Building modern, livable cities: China's people-centered approach to urban development

For decades, residents of Shimin Xincun, a residential community in Shanghai's Huangpu District, lived with aging buildings, outdated facilities and daily inconveniences. Today, the neighborhood has taken on a new look.

After more than three years of renovation, the four residential buildings built in the 1950s have been transformed with safer structures, modern kitchens and bathrooms, elevators, private balconies, pocket gardens and underground parking facilities. The upgrade benefited 351 households and greatly improved their overall living experience.

The community's transformation reflects a broader effort across China to make cities more livable and people-centered.

During an inspection tour on Wednesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Shimin Xincun and highlighted the importance of high-quality urban renewal in advancing urban modernization.

Xi stressed the need to fully embrace the people-centered philosophy of urban development, saying urban development should focus on improving residents' sense of fulfillment, happiness and security.

Renovating aging neighborhoods for better living

Since 2020, China has accelerated efforts to upgrade aging residential communities, improve underground infrastructure and revitalize historic neighborhoods, aiming to create cities that better meet people's changing needs.

Wenzhou, an eastern Chinese city, provides an example of how urban renewal can not only improve living conditions but also generate new economic opportunities. The city was rated among the highest-performing cities in China's 2025 urban renewal action, alongside Beijing, Shanghai and other cities.

In 2025, Wenzhou renovated more than 330,000 square meters of old residential communities, adding facilities such as fitness equipment, elderly-friendly handrails and children's play areas.

The city has also explored ways to combine urban renewal with local economic development. In the Shuangjingfang neighborhood, 8,000 square meters of unused space was revitalized, where more than 100 designers, architects and entrepreneurs joined forces to develop new businesses, including small theaters, cafes, boutique hotels and cultural spaces. The area has since attracted more than 8 million visitors annually and generated more than 100 million yuan (about $14.8 million) in yearly revenue.

Furthermore, Wenzhou has turned unused urban spaces into new public assets. Former industrial sites and abandoned areas have been transformed into cultural venues, parks and scenic spots, including a cliffside forest theater and a 25-kilometer island ring scenic corridor in Dongtou District.

These urban renewal projects have not only repaired aging buildings but also expanded public spaces, boosted local economies and enhanced residents' quality of life.

From urban renewal to better governance

Beyond physical upgrades, China is also focusing on improving urban services and governance.

During Xi's visit to Shanghai, he visited the home of a retired resident to learn about her daily life. He said that the Communist Party of China is dedicated to serving the people, and that only when people live and work in peace and contentment can the Party and the government feel reassured.

Xi also visited a community fresh produce stall, where he stressed the importance of improving community governance and building well-equipped communities and convenient living circles.

In recent years, China has been promoting the development of "15-minute community life circles." The initiative aims to ensure that residents can access essential services within a short walk from their homes, including grocery stores, pharmacies, restaurants, healthcare, elderly care, childcare, fitness and leisure facilities.

The program has become a key part of China's efforts to improve urban living standards and create more convenient communities. According to official data, by the end of 2025, more than 8,100 15-minute community life circles had been established nationwide, covering more than 160 million residents.

At the same time, cities across China are using digital technologies to improve governance. Through big data and artificial intelligence technologies, local governments are enhancing real-time monitoring of infrastructure, improving emergency responses and making public services more efficient.

Beijing's 12345 citizen service hotline is one example. By integrating big data and AI technologies, the platform has improved how public requests are processed and followed up. In 2023, it handled 21.44 million citizen requests, with a 100% response rate, a 95.5% resolution rate and a 96.1% satisfaction rate. The hotline has become a model for improving governance in a megacity.

From urban renewal to urban governance, China is advancing a people-centered approach to city development. Beyond ensuring that people have a place to live, the focus is now on creating more livable communities, improving public services and enhancing governance, allowing residents to share more fully in the benefits of urban development.