What is Children’s Day (儿童节) in China?

Children’s Day is a widely observed holiday in China, but its meaning and traditions aren’t always well understood.

In this article, we are going to explore common celebratory practices in China for Children’s Day and briefly discuss its history.

What is Children’s Day?

Children's Day, or 儿童节 (értóng jié) in Chinese, is an international day dedicated to celebrating children and promoting their rights.

The date varies by country. While the United Nations celebrates World Children's Day on November 20, many countries including China celebrate it on June 1st.

The origins of Children's Day trace back to the United States in 1857, when Reverend Dr. Charles Leonard, pastor of the Universalist Church of the Redeemer in Chelsea, Massachusetts, dedicated a church service to children. 

It gained international recognition in 1925 when the World Conference on Child Welfare in Geneva officially established June 1st as International Children's Day.

History of Children’s Day in China

Children's Day was first officially established in China after the People's Republic of China was founded in 1949. The State Council designated June 1st as a half-day holiday for all primary schools, which was later expanded to a full-day holiday in 1956.

From receiving small gifts to participating in colorful school events, children across the country celebrate Children’s Day on June 1st with appreciation and fun activities.

How is Children’s Day celebrated in China today?

Children's Day is celebrated for children up to the age of 14. For many children in China, the day is all about feeling happy and appreciated, and at its core, it's an opportunity to promote family values and togetherness.

With a day off from school, children usually spend time with their families, where they're often given small gifts and enjoy leisure activities together. Schools sometimes organize special activities, performances, or field trips to celebrate the occasion. 

Many businesses offer discounts on food, toys, and movie tickets, while some public attractions, zoos, and parks provide free entry for children on Children's Day, along with discounts for their accompanying parents.

A day for children, or another capitalist holiday?

There are no strict traditions associated with Children's Day in China, so it mainly revolves around parents expressing affection to their children via gifts or taking them out for food (often a fast-food restaurant).

However, many brands have caught on to the holiday’s marketing potential and leveraged it to sell additional products at discounted prices, usually by releasing a special product line just for Children's Day. 

Over the years, several luxury brands such as Hermès, Burberry, and Ralph Lauren have launched campaigns on WeChat in order to promote their children's wear for this holiday. Many of these brands even hold events in their local stores where parents can bring their children to spend a day engaged in activities like painting and drawing.

Other brands such as Dior have gone so far as inviting child stars from the popular reality TV show "Where Are We Going, Dad?" (爸爸去哪儿; bàba qù nǎ'er) to feature and promote their children's collection during their holiday campaign. 

Fast food branches such as KFC usually also launch limited edition toys for their children's meals in celebration of Children's Day.

Parents often take their children out for food or toys as a means to celebrate the day.

China’s future without children 

The nuclear family plays an integral role within Chinese culture and is considered the core of a healthy society. 

However, China's Children's Day indirectly sheds light on China's declining birth rate. After reaching a record-low birth rate in 2021, China’s population continued to decline into 2024 as births remained below deaths. 

After decades of strictly enforcing the one-child policy, the Chinese government announced in May 2021 that couples can now have three children. It is evident that the Chinese government is trying hard to avoid the economic risks that come with a rapidly aging population, but for many couples, the high cost of urban living and a competitive, high-stress work culture is a very real deterrent to having even one child.

Perhaps this dip is just a temporary trend, or maybe it’s a new cultural movement that will only continue to accelerate.

Despite the change in family planning policy, China continues to face declining birth rates with a growing aging population.

Consider coming to China this June to experience Children’s Day festivities for yourself. We invite you to sign up for a free trial class today and start your Chinese learning journey with CLI!

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