Two teachers play with children at a childcare center in Guazhou county, Gansu province. [Photo/Gansu Daily]

Gansu province has rolled out a systematic package of policies to ease the financial and caregiving burdens of raising children — from direct childcare subsidies to accessible daycare services — turning the vision of easier, better-supported parenthood into reality.

In September 2025, Gansu introduced its implementation plan for the childcare subsidy system. Families with children born on or after Jan 1, 2025, and registered as Gansu residents, are eligible for an annual payment of 3,600 yuan per child — regardless of whether it's the first, second, or third child — until the child turns three.

As of Feb 2026, over 2.46 billion yuan ($355 million) in subsidies have been distributed, benefiting more than 770,600 families across the province.

To tackle the shortage and the high cost of childcare, Gansu is accelerating the development of an affordable, high-quality daycare network serving both urban and rural communities.

In Guazhou county, the Beileyou Public Welfare Childcare Center — a community-based facility — offers 90 slots at rates 20 percent below the market average. It also reserves 15 free placements a year for families in need.

Jinchang city has taken a systematic approach, training over 120 childcare graduates and more than 300 infant caregivers through targeted education programs and training subsidies.

Beyond direct subsidies and daycare expansion, Gansu has also strengthened fertility support through social insurance. In 2025, 12 assisted reproductive technologies were added to the coverage list of basic medical insurance and work‑related injury insurance, further reducing out-of-pocket costs for families.