Translation tools, volunteers in place to support visitors

Yang Meiping, Xu Lingchao and Echo Hu

A TOTAL of 2,000 language translation devices are being delivered to hotels, tourist information centers and scenic spots across Shanghai in preparation for the upcoming second China International Import Expo, Shanghai’s tourism authorities announced at the weekend.

The machines can provide translation services in 58 languages and dialects and will be placed at 1,762 expo reception hotels, 39 cruise ships on the Huangpu River, and tourist attractions like Tianzifang to break language barriers for overseas guests, according to the Shanghai Administration of Culture and Tourism.

Multilingual tourism materials are also distributed at hotels to serve guests from home and abroad.

Ten hotel “service ambassador” representatives for the expo are ready to provide information on the expo, transportation, tourism and weather for guests.

“We will help them find the most convenient transport to the expo venue, where to go for shopping, how to reach tourist attractions, for example,” said Xu Zongming, a hotel service ambassador.

Cruise ships on the Huangpu River have also got a facelift to welcome tourists, said Hong Chaohui, deputy general manager of Shanghai Huangpu River Cruise Co.

“We have conducted language, tour guidance and service etiquette training for our staff, and hope to show the most shining part of the Huangpu River to guests from around the world,” said Hong.

East Xujing Station, the closest Metro station to the expo, is set for a heavy flow of passengers from overseas during the event.

Last year before the first CIIE, station staff compiled a small English book containing 100 sentences and words which were frequently used by passengers.

This year, the contents have been updated and a new map added. The map shows all the major sightseeing spots in Shanghai and how to get to them on the Metro.

Apart from the staff, 20 volunteers from local universities will be posted at the station to help out.

A total of 510 volunteers from Shanghai International Studies University are ready for the event with 15 languages, including English, German, Russian and French.

About 7 percent of them will be at the expo for the second year. These include Russian major Xu Ruiqi.

Xu had worked as a RussianChinese interpreter last year at a Ukraine booth.

This year she will be a translator in the Euro-Asia group at the foreign affairs liaison office of the city’s commerce commission.

She has begun work on October 22 and has to work on weekends to prepare for the expo.

“I feel honored to contribute to such a great event,” she said.

Donghua University will have 190 volunteers, including four from Belt and Road countries.