China has launched a landmark new policy framework to advance the construction of youth-friendly cities, with the core goal of systematically cultivating an enabling environment that makes it easier for young people to establish roots, build careers and thrive in urban areas across the country.
Jointly released by 15 central-level government departments — including the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League of China, the Cyberspace Administration of China and the National Development and Reform Commission — the guideline lays out 18 targeted measures designed to make cities more inclusive and supportive of young residents. These initiatives span a wide range of critical areas, from industrial development and innovation support to urban planning, affordable housing, childcare access and employment assistance.
The policy sets out two clear phased targets for implementation. By 2030, the concept of youth-centered urban development is expected to gain widespread adoption across China, with tangible progress achieved in innovation support, quality of life for young people, green urban development and youth-inclusive governance. By 2035, a complete, mature institutional system for youth development will be fully established, aligned with China’s broader goal of basically completing the construction of modern, people-centered cities.
Among the key measures outlined, the guideline prioritizes strengthening industrial foundations to support youth innovation, upgrading support systems for young innovators, and expanding skills training opportunities for young people. It also puts a spotlight on youth-oriented urban planning, calling for the integration of young people’s needs into urban spatial design, the construction of compact, affordable dormitory-style apartments near major employment centers and public transit routes, and the promotion of “youth-friendly businesses” within 15-minute community living circles.
Additional policy focus is placed on addressing young people’s top practical concerns: marriage, childcare, housing and employment. Specific support measures include government-subsidized childcare services and after-school care programs, guaranteed access to compulsory education for children of migrant workers, and the expansion of “youth hostels” that offer free or low-cost short-term accommodation for new graduates seeking employment.
Central-southern China’s Hunan province has emerged as a pioneer in this national initiative. Back in April 2024, Shen Xiaoming, Party Secretary of Hunan, stated at a provincial work meeting that building a youth-friendly province is a strategic move that matters deeply to Hunan’s long-term development prospects. Since then, Shen has repeatedly extended open invitations to young talent from across the country, and provincial leading officials have led recruitment delegations to multiple regions across China to attract young skilled workers. A series of targeted policies have also been rolled out to support college students’ entrepreneurship and accelerate the aggregation of young talent in the province.
During this year’s annual Two Sessions, Shen highlighted Changsha, Hunan’s capital, as a model for youth-friendly development. He noted that Changsha boasts among the lowest housing prices and living costs of all provincial capitals in China, while its education and healthcare systems rank among the country’s highest. “Changsha is a unique presence in the world,” Shen said, adding that the city is ideally positioned to build a global R&D hub centered on young innovators.
Local government data shows that Changsha has already constructed 115,000 units of government-subsidized rental housing, of which more than 34,000 units have been specifically allocated to young talent, covering all urban districts and counties under the city’s administration.
One early beneficiary of the local youth support policies is He Xu, a computer science master’s graduate from Hunan University and founder of a technology startup based in Changsha. He credits his entrepreneurial success to the robust support system the province has built for young founders. His company received nearly 1 million yuan (approximately $146,500) in cloud computing subsidies, as well as one year of rent-free office space. This support allowed his team to claim 30 domestic awards in artificial intelligence competitions. By 2025, the company earned national high-tech enterprise certification, and participated in a provincial youth talent program that brought additional financial rewards.
Expressing gratitude for the support he has received, He has committed to giving back to Hunan’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem. He has launched a national AIGC competition to connect young emerging entrepreneurs with high-quality collaboration opportunities, and serves as an entrepreneurship mentor at Hunan University and other local higher education institutions, sharing his practical experience with aspiring young founders.
“In Hunan, as long as you dare to try, you will get a response,” He said, calling on young entrepreneurs across the country to pursue their career goals in the province. “We have incubators with real market orders, competition-driven business opportunities and mentors who never leave.”