Shanghai's Pudong and Hongqiao international airports have set up additional centers to offer one-stop service to overseas travelers.
The two additional "one-stop service centers" started operation on Sept 27, one at Pudong International Airport Terminal 1 and the other at Hongqiao International Airport Terminal 1. The two centers, located near the international arrival gates, are designed to help inbound passengers navigate the city more easily.
Sebastian is a tourist from Germany and planned to stay in Shanghai for three days. After he arrived at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, he wanted to buy a transportation card to get around in the city. He received warm help from the staff members at the service center.
"They're very helpful. I was a little lost when I arrived at Terminal 2 at the airport because I had a flight from Kunming to Shanghai. And that's why I arrived at the Terminal 2 where just the people from China arrived. That's why I didn't see all these guys with exchange and with the SIM cards and all this stuff. And that's why I first had to come here. Now I think it will work," he said.
"We arrived in Guangzhou this morning, but the transfer time was really short. So it wasn't enough time for me to sort that all out in Guangzhou. So we arrived in Shanghai. I was just trying to draw some money out. She (Staff at service center) was really helpful, so she came over and gave me a hand. That worked out quite well," said Jing, another traveler from Australia.
The service centers provide a wide range of support for foreign travelers, including services for tourism, communication, payment, and transportation. Visitors can purchase local SIM cards, rent portable WiFi, exchange currency, and buy transportation cards, among other offerings.
"Most foreigners ask about the payment when they arrive in Hongqiao airport. First of all, they want to change their money from other currencies to Chinese yuan. So our payment service can help them to change their money. We also got an ATM to help them get their money from their bank card. Our transportation service can help them get their Shanghai Pass or other transportation card. If they want to check or ask some questions about tourism in Shanghai, they can come here and ask us," said Xie Weiyun, manager of Shanghai Foreign Service Group, one of the operators of the centers.
There are now three service stations at airports in Shanghai: one at Hongqiao Terminal 1 and one at each of Pudong's Terminals 1 and 2.
The service station at Pudong Terminal 2, which opened on June 29, has helped more than 44,000 passengers, and received over 3,600 positive reviews from travelers from countries like Russia, the United States, Britain, Denmark, and the Philippines.
Shanghai airports offer one-stop service to overseas travelers
Shanghai, a leading medical hub in China, is endeavoring to develop a comprehensive hospice care service system to offer enhanced medical treatment and more attentive emotional support to patients in their final stages of life.
World Hospice and Palliative Care Day is observed annually on the second Saturday in October. More and more people have come to understand that hospice care is not synonymous with giving up treatment. Instead, it refers to an approach that aims to improve the quality of life for patients struggling with life-limiting illnesses, enabling them to live with increased dignity.
Putuo District in Shanghai is among the first pilot areas in China to carry out hospice care services, which has established an integrated hospice service system since 2017 involving 12 community healthcare centers and technical assistance from local hospitals.
Wang, a 94-year-old patient with cerebral infarction, has received professional medical treatment and attentive emotional care in the hospice ward at the healthcare center of Changzheng Town Community in the district since mid-March this year.
"In terms of medical treatment, this center offers a whole set of professional programs that I find effective. Even if I could afford to hire a caregiver for my mom at home, she is not equipped with the right medical facilities and expertise as like here, and I still cannot help it and have to send her to the hospital. So I think the hospice care here is very desirable," said Wang's son.
The palliative care team at the healthcare center of Changzheng Town Community is made up of various professionals such as doctors, nurses, social workers, volunteers, and even psychological counselors. They can provide personalized services to patients in the late stages of serious illnesses where the chances of a cure are limited.
Over the past year, the community healthcare center saw a notable increase in admissions, with 268 patients against 150 the previous year. Patients can access medical services at affordable rates at the center.
"The daily treatment cost for each patient is about 400 yuan (about 57 U.S. dollars), with most of these expenses covered by medical insurance. Patients and their families only need to pay for caregiver services and meals as extra charges," said Hua Zhijia, deputy director of the community healthcare center.
Patients receiving palliative care within communities can be transferred to larger hospitals for advanced medical treatment if their condition deteriorates and becomes more complex, and they can return to community healthcare centers once their symptoms improve.
"Each year, there are usually 500 to 600 cases of patient referrals to larger hospitals or back to community centers, which means that about 50 to 60 patients require referral services each month," said Wu Ying, deputy director of Liqun Hospital in Putuo District.
Shanghai improves hospice care service system
