Nestled in eastern China, Jinan is renowned as the City of Springs, celebrated for its natural artesian wells that flow endlessly through the city. This timeless rhythm of flowing water mirrors the spirit of open source — continuous, collaborative, and ever-evolving.
As the host city of HOW2026, Jinan provides a fitting backdrop for the global PostgreSQL community to come together, exchange ideas, and drive forward the unceasing stream of innovation in open-source database technologies.
Nestled at the foot of Qianfoshan in Jinan, Nanjiao Hotel is a historic garden-style venue known as the city’s “Green Lung.” With serene lakes, traditional landscaping, and a rich cultural legacy, it offers a peaceful yet central setting just minutes from major landmarks. As a frequent host of official events and international guests, it provides an ideal environment for conferences that blend nature, history, and modern hospitality.
Many foreign attendees may not need a visa to travel to China for the HOW2026 Eco Conference depending on nationality and travel plans.
— 30-Day Visa-Free Entry —
Citizens of the following countries do not need a visa for visits up to 30 days for tourism, business, or attending conferences:
Brunei, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Holland, Malaysia, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Australia, Poland, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Slovenia, Slovakia, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein, Korea, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia, Latvia, Japan, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru and Uruguay
(Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru and Uruguay take effect from June, 1, 2025 )
— Bilateral Visa Exemption (Up to 30–90 Days) —
Singapore – up to 30 days
Thailand, 
Kazakhstan, 
Georgia, 
Antigua and Barbuda – up to 90 days within every 180 days— Other Visa-Free Entry Options —
You also do not need a visa if you:
More information about visa-exempt policies can be found here
— Visa Needed for Other Countries —
If you’re not from a visa-exempt country, you will need to apply for one of the following:
An invitation letter is required to apply for the above visa types. Please contact us at conference@ivorysql.org to obtain an invitation letters from the conference organizers
— Arrival —
— Accommodation —
— Departure —
You can book high-speed train from trip.com, which is the English (global) version of a popular booking app (携程旅行) in China. Begin by searching for high-speed trains with desired stations and dates here. If you follow the suggested travel plan above, you will select Beijingnan as From and Jinandong as To. Input the departure and return (optional) time and hit Search. Make sure you tick the “High speed only” box in your search.
Please note that high-speed train tickets cannot be booked until the reservations open 15 days in advance of your departure date. Feel free to browse list of available trains and their departure times until the reservation opens.
— Accessing the High-Speed Train at Train Station —
As a foreigner, it is no longer required to line up at the station’s ticket booth to receive a “physical train ticket” to access the train. You can just enter the station and go to the designated train platform with your passport.
You may see locals entering the train platform by scanning their Chinese ID cards at the gate. Do not use those as a foreigner. You need to use the special assistance gate to enter the train platform (the one with wider gate to accommodate baby strollers or wheel chair) and they will scan your passport to let you in.
We recommend staying in these hotels, which are all within 3km from the venue. They can also be booked on trip.com. Click the images below to access the hotel profile on trip.com to learn more.
To ensure a smooth experience for attendees and speakers, ride arrangements can be provided between key locations such as the train station, airport, hotels, and the conference venue.
If you require transportation support, please let us know in advance and our team will be happy to assist.
Blue Hall, Jinan Nanjiao Hotel (Main Forum)
Shandong Hotel (Sub Forums)
Jinan, Shandong Province, China
