Shanxi Xi County- Zhaizi Township Cultural Tourism Volunteers’ National Day Golden Week Service Record

On the afternoon of October 7, as the last group of tourists left the Xiaoxitian Scenic Area in Linyi County, Shanxi, the Zhaizi Township Volunteer Service Team members breathed a collective sigh of relief.

During the National Day Golden Week, Xiaoxitian Scenic Area saw an unprecedented surge in visitors. To accommodate the influx, staff from various county departments and local government offices in Linyi sacrificed their holidays to provide volunteer services.

Situated 20 kilometers southeast of downtown Linyi, Zhaizi Township is renowned for its expansive pear orchards, with over 55,600 acres dedicated to fruit production out of a total of 76,900 acres of arable land. Additionally, the township hosts Shanxi’s National Yellow Earth Geological Park.

On September 30, Zhaizi Township formed a dedicated volunteer task force for tourism, assembling a 30-member team and selecting eight trained interpreters for the geological park. Two pear-picking gardens were established, along with two loudspeakers at the Fangcun Mountain viewing platform.

“Our main goal is to provide efficient volunteer services while managing visitor flows to alleviate pressure on the Xiaoxitian Scenic Area,” said Li Zhizhuo, the Party Secretary of Zhaizi Township.

Throughout the holiday, Zhaizi Township focused on service support for the western section of the Xiaoxitian Scenic Area, setting up a volunteer service point at the western end of Xiaoxitian Bridge. Here, visitors were offered free purified water and chrysanthemum tea, along with samples of locally grown Yulu pears and other specialties.

This volunteer service point was strategically placed at an entry point for tourists, with many visitors enjoying the complimentary refreshments. To keep up with demand, volunteers boiled water every half hour, often walking to friends’ houses to fetch water and carrying it back in insulated containers. On average, they provided at least 20 buckets of hot water daily.

Managing the queues and alleviating visitors’ frustrations became a critical part of their volunteer work. Zhaizi Township organized performances by participants from the “Just Love This Yellow Soil” farmer singer competition to entertain tourists waiting in line.

One standout performer was Tian Sanniu, a 57-year-old fruit farmer and competition winner. He sang traditional folk songs daily at the bridge, helping to create a cheerful atmosphere. Other local farmer singers joined him, engaging with tourists to lift spirits and ease impatience.

A user named “Hello~August” commented during a livestream, “Visitors to Xiaoxitian Scenic Area are lucky and happy to enjoy hot water and live music. Kudos to you!”

Wang Yanling, a leader in the local straw weaving industry, spent her days at the service point promoting the national geological park and answering tourists’ questions. “There’s no need for motivation; we’re all in this together. As an industry leader, I feel it’s my responsibility to contribute,” she expressed.

Wang Wei, part of the assistance team from Sanjiao Village in Zhaizi Township, joined the volunteer efforts on October 4 after realizing that the staff at Xiaoxitian Scenic Area were overwhelmed. He contributed by promoting the geological park and Yulu pears, even engaging in live broadcasts to maintain the momentum.

Beyond the primary service area at Xiaoxitian Bridge, Zhaizi Township established another service point at the north toll plaza of Linyi County’s highway to encourage visitors to diversify their sightseeing schedules. Tourists were prompted to explore the national geological park, learn about the legend of Shennong tasting grains, visit Yuliang Temple, experience the local ecology at Zijing Mountain, and participate in fruit picking at nearby gardens.

The enthusiasm of Zhaizi Township residents caught the attention of Shanxi-based media figure “Not Forgetting Our Original Intention,” who left a supportive message online: “I can help with design and editing and would be happy to offer assistance pro bono in the future if needed.”

From October 1 to 7, the volunteer service team in Zhaizi Township assisted around 20,000 tourists and facilitated the sale of over 15,000 pounds of Yulu pears.

“Right now, Zhaizi Township is fully committed; in the future, we will continue to shine,” Li Zhizhuo concluded.