Guiyang works to improve English signs

Guiyang, capital of Southwest China's Guizhou province, recently launched a WeChat applet allowing people to report English-language errors on public signs from Dec 1 to Feb 28, 2022.

During this period, people can follow the official WeChat account of the Guiyang Foreign Affairs Office, click the "大家一起来找茬" (let's correct errors) on the menu, and then access the WeChat applet.

Users can upload photos of English errors taken in Guiyang's scenic spots, hotels, public transportation, parks, cultural entertainment venues, and medical institutions.

Users can upload photos of errors on English-language signs by clicking the "随手拍" (snapshot) button in the applet and earn points. [Photo/WeChat account of Guiyang Foreign Affairs Office]

Users can earn points by pointing out errors and offering translation suggestions on the applet. Guiyang will offer 2,000 yuan ($314.68) to one first-place prize winner, 1,000 yuan each to three second-place prize winners, and 500 yuan each to 10 third-place prize winners based on their points.

If multiple people submit the same error, the first submitter will receive 10 points after the suggestion is accepted and every other uploaded error will receive two points (up to five errors per day, except for repeat and invalid ones).

Users can also earn three points by inviting new users, one point for signing in every day, and five points for completing their personal profile.

All participants will receive a digital certification of volunteer service for correcting errors on Guiyang's public English-language signs.

The applet has collected more than 3,500 English translations commonly used on signs, involving transportation, tourism, cultural entertainment, sports, education, medical services, postal services, telecommunications, catering, accommodation and finance.