Guiyang builds youth-friendly city to better serve talent

Since being selected in 2022 as one of China's first pilot cities for youth-oriented urban development, Guiyang has rolled out a series of policies and programs aimed at making the city more welcoming to young people while encouraging them to contribute to local growth.

Ahead of China's Youth Day, the 2026 Guiyang City-Guian New Area Youth Public Lecture was held at Guizhou Vocational University of Transportation, where young speakers from different industries shared stories of dedication and innovation.

"The stories shared by young people our age were truly inspiring," said Wang Linshuo, secretary of the Youth League Committee of Guiyang Public Transport Investment and Operation Group. "It made me realize that responsibility is reflected in every task we complete and every small contribution we make to the city."

To better meet the needs of young residents, Guiyang and Guian have expanded their youth-focused services in areas such as culture, housing and employment. By 2025, the city had established 52 night schools for young people offering courses ranging from dance and yoga to traditional crafts, photography and music, benefiting more than 23,000 participants.

The city has also introduced supportive housing programs for young talent. In Guanshanhu district, dedicated apartments provide furnished rooms at rents capped below market prices, easing financial pressure on graduates and young professionals.

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25), Guiyang created more than 785,000 job opportunities for college graduates and attracted 570,000 graduates to work and start businesses in the city, with over 100,000 choosing to settle there each year for five consecutive years.