Visiting the Beijing Demonstrations Centre of Service for Persons with Disabilities last week, I was impressed by how China empowers its citizens with disabilities to contribute meaningfully to society, including through participation and even in world-class events.

The centre, housed in a 24-storey building, officially commenced operations in March 2022. It served as an international exchange hub and a platform for cooperation in advancing the cause of persons with disabilities. Since its opening, the centre has hosted numerous international exchanges on disability development, including with Belt and Road countries, and welcomed First Ladies and foreign delegations from around the world.

Among the services offered are vocational rehabilitation, employment training, artistic rehabilitation, and film screenings. The centre also features an exhibition area showcasing technological innovations designed to assist persons with disabilities.

The crochet activity.

Walking through the centre, I was especially moved by the artwork created by persons with disabilities – beautiful accessories, crafts, and silk scarves displayed with pride. Visitors can purchase these items simply by scanning the QR code placed beside each piece.

The building is also equipped with two cinemas designed for persons with disabilities. These feature audio descriptions in films for the visually impaired, with narrations of environments and characters enabling them to ‘hear’ the movie. Hearing-impaired individuals can follow subtitles, while wheelchair spaces are reserved in the front rows.

I found this to be an excellent initiative, allowing those with visual impairments to enjoy the cinema experience just like anyone else. During our group’s visit, a film was being screened, adding to the centre’s lively and inclusive atmosphere.

The Beijing 2022 Olympics glory bouquet.

Crochet artwork gains world recognition

Later, the China International Press Communication Centre (CIPCC) group visited a floor dedicated to persons with intellectual disabilities. Here, trainees are guided in music, cooking, and crochet. We enjoyed a wonderful drum performance and watched a cooking group prepare mashed potatoes.

From the briefing by CIPCC, we learnt that crocheting helps improve concentration, thinking and calmness among the trainees. Their crochet artwork has gained international recognition: it was distributed as award bouquets at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, and in June this year, their works were exhibited at the Asian Cultural Festival in Geneva, Switzerland.

The author (right) tries her hand at a paper-cutting activity.

The centre also includes a section that rehabilitating children with disabilities, preparing them for school and fostering independence. At the innovation section, I was particularly impressed by an intelligent guide dog – an AI-powered device designed to help visually impaired individuals navigate safely by detecting obstacles in advance. It represents a smart replacement for the traditional walking stick and is a strong example of how people with disabilities are included in China’s technological advancements.

The CIPCC group also visited the scenic Yanshan Petrochemical Niukouyu Wetland Park. Built in 1960 using treated industrial and domestic wastewater from the Beijing Yanshan Petrochemical Company, the lake has become an ecological haven. More than 100 migratory birds stop at Niukouyu each year before continuing their journey south to escape the winter.

The visit to the park, with engaging activities such as paper cutting and bird watching, was breath-taking. It marked a fitting close to our week, as we reached the midway point of the CIPCC programme.

-- BERNAMA

Rohani Mohd Ibrahim, a journalist with BERNAMA, is currently in Beijing to attend the China International Press Communication Centre (CIPCC) Programme from Aug 18 to Dec 15 2025.

The initiative, organised by the China Public Diplomacy Association (CPDA), serves as a platform for practical cooperation between Chinese media organisations and those from emerging markets and developing economies.

The programme also provides foreign journalists with the opportunity to gain a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of China’s society, development and international engagement.

This marks BERNAMA’s eighth participation in the CIPCC since 2018.