legal ground
Article 18 of the Regulations of People's Republic of China (PRC) Municipality on Household Registration
Citizens who change their names shall be handled in accordance with the following provisions:
(a) when a person under the age of 18 needs to change his name, his parents or adopters shall apply to the household registration authority for registration of change;
(two) when a person who has reached the age of eighteen needs to change his name, he shall apply to the household registration authority for registration of change.