One key measure of a city’s warmth and inclusivity is its child-friendliness. In March of this year, Shijiazhuang was named as part of the third national cohort of cities designated for building child-friendly environments. As we stroll through the city, the transformation is evident: more public spaces are being adapted to a child-friendly height of “one meter,” with “micro spaces” in communities for children and accessible preschools right in the neighborhoods. The needs of children are increasingly being prioritized and met in real, tangible ways.

With a focus on the perspective of children, Shijiazhuang has, in recent years, implemented major policies, actions, and projects centered on social policy, public services, rights protection, and growth-friendly spaces. These efforts are transforming child-friendliness from an abstract concept into real facilities and services, enabling children to truly feel a connection to the city.

A Collaborative Plan for Child-Friendly Development

A city’s approach to children reflects its vitality and future. Building a child-friendly city is, in essence, about investing in the city’s future.

On September 30, 2021, the National Development and Reform Commission and other government departments issued the Guidance on Promoting Child-Friendly Cities, aiming to establish 100 child-friendly city pilot projects nationwide by 2025. To foster a sense of ownership among children in the city, Shijiazhuang has rolled out high-impact measures to advance this initiative with rigor.

In 2022, Shijiazhuang published the Child Development Plan (2021–2030), setting goals and tasks for the next decade of child-related initiatives. Following this, in 2023, the city introduced the Implementation Plan for Promoting a Child-Friendly City, which focuses on providing a supportive environment for children’s development through social policy, public services, rights protection, and spaces for growth.

After being selected for the third cohort of national child-friendly cities in March, Shijiazhuang quickly released its Child-Friendly City Development Plan. This plan outlines ambitions to develop model projects and benchmarks, create child-friendly neighborhoods and communities, and produce achievements that can be replicated in other regions.

In addition to policy initiatives, Shijiazhuang has organized activities that promote public engagement in the child-friendly concept. These include the “City is My Home” family-oriented city walks, a creative children’s art contest themed “Environmentally and Child-Friendly,” and Children’s Day celebrations with activities like “Love My City, Love My Home.” These events have raised public enthusiasm for building a child-friendly city, resulting in greater support from the community.

Growth Spaces at “One Meter High”

On a typical weekend afternoon at Shimei Leisure Center in Shijiazhuang, children can be seen building sandcastles, sliding down playground slides, and enjoying a lively play space. The center also features indoor play areas, petting zones, family-friendly dining, horse shows, and art classes, offering diverse activities to meet children’s needs.

Such spaces are becoming increasingly common throughout Shijiazhuang. Parks like Xihuan Park in Qiaoxi District, the City Center Theme Park in the High-Tech Zone, Donghuan Park in Yuhua District, and Haishan Park in Luquan District all have dedicated children’s play areas. Child-friendly urban design is becoming a visible and enjoyable part of Shijiazhuang, turning child-friendly urban planning into a citywide reality.

To address gaps in public services for children, Shijiazhuang has also focused on boosting resources in healthcare, culture, sports, and education. Projects such as the Shijiazhuang Children’s Hospital, an affiliated hospital of the Capital Institute of Pediatrics, the new Shijiazhuang City Library, the Youth Football Training Base, and the Science and Sports Activity Center at the Shijiazhuang Youth Palace provide children with more recreational and educational opportunities.

A Preschool that Reflects Commitment to Livelihood Needs

At Shijixing Kindergarten in Chang’an District, children pick fruits, race, and play games under the guidance of their teachers. The vibrant atmosphere in classrooms dedicated to cooking, dance, art, and Lego building allows children to learn and explore in various ways. As a government-supported inclusive preschool, Shijixing has seen continuous improvements in facilities and curriculum, ensuring accessible, high-quality early education for children in the community.

In recent years, Shijiazhuang has pioneered new services, balancing quality and accessibility in early education. The city has listed “creating inclusive private preschools” among its top ten public service goals for nine consecutive years. By funding private preschools to provide accessible education, the city has substantially reduced families’ preschool expenses—saving an average of 3,000 yuan annually per family in private preschools across the city’s five districts. The initiative has improved accessibility and affordability in early education, increasing public satisfaction.

Currently, the city supports 938 inclusive private preschools, offering 122,900 places and achieving a 90.76% coverage rate, one of the highest in the province.

Since 2022, Shijiazhuang has incorporated child-friendly initiatives into its public welfare projects, bringing more ideas to life. The city began providing free HPV vaccinations to girls aged 14, reducing cervical cancer risks from the start. Additionally, it launched a citywide scoliosis screening program for primary and secondary students, creating digital health records to monitor youth health.

The city has also developed after-school service demonstration sites at both provincial and city levels, launched free summer care services for primary school students, and introduced free public transport for eligible children and parents. Currently, over 430,000 public transportation cards have been issued, including 17 dedicated bus routes for students.

A city that cares for its children undoubtedly fosters a warmer society and a more beautiful urban environment. The faces of Shijiazhuang’s future are bright with innocence and joy, embodying the city’s child-friendly vision. As Shijiazhuang continues to embrace this vision, it paves the way for a harmonious, livable, and innovative modern provincial capital.