“Child-friendly concepts are taking root, a child-first approach is becoming visible in friendly environments, and child-oriented spaces are flourishing across the city…” On November 12, the China Women’s News reported from a press conference in Kunming, Yunnan, highlighting progress in the city’s efforts to promote child-friendly urban development. In 2024, Kunming has actively advanced child-friendly city concepts, improving public awareness and enhancing child-friendly environments, with notable achievements to date.

Since Kunming’s selection in April 2023 as part of the second cohort of cities designated as national child-friendly cities—making it the first in Yunnan Province—Kunming’s municipal leadership has prioritized comprehensive, citywide coordination. Guided by the philosophy of “seeing the city, the world, and the future from a child’s perspective,” the Kunming Municipal Party Committee and Government have promoted collaborative and integrated development to embed child-friendly policies across all facets of urban planning.

With joint efforts from the Kunming Women’s Federation, the Municipal Housing and Urban Development Bureau, the Education and Sports Bureau, the Civil Affairs Bureau, the Culture and Tourism Bureau, the Health Commission, and the Landscaping Bureau, the city finalized a series of guidelines for creating child-friendly spaces, schools, communities, libraries, hospitals, and parks. Following these guidelines, numerous initiatives have launched, with the first batch of key sites under development, including 62 child-friendly schools, 30 communities, 3 libraries, 10 hospitals, and 43 parks. Kunming also issued the “Project Reserve Plan for Child-Friendly City Construction,” establishing a city-level project reserve to support future child-friendly developments. So far, over 60 renovation and activity center projects have been reserved, with the Kunming Children’s Hospital’s child-oriented redesign undergoing state-level validation.

Kunming is also setting examples with standout projects, such as the “Charming City Community Green Space” in Guandu District, transformed into a child-and-pet-friendly park, which has been added to a national list of replicable child-friendly urban spaces. Meanwhile, the Culture and Tourism Bureau continues its child-friendly library initiative, upgrading facilities like the Kunming Library, the Children’s Library, and the Anning City Library to create more welcoming spaces for young readers. Panlong District has tailored the VCpark Shopping Center as a child-friendly space, ensuring the child-first philosophy is both seen and felt.

In Xishan District, a unique “1681” model has emerged, emphasizing the fusion of child-friendly city goals with child development planning, the establishment of six child-friendly demonstration sites, the implementation of eight targeted programs, and a shared vision of “Child-Friendly West Mountain.” Comprehensive, region-wide collaboration is pushing child-friendly urban development forward.

Additionally, child-oriented transformations are spreading citywide. Districts are adapting to local conditions, with Wuhua District blending cultural exploration with heritage education to enrich the lives of children, and Guandu District establishing the city’s first child-friendly bank and a community children’s lounge. Chenggong District has introduced a “child-friendly walking bus,” while the Economic Development Zone has piloted child-friendly community initiatives. The Lucheng Yi and Miao Autonomous County is leveraging its ethnic and red-culture resources to launch a series of child-friendly educational tours.

As the concept of “child-friendliness” moves from theory to practice, Kunming aims to further focus on addressing children’s needs, advancing key services, expanding child-friendly spaces, enhancing child-centered services, and fostering participatory development. This ongoing effort will weave the “child-friendly” concept deeply into Kunming’s development, enhancing children’s sense of belonging, safety, and happiness, and making “child-friendliness” a defining characteristic of Spring City’s warmth.