A total of 62 volunteers are offering their services at Jiading Museum, which is hosting a 12-day Old Summer Palace Treasures Exhibition, and they are checking tickets, interpreting - and assisting visitors in any way they can.

"What can I do for you, sir?" Wang Chenfang, a volunteer, asked an elderly man who was walking around anxiously.

The man replies that his wife is often confused and he cannot find her.

Wang Chenfang immediately reports to the director of the museum and accompanies the man to look for his wife, whom they eventually manage to locate with the assistance of other volunteers.

A total of 49 of these volunteers are students and Yanghan, a student from Shanghai Vocational College of Science & Technology, said she previously considered that she did not have good communication skills, but that she now has to answer questions of hundreds of visitors each day, and this has helped her to improve her skills.

The museum is also hosting the Southern and Northern Dynasties Carved Stone Buddhist Statues Art Exhibition and is seeking many qualified volunteers.

Sun Taiwei, a teacher at the Shanghai Vocational College of Science & Technology, said that students are regarded as target volunteers and 80 students have already signed up.

"Students have passion for their work and show professionalism, and I hope more students will participate in volunteer service," said Shao Hui, deputy curator of the museum.

The Lu Yanshao Art Academy in Jiading is hosting the Qi Baishi Artwork Masterpieces Exhibition, and the academy has also recruited volunteers. "My major is art and I really cherish this opportunity. My classmates envy me as I can see masterpieces every day – they also want to volunteer," said Liu Yuanqiu, a senior high school student.

The Jiading Library, as well as other cultural organizations in the district, is also in need of volunteers to arrange book shelves and maintain order in children’s reading section.

Edited by Chen Zhilin and Niva Whyman