This project supports Xianning’s move toward a more children-friendly city by focusing on what matters most in everyday life: safe, comfortable access to schools. For many families, the trip to school is the most frequent journey children make in public space, and the quality of that journey shapes safety, independence, health, and confidence. The work therefore concentrates on making school routes easier to walk, reducing conflict with traffic, and creating calmer, more predictable streets in the areas where children spend the most time.
The approach combined on-the-ground observation with engagement across relevant stakeholders to understand how children and caregivers actually move: where they cross, where they wait, which streets feel unsafe, and what barriers force risky choices. By grounding priorities in real movement patterns—rather than assumptions—the project identifies improvements that are both highly impactful and realistic to deliver, especially in the school environment where small changes can quickly improve daily safety and comfort.
Priority actions focus on the practical elements that shape school access: continuous and unobstructed sidewalks, safer crossing points on desire lines, better visibility and clearer priority at intersections, and traffic calming where speeds or turning movements create risk. Around school gates, recommendations address the common “pinch points” of congestion and informal stopping, with measures that make pick-up and drop-off safer while protecting the space children need to walk and gather. The aim is not only to reduce crashes and near-misses, but also to make walking to school feel normal, attractive, and dignified for children of different ages and abilities.
Beyond immediate safety, improved school access supports broader city goals: healthier travel habits, reduced reliance on short car trips, more vibrant streets, and stronger neighborhood cohesion. The actions outlined here are intended to work as a phased pathway—starting with quick wins and pilots around priority schools, then building toward standardized design treatments that can be replicated and scaled across Xianning’s wider school network. In this way, better school access becomes a practical entry point for creating safer, higher-quality public space for everyone.
Background
Xianning children friendly project started planning in 2021 and underwent conceptual design and detailed design, was implemented, and completed in 2022-2023, and replicated and promoted to other cities in Hubei Province in 2024.
It is the first children friendly street design technology that can be promoted and replicated in Hubei Province, including the governance around 7 schools, creating a stable and safe street based on children's needs, truly achieving low-carbon safety and high-quality travel environment, and truly achieving shared governance and joint construction.
According to the design concept of a children friendly street, improvement measures for governance around the school mainly include optimizing the traffic organization at intersections and adding non motor vehicle lanes; Improve pedestrian accessibility facilities; New parking areas for parents to pick up and drop off, pocket parks, and parents' waiting areas will be built to meet the collection and distribution needs of children and parents.
Children's participation activities such as problem maps and children's councils has be carried out in the Seventh Primary School Project, giving children the right to take ownership in urban planning, and exploring the establishment of a working mechanism between government departments and various types of children's participation organizations at all levels.
The expert team from Guangzhou Municipal Engineering Design and Research Institute (GMEDRI) and Far East Mobility (FEM) participates in and assists local departments throughout the process, including project planning, design, implementation, and post evaluation. They are also extending the experience to similar projects in other cities.
Work progress
Improvement of the surrounding areas of the Third Primary School, Jiaotong Kindergarten, and Fifth Primary School
Project Video
Nov-Dec 2021 Survey and communication, complete the preliminary plan.
On November 23, 2021, the expert team conducted on-site visits to the Third Primary School, Jiaotong Road Kindergarten, and Fifth Primary School to communicate with school leaders, understand the basic situation and problems of the school, and identify existing problems in the school.
Jan 2022 Communicate improvement plans with the school and report to the mayor.
On January 12, 2022, the technical team exchanged views with the principals of three schools on improving slow traffic around the school.
The technical team communicated and discussed the improvement plan with the principal of Guolin Road Primary School and the principal of Jiaotong Road Kindergarten, 12 Jan 2022
The technical team reported the school improvement plan to Mayor Wu Gang, 14 Jan 2022
Feb-June 2022 Improvement plan, detail design
July to Dec 2022 Survey and post evaluation
The Third Primary School, Jiaotong Road Kindergarten, and Fifth Primary School projects in Xianning City will be implemented during the summer vacation of students from July to August 2022, and the construction will be completed by the end of August.
Comparative photos before and after reconstruction, Xianning Third Primary School (Guolin Road Primary School)
Xianning High School Sports Park (Osmanthus Square) Design scheme
FEM technical team conducted on-site research in March 2021 and assisted the design unit and local departments in conceptual design in Oct 2022
The project is currently under construction, and the technical team plans to conduct post evaluation work after the completion of construction.
Improvement Plan for the Surrounding Area of Xianning Nanmen Primary School
From Nov to Dec 2022, the technical team conducted on-site research, communicated with the school on the improvement planning plan, and assisted in planning the seventh primary school student participation activities and school bus routes plan.
Xianning Seventh Primary School "Student participation and joint creation" activity and Improvement Plan for the Surrounding Area
Nov- Dec 2022 Survey and communication, planning student participation activities and school bus routes.
The technical team conducted on-site research, communicated with the school on the improvement planning plan, and assisted in planning the seventh primary school student participation activities and school bus routes plan.
Feb- April 2023 Organize and finish "student participation and joint creation" activities.
In the joint creation activities of the Seventh Primary School, the technical team adhered to the "1-meter height" perspective, advocating that children participate in graffiti and beautification activities such as street design and renovation, walls, and plants, and establishing a full process and long-term mechanism for children's needs from expression to implementation.
Co-building Garden Workshop (February 16th)
Students use their imagination to draw creative works for co constructing gardens, including painting and kneading colored clay. The technical team integrates the students' creativity into the specific design.
The Seventh Primary School co-building garden workshop and student creative works, 16 Dec 2022
Work with students to draw problem maps and plan school bus routes (February 17th)
The technical team introduces advanced practices at home and abroad and leads students to raise questions or improve suggestions on the current path; Select the pedestrian bus route with the largest student flow for on-site investigation.
Workshop on hidden danger screening activities around the school,17 Dec 2022
Work with students to design landscape walls, pavement graffiti, and wall railing patterns (February 22nd)
The technical team introduced advanced cases and guided students to draw plans, including school landscape walls, ground graffiti, and wall railing patterns. Vice Mayor Wu participated in the activity.
School landscape wall and railing design activities, with the participation of the Vice Mayor Wu, 22 Dec 2022
Organize a plastic bottle recycling garden party and work with students to complete the creative landscape wall of "Protecting the Earth.” (April 14th)
Plastic bottle recycling and environmental promotion activities, 14 April 2023
Government staff, expert team, and students jointly create the creative landscape wall of "Protecting the Earth",14 April 2023
April - July 2023 Project construction and completion
The project improved the campus exit and surrounding traffic organization, including dismantling the wall 70 meters, setting up covered corridors, setting up two distribution areas, set up parking areas for motor vehicles and electric vehicles, and set up 5 school walking bus stops.
Campus and surrounding renovation plan layout
Planning for school walking bus route and stops.
Remove the school exit wall and increase the business on the first floor of the building
New wind and rain gallery and co-built garden
Campus surrounding landscaping
Main achievements
Improvement Plan for Campus Surroundings-Guolin Road Primary School
Improvement Plan for Campus Surroundings-Jiaotong Road Kindergarten
Evaluation Report on the Improvement of Children Friendly School Surroundings
Xianning High School Sports Park (Osmanthus Square) Design scheme
Design Scheme for Landscape Transformation and Improvement of the School Path of Xianning Seventh Primary School
Communication and Social Impact
On May 20th 2022, the Xianning City Urban Management and Law Enforcement Commission officially started the renovation project for traffic management points in the central urban area. The implementation content was introduced to the public through the media. The relevant person in charge of Xianning City Urban Management and Law Enforcement Commission explained that the implementation goal of this project is to solve the problem of traffic congestion, meet the needs of the general public for safe, fast, and high-quality travel, and provide all citizens with a smoother travel environment and a beautiful living environment.
In October 2022, the Xianning City Urban Management and Law Enforcement Commission introduced the implementation effect of the project through the media, referring to advanced experience and practices in cities such as Guangzhou and Shenzhen, fully considering the actual situation of Xianning urban area, in accordance with the new concept of "people-oriented, slow traffic priority, fine design, intelligent governance, and efficient management and control", combined with new technologies such as holographic intersection, digital twins, and vehicle road coordination, without new land acquisition, through micro transformation of transportation facilities Take measures such as traffic organization microcirculation to tap the potential of road traffic and alleviate congestion with less investment and faster speed.
Breaking Through Blockages and Making Road Traffic Smooth, Hubei Daily, 27 Oct27 2022
https://news.hubeidaily.net/hubeidailyshare/#/news_detail?contentType=5&contentId=1128059&cId=0&tencentShare=1
In October 2022, multiple media reported that in order to create a child friendly community and protect the safety of children going to and from school, Xianning carried out the improvement and transformation of child friendly traffic management and safety around five schools, making it the first replicable child friendly street design technology promotion and application in Hubei Province.
Special report on the implementation of the child friendly project, Xianning Radio and TV official account, 21 Oct 2022
Special report on the activities of the Seventh Primary School, "Student participation and joint creation", Xianning City Management Command Center WeChat video, 10 March 2023
Primary school students participate in the renovation design, my campus I make the decision - Xianning jointly create a child-friendly school, Hubei Daily, 9 June 2023
Public comments below the project promotional video, June 2023
The video "How to Build a Child-friendly School Road" introduces in detail how to make the school road at the gate of Xianning No. 7 Primary School "safe and interesting" by introducing the concepts of co-creation, environmental protection and low carbon and involving primary school students in the design. The video caught the attention of UN-Habitat after it was shown at its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya，15 June 2023
It has played a positive role in reducing the gap between the rich and the poor, reflecting social equity, caring for children and vulnerable groups, building a low-carbon and livable environment, allowing women, children and the elderly to enjoy high-quality public space, encouraging children's healthy growth and enhancing their sense of responsibility, and actively participating in various departments and interest groups in the city.
The video caught the attention of UN-Habitat after it was shown at its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya，15 June 2023
On October 25, 2023, UN-Habitat Interregional Affairs Adviser Dyfed Aubrey came to Xianning to carry out cooperation and exchanges, observe the child friendship project of Xianning No. 7 Primary School, and interact with teachers and students of the school.
Asian Development Bank Transport officials visit, 8 April 2024
On November 20, the "World Children's Day" initiated by UNICEF, Xianning was invited to participate in the UNICEF Light Up the City Day activity, lighting up the blue light symbolizing child friendliness for children in Danfeng Bridge.
Xianning won the 6th Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation
On December 7, 2023, Xianning City won the 6th International Urban Innovation Award jointly organized by the World Metropolitan Association, the World Cities and Local Government Organization, and the Guangzhou Municipal Government, and was the only city in China to win the award.
15 cities from around the world were shortlisted, 15 September 2023
Xianning won the award for its child-friendly practices, 7 December 2023
Summary and benefit analysis of child-friendly practices in Xianning
Guidance for children friendly action of street review in Hubei Province
Under the guidance of promoting the concept of promoting social governance and social capacity modernization with a better environment and a happy life, and considering the current situation of traffic safety, environment and facility shortcomings around urban primary and secondary schools, the Hubei Provincial Department of Housing and Construction combined the work of district renewal and child-friendly and growing-space friendly work deployment. The guidelines for District Renewal in Hubei Province - Working Together with Tong Walk (Campus Environment Renewal and Renovation) are issued to create a safe, green, comfortable and quality transportation environment for children, especially on school routes.
FEM experts assisted the Government in preparing this guidance.
Hubei Province children friendly action Guidance content(draft), August 2024
Attachment 1: Relevant Reports and Work Achievements
Xianning Sustainable Transport Project- Improvement Plan for Campus Surroundings-CN-2022.01
Xianning Sustainable Transport Project- Improvement Design for Campus Surroundings-Guolin Road Primary School -CN-2022.02
Xianning Sustainable Transport Project- Improvement Design for Campus Surroundings-Jiaotong Road Kindergarten-CN-2022.02
Proposal for Traffic Congestion Management and Child Friendly Construction of Xianning Seventh Primary School-CN-2022.11
Xianning High School Sports Park (Osmanthus Square) Design scheme-CN-2022.12
Evaluation Report on the Improvement of Xianning Children Friendly School Surroundings -CN-2023.01
Xianning Seventh Primary School Student participation activity problem map and site visit-CN-2023.02
Design Scheme for Landscape Transformation and Improvement of the School Path of Xianning Seventh Primary School-CN-2023.03
Project brochure-CN-2023.06
Before-and-after photos of the Xianning No. 7 Primary School child friendly project-EN-2023.08
Descriptive material for Xianning project-EN-2023.08
Presentation material in Guangzhou Award Final Seminar-EN-2023.11.07
Guidance for children friendly action of street review in Hubei Province(Draft)-CN-2024.08
Attachment 2: News link about Xianning child friendly project
Project promotion and social impact
Xianning innovated the construction of the first child-friendly school
2023-6-5 Xianning Daily
Primary school students participate in the renovation design, my campus I make the decision - Xianning jointly create a child-friendly school
2023-6-9 Hubei Daily
The United Nations recommends this primary school in Xianning
2023-8-4 WeChat official account of Hubei Provincial Housing and Construction Department
Yang Jun (Mayor) and United Nations Human Settlements Programmer’s Regional Affairs Advisor, Dyfed Aubrey, have a discussion on actively promoting urban sustainable development cooperation
2023-10-25 Xianning Daily
Officials from the United Nations Human Settlements Programmer come to Xianning for cooperation and exchange
2023-10-26 Hubei Daily
The Enlightenment of Xianning's Experience on the Governance of Small and Medium sized Cities
2023-12-14 Hubei Daily
Focusing on the "one-meter perspective" to build a better home - Hubei further promotes the construction of child-friendly cities
2024-6-1 Hubei Daily
The power of short video Hubei Daily fusion report "Xianning child friendly project" fission effect
2024-6-4 Hubei Daily
https://news.hubeidaily.net/pc/c_2708016.html
Xianning entered 15 shortlisted cities and finally won the 6th Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation
15 cities worldwide are shortlisted! The preliminary evaluation results of the 6th Guangzhou Awards have been released
2023-9-14 Guangzhou Foreign Affairs Office
The 15 Shortlisted Cities of the 6th Guangzhou Award Released
2023-9-14 Guangzhou International Award Organizing Committee
Because of this project, Xianning has become the only selected city in China!
2023-9-15 Xianning Daily
Xianning, the only selected city in China!
2023-9-15 Xianning News Network
The only selected city in China, come and vote for Xianning!
2023-11-1 Xianning Daily
China's only finalist! Showcasing the image of Xianning city to the world
2023-11-7 Xianning Television Station
Vice Mayor Li Li participates in the final evaluation and defense of the shortlisted cities for the Guangzhou Award, showcasing the image of Xianning to the world
2023-11-7 Xianning Television Station
http://xianning.cjyun.org/p/252502.html
The first and second shortlisted city defense meetings of the 6th Guangzhou Awards were successfully held
2023-11-8 Guangzhou Foreign Affairs Office
The first finalists of the 6th Guangzhou Award Seminar: "Leadership" makes cities more resilient
2023-11-9 21st Century Business Herald
Innovation makes the city better! The 6th Guangzhou Award shortlisted city Seminar was successfully concluded
2023-11-13 Guangzhou Daily
Give full play to the influence of the Guangzhou Award as a "beacon" of urban innovation, and promote common exchanges and cooperation among global cities
2023-12-7 21st Century Business Herald
Congratulations! Five global cities, including Xianning in China, won the 6th Guangzhou Award
2023-12-8 Guangzhou Foreign Affairs Office
"1-meter Perspective" More Exciting - Observation on Promoting the Construction of Children Friendly Blocks in Xianning, Hubei Province
2023-12-8 China Xinhua News Agency
The 2023 Global Mayors Forum held a sub forum on "Green and Beautiful Cities and Beautiful Houses"
2023-12-9 Guangzhou Foreign Affairs Office
The Child-Friendly Traffic Management Optimization project warms the heart
2023-12-10 Hubei Daily
Let People Live Poetically in the City - Why Xianning Won the "Guangzhou Award"
2023-12-12 Xianning City Propaganda Department
Why and How "Small Projects" Take to the International Stage
2023-12-13 Changjiang Daily
How did Xianning win the Guangzhou Award
2023-12-13 Xianning Television Station