Ningbo hosts charitable toy exchange festival

Children exchange toys at the First Yongpai Toy Exchange Festival in Ningbo, Zhejiang province on May 27. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Two hundred children across Ningbo, Zhejiang province attended a toy exchange event on May 27 to recycle unused toys and help peers in Liangshan Yi autonomous prefecture, Sichuan province.

The event, entitled "the First Yongpai Toy Exchange Festival", was launched by local media organizations in May. Children in Ningbo were encouraged to donate their unused toys. They could choose to exchange with others or sell them at a charity market. The market was held in Yinzhou, Haishu, Jiangbei, Beilun and Fenghua districts on May 27. The sale proceeds will be donated to children in Liangshan.

"It's my first time attending such an activity. It's interesting," said Cai Jiashan, who sold used toys in exchange of 12 roly-poly toys.

Cai came from Jiangxi province to Ningbo with her parents six years ago. Her father, a truck driver, was always busy working away from home.

During the event, the 10-year-old girl was excited about both her parents being present at the market. She named her toy stall "Shanshan's Shop" and decorated it with a sign reading "I'm the ­ch­ild of a truck driver and I love my father's job­.”

Having learned that the proceeds will be donated to children in Liangshan, Jiang Haoxuan, a first grader, spent 50 yuan ($7) on toys.

"The event teaches children the value of sharing. It's meaningful," said a ­resident surnamed Shen who came with her daughter.