An obsession with precision -- Architect and wheelchair user joins national efforts to improve accessibility

by Xinhua writers Wang Xiaopeng, Zhao Xiuzhi and Song Yidai

BEIJING, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- Measuring tape in hand, architect and wheelchair user Zhang Yi enters the accessible restroom of a public park in Beijing, extending the metallic strip to confirm the height of a grab bar installed by the urinal.

"One meter," he reads aloud, shaking his head. "The standard is 90 centimeters. Ten centimeters may not sound like much, but when I try to stand up, it makes all the difference."

For 55-year-old Zhang, who is a licensed architect and has been using a wheelchair since he was a child, every centimeter matters. Years of professional training have taught him to obsess over precision, and years of navigating life in a wheelchair have taught him how easily a small design flaw can turn into a daily obstacle.

He has witnessed the tremendous progress the country has made in building a barrier-free environment alongside its rapid economic growth over the decades, and he is hopeful that all facilities will one day meet the standards to really benefit people with accessibility challenges.

He began his own problem-finding campaign in 2019, and his efforts received a significant boost in 2023, when a law on building barrier-free living environments was promulgated.

The legislation, the formulation of which solicited opinions from more than 50,000 people with disabilities and elderly citizens, aims to ensure that people with disabilities and the elderly can participate and be included equally, fully and conveniently in social life.

Observers say the legislation took effect at a critical time as the country, home to more than 85 million people with disabilities, entered an era of demographic transition. China had more than 320 million people aged 60 or above by the end of 2025, accounting for over one-fifth of the population.

For Zhang, the law provides legal backing for him to intensify his efforts. "A law matters only when it is enforced," he said. "With the legislation, there are finally teeth."

Amid the short-video boom on social media, the architect films his inspections, edits them into short clips and posts them online. In these videos, he reads numbers aloud with an almost clinical calm. From grab bars to ramp gradients, nothing escapes his eye.

Zhang's words and actions show a strong sense of responsibility. "Among disabled people, I am the one who knows architecture standards the best," he said, stressing that he always keeps national standards in mind.

At first, Zhang's videos drew little attention. But gradually, his audience grew. To date, he has posted more than 200 videos, gaining cumulative views of about 12.5 million.

In real life, accessibility challenges are not limited to the elderly or people with disabilities. Parents with strollers, travellers with luggage, workers pushing carts, a person nursing a broken leg -- almost everyone will at some point rely on barrier-free design.

"In barrier-free construction, awareness is key. Many institutions simply haven't realized the problems exist. Some people with disabilities feel they can just endure it," Zhang said.

"By conducting assessments and writing articles, I hope to help more people understand that barrier-free facilities are for everyone. Substandard facilities not only affect usability -- they can also pose safety risks," he said.

Zhang's assessments have contributed to a series of changes. The administration of one public park near the Old Summer Palace (Yuanmingyuan) that he reviewed, where benches once encroached upon walkways, creating hazards, later invited him back after it had completed renovations. The benches had been moved back by 45 centimeters, freeing up space along the path. He measured it again when he returned, tape in hand, and found the distance met his feedback exactly.

The change may seem minor, but wheelchair users can now pause beside the benches, parents can park their strollers without blocking the path, and people can stretch their legs without tripping passersby. A small retreat of just 45 centimeters has reshaped the path's flow.

The park has also made larger adjustments. Its ramps now comply with standard handrail heights, its restrooms have been fitted with properly positioned grab bars and multi-functional counters, and an accessible route map has been added at the entrance, guiding visitors through barrier-free pathways across the park.

"We have tried to correct every issue we could identify," said Li Jingcheng, one of the park's managers, noting that Zhang's feedback was both practical and professional. "His suggestions have been valuable, not only for this renovation but also for the design of future parks."

Zhang has not been alone on his progressive campaign, with many posting their own assessments online to improve accessibility nationwide.

The 2023 legislation also allows procuratorial authorities to file public-interest lawsuits to enforce accessibility standards, thereby strengthening legal oversight. Organizations representing people with disabilities have become more closely involved in such litigation, assisting with case referrals, professional assessments and follow-up evaluations.

In 2025, the China Disabled Persons' Federation, the Supreme People's Procuratorate and the Ministry of Civil Affairs released a series of typical cases to raise public awareness of the importance of accessibility.

In addition to posting videos online, Zhang also files reports to local procuratorates on locations without proper barrier-free facilities.

Loading his wheelchair into the back of his car, Zhang continues to make routine journeys across Beijing, stopping at new shopping malls or renovated public spaces to assess their accessibility.  ■