“The successful renewal practice of Renfengli community in Yangzhou was a joint effort by the three sides of government, residents and businesses.”

Zhou Lan, a Jiangsu-based CPPCC member shared the “Chinese experience” in urban renewal while attending a group interview ahead of the opening meeting of the third session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 4.

Renfengli is a well-preserved community constructed in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Located in the southwestern corner of the ancient city of Yangzhou, the street is fishbone-shaped, stretching 700 meters from south to north with 15 alleys connected to it on both the eastern and western sides. 

File photo of Renfengli community after renewal. Photo/Jiaohuidian News App

While strolling down Renfengli, people can visit historical buildings and traditional residential areas. They can also experience the charm of Yangzhou's rich intangible cultural heritage, including paper-cutting, woodblock printing and puppet shows. 

However, before the renewal project which started in 2014, residents in the community had to face issues such as unfavorable living conditions, aging housing structures, and inadequate infrastructure. 

“In the first phase of the renewal project, local government renovated water, electricity, and gas pipelines, enhanced the capacity for fire safety, and built a number of ‘pocket parks’.” said Zhou, who was former director of Jiangsu Housing and Urban-Rural Development Bureau when the renewal of Renfengli was initiated. 

Meanwhile, local residents and businesses along the route were actively encouraged to participate, leading to the self-renewal of 46 households and 62 businesses, and pooling over 82 million yuan in private capital.

The renovated old buildings attracted both the young and the old to start new businesses and set up studios for time-honored intangible cultural heritage. “More than 500 jobs were created”. 

Young people wearing traditional Hanfu costume at Renfengli community in Yangzhou. Photo/Jiaohuidian News App

Renfengli is not a single case. Zhou raised more cases of urban renewal in China, such as the Xiaoxihu neighborhood in Nanjing, Shiquan Street in Suzhou, Tianzifang in Shanghai, Liangma in Beijing, and Yongqingfang in Guangzhou. 

These renewal projects, as she commented, have ameliorated people’s living conditions while expanding effective urban investment. 

“By far, more than 66,000 urban renewal projects in China have renovated some 250,000 old residential areas, bringing direct benefit to over 100 million people”. 

Zhou Lan. Photo/Xinhua

Apart from cooperation between the government, residents and businesses, Zhou also noticed four key links where emphasis must be laid on — planning, design, construction and operation. 

“And most importantly, the renewal must always put people first”. Zhou believes that during the renewal project, the government should take the real needs of local residents into consideration. “Every unique urban renewal project is to offer residents a safer, more convenient and more beautiful living environment”.

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