Ningbo expands child-friendly urban design

Ningbo Children's Library. [Photo/Yongpai app]

Ningbo is redesigning parts of city life around children's everyday experiences, from the routes they take to school to the public spaces and services they use in their neighborhoods.

In this eastern Chinese port city, the idea of "one-meter height" — imagining the city from a child's eye level — has moved from abstract planning to visible change. Since joining a national pilot program for child-friendly cities in 2023, Ningbo has been exploring how urban spaces can better reflect how children move, see, and interact with their surroundings.

In Yinzhou district, a school route near Huifeng Academy has been redesigned to make the walk to class more engaging. Small cultural installations and reading corners have been added along the way, turning an ordinary sidewalk into an interactive daily path for students.

Elsewhere in the city, "Ning Energy Stations" have appeared in neighborhoods, shopping areas, and rural villages. These compact public facilities offer basic family services such as nursing rooms and play areas, adding child-friendly features to existing spaces instead of requiring separate new buildings.

Ningbo has also expanded access to childcare through kindergartens and community-based services, adding capacity to support working families. At the same time, a citywide network of children's libraries and reading spaces has made books and digital learning tools more widely available across districts.

In some communities, children are now invited to take part in discussions about public space. Through informal "children's groups", they share feedback on playgrounds, streets, and neighborhood facilities, some of which is incorporated into local improvements.

Support systems for vulnerable children have also been strengthened, with higher welfare standards and broader coverage for those in need.