Child-friendly spaces brighten Chaoyang

She often emphasizes designing cities from a child's "1-meter-high perspective", seeing urban spaces through their eyes and encouraging their participation in sustainable community development.

That philosophy is reflected in the Yumeng Chaoyang child-friendly space, a former unused community building that Li helped transform into a multifunctional activity center for children.

The venue features padded floors, child-sized furniture, graffiti walls, storage rooms and a photography studio. It also includes a "caring mom" zone designed for children who are frequently left unattended.

Every weekend, the center hosts a children's secondhand market where children exchange picture books, trade dolls, and swap small items for vegetables and daily necessities.

Over the past two years, Li's team has organized more than 300 public welfare events for women and children, attracting over 100,000 participants. Through safety and aesthetic education courses, the project has significantly enhanced children's overall development.

Li's vision aligns with recent national guidelines to build a child-friendly society, which aim to create environments that positively impact children's perceptions and facilitate healthy and happy growth.

However, Li is keenly aware of the challenges. "My design is often limited by space or resources. I expect the wider public participation and the area's sustainable use, and I will constantly continue my efforts," she said.