For decades, the Pengyi Community in Shanghai, constructed in 1958, was infamous for its 282 maze-like apartments—some barely larger than a parking space at 7.2 square meters. Families would be squeezed into windowless units, sharing communal bathrooms and navigating dark, narrow hallways.
In late June, 2,110 households in the community finally moved into their new homes, capping off a stunning 20-year redevelopment that revitalized the entire neighborhood. For Zhao Qiming, a retired teacher and 40-year resident of Pengyi, the transformation is night and day: “We used to line up for the bathroom every morning. Now, I have my own toilet, a balcony bathing in sunlight and even an elevator!”
Ongoing urban renewal and the renovation of aging, hazardous housing are essential for establishing a sustainable model for city development. China has been actively promoting large-scale urban upgrading efforts, focusing on creating cities that are not only livable but also resilient and intelligent.
Modern cities
China, a traditionally agricultural country, has seen its urbanization pick up after its reform and opening-up drive began in the late 1970s. More than a decade ago, the country’s urban population exceeded the rural population.
According to a report released by the National Bureau of Statistics last September, the number of cities in China had reached 694 as of late 2023. Among them, 29 cities had a permanent resident population exceeding 5 million, and 11 cities had more than 10 million residents.
The last Central Urban Work Conference was held in 2015, when China’s urbanization rate was 56.1 percent, with 770 million residents living in urban areas. By the end of 2024, around 67 percent of the country’s over 1.4 billion people—more than 940 million—were urban residents.
This year’s Central Urban Work Conference said key priorities for urban development include optimizing the modern urban system, building vibrant cities powered by innovation, and creating comfortable and convenient living environments, as well as promoting green, low-carbon and beautiful urban spaces.
Greener push
Building beautiful cities that are green and low-carbon is another top priority for the country’s urban development. More effective measures should be implemented to address challenges, including urban air pollution, the protection of drinking water sources and the treatment of pollutants. From zero-waste ecosystems to carbon-neutral infrastructure, cities are pioneering innovative solutions that merge sustainability with economic growth.
For example, the coastal city of Qingdao in Shandong Province has established itself as a model for circular economy practices, minimizing waste and making the most of resources. With dozens of national-level green factories, the city has reduced industrial waste intensity to the lowest rate in Shandong. At a smart recycling factory of China’s leading home appliances company Haier, 2 million old appliances
are dismantled each year, producing 30,000 tons of recycled new materials. This results in an annual carbon reduction capacity of approximately 17,000 tons, equivalent to planting 1.55 million trees.
For the people
Greater emphasis must be placed on adopting a people-oriented approach, according to July’s Central Urban Work Conference.
From 2019 to 2024, China renovated 280,000 old residential communities, benefiting more than 120 million people, Vice Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development Qin Haixiang said at a press conference on a set of guidelines regarding the country’s urban renewal efforts in May. The nationwide program has thus far benefited 48 million households. The renovation program has upgraded 360,000 km of aging pipelines, added 3.87 million parking spaces and constructed 78,000 community service facilities for senior care and childcare.
Regions across China have also prioritized installing elevators in walk-up residential buildings as a key livelihood project. This initiative has particularly benefited the elderly and mobility-impaired.
“This allows elderly people with mobility difficulties and trouble navigating stairs to now conveniently go downstairs to enjoy sunshine and chat with longtime neighbors,” Qin said. “This benefits their physical and mental health and has been widely welcomed by the communities.”
In its recent push, China on May 15 unveiled guidelines to increase policy and financial support for urban renewal projects, which can range from gas pipe updates and lift installations to the renovation of old factories into commercial zones.
My grandmother gets wide-eyed seeing the transformation of the Shougang Park,” Xiao Xie, a 20-year resident of Shijingshan, told Beijing Review. “My husband and I often take my son to the park. It’s our backyard playground with industrial charm.”
-The Daily Mail-Beijing Review News Exchange Items
