The China Welfare Institute was founded in Hong Kong on June 14, 1938 by Ms. Song Qingling, the honorary president of the country.

Its predecessor was the Alliance to Defend China, which fully supported the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japan.

It moved to Chongqing in December 1941. In December 1945, it was renamed the China Welfare Foundation and moved to Shanghai to support the liberation cause of the Chinese people and at the same time carry out children's cultural, educational and welfare work.

In August 1950, it was renamed China Welfare Society, focusing on carrying out experimental and demonstrative work in maternal and child health, children's culture, education and welfare, strengthening scientific research, and carrying out foreign exchanges and cooperation.

Its highest authority is the Executive Committee, which is composed of the Chairman, Vice Chairman and Executive Committee members.

The executive members are composed of leaders from relevant departments and organizations of the central government and Shanghai.

Daily work is under the leadership of the party group, and the secretary-general responsibility system is implemented.

The successive chairmen are Song Qingling, Liao Chengzhi, and Huang Hua, and the current chairman is Hu Qili.

On August 15, 1950, the China Welfare Foundation was renamed the China Welfare Institute and its headquarters was located in Shanghai.

The main tasks of the China Welfare Institute are: to carry out experimental and demonstrative work and scientific research in maternal and child health care, children's culture and education, and to conduct international publicity and external exchanges and cooperation.

The China Welfare Society founded the International Peace Maternal and Child Health Hospital in Shanghai and established a nursery, kindergarten and children's palace.

Expand the children's theater troupe into a children's art theater and create a children's art theater.

Founded the comprehensive children's magazine "Children's Times", and published the comprehensive monthly "China Construction" (now renamed "China Today") to introduce foreign friends and overseas Chinese to the achievements of the construction of the People's Republic of China and people's lives.

After Soong Ching Ling's death, the China Welfare Society inherited and carried forward Soong Ching Ling's idea of ??serving women and children wholeheartedly, and various undertakings continued to develop.

In 1985, the "Song Ching Ling Camphor Tree Award" was established to commend outstanding women and children workers.

The Shanghai Soong Ching Ling Foundation was established in 1986.

Soong Ching Ling Kindergarten was built in 1991.

In 1994, the "Song Ching Ling Scholarship" was jointly established with the State Education Commission to reward outstanding primary and secondary school students with comprehensive development of morality, intelligence and physical fitness.

In 1995, the China Welfare Association Preschool Education Information Center was established, which is now expanded to the China Welfare Association Information and Research Center.

In 2006, Soong Ching Ling School and China Welfare Society Elderly Welfare Development Center were established.

In 2012, the original SAIC-General Motors Pavilion of the Shanghai World Expo was confirmed to be renovated into the Shanghai Children's Art Theater.

In 2012, Shanghai International Peace Culture Industrial Co., Ltd. was established.