A volunteer takes a photo with a Spring Festival traveler. [Photo/Yongpai app]

Bright orange vests and spring couplets turned Ningbo Railway Station into a hub of multicultural warmth as international students joined volunteers to assist thousands of Spring Festival travelers. 

The Warm Spring volunteer program, launched in 2009, mobilizes youth each year to provide guidance, support, and festive cheer at transportation hubs during China's busiest travel season. This year marked the first large-scale inclusion of international students, who brought language skills and a global perspective.

Students from the United States, Italy, Thailand, and Morocco have been partnering with Chinese youth since Feb 2, guiding passengers through busy entrances, distributing Spring Festival couplets, and sharing New Year blessings.

Barbara Paz Contreras, an American volunteer, said that even a simple wish for a safe journey could warm travelers' hearts. A Moroccan student studying Chinese noted that the experience allowed him to help passengers while gaining firsthand insight into the Spring Festival travel rush.

Before taking their posts, all international volunteers received training in communication, escalator guidance, emergency response, and teamwork. Working alongside volunteers, they coordinated translations, assisted with calligraphy, and delivered festive messages.

Ningbo Railway Station officials praised the program for enhancing services for international travelers and fostering cross-cultural understanding, highlighting the role of youth volunteers in spreading goodwill during the holiday season.