Volunteering on the Islands near Shanghai

Several large islands sit in the legendary Yangtze River near Shanghai where the river empties into the East China Sea. These islands offer volunteers a chance to experience Chinese culture in a more rural setting while still living within easy reach of the exciting offerings of Shanghai. At present we are offering volunteer opporunities on the Island of Chong Ming. In the past, we have placed volunteers on the nearby, smaller islands of Chang Xing and Heng Sha.

Chong Ming Island

Also called the fertile island of fish and rice, Chong Ming Island is located along the northern shore of the very wide Yangtze River. It is the largest inhabited island near Shanghai. This alluvial island has grown slowly over the centuries through the deposit of silts being carried by the river from the vast Chinese interior lands. Nowadays, the island covers an area of over 1,000 square kilometers. Being a national geological park, the island is widely appreciated by visitors as an area for recreation. Unique fruits and vegetables grow in this clean and still unaffected natural area.

This former farm country has been changing rapidly and is becoming a rural weekend getaway for Shanghai residents. The streets of Chong Ming are filled with food vendors, retail stalls, pedicab drivers and shops. Nevertheless, the island still has its charming wide boulevards and fancy residences and is still, for the most part, a peaceful agricultural area.

Volunteer Project on Chong Ming Island

Xu Bo offers volunteer teaching assignments in kindergarten, primary, middle and high schools, depending on the volunteer's skills and interests. The school system in Chong Ming is well structured and demanding. Teachers in China are generally respected and face focused and disciplined students. However, after each lesson the music rings through the school to announce the break, it is time to relax, chat, dance or play basketball. Chong Ming Island hosts one of the best ping pong teams in whole Shanghai municipality and volunteers may accompany the team to one of its many tournaments around Shanghai. We hope you'll be part of our team and help Chinese students to improve their already high level of English.

Accommodations for Volunteers

The volunteer’s accommodations are on the school campus. Each room is equipped with air-condition/heaters and there are shower facilities with hot water in the residence. There is also the possibility to stay in one of many motel and hostels on the island. However, these are usually not as comfortable as the school's accommodations and you don't get close contact to students and other teachers.

Volunteer Meals

Volunteers will be provided with breakfast, lunch and dinner during weekdays but must provide their own meals on weekends. All schools provide weekday lunches for volunteers in their school canteens. Some schools also provide weekday breakfasts and dinners in the canteen. Other schools will arrange for the volunteer's weekday breakfasts and dinners at a local restaurant or hotel. School meals are simple but wholesome and include a balance of meats, vegetables, rice, and soup. On weekends, the islands offer many choices at very low prices. The proximity of the island to Shanghai also makes it easy for the volunteer to enjoy the diverse culinary choices available there.

Volunteer Orientation

Upon arrival, Chong Ming volunteers will receive their induction/orientation period at our facilities in Shanghai, before traveling on to the island. During the first week, volunteers will also receive Chinese culture courses, Mandarin lessons and sight-seeing tours to Yu Gardens, People's Square, the Bund, NanJing Road, and other places of interest.

General Area Information

Weather

The climate is humid and mild. The best time to come to the island is between May and November however, the rainy period is between June and July. In summertime temperatures can reach a high level but being an island, there is always a refreshing wind breezing. In winter, it can get quite chilly at night although a hard freeze is very rare.

Area Sights and Activities

Dongtan Wetland

This 24-square-kilometer park stretches as far as the eye can see and neighbors a migratory bird reserve. Depending on the season, visitors can spot over 300 different species of births.

Dongping Forest Park

This almost 4-square-kilometer park is the largest man-made forest in eastern China. You can not only spot bamboos and pines but also roaming deer and horses. Visitors will encounter bridges, creeks and a lot of nature.

QianWei Ecology Village

Built in 1969, this village is an example of sustainable living, generating electricity by wind, solar, bio-gas, geothermal and straw-power. Activities such as pushing wheelbarrows, riding horses, spinning waterwheels, picking fruits or fishing, invite visitors to explore the village and its countryside.

YingDong Fishing Village

This lagoon with wooden boardwalk is not only a great place to see the sunrise but also a paradise for anglers.

Xisha Wetland Park

Walk along this 3-square-kilometer large wetland and go crabbing with bamboo sticks.

Festivals and Events

There are three main annual festivals on the island which are not to be missed:

Forest Tourism Festival

Since 1998 the event occurs every year between mid September and late October as part of the Shanghai Tourism festival. An impressive opening ceremony with art performances, firework display and float parade inaugurates the festival. Among the special events are the local gourmet festival, the forest carnival open days at Qianwei Village, and the national cricket fighting competition at Luhua.

Hairy Crab Festival

Activities such as ‘’crab tasting by 10’000 people’’ and ‘’crab trading fare’’ have attracted thousands of people every year since 2008.

Luhua Orange Festival

Experience the countryside at a 28’000 hectares orange plantation, located in the southwest part of the island. Visitors can pick and taste various fruits and take part in one of the many activities organized by the festival.

How to Get to Chong Ming Island

The nearest airports to the island are Shanghai Pu Dong Airport (international flights) and Shanghai Hongqiao Airport (China domestic flights).

The Shanghai Yangtze River Tunnel and its highway connect the island with Shanghai mainland. The bus takes about 45 minutes to 1 hour and costs around 15 yuan. However, the water way traffic is still very convenient. The ride takes about 40 minutes by high-speed boat. Nanmen Port offers service to Shanghai Shidongkou every 20 minutes, 24 hours a day. Other ports are Xinhe Port and Baozhen Port.

On Chong Ming itself there are 27 different bus routes taking passengers all over the island. Another convenient way to get to your destination is by cab. Basic rate is 12 RMB/3 kilometers, plus a charge of 2.4 Yuan per kilometer.

During your orientation week in Shanghai, Xu Bo staff will help volunteers understand transportation options and book tickets.

To Apply or Learn More

To apply to volunteer on one of the Shanghai islands please see our Overseas Partners page where you will find links to several different international organizations who will happy to help you submit your application or learn more about the program. You can also submit questions directly to Xu Bo by using the form below. After you enter your name, email address (take care to enter address correctly), age and your question in the provided fields, press the Send button. You will receive a confirmation email shortly and we will respond to your question as soon as possible.

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