China adopted its Land Administration Law on 25 June 1986, marking a major turning point in the management, protection and planned use of land.

The law created a comprehensive legal framework for regulating land ownership, land use rights, agricultural land protection, construction land and land use planning. It reaffirmed that land in China is held under state or collective ownership, while legally recognised land use rights may be transferred in accordance with the law.

The legislation came into force on 1 January 1987 and helped bring land administration into a more formal legal system. It also established a stronger policy foundation for controlling unplanned development, protecting cultivated land and managing the conversion of land for urban construction and infrastructure.

In recognition of this milestone, China later designated 25 June as National Land Day, dedicated to public awareness about land conservation, responsible land use and the protection of farmland.