“Volunteering here allows me to spread ceramic culture and help fellow foreigners. I feel like a bridge connecting the Chinese city and the world,“ Read said.

　　Read, who has lived in Jingdezhen for 36 years, is no stranger to volunteer work. Before he became the leader of the Yangjingpiao volunteer team, he was helping his foreign artist friends integrate into the local community.

　　“I have been in the habit of walking every day, having coffee, shopping, or visiting museums. I often meet foreigners new to Jingdezhen who face small difficulties, like not knowing the way to a certain attraction or where to buy daily necessities,“ he said.

　　“I am happy to introduce the city to them and show them around. Joining the volunteer team now just formalizes my old routine,“ he added.

　　Li Yuchen, a police officer at the Zhushan branch of the Jingdezhen Public Security Bureau, said, “With the growing influence of Jingdezhen's ceramic culture, especially after the implementation of the 240-hour visa-free transit policy last December, more and more foreigners are coming to the city.“

　　According to official data, Jingdezhen received 83,100 inbound tourists in the first half of 2025, up 37.16 percent year-on-year, while inbound tourism consumption totaled 50.87 million yuan ($7.1 million), a year-on-year increase of 43.92 percent.

　　“However, we realized that foreign tourists often face problems understanding the visa policies, and there are also cross-cultural communication barriers. The Yangjingpiao community members, who have lived here for a relatively long time, understand both Chinese and foreign cultures and are familiar with foreigners' needs. They serve as a natural bridge,“ Li said.