Expo-themed train arrives as city prepares for event

Jiang Xiaowei / SHINE

A China International Import Expo-themed Line 2 train pulled into People’s Square Station at 10am yesterday.

Carriages on the train are decked out with information about the expo, as well as special well-wishes from celebrities. Train passengers can also enjoy comics which tell interesting anecdotes about imports.

Many riders were impressed by the decoration of the train. “The comics are quite cute,” said a woman surnamed Dong. “And people can learn interesting facts from them.”

“I saw many exotic food companies are coming to the expo,” said Jiang Weimin, a college student. “I would love to try some of their foods.”

According to Metro operators, another three expo-themed trains will be put into service by September: one more on Line 2, and two on Line 10.

The Shanghai Metro has also been improving other amenities ahead of the upcoming expo, starting with station toilets.

Stations near the expo venue on Line 2, Line 10 and Line 17 will have toilets installed on platforms where passengers can easily find them.

All industries in the city have started preparations for the expo, which is expected to attract leading governmental officials and tens of thousands of visitors from home and abroad.

Shanghai Health and Family Planning Commission published a list of 18 designated hospitals which can offer high-quality service and health care during the event.

Shanghai Jiahui International Hospital, the only international hospital on the list, said it will be mainly responsible for the health of overseas visitors and guests. It has prepared a team of medical professionals from nine countries who can offer international-standard, multi-lingual service.

Officials from Huashan Hospital, a leading public hospital, said it has carried out drills to handle potential emergencies during the expo.

The large industry gathering also requires a large number of volunteers.

The Shanghai Youth League, which is in charge of volunteer recruitment and training, said it has recruited about half of the 5,000 volunteers needed for expo liaison, coordination, registration, guest reception and on-site assistance.

The volunteers are mainly being recruited from universities and colleges in Shanghai, and the organization said it will recruit students who speak languages other than English from neighboring provinces and southern provinces like Yunnan who are knowledgeable of South and Southeast Asian languages.

After recruitment finishes in mid-September, volunteers will start training in October.

Also, the organization will soon be recruiting another 60 to 80 volunteers to work full-time with the government on organizing the event. These volunteers will mainly be recruited among company and government workers and university teachers.

The first group of such volunteers — 25 of them — has already started work.

Meanwhile, other volunteer organizations are called on to serve event guests at Metro stations, airports, shopping centers and cultural landmarks.