This combo photo taken on March 22, 2024 shows Wu Huajian (L) wiping a car and Xu Jilun (2nd R) washing a car with a colleague, at a car wash center in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province. Wu Huajian, 19, and Xu Jilun, 30, worked at the car wash center since July 2023. A total of 15 employees with mental disorder are currently working here. This Tuesday marks the 17th World Autism Awareness Day. In south China's Shenzhen, some autistic youth, who were called "children of the stars," have integrated into society and are chasing their dreams.

Over recent years, autistic children in China have gained increasing attention and care. In 2022, China's National Health Commission released a trial protocol on autism screening and intervention services for children under the age of six to improve related services. The country has also released a work plan for improving special education for the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025). [Xinhua/Mao Siqian]