Children are the future of the country. During the past five years, China has made steady progress in building child-friendly cities, to create a supportive social atmosphere for the safe and healthy development of children.
The Outline on the Development of Chinese Children (2021-2030), issued by the State Council in September 2021, proposed building child-friendly cities with Chinese characteristics, and with coordinated measures covering social policy, public services, rights protection, growth spaces and development environments.
The Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development of the People's Republic of China (2026–2030), adopted by the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, in March, proposed the goals of promoting the construction of child-friendly cities, and creating a social environment that cares for and loves the next generation.
On March 17, 2026, a guideline was issued, by the National Development and Reform Commission and the Office of the National Working Committee on Children and Women under the State Council, to advance child-friendly development across society.
Now, China's child-friendly effort is entering a new phase, from scattered urban pilots to a nationwide, institutionalized framework — spanning both urban and rural areas at a higher level.
By the end of last year, 116 cities across China had implemented child-friendly projects, which covered more than one-third of the cities in the country, and which benefited more than 110 million children, in both urban and rural areas.
Inclusive, Quality Services
Wuxi, a city in East China's Jiangsu Province, has rolled out a series of strategies to build a child-friendly city. It has promoted community-based, public-benefit-childcare services to establish a "15-minute nursery circle." For example, Jinhe Nursery, the city's first community-based, State-owned-enterprise-run childcare service institution, introduced an innovative "medical-educational-integration" model last year. The nursery and the community hospital have linked child-health resources to provide one-stop childcare- and healthcare-management services to children under the age of 3.
By the end of 2025, Wuxi had upgraded 127 kindergartens that provided public-benefit-childcare services. Now, 401 kindergartens, across the city, offer such services. Of those kindergartens, 221 operate nursery classes that have served 3,409 children under the age of 3.
Wuxi has also boosted a "child-centered economy." The city has hosted the child-friendly expo for three consecutive years. Led by Wuxi Women's Federation, the city in September 2025 established its first child-friendly enterprise alliance, which has encouraged businesses to integrate the child-friendly concept into their operations, and to align industrial development with children's needs. "We encourage the enterprise alliance to actively participate in building Wuxi into a child-friendly city. This approach helps expand and professionalize child services," says a staff member of Wuxi Women's Federation.
Wuxi's commitment to a child-friendly city extends to vulnerable children. The Wuxi Children's Welfare Institute offers standardized, professional services in daily care, rehabilitation and education, safety guarantee and emotional support. The efforts aim to create a more supportive and high-quality environment for the development of children, especially those with disabilities.
Participating in City Governance from 'One-Meter Perspective'
Wenzhou, a city in East China's Zhejiang Province, implemented the Regulations on Promoting the Construction of a Child-Friendly City in Wenzhou in June 2025. With child participation a landmark feature of the regulations, children's opinions were solicited at every stage — from drafting to legislative review.
During the review process, members of the Child Observation Group — which included children of different ages — engaged in exchanges with the Standing Committee of the Wenzhou Municipal People's Congress and Wenzhou Women's Federation. They made more than 30 suggestions on various issues — such as transportation, child-friendly facilities, family education and school bullying — as they contributed their unique, "one-meter perspective."
The Child Observation Group has provided a platform for children to express their creativity, ideas and initiatives, by participating in the building of a child-friendly city. Since the first municipal-level-observation group was established, in September 2021, some 561 observation groups, at various levels, have been established across the city, covering communities, schools and public venues.
To help children develop the ability to propose constructive ideas, Wenzhou has offered specialized training to group members in various areas, such as conducting news-related interviews, new-media skills, journalistic writing, and providing volunteer services.
Children's bright ideas have become reality. Wenzhou has launched child-friendly bus routes, and it has raised the free-ride height limit to 1.3 meters. Colorful crosswalks and shared parent-child bikes have become among the city's iconic features. Wenzhou unveiled a city logo, selected by children, in 2021, and it unveiled two distinctive IP characters the following year. Now, they feature in child-friendly parks, neighborhoods and other public venues.
'Sci-Tech-Innovation-Friendly' Empowering Children
Dongguan, a manufacturing and innovation hub in South China's Guangdong Province, has adopted a "sci-tech-innovation-friendly" approach to building a child-friendly city.
The Office of Dongguan Municipal Working Committee on Children and Women and relevant departments have promoted the child-friendly development of Songshan Lake Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone, by focusing on child-friendly spaces and integrating science education with hands-on innovation activities. At Songshan Lake, labs and large-scale scientific facilities now serve as interactive, child-friendly venues for science education.
In March 2024, Songshan Lake Women's Federation, with the zone's four grassroots-level Party committees, established Songshan Lake Child-Friendly Sci-Tech Innovation Alliance, composed of 37 members, including schools, enterprises and research institutes. The alliance has built a five-tier, science-education-faculty system, and it has released a map of science-education study tours, featuring 37 sites in the zone, including China Spallation Neutron Source and Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory.
The alliance has also tailored study-tour routes for different age groups. The alliance has launched more than 10 public-benefit, child-friendly, science-education brands. Weekly hands-on activities, such as conducting science experiments and creating sci-tech creative crafts, ignite children's passion for innovation. Scientists give lectures on campuses to inspire children's scientific dreams. Children also explore wetland parks, to cultivate an appreciation for nature.
At Songshan Lake, the Child-Friendly Neutron Theme Park integrates the scientific principles of the spallation neutron source into its recreational facilities. It is a vivid example of Dongguan's efforts to create a sci-tech-innovation-friendly environment for children.
Building a Child-Friendly 'Spring City' Brand
Kunming, capital of Southwest China's Yunnan Province, has built a child-friendly "Spring City" brand by integrating child-friendly concepts with the city's wetland landscapes and cultural-tourism resources. The city has designed high-quality study-tour routes, which link its cultural and tourist attractions.
In Dianchi National Tourism Resort, a "warm, colorful and vibrant" child-friendly space is becoming the reality. Drawing on park-based activities, sports events, wetland experiences and science-education-study tours along Dianchi Lake, Kunming has developed a distinctive, "One-Meter-Height View of Dianchi Lake" brand, and it has built a child-friendly cultural-tourism-industry chain. The Women's Federation of Dianchi National Tourism Resort has developed several signature child-friendly events.
The Dianchi Greenway, known as the lake's "jade necklace," has become a new landmark for parent-child activities. Twelve public restrooms have been added along the greenway, and each has been equipped with a family restroom and a nursery room. Family-friendly tour programs have also been developed at scenic spots along the lake.
The greenway has hosted several family-friendly and ecological runs, attracting nearly 10,000 parents and their children. The Child-Friendly Family Fun Run has been held for two consecutive years, and it has become a well-known local event. "It's such a joy to run with my daughter on this beautiful greenway. I hope there will be more events like this, so our family can make more beautiful memories together," one parent has been quoted as saying.
Cities across the country have tailored their child-friendly approaches, and each has contributed a unique thread to the rich tapestry of child-friendly development in China. A "one-meter-height" perspective naturally fosters a safe and inclusive environment, under which every child will grow up healthy.
Photos from Wuxi Women's Federation, Wenzhou Women's Federation, Office of Dongguan Municipal Working Committee on Children and Women and Kunming Women's Federation
(Women of China English Monthly May 2026)
Editor: Wang Shasha
