China News Service, Hangzhou, February 29 (Wang Yifei, Ni Xiaofang, Li Jin) Near the Gongchen Bridge of the Grand Canal (Gongshu Section, Hangzhou), people can often see 59-year-old Hua Guixian, wearing a red vest, answering questions and guiding tourists. .

After retiring, she took volunteer work as her new career.

And by the canal, there is a group of people who are also "like-minded" like her.

　　At the southern end of the Grand Canal, the Gongshu section is regarded by many as the highlight area.

The Gongchen Bridge here is the tallest and longest stone arch bridge among the ancient bridges in Hangzhou. The Qiaoxi Historical and Cultural District along the line is an intuitive reflection of traditional Jiangnan culture. The Canal Cultural Plaza in Gongshu District is one of the well-known local leisure areas.

　　In June 2014, the Grand Canal was successfully applied for World Heritage status, which further promoted the development of volunteer services along the route.

In December 2015, the Smiling Pavilion located in the Qiaoxi Historical and Cultural District was unveiled and put into use. In September 2018, the "Initial Heart Station" located in the Canal Cultural Plaza was unveiled.

These two points are the first-line platform for grassroots party organizations in Gongchenqiao Street, Gongshu District to serve residents and tourists.

　　Hua Guixian joined the above-mentioned Smiling Pavilion volunteer service team in 2019 and was elected as a director.

When I first joined Smile Pavilion, there were only 7 people here.

Finding the right candidates for the team has also become part of her job.

　　Once, at a party member meeting of the Community Expenditure Department, she set her sights on Feng Shuizhen, the former secretary of Qiaoxi Community in Gongchenqiao Street.

Hua Guixian didn't expect that Feng Shuizhen would agree as soon as she mentioned it and has been doing so until now.

Later, Hua Guixian continued to introduce other enthusiastic people to join. Currently, there are 13 volunteers at the Smile Pavilion in Qiaoxi Community, most of whom are retired "old Hangzhou people."

A group photo of volunteers. Hua Guixian is on the right in the front row.

Photo courtesy of Gongchenqiao Street

　　Hua Guixian said that the volunteer service site provides convenient services such as borrowing umbrellas and wheelchairs, as well as emergency items such as sewing kits, first aid kits, and medical kits for tourists’ emergencies.

Other than that, their most important job is to respond to inquiries.

This job seems simple, but it is not easy to satisfy tourists.

　　"It's like taking a boat. There are group and individual boat terminals nearby. If you want to be economical, choose the water bus. So, what are the stops along the water bus where you can get off the boat, and what fun places are there after getting off the boat? You need to be familiar with all the travel tips,” Hua Guixian said.

　　In recent years, more and more tourists have come to visit Gongchen Bridge. During this year's Spring Festival holiday, more than 1.05 million people came to Gongchen Bridge to welcome the New Year.

This makes the services of canalside volunteers more and more extensive.

For example, the trend of "collecting stamps to check in" is very popular, so volunteers need to know the check-in points around them to meet the needs of stamp collectors.

　　In terms of work details, they also have a set of requirements for themselves: no casual chatting, no eating snacks, no dozing, no looking at mobile phones, no standing posture, no polite speech, etc.

According to reports, volunteers here will also receive regular civilized etiquette training.

Volunteers provide hot water service.

Photo courtesy of Gongchenqiao Street

　　Hua Guixian told reporters that volunteer work requires arriving at 9 o'clock every day. She and other volunteers usually arrive half an hour early to clean up the Smile Pavilion and Chuxin Station, including cleaning, heating hot water, moving tables and chairs, etc.

"Our two kettles must be filled up. If tourists need it, we can fill it up immediately. We are the only ones waiting for tourists, and we cannot let tourists wait for us."

　　As a "post-60s generation", Hua Guixian also has his own ideas on the significance of volunteer work. "Now there are more and more tourists in Qiaoxi. They may come just once. When he goes back to his hometown, he will tell his family that Hangzhou people are very Great! People in Hangzhou are very enthusiastic! This is the meaning of our work.”

　　"The community has said that it will develop a professional volunteer team in the future. College students, neighborhood merchants, etc. should slowly join our volunteer team to continuously expand the volunteer team and improve the professionalism of the team." Hua Guixian believes that as more and more people join, there will be more and more warmth along the Grand Canal.

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