At Dai Zhen Park in Tunxi district, Huangshan, children are seen having fun with the facilities designed for them, a vivid sign of the city's love for its youngest residents.
A portrait of Dai Zhen, who is a celebrated Qing-dynasty (1644-1911) scholar from Anhui province, is displayed at Dai Zhen Park. [Photo/Huangshan Daily]
These colorful hopscotch grids serve more than just entertainment. They are key components of Huangshan's efforts to enhance child-friendly environments, alongside cartoon murals on walls, street lamps shaped like storybook characters, and trash bins with playful faces.
Children play at the fitness camp nestled halfway up the park's hillside. [Photo/Huangshan Daily]
However, Huangshan's affection for children goes further. It encourages children to influence their environment. "Little city explorers" chart their ambitions for public areas, and kindergarten "councils" set rules for their classrooms. In this way, childhood is not only safeguarded but also made stronger.
It doesn't just preserve childhood but also reimagines it, creating space for both reminiscing about the past and making new memories. The city is constructing a timeless place for kids - a future where kindness equals joy.