In May 2021, Wuhan, capital of Hubei province, started work on building international communities in order to attract more foreign talents to settle in the city. Multiple attempts have been made during this process.

Calling for social strength to provide better service

The Lanfeixi'an community in Hanyang District is home to 10 foreigners from 8 countries, including Pakistan, Great Britain, France, Zimbabwe and Cameroon. In order to help them integrate into community governance, a group of volunteers, consisting of 86 inhabitants of the community, teamed up to provide translation service. In addition, the community has recruited social workers with good English skills.

In residential community of universities like Central China Normal University and China University of Geosciences(Wuhan), faculty and students have been encouraged to help foreigners by creating a bilingual environment, organizing cultural activities, and offering volunteer service.

Diversifying activities to promote exchange

Some communities in the city have organized cultural exchange activities to promote the integration of foreigners.

During the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Xintiandi community in Jiang'an District held a festival combining tradition and fashion, to create a platform for cultural exchange.

Focusing on the needs of foreigners

While building international communities, Wuhan has been attaching great importance to the issues that both Chinese and foreign residents are concerned about.

The Hanlin community in Xinzhou District recently took advice from overseas residents. Amanda and Nicola, from Zimbabwe and now living in the community, expressed their hope to see more bilingual signage in the residential area to the community staff. In a few days, their request was fulfilled.

What’s more, the community created a foreign language corner, reception hall for foreigners and bilingual infographic to make life easier for foreign residents.

The Ji'an community in Wuchang District invited foreigners to teach English to Chinese residents in order to strengthen exchanges between them and promote cultural exchange.