Quzhou in Zhejiang province is actively working towards creating a more child-friendly urban environment, having achieved significant milestones in this endeavor, as announced during a news conference on Jan 31.

Authorities have formulated guidelines for evaluating child-friendly initiatives, mandating the inclusion of facilities such as children's sports amenities, playgrounds, walking paths, and dedicated sanitary facilities in urban planning regulations.

Quzhou has embraced and officially incporporated the concept of the "one-meter height" children's perspective into urban planning and construction. Efforts are underway to enhance the accessibility and child-friendly nature of neighborhoods, roads, parks, green spaces, waterfront areas, and public buildings.

In a bid to involve children in urban planning and construction, authorities have established a children's observation platform at the Quzhou Urban Exhibition Hall. A children's observation group was formed to conduct a themed activity, resulting in the collection of valuable opinions and suggestions from over a hundred children.

Special funds have been allocated for children-related projects, with Quzhou securing a total of 24.36 million yuan ($3.4 million) in central budget investment for 20 projects since 2020. Additionally, 28 child-friendly projects have received 986 million yuan in local government special bonds.

The local government has defined seven child-friendly characteristic indicators and regularly conducts urban physical examinations. They have also initiated targeted child-friendly renovation projects for 133 facilities, all with the aim of providing children with a higher quality living environment.

Furthermore, the government has repurposed idle houses within communities into venues to expand children's activity space, resulting in the establishment of 122 such venues.