Volunteers donate blood on a blood donation vehicle in Fuyang, east China's Anhui Province, June 13, 2025. /VCG
In May, 22-year-old Dong Jun chose to mark the end of his university journey with a meaningful act of service: donating blood. As he prepares to graduate from Beijing Jiaotong University's School of Mechanical, Electronic and Control Engineering in June, Dong saw this as a way to give back.
"Blood can't be artificially manufactured. Hospitals rely primarily on public donations," Dong explained.
"Since I'm leaving campus soon, I wanted to contribute something to my university community. Donating blood makes me feel like I've done a small, but significant thing for society," he added.
This wasn't Dong's first time giving blood voluntarily; his initial donation occurred when he was 18 years old.
Dong's donation was part of a recent campaign launched by Beijing Jiaotong University in response to mounting pressure on the blood supply reported by the Beijing Red Cross Blood Center. The initiative specifically encouraged graduating students and faculty members to participate.
Among the volunteers answering the call was Li Zhaoyi, a counselor at the School of Electronic and Information Engineering, who was donating for the second time.
Li's motivation stemmed from a personal experience: witnessing one of his family receive a life-saving transfusion during an illness. That moment profoundly illustrated how the kindness of strangers can make a critical difference.
"Being able to help others brings me real happiness," Li shared. Inspired by this realization, he has taken his commitment a step further by registering as a volunteer hematopoietic stem cell donor, hoping to offer the same life-saving potential to others in desperate need.
Citizens donate blood on a blood donation vehicle, in Huzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, June 13, 2025. /VCG
Policy support in China
The 21st World Blood Donor Day is observed on Saturday. As the day came close, people across China have been rolling up their sleeves to donate blood, answering the call for voluntary donations.
In recent years, global voluntary blood donation has shown a declining trend. China saw record highs of blood donations in 2023, according to the National Health Commission (NHC). However, in 2024, the national voluntary blood donation volume in China decreased compared to the previous year. Experts highlighted the combined effects of an accelerating aging population, changing lifestyles, and challenges in public awareness campaigns.
Since the Blood Donation Law of the People's Republic of China came into effect in 1998, China has established a fully voluntary, non-remunerated blood donation system. Donors receive no financial compensation, and all costs related to blood collection, testing and processing are covered by the government to ensure safety and ethical integrity.
In China, donors who meet certain cumulative thresholds are entitled to lifetime free access to the equivalent volume of blood products. Their immediate family members also benefit from cost reductions during clinical treatments. In non-emergency situations, blood donors and their families receive priority access to blood supply.
Local governments have also rolled out the so-called "Three Exemptions" policy, under which award-winning donors are granted free access to public transportation, free admission to government-funded parks, and exemption from general outpatient consultation fees at public hospitals. Other regions are piloting creative incentives, ranging from free health screenings and insurance packages to point-based systems that allow donors to exchange credits for commemorative gifts or services.
Is blood donation safe?
Despite increased public awareness, misconceptions about blood donation still persist. Some fear it might weaken the body or cause long-term health effects. Experts reassure that for healthy adults, donating blood is safe. China's current standard allows individuals to donate 200 to 400 milliliters per session, with at least six months between donations.
Hou Ruiqin, associate director of the transfusion department at Peking University People's Hospital, explained in an interview with China Media Group that such volumes account for only five to 10 percent of the body's total blood and do not affect daily health.
"With proper hydration, blood volume typically recovers within one to two hours after donation," said Hou. "Donation stimulates blood regeneration. Red blood cells and hemoglobin usually return to normal within a week to 10 days, while white cells and platelets renew within about seven days."
China has a blood donation rate of 11.4 per 1,000 people, the NHC revealed at a recent press conference. Meanwhile, a range of measures to ensure a safe blood supply has been introduced to boost voluntary blood donation.