Housing is both a livelihood issue and a cornerstone of development. Chinese President Xi Jinping has repeatedly emphasized that the renovation of old residential communities is closely linked to people’s sense of fulfillment, happiness and security, describing it as a vital task in improving living standards.
“Renovating old urban neighborhoods should respond to the diverse needs and expectations of residents,” Xi has said. “It is a major undertaking that requires meticulous planning and careful implementation by all relevant departments.”
Transforming Lives in Arxan
Even in May, cold winds still sweep through Arxan City in Inner Mongolia’s Hinggan League. Nestled at the southern foothills of the Greater Khingan Mountains, the small city experiences a notably late arrival of summer.
For decades, local resident Zhou Changhe and his family of five lived in a cramped, 20-square-meter dwelling built with a traditional “wood-and-mud” structure commonly used by forestry workers. Looking back, Zhou recalled: “At that time, who could have imagined living in a spacious and warm apartment like this?”
In January 2014, despite temperatures plunging to minus 30 degrees Celsius, President Xi visited Arxan. During the inspection, he toured the underground living quarters of low-income forestry workers, checked heating facilities, examined New Year supplies, and urged local authorities to accelerate the renovation of shantytown areas. He called for clear timelines to ensure that residents could move into new homes as soon as possible.
Following the visit, Arxan launched a large-scale urban renewal project with a total investment of approximately 4.9 billion yuan. The initiative demolished around 660,000 square meters of substandard housing and renovated 10,400 shantytown homes.
According to Wang Xiaolong, director of the Arxan Housing and Urban-Rural Development Bureau, all former shantytown residents have since relocated to apartment buildings. More than half of the city’s population has benefited from the project.
In 2017, Zhou moved from his old mud-brick house into a new 60-square-meter apartment, a transformation he once considered unimaginable.
Revitalizing Old Communities
In the Chang’an residential community of Shenyang’s Dadong District in Liaoning Province, a towering old chimney still stands as a reminder of the area’s industrial past. Once part of an abandoned boiler house, the structure has been transformed into a community service center and public activity space as part of a broader neighborhood renovation program.
Today, the center is bustling with activity. Children attend educational classes, seniors participate in cultural and sports programs, and residents make use of various community services.
Cao Xue, secretary of the community’s Communist Party committee, said President Xi visited Chang’an in 2025 and stressed that urban renewal should be tailored to local conditions and integrated with broader development plans.
According to Cao, Xi emphasized that all renovation efforts should focus on making communities more convenient, beneficial and secure for residents, with particular attention given to the needs of children and older adults.
Every weekend, resident Wang Kuimin brings his grandson to the community center to participate in various activities. The children’s reading area houses more than 5,000 books, while regular parent-child reading sessions and storytelling events are organized throughout the year.
The center’s “Happy Learning Classroom” also offers around 20 courses, including robotics programming, calligraphy and floor curling, catering to a wide range of children’s interests.
Cao noted that in recent years, major upgrades have been completed to local infrastructure, including coal, water, electricity and heating systems, significantly improving the living environment. The next phase, he said, will focus on creating more age-friendly facilities and child-friendly spaces in line with Xi’s guidance.
Preserving Heritage While Improving Communities
During a visit to Minzhu Village in Chongqing’s Jiulongpo District in 2024, Xi described the renovation of old residential neighborhoods as an important component of urban renewal and a people-centered project that delivers tangible benefits.
He stressed that historical memories and distinctive local characteristics should be preserved throughout the modernization process.
Wu Chengli, the village’s Party secretary and director of the neighborhood committee, said community planners responded directly to residents’ needs by reserving dedicated spaces for traditional tradespeople, including barbers and shoe repairers, ensuring that the area retained its unique social and cultural character.
For 77-year-old resident Chen Tairong, the renovations have improved daily life without erasing the community’s identity.
“Although the old streets and alleys have been renovated, the cherished memories remain,” Chen said. “The friendships among longtime neighbors have not faded.”
A Nationwide Housing Improvement Drive
Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the country has built more than 68 million units of affordable housing and renovated housing in shantytown areas, helping over 170 million people realize their dream of safe and comfortable homes.
During the same period, more than 300,000 old residential communities have undergone renovation, benefiting over 130 million urban residents and contributing significantly to improvements in living standards nationwide.
China’s ongoing housing and urban renewal programs reflect a broader effort to promote people-centered development, combining improved living conditions with community revitalization, cultural preservation and social well-being.
Source: Cai, Alim and Wang Haiman-
China Media Group (CMG).