NoisebridgeChinaTrip7

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NOISEBRIDGE HACKER TRIP TO CHINA #7
-- Start Date: 8-October-2017, in Hong Kong
-- End Date: 28-October-2017, in Shanghai

Trip #4 Welcome to China!, Beijing
Trip #3 Kung Fu Hacking: Hackers In Residence Kickoff event at Tsinghua University, Beijing
Trip #2 Visit to Petrochemical Univeristy, Beijing
Trip #1 Jingshan Park, Beijing
Trip #5 Visit to Seeed Studio's factory, Shenzhen
Trip #5 Presentations at Zhengzhou High School #2, Zhengzhou

Previous Hacker Trips To China

This will be the 7th Noisebridge Hacker Trip To China.
(The dates are set, the start and end cities are set, but the itinerary is an outline and open to change.)
In previous years' Hacker Trip To China, we've visited cities that currently have a hackerspace, visited my manufacturer, Seeed Studio, and other manufacturers. We also visited Tsinghua University, considered the most prestigious university in China, and other schools -- all of which have now starting hackerspaces. China continues to explode with hackerspaces! We also went to the International Exhibition of Inventions Kunshan (IEIK 2014), near Shanghai. And everywhere we went, we were shown around by local geeks, to see what they thought was interesting where they live. Also, wherever we went, those of us interested gave talks, presentations, workshops, and demos. In 2016 we gave presentations at NY University - Shanghai, DFRobot (an open hardware company in Shanghai), Shanghai Maker Carnival, Zhengzhou High School Number 2, "Second Generation and Start-ups" conference in Hangzhou.
You can see info on the Hacker Trip To China 2009,
Hacker Trip To China 2011
Hacker Trip To China 2013
Hacker Trip To China 2014
Hacker Trip To China 2015
Hacker Trip To China 2016,
-- Mitch.

This year's Hacker Trip To China

When: 8-October-2017 in Hong Kong through 28-October-2017 in Shanghai.

Flight, transportation, and hotel Info: We were each be on our own to book our own air fare to meet in our starting city, Hong Kong, on 8-October, and fly home from out ending city, Shanghai, on 28-October. Of course, you can decide to come and go as you please.

I'll organized the itinerary and the hotels and other transport. I'll pay in advance for some of this, and you can pay me back when we're in China.


Where: In each of the cities we will go to, we'll visit some of their local hackerspace(s), and will be shown around by local geeks to see what interested them where they live. We'll also have plenty of time to do "normal" (and spectacular) tourist things too!

Here's some possible places we might visit, leaving plenty of room for the serendipity that makes our Hacker Trip To China truly unique and memorable:

  • We will start our trip by meeting in Hong Kong and visit Dim Sum Labs hackerspace. Hong Kong is a fantastic city, so, we'll also see lots of other cool stuff in Hong Kong.
  • Then we'll go across the border to mainland China again, to Shenzhen to visit Chaihuo Makerspace, SZDIY hackerspace, Litchee Lab, and a few other hackerspaces, some of which are real, and hundreds of which are brand new (this year) over-the-top bizarre government-started places where they want to create "the next Apple" (we won't visit them all!). We'll visit x.factory while we are in town, an interesting mix of hackerspace and incubator, where we will be welcomed for a Bring-A-Hack event, where anyone of us (for those who want to), along with the general public, can show off their projects. We will also visit Seeed Studio - the open source hardware company - to meet the cool folks there and to see their manufacturing facilities. We may meet with the founders of Dangerous Prototypes - another open source hardware company. We'll also visit other manufacturers, to see where all the things we use in our daily lives come from (such as springs, cables, PCBs, packaging, etc., etc.). We can also visit Dorabot, a Chinese robotics company comprised of people in the Shenzhen hackerspace scene. Of course, we'll also visit the famous (and totally awesome!) Huaqiangbei electronics market in Shenzhen (where, we may again be shown around by a professional buyer from Deal Extreme (dx.com). And if uhgall@gmail.com happens to be in town, we might visit Constellation or even stay in their factory dorm.
  • We will then make our way to Beijing where we may visit Beijing Makerspace, and other hackerspaces. We'll also visit Tsinghua University, where they built the world's largest hackerspace last year (called the "iCenter"), and where I've been hacker in residence. Beijing has lots and lots of way amazing stuff to visit and be a part of!
  • Our last city will be Shanghai. In Shanghai we will visit my manufacturer (Etonnet) that I have used for TV-B-Gone remote controls and NeuroDreamer sleep masks, where we will all get to see how products are made, from start to finish, learning how manufacturing works. We will also visit XinCheJian hackerspace in Shanghai. We can also visit companies started by hardware hacker geeks, such as DFRobot. We can visit Phicomm, a medium-sized OEM manufacturer. We can also visit the Shanghai electronics mall (a smaller version of the famous electronics mall we will later visit in Shenzhen).

For most of us, our trip will end at the end of three weeks, as many people on our trip will fly home from our last city, Shanghai, on 28-October-2017.

Of course, everyone is free to arrive and leave whenever you like for the Hacker Trip To China.
I will tentatively be flying home from Shanghai 28-October.


Cost: For the Hacker Trip To China 2016, I paid $1,997 total (for 4 weeks), including air fare from SF, food, lodging, transportation, and everything -- including some electronics stuff and some clothing that I bought.
As in past years, part of this year's trip may be paid for by Tsinghua University and other places that invite us to give presentations.


#hashtag: #httc2017      (Hacker Trip To China 2017)



Possible itinerary outline for Hacker Trip to China 7

The start and end dates are set, the start and end cities are set, but the rest of the itinerary is open to serendipity:

7-October-2017 -- Leave home for Hong Kong (arrive in Hong Kong on 8-October)
8-October-2017 -- We all meet in Hong Kong -- hotel:  to be determined
8-October to 11-October -- Hong Kong
11-October to 16-October -- Shenzhen
13-October:  tour of factories
15-October, 4pm-6pm:  Chaihuo x.factory Bring-A-Hack
16-October to 19-October -- Xi'an
19-October to 24-October -- Beijing
24-October to 28-October -- Shanghai 
28-October-2017 -- fly home (arrive NA or EU on same day)






Photos from Hacker Trip To China 2016

Mitch's photos from Shanghai, Oct-2016
Mitch's photos from Zhengzhou, Oct-2016
Mitch's photos from Shenzhen, Oct-2016
Mitch's photos from Beijing, Oct-2016
Mitch's photos from Hangzhou, Oct-2016
Mitch's photos from Beijing Set 2, Oct-2016

Mitch's photos all in one place





Photos from Hacker Trip to China 2015

Mitch's photos from Hong Kong, Oct-2015
Mitch's photos from Shenzhen, Oct-2015
Mitch's photos from Shanghai, Oct-2015
Mitch's photos from Beijing, Oct-2015
Mitch's photos from YiWu & Hangzhou, Oct-2015
Mitch's photos from Beijing Set 2, Oct-2015
Mitch's photos from Shanghai & Suzhou, Oct-2015

Mitch's photos all in one place


Dave's photos


Blake's photos:


Torrey's photos from Hong Kong
Torrey's photos from Shenzhen
Torrey's photos from Beijing
Torrey's photos from Shanghai





Photos from Hacker Trip to China 2014

Mitch's photos from Beijing, Nov-2014
Mitch's photos from Shanghai, Nov-2014
Mitch's photos from Shenzhen, Nov-2014
Mitch's photos from Kunshan, Nov-2014
Mitch's photos from Shanghai (2), Nov-2014
Mitch's photos from Beijing (2), Nov-2014
Mitch's photos from Tianjin, Nov-2014
Mitch's photos from Beijing (3), Nov-2014
Mitch's photos from Singapore, Dec-2014

You will Need a Chinese Visa!!

To go to China, you needed to get a visa!

Everyone should get a multiple-entry Tourist L visa (if you only get a single-entry visa, you'll be fine, but you won't have as many options, such as going in and out of Shenzhen to Hong Kong).

  • And to get a visa, you need to have a passport that is valid at least 12 months after you planned to fly away from China (so, e.g., if you are leaving China on 28-October-2017, then your passport needs to be valid through 27-October-2017). Your passport must also have at least one entirely blank page.
  • You also need:
    • a printout of a filled-out Visa Application Form V. 2013 of the People's Republic of China (after we have everything we need I'll email you my filled out form as an example to follow).
    • a copy of the information pages of your passport.
    • a copy of your most Chinese visa (if you have been to China before).
    • one 2"x2" recent color photo (not a printout).
    • a screenshot or printout of hotel reservation confirmation (I'll email this to you when I have this).
    • a copy of your airline tickets (both to and from China).
  • For US citizens, the visa cost $140 (much cheaper for other nationalities). Starting this year, US citizens can get a multiple-entry visa, good for 10 years. We should all apply for a Tourist L visa.

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. 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 available for $20 or $30.)

NOTE: The Chinese consulates are all closed for holidays on: 27-30 January, 29-30 May, 30-May, 9-June, 4-July, 4-September, 2-October, 9-October and other dates:
2017 Chinese Consulate Holiday Schedule

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

Previous Noisebridge China Trips

If you're curious about the previous Noisebridge China Trips, they have their own wiki pages:
Hacker Trip To China 2009
          That first Noisebridge China Trip was inspired by Bunny Huang's "geek tour".
Hacker Trip To China 2011
Hacker Trip to China 2013
Hacker Trip to China 2014
Hacker Trip to China 2015
Hacker Trip to China 2016


-- Mitch.

People interested in going on the Hacker Trip to China #7, 2017:

Below is a list of people interested in going on this year's Hacker Trip To China.

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

Please email me if you have any questions, or if you would like to meet up with us on the trip:
mitch *AT* CornfieldElectronics *DOT* com

The trip is limited to 20 people total (including Mitch)
-- the first 19 people (after Mitch) who are either there already, or who bought tickets to meet in our Trip's starting city (Hong Kong) on or before 8-October-2017 are the people who are in this Trip
       (which probably means flying away from home on or before 7-October)

Note: Many people have gotten good deals on their plane fares (including me) with the help of my friend Vlad at:
       Flystein
Feel free to email me, and I'll send your email to Vlad, who will be happy to help you with your flights.


Name Purchased flight? Flight info
1 Mitch Altman (Noisebridge, San Francisco, USA) YES Arrive: Hong Kong on 6-Oct at 17:10 -- flight CX254 (from LHR)
2 Robert Fitzsimons (TOG, Ireland) YES Arrive: Hong Kong on 8-Oct at 15:25 -- flight EK382 (from DXB)
Depart: Shanghai at 00:05 on Oct 29th (EK8303)
3 Noah O'Donoghue YES Arrive: Hong Kong on 8-Oct
4 Elle YES Arrive: I'll fly to Asia before that, and would meet you in HK on or before the 8th of October. I may be interested in sharing a room with someone in HK on the 7th. Please let me know if you are also interested.
5 Jonas S Karlsson YES Arrive: (live in HK)
6 Jan Marloth (fablab munich, Germany) YES Arrive: Hong Kong on 8-Oct at 7:20am -- flight SK963 (from ARN)
Depart: Beijing at 14:50 on Oct 24th (SK996)
7 Sasja (hackerspace.gent) YES Arrive: Hong Kong 8-Oct at 8:55am,
Depart: 28-Oct from Shanghai Hongqiao Airport at 20:55
8 Ed Buckley YES Arrive: Hong Kong 6-Oct at 1:45pm -- flight NH809 (from NRT)
9 Rafael Câmera Santos (Fazedores.com, Brazil) YES Arrive: Hong Kong 8-Oct
10 Felix E. Klee YES Arrive: Hong Kong on 5-Oct at 20:25 -- flight SU5474 (from VVO), after traveling by train from Berlin
11 Svein Berge YES Arrive: UO 1647 from Tokyo, scheduled arrival Oct 8, 23:00.
12 Anthony Liekens (Open Garage, Belgium) YES Arrive: KL 4013 to arrive in Shenzhen on Oct 11, 18:00
Depart: From Shenzhen on Oct 18, 10:00
HK & SZ only
13 Kaushik Reddy YES Arrive: Hong Kong on 8 Oct
Depart: Hong Kong on 15 Oct
HK & SZ only
14 Jeroen Van Beirendonck (Open Garage, Belgium) YES Arrive: Hong Kong on 7th Oct
Depart: Hong Kong on 15 Oct
HK & SZ only
15 Daan Gerits (Open Garage, Belgium) YES Arrive: KL 4013 to arrive in Shenzhen on Oct 11, 18:00
HK & SZ only
16 Krzysztof Stasiak YES Arrive: HK 6th Oct - flight AK138 from Kuala Lumpur
17 Olivier de Saint-Hubert YES Arrive: will be in HK before Oct 8
18 Mark Hellar YES Arrive:HK 6:45pm 10-8 United 869
19 Gloria Chiang no Arrive: Beijing on (date TBD)
20 Marc Juul no Arrive: Beijing on (date TBD)
21 Eric Boyd no Arrive: will arrive in Hong Kong and join for entire trip
22 freeman murray no Arrive: Oct 8, Hong Kong
23 Sumukh Shetty no Arrive: 8th October HK, join for the entire trip
24 Quijano Flores -- PLEASE EMAIL ME no Arrive: Oct 8, Hong Kong
25 Ruth Grace Wong no Arrive: your arrival date and city here
26 SYED JUNAID AHMED (Makers Hive, AndhraPradesh, INDIA) no Arrive: TBD
27 Rahul S Rajan (Kerala Startup Mission, India) no Arrive: TBD
28 Sasha Iatsenia no Arrive: TBD
29 Gene Brock no Arrive: Hong Kong, Sept
30 Trent no Arrive: your arrival date and city here
31 Arseniy Klempner no Arrive: Oct 8, Hong Kong
32 Thomas Disley no Arrive: shenzhen & shanghai, arrival TBD
33 Hari C M -- PLEASE EMAIL ME no Arrive: your arrival date and city here
34 Cedric Honnet (Datapaulette hackerspace - Paris, Fr.) no (TBD) Arrive: HK - would have to leave after the SZ part
35 Adam Munich - SF_Noisebridge, Oakland_Sudoroom [1]] no Arrive: To be determined
36 your name here no Arrive: your arrival date and city here