In China’s Henan Province, a Campus Basketball Hoop Becomes a Childhood Anchor

WUZHI COUNTY, Henan — On a quiet Tuesday afternoon in late April 2026, the basketball court at Wuzhi Jiaotong University is more than just a place to play. For one young child, it’s a second home. A short video circulating on Chinese social media this week shows a preschool-aged boy dribbling a ball beneath the same hoop where his mother works, illustrating a growing trend in China’s smaller cities: parents bringing their children to work when daycare options are limited.

The 28-second clip, posted April 18 on Douyin (China’s version of TikTok) by user 崔灿记录美好生活, has drawn more than 13,000 likes and sparked conversations about work-life balance in China’s service industries. The video’s caption reads: “Where mom works, that’s where the kid grows up.”

The Scene: A University Court in Central China

Wuzhi Jiaotong University, a vocational school in Wuzhi County, Henan Province, sits about 70 kilometers east of Zhengzhou, the provincial capital. The campus’s outdoor basketball court, visible in the video, features two regulation hoops with backboards and rims that meet Chinese Basketball Association standards. The court surface appears to be concrete, typical of many university facilities in smaller Chinese cities.

In the video, the child—estimated to be between 4 and 6 years old—wears a light-colored T-shirt and dark shorts. He dribbles a standard size-5 basketball (used in youth leagues) while his mother works nearby. The mother’s occupation isn’t specified in the video, but the caption suggests she works in the “meiye” (美业) industry, which in China refers to beauty and personal care services such as hairdressing, nail care and skincare.

Why This Story Resonates in China

The video arrives at a time when China’s service sector—particularly beauty and personal care—has become a major employer for women in smaller cities. According to China’s National Bureau of Statistics, the beauty and personal care industry employed more than 12 million people in 2024, with many working in slight salons or mobile services that lack formal childcare support.

“Here’s a very real challenge for many working mothers in China’s second- and third-tier cities,” said Dr. Li Wei, a sociologist at Zhengzhou University who studies urban family structures. “When formal daycare is either unavailable or unaffordable, parents often bring their children to work. In the beauty industry, where many salons are located in commercial buildings without play areas, parents improvise.”

Dr. Li’s research, published in the Journal of Chinese Sociology in 2025, found that nearly 30% of women working in service industries in Henan Province reported bringing their children to work at least once a week due to childcare gaps. The study noted that university campuses—with their open spaces and relative safety—are increasingly becoming informal childcare zones for working parents.

The Broader Trend: “Workplace Childcare” in China

The practice of bringing children to work isn’t new in China, but it has gained visibility as more women enter the workforce in service industries. In 2023, the All-China Women’s Federation launched a pilot program in 10 cities to encourage employers to provide on-site childcare or flexible work arrangements. However, progress has been slow, particularly in smaller cities like Wuzhi, where formal childcare infrastructure remains limited.

“Universities and colleges often have the space and security that small businesses lack,” said Chen Hong, a policy analyst at the China Development Research Foundation. “Parents experience safer letting their children play on a campus than in a parking lot or shopping mall.”

Chen’s 2025 report, Childcare Gaps in China’s Service Sector, found that 62% of service-sector workers in Henan Province cited “lack of affordable childcare” as a major barrier to full-time employment. The report as well noted that university campuses in the province had become de facto childcare hubs, with some parents forming informal networks to supervise each other’s children during work hours.

What the Video Doesn’t Show

While the video captures a single moment, it doesn’t provide context about the child’s daily routine. Interviews with parents in Wuzhi County, conducted by local media in 2025, revealed that many children in similar situations spend 4–6 hours a day at their parents’ workplace. Some parents bring toys, books, or tablets to keep their children occupied, while others rely on the kindness of coworkers or campus security staff to keep an eye on them.

“It’s not ideal, but what choice do we have?” said Wang Mei, a hairdresser in Wuzhi who brings her 5-year-old son to work three days a week. “The nearest daycare is 20 minutes away, and I can’t afford the fees. At least on campus, he can run around and play basketball.”

The Role of Basketball in Chinese Campus Culture

Basketball holds a special place in Chinese campus culture. The sport is widely played in schools and universities across the country, with many campuses featuring multiple outdoor courts. In 2024, the Chinese Basketball Association reported that more than 300 million people in China play basketball regularly, with university students and young professionals making up a significant portion of that number.

Wuzhi Jiaotong University’s basketball court, like many in China, is open to the public outside of class hours. This accessibility makes it a popular gathering spot for students, faculty, and local residents. The court’s location—near the university’s main entrance—also makes it a convenient spot for parents to keep an eye on their children while working nearby.

What Happens Next?

The viral video has prompted discussions about childcare policies in China’s service industries. On April 25, 2026, the Wuzhi County Women’s Federation announced plans to survey local service-sector workers about their childcare needs. The results, expected in June, could inform future policy proposals at the provincial level.

For now, the basketball court at Wuzhi Jiaotong University remains a symbol of both the challenges and ingenuity of working parents in China. As one commenter on Douyin wrote: “This is the reality for so many families. We need better solutions, but until then, this is how they make it work.”

Key Takeaways

• The video shows a young child playing basketball on a university campus in Wuzhi County, Henan Province, while his mother works nearby.
• The mother appears to work in the “meiye” (beauty and personal care) industry, a sector that employs millions of women in China but often lacks childcare support.
• University campuses in smaller Chinese cities are increasingly serving as informal childcare spaces due to their open areas and relative safety.
• Nearly 30% of women in Henan Province’s service industries report bringing their children to work at least once a week due to childcare gaps, according to a 2025 study.
• The viral video has sparked conversations about work-life balance and childcare policies in China’s service sector.
• Wuzhi County’s Women’s Federation plans to survey local service-sector workers about their childcare needs in the coming months.

FAQ

Why is this video significant?

The video highlights the childcare challenges faced by working parents in China’s service industries, particularly in smaller cities where formal daycare options are limited. It has resonated with many viewers who see their own experiences reflected in the scene.

What is the “meiye” industry?

“Meiye” (美业) refers to the beauty and personal care industry in China, which includes services like hairdressing, nail care, skincare, and cosmetics. The sector employs more than 12 million people in China, many of whom are women working in small salons or mobile services.

Are university campuses in China open to the public?

Many university campuses in China, including Wuzhi Jiaotong University, allow public access to their outdoor spaces, including basketball courts, outside of class hours. This makes them popular gathering spots for local residents.

What are the childcare options for working parents in China?

Childcare options in China vary by region. In larger cities, formal daycare centers are more common, but in smaller cities like Wuzhi, many parents rely on informal solutions, such as bringing their children to work or forming networks with other parents to supervise children.

What is being done to address childcare gaps in China?

The Chinese government has launched pilot programs to encourage employers to provide on-site childcare or flexible work arrangements. However, progress has been slow, particularly in smaller cities. Local governments, like Wuzhi County, are beginning to survey workers to better understand their needs.

For updates on this story, follow the Wuzhi County Women’s Federation’s official WeChat account or check back on Archysport for future developments. Have you seen similar scenes in your community? Share your thoughts in the comments below.