The 2026 Qingdao neighborhood festival launched in Jiaozhou, Qingdao, on June 18, as a celebration of the spirit of community that runs deep in this city.

At the heart of this is Zhang Lianwei, an 87-year-old former soldier and electrician with 65 years of Party membership. Since 1959, Zhang has been offering free electrical repairs to his neighbors. His five repair logs, thousands of service records, and over 30 apprentices bear witness to a lifetime of dedication.

Zhang's story is just one example of Jiaozhou's vibrant neighborly culture. In the Yingyueyuan community, the Neighbor Help volunteer team of 180 members has taken up the torch. In Fangjing community, a 1,600-square-meter Party and mass service center offers a book corner, calligraphy and dance rooms, and public welfare classes.

The "neighborly bond" here even crosses borders. International students from SCO member countries recently joined local residents to make zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) and sachets and watch Yangge dances, building friendship across cultures.

"A harmonious neighborhood is the foundation of social harmony, and the warmest part of a city," said Geng Dahai, an official from Jiaozhou. Taking the neighborhood festival as a new starting point, Jiaozhou continues to build platforms for neighbors to connect, making mutual care and kindness the city's signature.

The 2026 Qingdao neighborhood festival brings the community together in Jiaozhou, celebrating a spirit of mutual care. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]