China enhances urban renewal to make cities more livable, resilient and smart

This year, China plans to renovate 50,000 old residential communities, tackling issues like elevator installations and parking shortages, and will enhance the development of accessible and senior-friendly amenities, said Ni Hong, minister of housing and urban-rural development, on Saturday.

The country will further escalate the renovation of aging urban pipeline networks – including gas, water supply, sewage and heating systems – aiming to rebuild over 100,000 kilometers this year, said Ni at a press conference on people's livelihoods held by the second session of the 14th National People's Congress.

"The underground pipe network is not just a foundational aspect of urban construction; it's also a project that demands meticulous attention. We hope that all regions will strive to guarantee its high quality," he added.

Ni noted that the goal of urban renewal is to make cities more livable, resilient and smarter, thus ensuring that residents can enjoy a more comfortable, secure and joyful life.

Regarding urban safety engineering, facilities like water supply, drainage, gas, heating, bridges and pipeline corridors can now be monitored in real time digitally, allowing for early detection and resolution of issues, said Ni.

Additionally, the ministry is committed to enhancing the city's capacity to manage waterlogging, planning to begin renovations this year on 1,000 flood-prone areas across 100 cities.

China will steadily implement urban renewal measures, focusing on creating cities that are livable, smart and resilient, according to a government work report submitted to the national legislature for deliberation on March 5.

These measures include accelerating the upgrade of underground infrastructure, addressing issues like elevator installation and parking in old communities, and boosting the development of barrier-free and senior-friendly amenities.

Last year, China undertook 66,000 urban renewal projects across the nation, with an investment totaling 2.6 trillion yuan (around $82.4 billion), according to Ni. Over 53,000 old residential areas in urban settings were renovated, directly benefiting over 22 million residents. These efforts also included the installation of 36,000 elevators and the creation of 85,000 new parking spaces.

Additionally, the projects facilitated the establishment of 21,000 community service facilities, including elderly care and childcare centers. Infrastructure improvements were significant as well, with about 100,000 kilometers of gas and other pipelines undergoing renovation. The development also saw the construction of more than 4,100 pocket parks and over 5,300 kilometers of greenways.

"None of these tasks are easy. For example, installing elevators and reaching agreement among residents poses a challenge. Likewise, adding more parking spaces and finding suitable locations isn't straightforward," said Ni.

"Regardless of the challenges, if there's a need within the community, we are committed to finding solutions and ensuring success for their benefit."