Targeted family support policies in Hubei Province, central China, are beginning to reverse declining birth trends, starting at the grassroots level.
 

In Pengshi town, under Tianmen city, local authorities reported a 24 percent year-on-year increase in newborns in 2025. This surge represents a rare upward trend within the province and across the country, reflecting the direct impact of localized childbirth support initiatives. Since 2024, Tianmen has rolled out a comprehensive package for families having a second or third child, including one-time birth rewards, medical subsidies, childcare allowances and housing purchase vouchers.

With these measures in place, Tianmen's birth rate rose by 17 percent in 2024 and continued to grow in 2025. Pengshi Town serves as a vivid example of how sustained public investment in childcare and family services can help rebuild confidence in starting and raising a family. (Photos via VCG)