The 2026 WIC Digital Silk Road Development Forum Participant Guide

I.Overview

1. What are the dates and agenda for the Forum?

The 2026 World Internet Conference (WIC) Digital Silk Road Development Forum will be held from July 21 to 22, 2026. Please visit WIC official website or follow its official WeChat account for the latest updates.

July 21: Guest arrival and registration day

Morning: WIC Digital & AI Academy: Field Study at Digital Port

Afternoon: Capacity Building on AI-Driven Digital Trade

Evening: Fine Traditional Chinese Culture Show (by invitation only)

July 22: 

Morning: Opening Ceremony

Midday: Ministerial Meeting (by invitation only)

Afternoon: 

Copyright Empowerment in Cultural Heritage Digitalization Salon

Forum on Collaborative Innovation and Development of AI Agents

Digital and Intelligent Health Forum

Digital Silk Road E-commerce Cooperation and Development Forum

Forum on Preservation and Transmission of Cultural Heritage in the Digital Intelligence Era

2. Where will the Forum be held?

Xi'an International Convention Center 

(No. 2626 Expo Avenue, Baqiao District, Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province)

3. What are the working languages of the Forum?

Chinese and English.

4. Will interpretation services be provided?

Simultaneous interpretation in Chinese and English will be provided for all the events of the Forum.

II.Participation

5. In what capacities can participants attend the Forum?

Guests may attend the opening ceremony and all events that are not by invitation only. 

Invited audience may attend all events that are not by invitation only, except the opening ceremony.

6. How do guests complete registration?

Step 1: Invited guests will receive an invitation code.

Step 2: After receiving the code, guests should log in to the registration system and complete their personal registration information.

7. How do invited audience complete registration?

WIC members should submit information on invited audience through the Member Center system. 

Other invited audience should complete the required information through the registration link provided by the organizer for badge application.

8. What is the purpose of submitting a Chinese and English biography during registration?

The biography will help the organizer arrange reception and related services. Please provide complete and accurate information.

III.Forum Badge

9. What types of badges are available?

Two types of badges are issued: Guest Badge and Invited Audience Badge.

10. Is a badge required to enter the venue?

Yes. All participants are required to wear their badges whenever entering and exiting the venues during the Forum. Please keep your badge properly.

11. When does registration begin and how can badges be collected?

Registration for the Forum starts at 15:00 on July 20. The badges can be collected at the designated registration area.

Guests may collect their badges at the registration desk with their ID cards or passports used during the online registration.

Invited Audience should contact the liaison designated by their invitation channel for badge collection. Please refer to the official notice for details.

IV.Transportation 

12. Will shuttle services be provided?

Yes. The organizer will arrange shuttle services between airports, railway stations and the Forum venue.

13. What is the most convenient way to get to the Forum venue?

By air: Xi'an Xianyang Airport is recommended.

By high-speed rail: 

Xi'an North Railway Station or Xi'an East Railway Station is recommended.

Travel time by car to the venue: 

From Xi'an Xianyang Airport: approximately 40 minutes.

From Xi'an North Railway Station: approximately 25 minutes.

From Xi'an East Railway Station: approximately 20 minutes.

14. What are the shuttle service hours?

Arrival shuttle: 12:00, July 21 - 12:00, July 22

Departure shuttle: 12:00, July 22 - 12:00, July 23

Shuttle services are available around the clock and will be arranged according to guests' arrival and departure schedules.

15. May I drive to the venue? 

Participants arriving by private vehicle may provide their hotel room number or Forum registration information at the front desk.

V.Accommodation and Meals

16. Do guests need to book their own hotels?

Guests are not required to book hotels independently.

17. Do invited audience need to book hotels themselves?

Invited audience should book their own accommodation and cover their own accommodation and meals. Dhawa Xi'an Chanba Hotel is recommended.

18. How will meals be arranged?

Guests should dine at the locations indicated on the meal vouchers received upon registration. Invited audience should make their own meals arrangements.

19. Will halal meals be available?

Halal meals will be available. Please indicate your dietary preference via "Registration System >Participant Information > Halal or not" and also confirm it with on-site staff.

20. Is a Chinese visa required for attending the Forum?

Participants should apply for a Chinese F visa (issued for exchanges, visits, study tours and other non-commercial activities) to attend the Forum, except holders of diplomatic passports or nationals of from countries eligible for visa-free entry. For more information, please visit the China Consular Affairs website: cs.mfa.gov.cn. 

VI. Other questions

21. How to obtain medical assistance during the Forum?

Medical services will be available at the Forum venue, and nearby medical institutions will also provide support if necessary. 

If you need medical assistance during the Forum, please contact the staff, who will provide timely assistance.

22. Will there be opportunities for further follow-up communication and cooperation after the Forum?

The WIC is willing to engage in in-depth exchanges and cooperation with all stakeholders of the global internet community. 

In addition to the Forum, the WIC also hosts major events in other cities, including the Wuzhen Summit and the Asia-Pacific Summit as well as flagship programs such as the Award Ceremony of WIC Distinguished Contribution Award, Awards for Pioneering Science and Technology, the Release & Presentation of Outstanding Cases of Jointly Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace, the Global Youth Leadership Program, Think Tank Cooperation Program, and Digital & AI Academy. The WIC has also established cooperation platforms in specialized fields, including the Specialized Committees on AI, E-commerce, cultural heritage digitalization and the Working Group on Digital and Intelligent Health (under preparation). Participation and cooperation are welcome.

WIC members enjoy greater opportunities to participate in various activities of WIC, including regular member events such as Member Day and Member Salon (including symposiums, seminars and networking meetings) to enhance industry exchanges, enjoy priority access to resources, and establish connections with leading figures in the global internet community.

For more membership information, please contact 

Ms. Zhao: 

membership@wicinternet.org