 7-8). We can also visit the [http://xinchejian.com/2012/01/10/visit-to-toyhouse-at-ningbo-polytechnic/ Ningbo Toyhouse], which is one of the first hackerspaces in a Chinese university (100 are slated to become reality soon). 
*Then '''Shanghai''' for a week to visit [http://www.etonnet.com/ my manufacturer (Etonnet)] that I use for [http://www.tvbgone.com TV-B-Gone] remote controls, where we'll all get to see how products are made, from start to finish, learning how manufacturing works. We'll also visit [http://xinchejian.com/ XinCheJian] hackerspace in Shanghai, [http://site.douban.com/133681/ Onion Capsule Makerspace] in nearby Hangzhou, and there will be time to visit the [http://www.flickr.com/photos/maltman23/4064240200/in/set-72157622640069902/ Shanghai electronics mall]. 
*Our last stop will be '''Beijing''', where we'll be for a week. We'll visit the new [http://site.douban.com/124037/ Beijing Maxpace] hackerspace, and we'll go to the the first big Maker Faire in China! (which they're calling [http://makercarnival.com/MakerCarnival.html Maker Carnival China 2012]). We'll have a booth there at the Carnival, so please bring a project (or many) to show off! 

We'll fly home from Beijing on 24-April. (But, of course, you are free to leave whenever you like.) 

*'''Maker Carnival China 2012 was originally scheduled for 21-April & 22-April. The Chinese government changed the dates to 29-April through 1-May. So that those who want to can be part of the main event, I added an optional 9-day Beijing extension.''' 

'''Those who want the 9-day Beijing extension will fly home on 3-May.''' (But, of course, you are free to leave whenever you like.) 

'''Cost:''' For the first Noisebridge China trip, I paid about $1k total, including air fare from SF and food and everything. 

This trip will probably be more expensive, since Hong Kong is more expensive than the rest of China. Also, the exchange rate for Chinese currency (Yuan, aka RMB) is now doing better on the world market. 

== Itinerary for Noisebridge China Trip 2 ==

''3-April-2012 -- Leave home in NA or EU for Hong Kong''
''4-April-2012 -- Meet in Hong Kong''
4-April to 8-April -- Hong Kong
8-April to 11-April -- Shenzhen
11-April to 16-April -- Shanghai
16-April to 17-April -- Ningbo
17-April to 18-April -- Hangzhou
18-April to 3-May -- Beijing
''3-May-2012 -- fly home (arrive NA or EU on 3-May)''

== You Need a Chinese Visa!! ==
To go to China you need to get a visa!

* And to get a visa, you need to have a passport that is valid ''at least'' 6 months after you plan to fly away from China (so, if you are leaving China on 24-April, then your passport needs to be valid through 25-October-2012). Your passport must also have at least ''one entirely blank page''.

* You also need a copy of the information pages of your passport.

* You also need one 2"x2" recent color photo (not a printout).

* For US citizens, the visa costs $140 (much cheaper for other nationalities). You can get a single-entry, or a multiple-entry visa. I recommend getting a '''multiple-entry visa''' since multiple-entry visas cost the same as single-entry, and they are equally easy to obtain. I recommend getting a '''Tourist L visa''', which is very easy.

You can pay the fee by Visa, MasterCard, Money Order, Cashier's Check or Company Check. ''Cash or Personal checks are not acceptable.''

To get a visa, you can go to your local Chinese consulate (which are all closed on 23-Jan and 24-Jan for Chinese New Year). No appointment is required. You go in one day, and it will be ready for pick up 4 business days later. My experience is that it takes about an hour the first day, and takes only a few minutes to pick up the visa a few days later. (2 to 3 business-day and 1 business day/same-day express service is avaliable for $20 or $30.)

(Citizens of US and Europe ''do not'' need a separate visa for Hong Kong.)

Here is the application form for the China Tourist L Visa: 
http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/ywzn/lsyw/vpna/rap/W020110823124017412067.pdf

On this form, most of the fields are obvious.
* For section 2.1, check "Tourism".
* The date of first entry in section 2.3 is the date we will be entering China (not Hong Kong), which is 2012-04-08.
* Addresses for section 2.5
** Holiday Inn DongHua jiaYue, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, Shandong Building, Nanhai Road, East Park, Block D -- phone: 0755-26569999
** Shanghai Hanting Season Hotel, No.1018 Kangding Road, Shanghai, China 200040 -- phone: 021-62307755
** Sitting On The City Walls Courtyard House, No.57, NianZi HuTong, JingShanHouJie, DongCheng District, Beijing, 100009 -- phone: 010-64027805
* Name of inviter in section 2.8: 
          Wang Yong 
          Room 1202, Building #42 
          588 South LianHua Road (Ming Hang) 
          Shanghai, 201100 
          Tel: 021-54296820 or 13795204960 
* Name of contact in section 2.9, use the same info as in section 2.8

== Hong Kong ==
We will be staying at the [http://www.freetra.com/hotel/view-Hong_Kong_Noble_Hotel.html Noble Hotel] in Hong Kong, which is located in Tsim Sha Tsui, a happening, popular area of Kowloon: 
Noble Hotel, 5/F, Pollock Building, 9-10, Tak Hing St., Jordan, Kowloon, Hong Kong -- phone: (852) 2369 7971 

We will be picked up from Noble Hotel in the morning of 8-April, and driven to our hotel in Shenzhen.

== Shanghai ==
We will be arriving at Shanghai (arrive 13:40) from Shenzhen (depart 11:30am) on flight MU5314 on 11-April.

We will be staying at: 
Shanghai Hanting Season Hotel, No.1018 Kangding Road, Shanghai, China 200040 -- phone: 021-62307755

'''Proposed Itinerary:'''

''Apr. 11th'' 
Arrival at 2pm, hotel check-in 
Sightseeing 
Hackers presentation at XCJ open house at 7pm 

''Apr. 12th'' 
Sightseeing: (http://wiki.xinchejian.com/wiki/Things_to_do_in_Shanghai) 
12:00 - Lunch 
14:00 - Fabric Market 
18:30 - Dinner at XinJiang restaurant 
21:00 - Visit of the Bund 

''Apr. 13th'' 
12:00 - Lunch 
Sightseeing options: 
Jing'an Temple 
Antique market 
Insect market 
Tea tasting at Tea plaza 
Yuyuan garden 
Qibao ancient town 
Tianzifang 
Pearl tower 
Pudong riverside 
18:30 - Dinner at Sechuan restaurant with famous Chinese masks changing show

''Apr. 14th'' 
Touring the electronics Malls in the morning or other sightseeing or hangout at the hackerspace 
11:30 - Lunch 
13:00~16:00 - Arduino for total newbies workshop at XinCheJian hackerspace 
18:30 - Dinner 

''Apr. 15th'' 
Sightseeing in the morning 
Other sightseeing or hangout at the hackerspace 

''Apr. 16th'' 
Visit of Etonnet electronics manufacturing in Songjiang at 2pm (http://www.etonnet.com/) 

''Apr. 17th'' 
9:00 - Hotel check-out 
9:30 - Going to Hongqiao train station 
10:30 - Take train to Hangzhou 
11:30 - Hotel check-in 
12:00 - Lunch 
13:30 - Walk around West Lake 
19:00 - Visit Hangzhou hackerspace OnionCapsule + presentations 
Overnight stay in Hangzhou 

''Apr. 18th'' 
10:00 - Hotel check-out 
12:00 - Going to train station 
12:00 - Take high speed train to Beijing at 12pm (arriving at 6:40pm) 

= Previous Noisebridge China Trip =
''If you're curious about the previous Noisebridge China Trip, it has its own wiki page:'' 
[[ChinaTrip|Noisebridge China Trip 1]] 
That first Noisebridge China Trip was inspired by Bunny Huang's [http://www.evilmadscientist.com/article.php/shenzhen/print "geek tour"].

--[[user: maltman23 | Mitch]].

= People interested in going on the Hacker Trip to China in 2012: =


'''You do not need to be a member of Noisebridge to go on this trip.'''
 

'''Please email me if you are interested in joining us:''' 
''maltman23 *AT* hotmail *DOT* com''

The trip is limited to 8 people total (including Mitch), so the first 7 people on this list (after Mitch) who buy their plane tickets will be able to join us: 

{| style="color:green; background-color:#ffffcc;" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" border="1"
!
! Name
! Purchased flight?
! Flight info
|-
|1
|[[user: maltman23 | Mitch Altman]]
|align="center"|YES
|Arriving 04-Apr-12 18:15 on United UA869
|-
|2
|[[user: schneider|schneider]]
|align="center"|YES
|Arriving 04-Apr-12 14:30 on Emirates EK382
|-
|3
|[[user: corecode | Simon Schubert]]
|align="center"| YES
|Arriving 04-Apr-12 11:00 on Lufthansa LH738
|-
|4
|[[user: chaoflow | Florian Friesdorf]]
|align="center"| YES
|Arriving 04-Apr-12 15:23 on Lufthansa LH730
|-
|5
|[[user: jjrosent | Jacob Rosenthal (heatsynclabs.org)]]
|align="center"| YES
|Arriving 04-Apr-12 18:15 on United UA869
|-
|6
|[[user: saspe | E P S A S]]
|align="center"| YES
|Arriving 04 Apr-12 17:55 on United UA895
|-
|7
|[[user: yair99| yair reshef]]
|align="center"| YES
|Arriving 08 Apr-12 10:55 on Lufthansa LH 0738
|-
|8
|[[user: Ursula Kallio | Ursula Kallio]]
|align="center"|YES
|Arriving 04-Apr-12 18:15 on United UA869
|-
|9
|[[user: jprodgers| Jimmie Rodgers]]
|align="center"| Yes
|Arriving 04-Apr-12 09:45 on Aeroflot Russian Airlines 2313 / 212
|-
|10
|[[cibomahto|cibomahto]]
|align="center"|no
|
|-
|11
|[[user: mct|MCT]]
|align="center"|no
|
|-
|12
|[[user: mid|Adam]]
|align="center"|no
|
|-
|13
|[[user: miloh|froggytoad]]
|align="center"|no
|
|-
|14
|[[user: joeyhudy | Joey]]
|align="center"|no
|
|-
|15
|[[user: juliehudy | Julie]]
|align="center"|no
|
|-
|16
|[[user: northdallas | North Dallas]]
|align="center"|no
|
|-
|17
|[[user: Sophi Kravitz | Sophi Kravitz]]
|align="center"|no
|
|}
[[Category:Travel]]