OpenOffice.org Conference (OOoCon 2008)
5th-7th November 2008
Beijing, China
Conference Venue
Map of venues
Please see Google Maps.
Opening ceremony: Diaoyutai State Guesthouse
The 'Pearl Fishing Stage' is located in the east of Yuyantan Park, Haidian District, composed of a group of archaic royal gardens and a modern state guesthouses. It has a long standing of over 800 years and received its beautiful name from the old legend that Wan Yanjing, emperor of Jin Dynasty, once fished here. Till the Qing Dynasty, Emperor Gaozong ordered to dredge up Yuyuantan and build Xanadu here, which was therefore designated a royal garden of the monarch. Recently, the State Guesthouse was renovated and expanded significantly by the government of People's Republic of China based on the old beauty spot of Diaoyutai and used as the place to welcome state guests and venue for grand conferences.
Diaoyutai State Guesthouse is surrounded by many famous spots and tourism attractions, such as The Central Radio and Television Tower, CCTV, The Millemium Monument, Military Museum etc.
Peking University
The Peking University, formerly the Jing Shi Da Xue Tang (the Metropolitan University) of the Qing Dynasty, opened in December 1898. The Metropolitan University was not only the most prestigious institution of higher learning but also the highest administrative organization of education in China.
The Peking University is a comprehensive national key university. The campus, known as "Yan Yuan", the gardens of Yan, is situated at the northeast of the Haidian District at the western suburbs of Beijing. It stands near the Yuan Ming Gardens and the Summer Palace.
The Peking University is one of the best reputated universities all over the world and the bridge for international communication in scientific, research and innovation. It will provide a platform for scholars, students, and developers from home and abroad to exchange ideas and thoughts during the sessions of the conference.
Peking University Hall
http://www.pku-hall.com/(no English page available)
Peking University Hall was build to celebrate 100-year birthday of Peking University. It is the biggest multifunctional complex among nation-wide universities and colleges in China with advanced establishment and complete functionality. Facilities likedressing room, rehearsing room, multifunctional room, rest room, assembly room and visitor reception room are fully equipped to meet the requirements of meetings and conferences of any kind.
Peking University Overseas Exchange Center (OEC)
http://oec.pku.edu.cn/oechome/en/index.asp
The OEC is playing an important role in the PKU’s overseas exchange programs and has achieved good reputation with its high-standard services and professional team since its foundation in 1993. It is affiliated with the Convention Center of Peking University, and has a number of meeting rooms with the capacity of 40-450 people.
The OEC consists of three departments, taking charge of international conference organization, overseas exchange project arrangement, and venue rental.
The OEC has successfully organized hundreds of international conferences with the number of participants from dozens to over a thousand, for example, the Harvard World Model United Nations 2006, which attracted 1500 participants from 162 colleges of 38 countries and was recorded as the largest conference in PKU’s history.
The OEC serves as a platform for overseas scholars and students to get to know China and the Peking University. We have developed a long and intimate relationship with a number of overseas colleges and academic institutions from America, Europe, Japan, Korea, etc. Every year OEC arranges a tour and field study programs for a variety of student and/or scholar groups. With the increasing interest in both Chinese language and culture throughout the world, OEC has made it a priority to diversify the amount of overseas exchange projects it is a part of.
Beijing
Eating and drinking
Beijing offers a unique density of restaurants and several bar quarters. The venue itself is located in a quarter known for its good and versatile restaurants, discotheques and music clubs. Another hot-spot of Beijing night life is the Houhai bar area, which is 3.5 kilometers away and nicely located at one of the famous lakes near Beijing's Forbidden City.
Very(!) good lunch/dinner starts at 2€ per person. Beer starts at 0.3€ for 0.5 liter. (Above mentioned bar streets are more expensive, but still not too bad from an European point of view.)
We expect also a easier communication with the service personal in bars and restaurants, as a lot of them will have basic English knowledge after the Olympics.
Getting around
Travel to the venue from the conference hotels will be guaranteed by shuttle buses. However, none of the hotels selected by the organizers is more than 30 minutes (2.5 kilometers) by foot away from the venue. Despite the gigantic size of Beijing, the whole OOo community will stay very close together.
Taxis in Beijing cost 1€ for the first five kilometers. Every additional kilometer is 0.2€. Beijing subway costs 0.2€ for each destination. The subway network will be significantly enhanced for the Olympic Games. Prices for Beijing buses start at 0.1€.
