The first thing many foreigners must do after arriving in Shanghai is to apply for a temporary resident permit in a police station. But in Pudong’s Lianyang Community, foreign affairs procedures can be done within the compound. Founded in 2012, the Lianyang Foreign Affairs Service Station took the lead in Shanghai in bettering community service for foreign residents.

Considerate community ‘diplomats’

Lianyang Community in the Huamu Sub-district is home to around 5,000 expats from 83 countries and regions. The wide range of professions and nationalities represented has made Lianyang a “mini UN”.

Thus, the Lianyang Foreign Affairs Service Station was established. Twelve staff members are now working in the station, each of whom specializes in a foreign language like English, Japanese and Korean. For instance, Jin Yun, head of the station, is good at English and holds an Advanced Interpretation Certificate. They are like diplomats of the community.

But language ability is just a stepping stone in order to work in the station. Working together with the Exit-Entry Administration Division of the Shanghai Public Security Bureau Pudong branch and the Huamu Police Station, the Huamu Sub-district has helped the station arrange a complete professional training in such fields as social service and foreign affairs policies.

The station has launched a series of convenience services for expat residents: an information board, a WeChat account, an English newspaper, a living tips handbook and a set of warm service.

The station serves seven residential areas and 22 compounds. Staff visit expat residents on a regular basis to enable them to live a comfortable and happy life.

Expats acclimated to Chinese culture

At first, the station only aimed to solve problems for expats, but under the leadership of Jin Yun and her colleagues, it has updated to version 2.0, to make expats more integrated into the community and allow them to be more autonomous.

Each month, the station organizes themed activities for residents like learning Mandarin and experiencing Asian culture, helping expats communicate with locals and integrate into the community faster.

Jin Yun shared with Eastday.com a story of a Brazilian lady who came to Shanghai with her husband. After moving to Lianyang, she decided to learn Chinese cooking. With Jin’s help, twice a month, she went to a Chinese lady’s home to learn. Braised Pork in Brown Sauce, or Hong Shao Rou, is her favorite and she is best at cooking it.

Cherishing the friendship with foreign residents, Jin still remembers the Brazilian lady had a hug with her before going back to her hometown due to her husband’s work.

“Once the expats fully trust and recognize you, they will integrate into the community and the Chinese culture faster, and our work will be smoother,” said Jin. After full communication and explanation, she and her colleagues find the expats very cooperative, either in the city’s garbage sorting or the national census.

Lianyang is an epitome of Shanghai’s exploration of how to elevate the building of international communities. Different communities may have different approaches but they are moving in the same direction: more refined management.

Video: Zhu Beier, Tang Fengli