China aims to transform its cities into livable, resilient and smart spaces through continuous urban renewal programmes that enhance the urban landscape, improve residents’ living conditions, and stimulate domestic demand.

A State Council executive meeting held on Friday, which analysed urban renewal work, called for accelerated efforts to renovate old residential communities and urban villages.

It also emphasised the need to improve urban infrastructure, restore urban ecosystems, and preserve urban history and culture.

Chen Jie, a professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, said that China’s urbanisation rate has exceeded 66 percent, following a rapid and large-scale urbanisation process over recent decades.

However, with the rapid advancement of urbanisation, issues such as inadequate underground pipe networks and poor urban planning are becoming more prominent. Chen noted that the urban renewal programmes are specifically designed to address these common challenges faced by cities.

The State Council meeting also called for increased efforts to attract more private capital into urban renewal initiatives, pledging support for innovative approaches tailored to local conditions to promote high-quality urban development.

Dong Yu, executive vice president of the China Development Planning and Research Institute at Tsinghua University, said that urban renewal projects present significant market potential, but due to their substantial capital requirements and long operating cycles, a sustainable model is needed, one in which the government provides guidance while private capital and the public participate in urban renewal efforts.

According to an official from the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, the implementation of urban renewal projects must be grounded in thorough investigations and surveys. These efforts should address issues raised by the public and resolve problems that hinder a city’s competitiveness or impact its sustainable development.

In 2025, China aims to complete the renovations of old urban residential communities that were built before 2000, complete the renovation of aging gas pipelines that have been identified, and eliminate fetid water bodies in county-level cities.

The country will also continue to renovate underground pipe networks and corridors, promote the classification of urban solid waste, and construct pocket parks and urban green corridors, according to the ministry.

Published in Dawn, January 6th, 2025