top of page

Finding Ads

What is a Finding Ad, and why you would want one?

A Finding Ad is a newspaper advertisement in China for children who are found and brought to an orphanage. Since 1999, the orphanages in China have been required to run a provincial newspaper advertisement for all children who are found. These ads contain information about where and when the children were found and which orphanage is caring for them. Originally these were text-only ads, but most provinces later included photographs—photographs that are usually the earliest available pictures of the children, some at just days or weeks old. The photos here show my daughter's referral picture at 14 months old and her Finding Ad at 4 months old from Guangdong Province.

I have obtained many of the newspapers that contain Finding Ads for children adopted after June 1999 in the provinces listed below. I am actively working to obtain ads for other provinces and update the list when they become available. For more information, read our Frequently Asked Questions about Finding Ads.

Finding Ads for China adoptees
Cost:
  • Text-Only Finding Ad: $25

  • Finding Ad w/Photo: $35

  • Finding Ad in the Original Newspaper (if available): $40 + ad fee

  • Anhui Province
    Beginning in July 1999 to October 2003, text ads were placed that contain the child's birth date and finding date, as well as a description of the child. These ads are available for $25.00 USD. From November 2003 to present, picture ads have been placed. The photos almost always predate the referral photo by several months or more. These ads are available for $35.00 USD.
  • Chongqing Municipality
    Chongqing's finding ads have some of the best photos in China! Usually containing black and white photos, increasingly the ads have been in beautiful color! These ads also contain the child's Chinese (orphanage-given) name, finding date and birth date. The photos almost always predate the referral photo by several months or more. These ads are available for children found after June 2000 for $35.00 USD. We often have extra copies of the actual newspaper, allowing you to obtain the actual newspaper your child appeared in. Simply fill out our request form and we will let you know what is available.
  • Fujian Province
    We have acquired the finding ads for this province. The text ads are $25.00 USD, and the picture ads are $35. The photos almost always predate the referral photo by several months or more.
  • Gansu Province
    We have acquired the finding ads for this province. The text ads are $25.00 USD, and the picture ads are $35. The photos almost always predate the referral photo by several months or more.
  • Guangdong Province
    For children found between July 1999 and October 2000, orphanages placed a short text ad including the date and location the child was found and the orphanage in which the child was placed. Sometimes additional medical information was included, such as distinguishing birthmarks or scars, or a description of the child's clothing. These ads are available for $25.00 USD. Beginning in October 2000, Guangdong ads contain beautiful color pictures of the children that generally pre-date the referral photo by several months. These ads are available for $35.00 USD. We often have extra copies of the actual newspaper, allowing you to obtain the actual newspaper your child appeared in. Simply fill out our request form and we will let you know what is available.
  • Guangxi Province
    We have text ads from July 1999 to October 2003. These ads are available for $25.00 USD. The ads generally contain your child's Chinese name, finding date, finding location, and descriptions of clothing, physical features or other information. Guangxi's photo finding ads (which began in October 2003) contain gorgeous, large black and white photos of the children. The photos almost always predate the referral photo by several months or more. These ads are available for $35.00 USD. We sometimes have extra copies of the actual newspaper available, allowing you to obtain the original newspaper your child appeared in. A wonderful keepsake! These sell out quickly, so check with us for availability.
  • Guizhou Province
    We have acquired the finding ads for this province. The text ads are available for $25.00 USD, and the picture ads are $35.00 USD. The photos almost always predate the referral photo by several months or more.
  • Henan Province
    We have acquired the finding ads for this province. July 1999 - December 2003 text ads are available for $25.00 USD. Picture ads have been placed since January 2004 and almost always predate the referral photo by several months or more. They are available for $35.00 USD.
  • Hubei Province
    Beginning in 1999, text ads were placed that contain the child's birth date and finding date, as well as a description of the child. These ads are available for $25.00 USD. Starting in July 2003, Hubei began publishing photo ads. The photos almost always predate the referral photo by several months or more. Although usually in black and white, Hubei is moving increasingly to color photos in their ads. These ads are available for $35.00 USD. We often have extra copies of the actual newspaper, allowing you to obtain the actual newspaper your child appeared in. Simply fill out our request form and we will let you know what is available.
  • Hunan Province
    We have text ads from July 1999 to July 2003. These ads are available for $25.00 USD. The ads generally contain your child's Chinese name, finding date, finding location, and descriptions of clothing, physical features or other information. Hunan's photo finding ads (which began in July 2003) contain nice black and white photos of the children. The photos almost always predate the referral photo by several months or more. These ads are available for $35.00 USD. We often have extra copies of the actual newspaper, allowing you to obtain the actual newspaper your child appeared in. Simply fill out our request form and we will let you know what is available.
  • Inner Mongolia
    We have acquired the finding ads for this province and have picture ads from January 2005 to present. The photos almost always predate the referral photo by several months or more. These ads are available for $35.00 USD.
  • Jiangsu Province
    We have acquired the text ads for this province for children adopted after January 2003. These ads are available for $25.00 USD. Unfortunately, ads prior to that date are unavailable through Research-China at this time. Beginning in November 2003 to present, Jiangsu has been running picture ads. The photos almost always predate the referral photo by several months or more. These ads are available for $35.00 USD.
  • Jiangxi Province
    Beginning in 1999, text ads were placed for the found children. These ads give the child's Chinese (orphanage-given) name, finding date and government entity (police, Civil Affairs, etc.) that brought the child to the orphanage. Some of these ads are available through Research-China for $25.00 USD. Beginning in December 2002, photos were added to the Jiangxi ads. Although the photos are small and in black & white, they are remarkably clear and identifiable (see below). These ads also contain the child's Chinese (orphanage-given) name, finding date and birth date. The photos almost always predate the referral photo by several months or more. These ads are available for children found after June 2002 for $35.00 USD. We often have extra copies of the actual newspaper, allowing you to obtain the actual newspaper your child appeared in. Simply fill out our request form and we will let you know what is available.
  • Jilin Province
    Our collection of Jilin Province finding ads begins with children adopted in 2007. We are constantly adding to this collection, so check back if your child was adopted before 2007. Our Jilin finding ads all contain photos. Although the photos are small and in black & white, they are remarkably clear and identifiable (see left). These ads also contain the child's Chinese (orphanage-given) name, finding date and birth date. The photos almost always predate the referral photo by several months or more. These ads are available for $35.00 USD. We often have extra copies of the actual newspaper, allowing you to obtain the actual newspaper your child appeared in. Simply fill out our request form and we will let you know what is available.
  • Liaoning Province
    We have finding ads for Liaoning Province from 2005 forward. They are all photo ads. The photos almost always predate the referral photo by several months or more. These ads are available for $35.00 USD.
  • Ningxia Province
    Our collection of Ningxia Province finding ads begins with children adopted in 2007. We are constantly adding to this collection, so check back if your child was adopted before 2007. Our Ningxia finding ads all contain photos. Although the photos are small and in black & white, they are remarkably clear and identifiable (see below). These ads also contain the child's Chinese (orphanage-given) name, finding date and birth date. The photos almost always predate the referral photo by several months or more. These ads are available for $35.00 USD. We often have extra copies of the actual newspaper, allowing you to obtain the actual newspaper your child appeared in. Simply fill out our request form and we will let you know what is available.
  • Shaanxi Province
    Shaanxi's photo finding ads (our collection begins in 2005) contain nice black and white or gorgeous color photos of the children. The photos almost always predate the referral photo by several months or more. These ads are available for $35.00 USD. We sometimes have extra copies of the actual newspaper available, allowing you to obtain the original newspaper your child appeared in. A wonderful keepsake! These sell out quickly, so check with us for availability.
  • Shanghai Province
    Beginning in 1999, text ads were placed for the found children. These ads give the child's Chinese (orphanage-given) name, finding date and government entity (police, Civil Affairs, etc.) that brought the child to the orphanage. Some of these ads are available through Research-China for $25.00 USD. Beginning in December 2002, photos were added to the Shanghai ads. Although the photos are small and in black & white, they are remarkably clear and identifiable (see below). These ads also contain the child's Chinese (orphanage-given) name, finding date and birth date. The photos almost always predate the referral photo by several months or more. These ads are available for children found after June 2002 for $35.00 USD. We often have extra copies of the actual newspaper, allowing you to obtain the actual newspaper your child appeared in. Simply fill out our request form and we will let you know what is available.
  • Shanxi Province
    We have acquired the finding ads for this province. The photos almost always predate the referral photo by several months or more. Text ads are available for $25.00 USD, and picture ads are $35.00 USD.
  • Sichuan Province
    We have acquired the finding ads for this region from January 2004 to present. The photos almost always predate the referral photo by several months or more. Text ads are available for $25.00 USD and picture ads are $35.00 USD.
  • Tianjin Province
    Our collection of Tianjin Province finding ads begins with children adopted in 2005. We are constantly adding to this collection, so check back if your child was adopted before 2005. Our Tianjin finding ads all contain photos. Although the photos are small and in black & white, they are remarkably clear and identifiable (see left). These ads also contain the child's Chinese (orphanage-given) name, finding date and birth date. The photos almost always predate the referral photo by several months or more. These ads are available for $35.00 USD. We often have extra copies of the actual newspaper, allowing you to obtain the actual newspaper your child appeared in. Simply fill out our request form and we will let you know what is available.
  • Yunnan Province
    Yunnan's finding ads contain gorgeous, large black and white photos of the children. The photos almost always predate the referral photo by several months or more. These ads are available for $35.00 USD. We often have extra copies of the actual newspaper, allowing you to obtain the actual newspaper your child appeared in. Simply fill out our request form and we will let you know what is available.
  • Zhejiang Province
    We have acquired the finding ads for this province. The photos almost always predate the referral photo by several months or more. The text ads are available for $25.00 USD and the pictures ads are $35.00.
FindingAdProvinces
bottom of page