Kunming launched its 2026 autumn break youth outdoor practice series on November 13, transforming the Dianchi Greenway into a sprawling, multi-disciplinary classroom for local students.
The initiative marks the city’s first municipal-level public welfare program since the introduction of the autumn school break system.
The opening event took place at the Haigeng East Pier Beach Park along the eastern shore of Dianchi Lake. The series, titled “Observe Mountains and Seas, Protect Ecology, Love Sports, Love Life,” aims to integrate physical fitness, ecological research, and aesthetic education for middle and primary school students.
According to the event organizers, the program is entirely voluntary and free of charge, with no mandatory attendance requirements or ties to academic evaluations to ensure it does not increase the burden on families.
The program is guided by the Publicity Department of the Kunming Municipal Committee and the Kunming Education and Sports Bureau. Major organizers include the Kunming Youth Activity Center, the Kunming Social Sports Guidance Center, the Kunming Sports School, and the Kunming Culture and Tourism Group.
The launch featured performances from provincial-level athletes across various disciplines, including martial arts, gymnastics, judo, wrestling, boxing, and football.
“Education is not limited to the classroom, and growth is not confined to the desk,” a representative from the Municipal Education and Sports Bureau stated during the opening ceremony. The bureau emphasized that the initiative is designed to support the national “double reduction” policy—which aims to decrease the burden of excessive homework and off-campus tutoring—while promoting comprehensive development across five key educational areas.
The series is scheduled to run through November 15, utilizing four distinct activity blocks designed to encourage students to interact with the natural environment. The first block focuses on sports experience along the eastern shore of the Dianchi Greenway, featuring eight training camps dedicated to trail speed, forest precision, and plateau strength.
The second block, “Bridge to the Spring City,” offers tiered research activities centered on bridge engineering and physical obstacle courses. The third block, located on the western shore, hosts a sports carnival featuring ten activities including basketball, frisbee, pickleball, and flag football.
Finally, the fourth block organizes urban ecological research, connecting five key sites—including the Dianchi Lake Protection and Governance Science Center, Cuihu Park, and the Mingtong River Nature Center—using a “one station, one theme” stamp-collection model.
Local authorities intend to use the results of this pilot program to refine future autumn break mechanisms. By using Kunming's ecological and sports resources, the city plans to expand public welfare-based extracurricular activities.
The series will conclude its scheduled activities on November 15, after which the city will review the program’s outcomes to determine the scope of future extracurricular offerings.
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