The 2026 APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting will be hosted in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, on december 11. A series of preliminary events running under the banner "Be Gracious Hosts and Welcome APEC" kicked off in Longgang district on July 10.

Longgang district has achieved full-district coverage and broad public participation in terms of its preparatory work for the APEC meeting, supported by effective volunteer service systems and exemplary role models. The district has organized a diverse range of engaging themed activities to ensure all residents can participate in, witness and benefit from 2026 being the APEC China Year.

Student representatives deliver the bilingual civilization initiative "Be gracious Hosts and Welcome APEC" recitations.

More than 10 co-built activities are open to the public in Longgang district. Representative programs include Lingnan herbal tea tasting and the chance to experience traditional Chinese medicine pastry, which have been attracting large crowds. 

The Fun Longgang & Young Ambassadors bilingual landmark promotion program arranges for student representatives to visit iconic local cultural sites including Crane Lake Hakka Village and Dafen Oil Painting Village. The program aims to boost exchanges featuring mutual learning between different civilizations. It has developed a systematic set of practicable courses revolving around Lingnan culture and civic etiquette norms.

Citizens are participating in interactive knowledge quizzes to deepen their understanding of Asia-Pacific economic cooperation.

The on-site APEC ICH Experience Workshop provided one-day hands-on craft sessions on traditional ICH techniques from multiple APEC economies exclusively for participants on July 10.

The fair also featured more than ten customized civilization experience booths offering Lingnan herbal tea tasting and traditional Chinese medicine pastry appreciation. These well-received exhibition projects attracted a large number of local residents and effectively enriched the public's APEC-themed cultural experience.

Longgang has built up a grassroots volunteer service team to provide standardized urban supporting services throughout the 2026 APEC event period. Four role models aimed at improving people's morals have brought their studios to the July 10 launching ceremony venue to support the build-up to the APEC meeting. Their service scope covers urban regular mobile urban civility inspections, care services for vulnerable groups, popularization of APEC-related public welfare and cultural knowledge, as well as integrated anti-drug and mental health popularization. These exemplary volunteers set benchmark examples for public participation in APEC supporting work.

Longgang district will contribute its strength to help foster an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future.