Xi Stresses High-Quality Urban Renewal in Shanghai Inspection
SHANGHAI, July 15 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday called for advancing high-quality urban renewal during an inspection tour of Shanghai, emphasizing the need to fully embrace the people-centered philosophy of urban development and enhance residents’ sense of fulfillment, happiness, and security.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visited the Citizen New Village residential area in Huangpu District, where he toured a recently renovated housing complex, visited a retired resident’s home, and spoke with community workers about grassroots governance and urban renewal efforts, according to Xinhua News Agency.
A Model of Urban Renewal
The Citizen New Village complex, originally built in 1957, consisted of four aging buildings with significant structural safety issues and a lack of private kitchen and bathroom facilities. In October 2022, Huangpu District launched a comprehensive renovation project involving 351 households, employing a “household extraction plus demolition and reconstruction” approach. The project was completed in March 2026, with 178 households already moved back in by the time of Xi’s visit.
The renovation added private kitchens and bathrooms, elevators, private balconies, pocket gardens, and underground parking — dramatically improving living conditions. The project developed a “four comprehensive” Party-building-led urban renewal work method encompassing comprehensive transformation, full-process closed-loop management, full-cycle service, and all-round participation, setting five city records for resident participation, project progress, and construction speed, as China News Service reported.
People-Centered Development
At the home of retired resident Zhu Guoli, Xi closely examined the living conditions and expressed satisfaction upon learning that the family now had their own kitchen and bathroom. “Every leaf and branch touches our hearts. The people’s livelihood is both a family matter and a national affair,” Xi said. “The Communist Party exists to serve the people. Only when the people live in peace and contentment can the Party and government rest assured.”
Xi stressed that the CPC Central Committee attaches great importance to urban development and has pledged to build modernized cities for the people, with the renovation of old residential communities as an important part of that effort, as People’s Daily Online reported. He called on officials to adopt a “needle-fine” approach to improving community property management and便民 services to ensure resident satisfaction.
Community Governance and Flood Control
During a visit to the community Party and mass service station, Xi emphasized that communities are the basic unit of the urban governance system. “We must improve community governance, push resources, services, and management down to the grassroots level, and continuously reduce burdens and empower the grassroots,” he said, according to Xinhua.
Xi also inspected a community fresh produce stall to review fruit and vegetable supply, underscoring the importance of building well-equipped communities and convenient living circles.
Addressing seasonal concerns, Xi warned that China is now in a critical period for flood control. He urged all localities to prepare for worst-case scenarios and extreme situations, closely monitor rainfall, flood conditions, and typhoon developments, and conduct thorough risk inspections to safeguard people’s lives and property.
Broader Context and Policy Signals
Xi’s inspection builds on the “People’s City” concept he first proposed during his 2019 Shanghai visit, which holds that “the city is built by the people and for the people.” This visit is part of a series of inspection tours focused on urban renewal, including visits to Beijing’s Longfusi historic district in February 2026, Shenyang’s Chang’an community in January 2025, and Chongqing’s Minzhu Village in April 2024.
Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Politburo and director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, accompanied Xi on the inspection, alongside Shanghai Party Secretary Chen Jining and Mayor Gong Zheng.
Looking Ahead
The inspection signals that urban renewal — particularly the renovation of old residential communities — remains a top national policy priority. As China’s largest city and primary economic hub, Shanghai’s experience with the Citizen New Village project could serve as a model for similar initiatives across the country. The key question going forward is whether this resource-intensive approach can be scaled and replicated in other Chinese cities facing comparable housing challenges.
With flood season at its peak and extreme weather events becoming more frequent, Xi’s emphasis on disaster preparedness also underscores the government’s focus on building resilient urban infrastructure alongside improved living conditions.