Refer China: Foreign Volunteers Shape Shanghai's First Impressions

Summary: Foreign metro volunteers in Shanghai, like American Ray, assist travelers with guidance and kindness. They bridge cultural gaps and create welcoming moments, becoming many visitors' first memory of the city.

How Foreign Volunteers Are Quietly Shaping First Impressions of Shanghai

If you ride Shanghai's Metro Line 2 and pass through stations like Jing'an Temple, Nanjing East Road, People's Square, Lujiazui, or either of the Pudong Airport terminals, you might catch a glimpse of something quietly extraordinary: a foreigner in an orange vest, standing near the ticket machines or scanning the crowd with kind eyes. Chances are, you've just encountered one of Shanghai's foreign metro volunteers.

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Among them is Ray, an American who has called China home for over two decades. Married to a Shanghainese woman and working as a science English lecturer at ShanghaiTech University, Ray's life has slowly intertwined with the rhythms of the city. It wasn't surprising, then, when he stepped into a new role during the 2025 China International Import Expo—this time, not as a teacher or expat, but as a volunteer.

Wearing his bright vest at the bustling Terminal 2 of Pudong Airport, Ray became part of a unique bridge-building effort. "China welcomed me. I built my life here. Now I get to help others take their first steps in this city," he said with a smile.

The Gift of Small Help

Ray's approach is simple. He doesn't impose. Most travelers, especially these days, come well-prepared—apps downloaded, route screenshots saved, and restaurant lists ready to go. What they don't always prepare for is the subtle anxiety of being somewhere new. That's where Ray comes in.

"If someone hesitates, lingers too long at a ticket machine, or scans the subway map just a little too slowly, I know they might need help but are afraid to ask," he explained. He doesn't rush them. He offers a soft landing: a bit of guidance, a warm comment—"Nice job getting Alipay set up!"—and a steadying presence.

Sometimes it's more than directions. Once, Ray noticed a Malaysian tourist's paper bag tear as she entered the metro, its contents spilling onto the ground. As she knelt to gather her things, Ray dashed over, borrowed an unused coffee bag from a nearby stranger, and offered it to her with a gentle nod. She smiled, pressed a box of cookies into his hands, and disappeared down the escalator. "I don't even eat sweets," he laughed. "But that was a meaningful box of cookies."

Stories in Transit

The subway isn't just a transit system—it's a moving stage where stories briefly collide. Ray hears all kinds. A Spanish backpacker asks where to find craft beer. A group from Korea wants tips for exploring Nanjing Road. A curious American wonders if the Costco hot dog in Pudong is as good as back home. Ray gives practical advice, but also encouragement: "Try everything. This city is full of small surprises."

Sometimes, he helps people catch up with the speed of China's evolution. During the Expo, a traveler from Africa was looking for a long-gone airport bus to Yiwu. "He swore it existed," Ray said. "Turns out, it did—back in 2018. Now, of course, there's high-speed rail from Hongqiao. That moment really made me realize how fast this city changes."

A Community of One

What Ray offers isn't just information—it's emotional value. Reassurance. A sense that someone's watching out for you in a place that's unfamiliar. These quiet gestures create a community, momentary but meaningful, between locals, foreigners, volunteers, and strangers.

That community is growing. Shanghai Metro and local volunteer associations have welcomed more expats into the fold, not as ambassadors of foreignness, but as participants in the daily pulse of the city. With improvements like contactless international card payments and clearer foreign-language signage, Shanghai is becoming easier to navigate. But no tech will ever replace what someone like Ray can offer: a kind face, a helpful word, a moment of calm.

"I'm just happy to give back to the city that gave me a home," Ray says.

And maybe, for that one traveler, his quiet act of kindness becomes their first memory of Shanghai—not the skyline, not the food, but the orange vest and the smile that made them feel welcome.

Source: 解放日报