The Second International Conference
on Multicultural Discourses
Institute of Discourse and Cultural Studies
Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
April 13-15, 2007

Call for Papers

The first International Conference on Multicultural Discourses (Oct. 2004, Hangzhou), organized by the Institute of Discourse and Cultural Studies, Zhejiang University, has turned out to be a huge international academic success. It represents a new and much needed direction in social science in general and discourse studies in particular. For this reason, we are making the Multicultural Discourses Conference a tri-annual event: the next one will be held in Hangzhou (again) between April 13-15, 2007 (the weekend following the Easter).

The Second International Conference on Multicultural Discourses remains committed to the original aims, namely, to facilitate cultural harmony and prosperity on the one hand and on the other hand to undermine cultural domination and exclusion. The conference topics include but are not restricted by the following:

1. concepts and theories of language/communication/discourse outside the dominant paradigms, as well as the related research and teaching traditions;
2. intercultural dialogue, postcolonial critique and cross-cultural fertilisation in discourse/language/communication studies;
3. globalisation of non-western intellectual heritages;
4. discourses that reflect the realities, issues, concerns and aspirations of marginalised or otherwise troubled groups and communities;
5. new or alternative discourses of cultural cohesion and progress;
6. rules and needs for conducting intercultural and international communication;
7. localization of English as international language

Thus we encourage scholars and students from across the world and with different disciplinary backgrounds to participate in this emerging and growing project of cultural-politics through language/communication/discourse/cultural research. English interpretation will be provided for papers in Chinese (中文稿將配有英文口譯).

The conference will consist of  (a) parallel paper sessions,  (b) panel discussions, (c)  keynote speeches, (d) a special forum with international journal editors and (e) a special-theme plenary with invited speakers. Deadline for submitting abstracts (one page per author(s)) and panel proposals (half-page per contribution), all with name and affiliation: Nov. 1st 2006.

(payable on site, students: 50% discount)

Conference fees are set according to your country tier (the country of residence not the country of origin). Please click here to find out what tier you qualify for.

1. Tier A:  £120/$200/E170
2. Tier B:  £90/$150/E130
3. Tier C: £60/$100/E85
4. For domestic participants: RMB600
5. RMB200 for each family accompanying member

The rate covers a half-day tour, folk performance, tea/coffee, three lunches, two dinners and one banquet.

Fan Jieping, Yin Qiping, He Lianzhen, Wu Zongjie, Wang Ning, Jan D.ten Thije, Phan Le Ha, Susan Petrilli, Gary Duncan, John Erni, Masako Isa, Sara Rovira,Heba Raouf Ezzat,Laura Pardo,Gary Sigley and Han Li

Shi-xu, Wu Zongjie, Zhao Weili，Yao Yaping, Zhang Shengyu
 

Accommodation

We will book hotel rooms for all potential guests and the rate is approximately US$30 to US$40 per night for one standard room with two separate beds.

Travel to Hangzhou

By plane:
Hangzhou is the capital of Zhejiang Province and one of China's premier tourism cities. Hangzhou has scheduled flights connecting flights to and from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Guilin, Fuzhou, Xiamen, Xi'an, Dalian and other major domestic Chinese cities. Also, Hangzhou offers flights to and from Hong Kong and Singapore. The airport is situated 27km of the town. A public bus costing RMB20 operates to the center of town from the airport. Large hotels may have free transfer service for passengers to the airport.

From Shanghai Pudong International Airport to Hangzhou

There is a shuttle bus from the Pudong airport to Hangzhou (direct and about 3 hours) and the fare is RMB100. From Pudong International Airport to Hangzhou: 9:50am; 11:00am; 12:00am; 13:30pm; 15:30pm; 17:30pm; 19:30pm. From Hanghou Huanglong Stadium to Shanghai: 7:00am; 8:30am, 10:30am; 12:30am; 13:30pm; 14:30pm; 16:00pm. Just out of the No.15 exit and cross the street and get upstairs, you will find the ticket office and it is much easier than going by train. Once you arrive in Hangzhou, you can take a taxi to Lingfeng hotel (around 20RMB). Please download the hotel address card in both Chinese and English. You can show this to the taxi driver in case you have difficulty in communication.

It is also an option to fly into Shanghai and then take a train from Shanghai Station to Hanghzou Station (or Hangzhou East Station). The train journey is between two to three hours depending on which one you catch. You can take a tax from airport to Shanghai Railway Station. When you go to the booth in the train station to buy the ticket, write down on a piece of paper the time and date of departure, destination, and number of tickets you want to buy. Show this paper to the clerk at the booth in order to avoid a misunderstanding. There are four classes of tickets available: Soft sleeper, hard sleeper, soft seater, and hard seater. Soft seaters are very comfortable. Hard seaters are the lowest class of them all, but also the cheapest. Both stations have special booths for foreigners. There you don't have to wait as long as at the regular booths, but prices are more expensive.

From the Hangzhou Airport

If you fly from abroad to Hangzhou Airport, you can take a taxi to the hotel. The fare is around RMB130. You can also choose to take the airport shuttle bus to downtown. (one in every half an hour from 5:45am to 8:00pm, the fare is about RMB15). Then you can take a taxi to Lingfeng hotel (around 20RMB).

From the Railway Station (Hangzhou)

By train:
Hangzhou is a large rail traffic terminal in eastern China. The city is the starting point for several routes such as Zhejiang-Jiangxi, Hangzhou-Ningbo, and the Zhejiang-Changsha lines as well as the end of the line for the Shanghai-Hangzhou service. Therefore, Hangzhou is a crossroads connected with more than 30 large to medium sized cities by direct rail lines. 

When you arrive at Hangzhou Railway Station (火车城站), you can either take a taxi to Lingfeng / Yuquan Hotel (both are near the Yuquan Campus, Zhejiang Univeristy) or take the number 21 bus to the front gate of Yuquan Campus, Zhejiang University. If you arrive at Hangzhou Eastern Railway Station(火车东站), you can either take a taxi or take the number 28 bus to the front gate of Yuquan Campus, Zhejiang University.

By boat:
Along the Grand Canal, there are pleasure boat trips to Suzhou, or down to Fuyang, Wufan, Jiande, Lanxi and other cities in Zhejiang province along the Qiantang River.

By bus:
Situated at the heart of Zhejiang's highway network, Hangzhou is connected with Shanghai and Nanjing by major highways. Buses are available at the Wulinmen long Distance Bus Stop.

City transport:
In the city of Hangzhou are more than 30 bus routes. Among them, buses No. 228, No. 258 and No. 8 are all-night service, at intervals of 30 minutes. Hangzhou has plentiful taxis for hire that are inexpensive. Another nice way to get around is by bicycle. Most hotels have bikes for hire by the day. When you first arrive at Hangzhou, we recommend that you take a tax from airport or railway station to the Lingfeng Guest House, near the gate of Zhejiang University, Yuquan Campus. Please write down the address on a piece of paper, and show it to tax driver.  

Tourist information about Hangzhou is available at the following sites:

http://www.chinatravel1.com/english/destination/citys/hangzhou.htm
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/zhejiang/hangzhou/
http://www.chinatoday.com.cn/English/e20026/hangzhou.htm

FOR FURTHER DETAILS, PLEASE CONTACT:

'Weili (Wendy) Zhao
Institute of Discourse and Cultural Studies
Zhejiang University
Hangzhou, China 310058
Tel. ++86(0)571.88206208
e-mail: discourses@zju.edu.cn, mdiscourses@yahoo.com