Chongqing - International volunteers are helping Chongqing welcome foreign visitors, from guiding tourists through the city's landmarks to delivering books to rural children and even teaching health lessons in Africa.

A foreign volunteer helps tourists in Nanjimen Subdistrict, Yuzhong District, Chongqing. (Photo provided by the interviewee)

On an autumn night at Shibati, a historic scenic area in Chongqing's Yuzhong District, a British tourist stood frowning at his phone, struggling to set up mobile payment. Zakeria Kamal, a Pakistani student in a red volunteer vest, walked over and smiled. "Need help?" Three minutes later, the payment went through, and the tourist gave him a thumbs-up.

Since National Day, Yuzhong has set up eight international volunteer stations and recruited more than 100 volunteers, including 25 from countries such as Vietnam, Pakistan, Indonesia, Thailand and Bangladesh. They have logged more than 700 hours of service.

From tourism and health care to environmental protection and major events, volunteers from around the world are helping shape Chongqing's international image.

A welcome at every corner

Mei Cao, a 21-year-old Vietnamese student at Southwest University, volunteered in Yuzhong during both the May Day and National Day holidays. At Eling Park, she helped a Spanish family on their first trip to China find their way to Liziba, giving directions in Spanish and English. "It's a bit tiring, but I enjoy it," she said. "When I see so many foreigners filming at Liziba, I feel proud that Chongqing, my second home, is getting noticed."

Elsewhere in Yuzhong, Thai volunteer Zhang Huimin helped two young Indonesian girls who spoke little Chinese or English find their way to Jiefangbei. At Shibati, fellow Thai volunteer Li Fangfang ordered hot milk tea for a tourist who felt unwell. "When she thanked me in Thai before leaving, I felt so warm inside," Li said.

Demand for this help is growing. With China's visa-free transit policies expanding, inbound visitor trips to Chongqing rose 74 percent year on year from January to September this year.

As the city's pilot district for international volunteering and home to 15 consulates general, Yuzhong has formed volunteer teams of local residents, government staff, international students, foreign residents, and consular officials. It has organized more than 300 activities, served over 500,000 people and registered more than 300 international volunteers. Standardized volunteer stations have also opened at landmarks across the city, including Ciqikou and Xiahaoli.

From the countryside to the convention center

Volunteering now goes well beyond tourist sites. Recently, more than 100 international volunteers hiked through Fuling District's countryside to deliver books to rural children. Harvey, a Polish student at Chongqing University, brought “Harry Potter.” Muhammad Maaz from Pakistan chose Tagore's poems.

Zeng Shitong, a young girl, held up her copy of “The Little Prince.” "It's in Chinese and English so that I can learn a foreign language!" she said.

At major events, volunteers in blue shirts, nicknamed "Smurfs," are a familiar sight. Since 2016, this program has supported 47 major events, including the Smart China Expo, with nearly 13,000 volunteers serving over 3.5 million people.

Wu Wenlong, a student at Chongqing University of Technology, is preparing for the 2026 World Science and Technology Development Forum, his ninth major event. He said volunteers are trained in first aid, protocols for foreign guests, and cross-cultural communication.

Taking kindness abroad

Zheng Lisong, a fifth-year medical student at Chongqing Medical University, is from Cape Verde. He first learned Chinese from three Chinese teachers back home. "They pooled their money to buy my plane ticket," he said. "Without them, I could never have come here."

At university, he joined the international volunteer team of the Chongqing Luhai International Communication Foundation and helped design health lessons for children on handwashing, wound care and managing emotions.

African students from Chongqing Medical University volunteer in Africa on a trip organized by the Chongqing Luhai International Communication Foundation. (Photo provided by the interviewee)

In August, he taught these lessons at a girls' rescue center in Kenya. Many of the girls were used to cleaning their teeth with twigs and listened closely to their first proper lesson on oral hygiene.

Since 2021, the foundation has partnered with more than 180 charities in 42 countries and involved over 700 international volunteers from more than 80 countries. In July, it shared Chongqing's experience at a side event of the UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development.

From a friendly "Need help?" at Shibati to a toothbrushing lesson in Kenya, Chongqing's volunteers are opening the city to the world and carrying its goodwill far beyond.