Hangzhou gets ready to greet guests
HANGZHOU resident Yang Chizhen didn’t speak a word of English, but has been learning some simple English phrases since a month ago.
Hangzhou, in east China’s Zhejiang Province, is the host city for the 2016 G20 Summit on September 4 and 5.
“What if I run into some of the foreign guests in the street and cannot even say ‘hello’ to them? How shameful that will be!” Yang said.
Yang, 69, is a retired government employee. “I learned some Russian back in school, but I didn’t know any English. It is certainly hard for me to study a language at this age, but I will try my best anyway,” she said. She has been practising some greetings and learning how to give directions.
Yang is among dozens of elderly Dongshannong residents taking an English course specially organized for G20.
One of her teachers is Timothy Clancy, 31, from Australia. Clancy is studying clinical medicine in Zhejiang University and became a G20 volunteer in March. Besides teaching English, he has been working with the West Lake District, making videos of the lake, a popular tourist destination in the city.
“The G20 Summit is a great opportunity for Hangzhou to become better known to the world. I am honored to be part of this event,” he said in fluent Chinese.
Hangzhou has recruited 3,760 G20 volunteers, mostly college students and teachers who can speak a foreign language.
Wang Linhui, 33, has also been teaching English, but will be a driver for foreign guests during the summit.
“I expect many foreigners will get to know Hangzhou through the G20. It’s good for different cultures to mingle at events like this,” he said.
With a history of over 2,000 years, Hangzhou is a city of idyllic beauty and rich cultural heritage. It was described as “the most splendid city in the world” by Marco Polo eight centuries ago and has been given a facelift ahead of the summit.
Zhao Yide, Communist Party chief of Hangzhou, said preparations for the event are basically complete. Besides improvements to venues and hotels, over 600 projects have improved the city environment, including beautifying streets, and renovating old communities.
Mantoushan in the downtown area, once dilapidated with an inadequate sewage system, has seen unlicensed buildings demolished and new toilets built since November.
Li Yaqin, 93, has been living in Mantoushan for nearly half a century. “This place is more beautiful than ever before,” she said.
Built in 1878, the Mituo Temple in the West Lake District has fallen into disrepair since the 1970s when many people moved into the area to live. Those people have now been relocated and, after eight months of renovations, the temple has been restored to its former glory.
“It is so much better than before,” said Ruan Xiuhua, a former resident.
Zhao Yide said the city’s preparations for G20 will greatly benefit local people.
“Preparing for the summit is our immediate plan, but improving the city and making it more international is the longterm mission,” he said.