A sailor displays his engraving work. [Photo/Tide News]

On June 25, in celebration of the 15th Day of the Seafarer, four international sailors from Poland, Russia, and Sri Lanka were invited to experience Ningbo's hospitality. Organized by Ningbo Immigration Inspection and the Beilun public security bureau, the event introduced the seafarers to local culture, legal services, and digital conveniences in the Yulan community.

At the legal service station, officers explained the features of China's immigration platform and demonstrated how to book appointments for foreign permanent residence IDs online, all in English. The seafarers also learned about the 240-hour visa-free transit policy available to nationals from 55 countries.

A digital currency experience zone, set up by the People's Bank of China Ningbo branch, was particularly popular. A Polish seafarer quickly registered for an e-CNY wallet and used it to buy local treats like seaweed pastries and dried rice cakes. "Ningbo really knows how to make great food," he said, smiling.

Bringing a cultural element to the event, the sailors tried seal carving, an aspect of China's intangible cultural heritage, by engraving the Chinese character 海 (sea) into stone.

As one of the world's busiest ports, Ningbo-Zhoushan Port features over 200 international routes and handles more than 140,000 crew members annually. The port is developing a comprehensive service ecosystem for seafarers, turning each port call into a chance for cultural exchange and meaningful connection.