For the Fair over the years I stayed in the Holiday Inn City Centre (became very expensive but good for bars), Tianlun (pretty good and handy for train station) but for the last few (up to '06) I stayed at Grand International

It was pretty good and had a shuttle to and from Pa Zhou (if you don't have a shuttle and it's rainy, getting a taxi there and back can be a pain).

The prices may have come down a bit but I was paying 2000 RMB/night inc breakfast. Last year it was quiet due to visa restrictions. This year the global downturn will maybe have an impact but the rate hike was always incredible. The normal price for the Grand International was about 500 RMB ourside Fair time. I searched for good standard hotels in Fair time but could never find anything less than 2000 RMB/night

You only need the invitation if you don't have a Chinese visa. They definitely don't try to charge for entry. Up to 2005 (I think) it genuinely was 100RMB but since then the entry was free. Just take some passport photos (they can be obtained at registration but there is alwasy a queue)

PM me if you want more info

nickyboy