Zhang Yu

JeniZhang13@163.com

WITH dazzling art installations, lively exhibition areas for education, entertainment, sports, services, and products, along with an array of child-friendly projects, the first Child Friendly Expo has become a venue for parents, children, and other visitors to joyously explore and discover.

Themed “City & Children,” the three-day expo opened at Hall 2 of the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center in Futian District on Thursday with plenty of attractions for visitors.

The expo features six areas displaying nearly 100 exemplary cases from both domestic and international sources on the subject of building child-friendly cities. A total of 35 interactive activities are lined up for children to enjoy.

Meanwhile, 25 quality projects from 22 child-friendly social organizations are on display. These projects underscore the city’s focus on the well-being of children, especially those facing disadvantages or with special needs, covering aspects like physical and mental health, rights protection, academic support, and more.

Designers have embraced eco-friendly practices, using environmentally conscious materials and integrating low-carbon concepts to craft spaces specifically designed with children in mind.

“The expo is great. It makes child-friendly services and products visible to the general public,” a Pakistani visitor named Mohammed Abbas told Shenzhen Daily at the expo Thursday.

According to Abbas, Shenzhen is a veritable child-friendly city with over 1,000 parks and various kinds of spaces and facilities for children’s activities and nature education.

The Children’s Mobile Library, launched by Longhua District Women and Children’s Work Committee, has made a stop at the expo. Transformed from a coach, the library offers diverse sections, including recommended children’s books, children’s literature, family education, popular science, and nature science books.

According to a library staffer, since the library was put into use in 2020, service points have been set up in eight communities and 16 schools in Longhua to provide quality children’s reading resources for students.

The expo is the first large-scale public welfare and industrial event initiated by the Shenzhen Women’s Federation that underscores child-friendly practices.