-- "Has your neighborhood been renovated? "" That old factory is becoming quite the hotspot!"
These everyday conversations are increasingly common across China. As the nation’s urbanization transitions from rapid expansion to stable, high-quality development, the focus of urban construction is shifting from large-scale land consolidation to targeted renewal of existing spaces. Recently, China's State Council issued an urban renewal plan for the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), outlining a comprehensive roadmap centered on improving people’s livelihoods, fostering sustainable development, and strengthening urban safety. From the rejuvenation of aging residential compounds, to the reinforcement of underground utility networks, and the reactivation of underutilized urban assets, a comprehensive urban transformation that upgrades both cities’ external outlook and internal infrastructure is steadily moving forward.
Prioritizing People's Livelihoods: Revitalizing Old Residential Communities
At its heart, urban renewal is about improving lives. From 2021 to 2025, 240,000 old residential communities have been renovated nationwide, benefiting over 100 million residents. Livelihood is still a priority set by the newly released urban renewal plan during the 15th Five-Year Plan period. It aims renovate 115,000 old residential communities in urban areas. Special emphasis will be placed on systematic surveys of neighborhoods built more than 20 years ago, with priority given to projects where safety risks are identified and resident demand is strong.
Renovations go well beyond cosmetic fixes like repainting facades or resurfacing roads; they represent a coordinated effort across basic infrastructure improvements, functional upgrades, and value-added services. This includes installing elevators, replacing aging pipes, and filling gaps in public amenities such as elderly care and childcare facilities. For instance, the plan calls for targeted actions to ease parking shortages in old urban districts, including the development of compact, multi-story parking structures. Financial backing remains robust: in 2026 alone, the central government has allocated 97 billion yuan ($14.26 billion) through its budgetary investment channel specifically for urban renewal initiatives.
Reinforcing the Inner Foundation: Building Resilient Underground Infrastructure
If community facelifts shape a city’s outward look, underground pipelines define its inner foundation and essential integrity. The plan places a strong emphasis on enhancing urban safety and resilience, mandating the construction or upgrade of approximately 770,000 kilometers of pipelines for gas, drainage, water supply, and other critical systems over the next five years.
This massive infrastructure drive is expected to mobilize around 5 trillion yuan in investment and generate an average of 2.8 million jobs annually. More importantly, the approach itself is evolving. Local governments are moving away from the outdated practice of prioritizing construction over maintenance. Instead, they follow the principle of conducting comprehensive inspections before carrying out renewal projects, and push forward smart retrofits on a large scale. By deploying IoT(Internet of Things) sensors and establishing "urban lifeline" monitoring platforms, risks beneath the surface become visible and predictable, marking a fundamental shift from reactive emergency response to proactive risk prevention.
Unlocking Potential: Repurposing Idle Urban Assets
Urban renewal also aims to unlock space and create new momentum for growth. In response to the prevalence of vacant factories, idle office buildings, and underused public properties, the plan calls for a comprehensive inventory of existing urban assets and vigorous efforts to repurpose inefficient spaces. The guiding principle is to break rigid, single-use zoning practices and, through institutional innovation, connect "empty spaces" with "actual needs."
The transformation paths for old neighborhoods and industrial districts are notably diverse. During the next five years, 1,500 such areas across the country will be upgraded. Some will be turned into innovation hubs integrating technology, culture, and new business models; others will be preserved and revitalized as cultural tourism destinations that honor the city's historical memory while introducing modern retail and leisure experiences. Concurrently, a portion of existing commercial housing stock may be acquired and converted into affordable housing—addressing the housing needs of new citizens and young people while curbing resource waste. This tailored, site-specific approach offers valuable flexibility for enhancing urban functionality and supporting industrial upgrading.
A blueprint for urban renewal during the 15th Five-Year Plan period has been unfolded. It answers the public’s simple yet profound aspirations for safety and well-being, while embodying a larger vision for urban transformation and competitiveness. As these policies take root and concrete measures are implemented, a more livable, resilient, and intelligent urban landscape is gradually transitioning from vision to reality.
Contact Info:
Name: Ms. Jun
Email: Send Email
Organization: People's Daily Overseas Edition
Website: https://www.huanqiu.com/
Release ID: 89197369
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