More than 300 volunteers give up their time to do good in Shinan district in Qingdao, Shandong province. During the National Day holiday, a peak time for visitors, 200 volunteers were out and about at tourist spots, such as the beach and Wusi Square, in red waistcoats and hats, helping travelers.

Some of the volunteers are fluent in English. John Gordon, a tourist from the United States who speaks no Chinese, got lost while visiting Qingdao. The volunteers helped him find his way and he said they were important to the city and made Qingdao more beautiful.

Volunteer Liu Mingshan said: "The volunteer experience makes me realize how important the English language is for Qingdao. I will spend more time improving my English. Helping others makes me happy."

The volunteers hung a moneybox filled with coins at the bus station near Qingdao railway station to help passengers change money, after they found many bus passengers did not have small change to buy bus tickets.

Gao Shangbo, a tourist from Sichuan, said, "It is very convenient and thoughtful, even though it is only a small thing."

The number of registered volunteers in Shinan district grew from 100 in April 2013 to more than 300 today, and the average age of the volunteers is 60 years old.

On Oct 14, more than 20 volunteers from Shinan went to a nursing home in Gaoyouhu Road to help the 30 senior citizens who live there.

The volunteers helped measure the elderly residents' blood pressure, cut their hair, helped them with dental care and repaired their household appliances.

On Oct 16, the volunteers went to Lewanjia nursing home to offer massages and pedicures. An elderly man surnamed Wang said that he felt comfortable and enjoyed the services, which he had never had before because he considered them too expensive.

On Oct 17, cross-talk performers and calligraphers from Shinan volunteered to visit senior citizens in Xiyanghong nursing home. The home's director, surnamed Wang, said the residents do not lack food or clothes, but need happiness and company. "This is the best Chongyang Festival they expected to have," Wang said.

Chongyang Festival, a festival for senior citizens, falls on Sept 9 on the Chinese lunar calendar every year, which was Oct 21 this year.

Contact the writers through liyang@chinadaily.com.cn