Two expats living in Hangzhou's international communities present spring couplets. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]

As Hangzhou now enjoys greater popularity in the international arena, the capital of East China's Zhejiang province is making further strides in building its international community, with 11 new arrivals at the third group of demonstration communities favored by expats.

In 2016, Hangzhou proposed the concept of international communities and has built 21 by actively exploring new methods and gathering experience.

This takes the total of international communities in Hangzhou to 32.

Hangzhou increased its international appeal after the G20 Summit 2016 as more and more expats choose to settle in the Yangtze River metropolis. To date, 349 of 371 communities sampled in the main urban area of Hangzhou have foreign residents who come from dozens of different countries, accounting for 94 percent of the total community.

According to local authorities, an increasing number of communities have created a unique international flavor by leveraging their own resources and advantages.

Xiaoyingxiang community in Shangcheng district is an example of an international community featuring a healthy life. It hosts an array of international forums and exchange activities on health. The community also provides care programs for foreign friends and other chronic patients.

"The knowledge and ideas brought by foreign health experts are inspirations to community residents. Next year, we will also map out a blue book on health with the help of foreign experts and be a beacon for the health of community residents", said a local official.

In Daxulu community of Gongshu district, 70 percent of social workers are equipped with basic English communication skills.

Official statistics reveals that the number of overseas residents living in international communities increased by 26 percent in 2018, with the average satisfaction rate of residents reaching 95.91 percent.

A view of Xiaoyingxiang community in Shangcheng district of Hangzhou, Zhejiang province [Photo/zjol.com.cn]