Bailuzhou Park

Wenzhou's Bailuzhou Park has been highlighted as a national model in the second batch of replicable best practices for child-friendly urban spaces, jointly released by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development (MOHURD), the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), and the Office of the National Working Committee on Children and Women (NWCCW). This marks the second time Wenzhou's approach has received nationwide recognition, following Bantang Park's inclusion in the first batch.

Located by the Nantang River, Bailuzhou Park exemplifies a core principle: “Child-friendliness isn't mere addition; it's spatial transformation.” Guided by the ethos of “precisely activating spatial value,” the park has woven a “child-height-friendly network” throughout its green spaces. A fully accessible recreational loop connects multi-functional women-children service stations, child-friendly restrooms, and cultural landmarks like the Wenzhou Native Mathematicians Memorial Hall and the Family Traditions Museum. This seamless integration allows children to absorb culture while playing.

Key spatial transformations include: a “Forest Adventure Park” crafted from wood, bamboo, and gravel within existing camphor groves; a “Dragon Boat Theme Park” integrating Wenzhou's millennia-old dragon boat culture into interactive play; revitalized vacant plots now featuring a sand-and-water play garden and safe zones for toddlers, a low-cost metamorphosis from overlooked corners into vibrant hubs for all ages.

Bailuzhou Park's success epitomizes Wenzhou's systematic advancement of child-friendly city initiatives. The Municipal Housing and Urban-Rural Development Bureau (MOHURD Wenzhou) has rigorously implemented municipal directives, adhering to core principles of “child priority, universal access, open innovation, and distinctive character.” This drives the integration of child-friendly concepts into the city's urban fabric.

Robust policy frameworks underpin this effort. MOHURD Wenzhou spearheaded the development of key standards, including: Wenzhou Child-Friendly Urban Facility Design Guide (the Design Guide); Wenzhou Child-Friendly Park Design Guide and Evaluation System; Case Studies on Child-Adapted Renovation of Old Residential Communities; Design Guide for Child-Adapted Renovation of Wenzhou's Historic and Cultural Districts. These documents provide comprehensive policy and technical guidance. Notably, the Design Guide was selected as a national best practice.

Spatial upgrades leverage broader urban renewal programs like urban-rural landscape enhancement, old neighborhood renovation, future community development, and “Beautiful Town” initiatives. By systematically repurposing underutilized facilities and spaces, Wenzhou is creating high-quality child-friendly environments—including communities, blocks, and parks—integrated with childcare, education, healthcare, culture, and sports services.

Today, safe, livable, and engaging spaces for children are increasingly visible across Wenzhou, transforming the child-friendly concept into a tangible urban reality. Statistics show 37 child-friendly parks have been completed, with renovations underway for a fourth batch of five, steadily expanding coverage.

MOHURD Wenzhou emphasizes that Bailuzhou Park's core lesson is embedding children's genuine needs into urban renewal. The bureau pledges to deepen this commitment, refining policies and exploring innovative approaches for child-adapted development. Leveraging child-friendliness as a “small fulcrum”, Wenzhou aims to achieve significant improvements in urban quality and high-quality development, making it a defining feature of the city.