Hohhot builds child-friendly city with innovative learning spaces

Hohhot, capital of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in north China, has been building itself into a child-friendly city since the Friendly Cities Initiative was written into the country's Outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan in 2021.

In Hohhot's Saihan District Experimental Kindergarten, all facilities are built based on a “one-meter-high viewing angle,” which is the angle of kids.

In addition, the school introduced innovative teaching modules that will be decided by students and teachers together, and have been inviting children to help distribute meal with carts and spoons that fit their size, and design their own safety signs, slogans, and mascots.

Outside the school, Hohhot also provides varied sites and venues for children to learn and play.

At the Laoniu children's discovery museum, children are welcomed to explore society and the world, while parents are also invited to learn how to guide and communicate with their kids.

"We are offering two leaflets, one for children and one for parents. We encourage parents to participate more to guide kids on how to play and experience. So, the discovery museum is not only to accompany kids to grow, but also expecting parents to learn," said Wang Kun, a teacher at the discovery museum.

These are all parts of the city's efforts to build a child-friendly city, and to better understand children's world and listen to their voices.

"We have established a mechanism that involves over 30 departments, aiming to make the city's decision-makers practice the child-friendly concept, and incorporate the concept into the daily work of all departments and all aspects of society. By upgrading medical and health care, education, children's rights protection services, and more, the government has been ensuring kids grow up in good health, confidence, and happiness," said Ider, director of the Hohhot Development and Reform Commission.

And this is only a part of the nation-wide endeavor to offer inclusive childcare service. And currently, China has over 100,000 childcare agencies, being able to enroll around 4.8 million children.

Hohhot builds child-friendly city with innovative learning spaces

Various fun activities have been launched in parts of east China's Zhejiang and Fujian Provinces in the run-up to the Spring Festival holiday season.

At the Wen'er food bazaar in Hangzhou City of Zhejiang, a distinctive exhibition showcasing paper-cutting, an intangible cultural heritage, draw a large crowd. In addition to shopping for groceries, visitors could also join in paper-cutting classes, drink coffee, and watch exhibitions.

"Today, I made a paper-cut and a paper-carving artwork, featuring the 'Fu' character, to bring good fortune to my home," said Ge Yingyin, a young girl.

Apart from such lively interactions among locals, an exhibition at the market displays over 50 classic fine-grained paper-cutting artworks, which offers the visitors an opportunity to appreciate the charm of intangible cultural heritage up close.

"The market here is full of life, [where intangible cultural heritage items can find their niche]. China's intangible cultural heritage is never divorced from life, but more integrated into the daily life of ordinary people," said Wan Qianyun, a local resident.

Hua'an in Zhangzhou City of Fujian, once a small fishing village, has now transformed into a popular tourist destination. With its rich fishing resources, the county has developed festive activities such as fish banquets and tours to its traditional earthen buildings, attracting flocks of tourists.

As the Spring Festival approaches, Hua'an has also organized events such as a New Year market, a half-marathon and a spinning top competition, all aimed at boosting its tourism industry by leveraging its distinctive culture and agricultural products.

"The Jiulong River is abundant in aquatic products, and many tourists come here to savor those delicacies. Guanshe has 127 guesthouses with a total of 224 beds, and 60 percent of them are pre-booked for the Spring Festival holiday," said Lan Gengyuan, an official of the Guanshe Village of Hua'an.

Zhejiang, Fujian launch cultural activities in run-up to Spring Festival