'Put down books, fall in love': Chinese university urges students to romance during spring holiday amid birth rate crisis

A vocational college in Sichuan province has encouraged its students and teachers to embrace romance and leisure during an upcoming spring holiday, marking a departure from China's traditional emphasis on academic performance amid broader efforts to promote travel, marriages, and higher birth rates.

The Sichuan Southwest Vocational College of Aviation announced on its official WeChat account that the spring holidays from April 1 to 6 will carry the theme "See the flowers and enjoy romance." The notice, posted on Tuesday, urged students and teachers to put down their books and enjoy the break.

Chinese Spring Breaks Notice to Students

The directive follows China's recent announcement to introduce spring and autumn holidays for schools, supplementing the existing summer and winter breaks. Provinces including Sichuan and eastern Jiangsu, along with cities such as Suzhou and Nanjing, have unveiled plans for spring breaks, most scheduled for April or early May. Authorities have also said they will encourage staggered paid leave for workers to facilitate off-peak travel and boost domestic consumption among the country's 1.4 billion population.

China's Population Decline Drive Policies

In 2025, China's population fell for the fourth consecutive year, with the birth rate dropping to a record low, experts warning of continued decline. On Tuesday, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) issued a guideline to promote child-friendly development. According to Reuters, The notice called for coordinated efforts to create "child-friendly cities" by improving public services in education, health, travel, sports, and recreation.

Expert Calls for Broader Support

James Liang, co-founder of Chinese travel company Trip.com and a prominent demographic expert, told Reuters that society needs sufficient time and money to raise children. He called for more initiatives and greater efforts to educate young people on the social and personal benefits of raising larger families. Liang added that the government could establish a broader support framework by reallocating resources and boosting financial assistance.

(With Reuters input)